evot23

iTrader: (17)

I think the vert doors would really look good on an RX-8.

deft_spyder

Simply put, with every car vertical door kit, the biggest difference and obstacle in design is that the car wasn't designed to do that. Therefore you have to address the latching system and the a-pillar.

To keep cost waaaay lower, we use the stock latching system. that means the door comes down, then come in a few inches to latch as normal. It would require a MAJOR change to the car to come down and latch without some inward motion.

Then you have the a-pillar. Car designers put it there because of course, they never expected the door to open that way... so we have to move it, or go around it. Again, unless you're welding... around the a-pillar we go!

You also have to make sure whatever protrusions on your door go around it too. That means if you have some after market speakers sticking out at the foot well.... thats going to mean you have to around them. On my 3kgt, its not that much of a problem. But you will always have the issue of going around the a-pillar.

A video of the 3kgt will come out much sooner than the rx7 simply because I have my spyder here to film, and the RX7 is on the other side of the country. It should give you a pretty good idea of how the kit functions though.

In short, when modifying something that already has another purpose, you have to deal with some restrictions. But I barely notice the outward angle... and seriously, this is a HUGE head turner.

I don't think I've made it out of a gas station yet without someone approaching me.

Oh yeah... the lever we have switches it from OEM mode to VLS mode. Just means that if its your daily driver you dont have to deal with vert doors if you dont want to...

evot23

iTrader: (17)

I'd love to see it!

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

deft_spyder,

I think everyone here understands the challenges of building such systems. I think one thing you are missing is that the RX-7 group isn't as cheap as other import groups. I would wager that if you had two kits:

1. $1500 that opened diagnonal up like the pictured FD
2. $4000 that opened straight up like the RE car

Kit #2 would get purchased more from the RX-7 crowd than the kit #1. It has more to do with having an exotic look (like the Lamborghini's) rather than something that looks like an imitation. I have no doubt that all vertical type doors get attention, just depends on the type of attention you are wanting.

For me, even if the kit was $200 I wouldn't do it to my car going diagonal up like the pictured FD. However, there might be a few here who will get the kit. Enough to make a profit? I guess only time will tell.

Good luck with your kit.

DeAd-EyE

iTrader: (1)

^ fully agree with Mahjik.

hell do one better: konegesseg style door opening

nillahcaz

iTrader: (2)

gull wing doors are not the same as this. they open like a DeLorean, This is what i want.
http://learning.usd383.org/tlcf/tlcf...e/delorean.jpg

deft_spyder

Mahjik...

I didn't post that to try and convert anyone....just explain why it is the way it is, and how that is what youll get without major body modifications (1500 vs 10000).

DCrosby

Yeah but when I'm spending 1300 For headlights and $1000 for hood etc... I'd want something that works like it does on high end exotics... now from that, once some of my other "Mechanical" Issues are worked out I'd even pay 3-4K to bring my car by your shop in Burbank to do a complete conversion, welding whatever... and no going back to stock... what I'm not keen on is sending my car to Japan, and spending 1K just for shipping so that someone there with a blowtorch can do the work when I know people here use the same torches
I agree with Mahjik FD owners would rather pay for something to be done right and look amazing than be rice... (most people would be skating that line anyhow by going with scissor doors anyhow) the last thing you want is to make people (other FD owners) laugh when they see it in operation...

-DC

JSpecRZ

well.. we are telling you what we would buy... I mean, if you modified what you have to fit our needs, you probably will sell a a whole lot... I know I'm in if you do and I'm sure others will follow...

I personally wouldn't mind cutting the fenders and what not as long as it's a clean install and the doors go straight up over the fender...

I'll be honest.. I go to the car shows and see the swing doors and just don't like them.. they look like they are going to break.. and it doesn't look smooth... I see some doors that just swing on a pivot point.. like just rotating the doors.. I see others where they look like the are goin to break off coz they are angle sooo much...

i'm just saying.. what your doing is great.. it doesn't look that bad on the black RX-7.. but if you wanted to capitalize on the RX-7 community... copy what RE amemiya has and you be the man!!!

1st in line if you do.. you can even take my car to test fit...

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

deft_spyder,

Don't take offense, I'm only trying to help give you insight into the FD community. As you see from some responses, you'll have a much better receiving if you can copy what RE did a few years ago.

Once again, good luck with whatever direction you are headed.

Zyon13B

Well, I like em Bill. It gives you more room to get out of the car also. The thing I didn't like from the other kit was that it looked too flimsy from the film. If yours looks solid opening up, like maybe it came from the factory that way, then I'll be on the list. You guys are being too picky. Most people don't have the money or resources to do something like RE's. Now, a Koneigseg kit would rock!

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

You mean, you aren't picky with what you put on your car? You put on half-engineered ebay stuff all in/out of your car? Probably not.

If you are going to make an investment into the look of your car, why not get exactly what you want? Why settle for "well, it's close enough"? I wouldn't and many others won't.

I hate to say this, but those doors will only attract the Honda and Mitsubishi crowd. Anyone else will just see them as a cheap mod. As already pointed out by myself and others, it lacks the professional "exotic" look of the straight vertical doors of the RE conversion or originally the Lamborghini (and other exotic sports cars). That's the look that most FD owners are after.

JSpecRZ

I agree 110%...

deft_spyder

I'm not bashing your product... I just want to clarify that, but could you provide something exactly like the RE swing doors for a fraction of the cost? Even if we have to cut fenders etc... If you can do it... PLEASE let us know... you will get a butt load of RX-7 customers..

again, you can use me FD.. LOL

deft_spyder

I have no idea how the RE system works... but as I've said, if they are charging 10 grand, its prob much different than what I do. I'm not trying to copy anyone.

I've had a good, if not better response by email from the RX7 community than the mitsu community, so I'm not worried. But hey, like I've told others, a vertical door conversion isn't for everyone.

I'll know better when I start selling them.

Zyon13B

I am very picky about what I put on my car, that's why I said it has to look sturdy, almost stock-like. No one is going to sell a kit where you have to cut/weld your A-piller, too much custom work. Then there could be hassles when some one installs it wrong and rain's dripping in their car. And they'll blame the kit maker. To be done right it will cost alot and have to be custom, our doors weren't meant to do that. I just wanted to give the guy the benefit of the doubt before this turned into a bashing thread.

nillahcaz

iTrader: (2)

umm. its Koenigsegg not Koneigseg

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Once again, you are missing the point.

People are simply saying what they REALLY want. I would bet that even if the car had to be shipped to Import Precision to do the installation (which would still be cheaper than shipping your car to Japan), they would have a much better response as people want what the RE doors look like, not what Civic doors look like. Even if it's not a "kit", most people don't care as long as they get the "look" they are after.

evot23

iTrader: (17)

True.^^^^^^^

Zyon13B

I see what your saying, but he might have a good product for the cost. And I know most people don't care if it's a "kit", But they care if 1500 vs 10000 for the door opening slightly more vertical.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

lol, we'll see. Have you been reading people's suggestions here in the thread? They have already stated they would pay more for the true vertical doors than these.

I know I don't want some guy coming up to me saying "Those are cool, I got ones just like it on my Honda".

Louis M

sorry for hijacking the thread, but majick, want to make a sticky about lambo doors? also, another one with a compolation of all body kits?

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

You'll have to bug Flybye about it. He's the mod of this forum.

Zyon13B

Damn, that would suck! lol

nillahcaz

iTrader: (2)

now if you could make the door move out and up and the same time, and it was no more than 5° out that would work in my book. but it still could not pop out the 2" to clear the stock latch.

nillahcaz

iTrader: (2)

the http://www.importprecision.com/vls_gallery_rx7.htm kit i could almost live with on my FC, but not on an FD. RE A uses a wide body kit and doors to give them room. so if you sold a 0° out 90° up WITH wide body kit. I would belive you could sell them for $10000.


and it looks like the doors may rotate in a little to help clear.