Your current FD or 02-04 Z06
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From: GA
Originally Posted by jimlab
I see a lot of people saying that the Corvette feels big. Of course the Corvette feels big... most of you drive FDs, many on a daily basis. Almost any car feels big by comparison when you don't have the driver's door panel touching one leg and the center console touching the other.
Spend more than a 30-minute test drive in a Corvette and you'll eventually figure out that they're not big. They're normal sized sports cars, and as a result, they're more comfortable and carry a hell of a lot more than the FD, so they're more practical... and yet still sports cars. Amazing. Sure, the FD is a purist's sports car, but that doesn't mean that it's the norm that everything else should be measured by. That means it's the extreme that other cars are not likely to achieve without sacrificing the same thing the FD does... interior space and comfort.
The FD is tiny, and if you can't figure that out, put a helmet on and see what kind of contortions you have to go through to fit in the car unless you happen to be about 5' 9" or shorter. Try to put a full size suitcase in the hatch. Riiiight. Now, repeat after me... you've become acclimatized to your FD, so every car where you're not in direct contact with an interior panel feels big in comparison. If you lived in a 4' x 4' square box for several months, your apartment/house/whatever would feel huge too.
Spend more than a 30-minute test drive in a Corvette and you'll eventually figure out that they're not big. They're normal sized sports cars, and as a result, they're more comfortable and carry a hell of a lot more than the FD, so they're more practical... and yet still sports cars. Amazing. Sure, the FD is a purist's sports car, but that doesn't mean that it's the norm that everything else should be measured by. That means it's the extreme that other cars are not likely to achieve without sacrificing the same thing the FD does... interior space and comfort.
The FD is tiny, and if you can't figure that out, put a helmet on and see what kind of contortions you have to go through to fit in the car unless you happen to be about 5' 9" or shorter. Try to put a full size suitcase in the hatch. Riiiight. Now, repeat after me... you've become acclimatized to your FD, so every car where you're not in direct contact with an interior panel feels big in comparison. If you lived in a 4' x 4' square box for several months, your apartment/house/whatever would feel huge too.
Last edited by blackkiller7; Jan 18, 2005 at 01:11 PM.
Originally Posted by gfelber
Probably true with the exception of the Viper, 300ZX (or course), Panoz and perhaps the new Aston (~$115K). One interesting thing to note is the trend toward increasingly heavy cars. I'm amazed that 911s are well over 3,000 lbs (new Carerra S is 3,230) now and 911 Turbos are close to 3,500!
Right on...and the Elise does not have the go-kart feel of a Caterham...
**** it, let's all buy go-karts
Gene
I'm all for the comprimises of windows and windshield wipers
.You know some of those shifter karts are mad-quick yo! Figure seat time and operating cost are very low relative to "real" cars. Let's do it!
Rotary Freak
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From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by turbojeff
There is an "age old" arguement of what a "sports car" is. Some say it must have only 2 seats, some say it has to have a soft top (did this start with British sports cars, MG, Triumph, etc?).
Originally Posted by jimlab
The FD is tiny, and if you can't figure that out, put a helmet on and see what kind of contortions you have to go through to fit in the car unless you happen to be about 5' 9" or shorter. Try to put a full size suitcase in the hatch. Riiiight. Now, repeat after me... you've become acclimatized to your FD, so every car where you're not in direct contact with an interior panel feels big in comparison. If you lived in a 4' x 4' square box for several months, your apartment/house/whatever would feel huge too.
When I drove my friends Z06 it did seem a little big but whatever. I'm sure it's because of what I am used to driving. I have always gravitated towards the smaller cars for some reason. But I'm not a tall man either. 5'10" actually.
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From: Houston TX
Originally Posted by jimlab
Ah, I see you're still training for your chosen profession. Just between you and me, does being a "Forum Douche Bag" pay that well?
Worst comeback [pause for effect] EVER!
Super Snuggles
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Redmond, WA
Originally Posted by turbojeff
What I'm saying is the big car does not have the "go-kart" feel that the FD has...
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From: Houston TX
Originally Posted by jimlab
And what I'm saying is that your opinion is the result of driving the FD continually and spending very little seat time in the larger car. If you drove the Corvette long enough to become acclimatized, you'd find that it has a "go-kart" feel also. Drive a Corvette for a year and then climb into an FD and you'll notice how uncomfortable and cramped they are.
WTF kinda logic is that?
Super Snuggles
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Redmond, WA
Originally Posted by unixpilot
(Insert Simpsons Comic Book Guy voiceover)
Worst comeback [pause for effect] EVER!
Worst comeback [pause for effect] EVER!
BTW, didn't you say the following only a week ago?
Super Snuggles
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Redmond, WA
Originally Posted by unixpilot
So wtf is your point? You can become "acclimatized" to any car... Drive a Escalade for a year and you'll feel how uncomfortable and cramped a Z06 is...
WTF kinda logic is that?
This is why more than one sportscar is available on the market... people like different things, and define "just right" differently... I've never felt cramped in the FD, i'm 5'10, 180 lbs.
Actually, Vette interiors feel fairly snug... its the rest of the car that feels big. It's about the same difference from that to my car, as it is from my car to my dad's miata. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but i don't want to get used to it... i want it to feel right... something I never had to wait for with the FD.
Actually, Vette interiors feel fairly snug... its the rest of the car that feels big. It's about the same difference from that to my car, as it is from my car to my dad's miata. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but i don't want to get used to it... i want it to feel right... something I never had to wait for with the FD.
And what I'm saying is that your opinion is the result of driving the FD continually and spending very little seat time in the larger car. If you drove the Corvette long enough to become acclimatized, you'd find that it has a "go-kart" feel also. Drive a Corvette for a year and then climb into an FD and you'll notice how uncomfortable and cramped they are
I have them both and I agree with what he said. The Z06 is an awesome machine. After I drive is for awhile and then get back in the 7 it's small - but I like it !!!
Tom
I have them both and I agree with what he said. The Z06 is an awesome machine. After I drive is for awhile and then get back in the 7 it's small - but I like it !!!
Tom
Originally Posted by Tim Benton
I'd take my current FD over the Z06. I'd take the z06 over a new (if there was one) stock 95 with little hesitation on my part.
Tim
Tim
The fact that we are even making comparisons with the Z06 shows and emphisizes the FD's engineering brilliance, and its a testament to mazda. And, its a 15 year old inspiration that in its days, it had even the ZR1(with its Lotus motor) running for its money.
omgwtfposlol
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From: Orange City, FL
Originally Posted by ruos
The fact that we are even making comparisons with the Z06 shows and emphisizes the FD's engineering brilliance, and its a testament to mazda.
-edit. i mean, people here compare FD's to EVERYTHING. supras, evo/sti's, lambos/ferraris, it doesn't matter, people here will hold their FD's up to it.
the 7 can nevar lose!!11
Last edited by particleeffect; Jan 18, 2005 at 06:45 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Portland, OR
I know you asked, but my suggestion is to ignore everyone's preference. Make a list of what you want in a car and see which of those two (or maybe another altogether) comes closest to matching your list. Far to many cars are purchased for the car rather than what the driver wants in a car.
Originally Posted by jimlab
And what I'm saying is that your opinion is the result of driving the FD continually and spending very little seat time in the larger car. If you drove the Corvette long enough to become acclimatized, you'd find that it has a "go-kart" feel also. Drive a Corvette for a year and then climb into an FD and you'll notice how uncomfortable and cramped they are.
I agree with you, it is all relative, and relatively speaking to me the FD "feels" more lithe than the Vette. If someone was comparing a Miata (Elise, Caterham 7, etc) to a FD they would say the same thing.
Call me gramps!
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From: Detroit, MI
Originally Posted by jimlab
And what I'm saying is that your opinion is the result of driving the FD continually and spending very little seat time in the larger car. If you drove the Corvette long enough to become acclimatized, you'd find that it has a "go-kart" feel also. Drive a Corvette for a year and then climb into an FD and you'll notice how uncomfortable and cramped they are.
In any case, yes, I would switch to an 02-04 Z06 in a heartbeat. (if I had the means -- finance) The rumble of a lopey LS1/LS6 with long tube headers and a GMMG cat-back really gets my heart beating.
A lot of people always compare the FD to all sorts of various cars, often times the 02-04 Z06. As a FD owner, I know even the FD has its place (which is behind the Z06). I love the FD, but given the chance, I would get a Z06.
Originally Posted by turbogarrett
I would get the z06. Stock for stock there is no comparison.
*getting flamesuit ready*
*getting flamesuit ready*
just like its goofy to say 'stock for stock' the enzo is better than the z06...its not fair to compare without involving cost.... but that dosnt mean i am opposed to comparing unfairly :-) heheheh....id love to have a z06 ;-)
Super Snuggles
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From: Redmond, WA
Originally Posted by damian
i would agree, BUT you cant put them on the same field like 'stock for stock' without the cost difference, if you match the cost then you can have a FD that easily matches (or beats) a z06.
Besides, you'll almost always pay less for the older/slower car, owners of that car will almost always complain about how many mods they could add for the price of the newer/faster car to stack the deck in their favor, and I'll almost always end up laughing at the people who resort to that kind of bullshit to protect their fragile egos...
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From: Houston TX
Originally Posted by jimlab
Not if you compare original sticker price also and account for inflation.
Besides, you'll almost always pay less for the older/slower car, owners of that car will almost always complain about how many mods they could add for the price of the newer/faster car to stack the deck in their favor, and I'll almost always end up laughing at the people who resort to that kind of bullshit to protect their fragile egos...
Besides, you'll almost always pay less for the older/slower car, owners of that car will almost always complain about how many mods they could add for the price of the newer/faster car to stack the deck in their favor, and I'll almost always end up laughing at the people who resort to that kind of bullshit to protect their fragile egos...
Bullshit?!?! If I can buy a rolling FD shell TODAY for 6k and dump 44k in mods (give or take the numbers) and end up with a car that will out perform a stock z06 for the same price, how is that bullshit?
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From: GA
z06 didnt cost 50k dollars brand new or at least not around here i remember seeing them for app 45k . Now im sure wiht different packages or fully loaded , also if you get a sales man to rip you on a "deal"
and you can buy a Z06 Today for 30k add 20k in performance and .........well you get the point
and you can buy a Z06 Today for 30k add 20k in performance and .........well you get the point
Originally Posted by jimlab
Not if you compare original sticker price also and account for inflation.
Besides, you'll almost always pay less for the older/slower car, owners of that car will almost always complain about how many mods they could add for the price of the newer/faster car to stack the deck in their favor, and I'll almost always end up laughing at the people who resort to that kind of bullshit to protect their fragile egos...
Besides, you'll almost always pay less for the older/slower car, owners of that car will almost always complain about how many mods they could add for the price of the newer/faster car to stack the deck in their favor, and I'll almost always end up laughing at the people who resort to that kind of bullshit to protect their fragile egos...
>>Not if you compare original sticker price also and account for inflation.
hrmmm, technically yeah, i agree, but real world it dosnt work cus the cars came out at different years, so im talking real world- current time situation, for example, right now, for teh same amout of $$ for a decent shape z06, you can setup a relatively equal FD......wouldnt you agree?
now, if you seperate time out of the deal, and pretend the fd came out the same time the z06 did, then it would be very lop sided towards the z06.