Head vs Heart?
Discussion
Hey guys,
Looking to move back to Jap cars later this year (some point over the summer).
My heart is saying RX7 FD3, good power, potential classic and being a turbo can tune it fairly easily if I wanted.
Down side, large bork factor, high fuel costs.
Head is saying S2000, roadster, solid reliability sound pretty awesome and should be a cheapish to run weekend car.
I want something thats fun on the weekends, something that I can tinker with in the garage but also can take abuse on the road and track.
Anyone owned both? If so what are your thoughts?
Looking to move back to Jap cars later this year (some point over the summer).
My heart is saying RX7 FD3, good power, potential classic and being a turbo can tune it fairly easily if I wanted.
Down side, large bork factor, high fuel costs.
Head is saying S2000, roadster, solid reliability sound pretty awesome and should be a cheapish to run weekend car.
I want something thats fun on the weekends, something that I can tinker with in the garage but also can take abuse on the road and track.
Anyone owned both? If so what are your thoughts?
Daston said:
Hey guys,
Looking to move back to Jap cars later this year (some point over the summer).
My heart is saying RX7 FD3, good power, potential classic and being a turbo can tune it fairly easily if I wanted.
Down side, large bork factor, high fuel costs.
Head is saying S2000, roadster, solid reliability sound pretty awesome and should be a cheapish to run weekend car.
I want something thats fun on the weekends, something that I can tinker with in the garage but also can take abuse on the road and track.
Anyone owned both? If so what are your thoughts?
Is it a daily driver, or a weekend toy?Looking to move back to Jap cars later this year (some point over the summer).
My heart is saying RX7 FD3, good power, potential classic and being a turbo can tune it fairly easily if I wanted.
Down side, large bork factor, high fuel costs.
Head is saying S2000, roadster, solid reliability sound pretty awesome and should be a cheapish to run weekend car.
I want something thats fun on the weekends, something that I can tinker with in the garage but also can take abuse on the road and track.
Anyone owned both? If so what are your thoughts?
If a daily, I'd say get the S2000. If a weekend toy, the FD7 would be my preference (coming from an S2000 owner.)
Not owned a S2000, but ran a tuned single-turbo RX7 as a daily driver.
Best car I've ever owned. Reliable (yes, really), enough bootspace to be fairly useful, comfy, went like a scalded cat. Was excellent on track too, as is to be expected from one of best handling cars Japan has ever produced. Fuel was a downside, but not as bad as I was expecting. Roughly 22mpg just general driving, sunk to low teens when giving it beans. Decent for just shy of 400bhp.
Best car I've ever owned. Reliable (yes, really), enough bootspace to be fairly useful, comfy, went like a scalded cat. Was excellent on track too, as is to be expected from one of best handling cars Japan has ever produced. Fuel was a downside, but not as bad as I was expecting. Roughly 22mpg just general driving, sunk to low teens when giving it beans. Decent for just shy of 400bhp.
The car will be a pure weekend toy so mpg etc dosnt really bother me too much.
I would like something that gives the same thrill as the Tuscan did (something I am not sure the S2000 will deliver on) but without massive service costs. This will be partly battled by self servicing, something I could't do on the Tuscan due to the all important stapped service histoy.
I think I am swaying towards an RX7, plus if I can get a 2+2 my wife and little one (when the time comes) can come along to shows/events (she is very short lol)
Question to those who have owned an RX7, what do you think of the noise? My brother has an RX8 which is a little flat sounding, it hasn't got much going for it other than a change in pitch.
My supras would give a good burble with the nice whoosh of turbo induction, and well the TVR sounded like nothing else (not expecting much to make that noise again).
I have been on youtube but you never really get the same sounds through as you do in person.
I would like something that gives the same thrill as the Tuscan did (something I am not sure the S2000 will deliver on) but without massive service costs. This will be partly battled by self servicing, something I could't do on the Tuscan due to the all important stapped service histoy.
I think I am swaying towards an RX7, plus if I can get a 2+2 my wife and little one (when the time comes) can come along to shows/events (she is very short lol)
Question to those who have owned an RX7, what do you think of the noise? My brother has an RX8 which is a little flat sounding, it hasn't got much going for it other than a change in pitch.
My supras would give a good burble with the nice whoosh of turbo induction, and well the TVR sounded like nothing else (not expecting much to make that noise again).
I have been on youtube but you never really get the same sounds through as you do in person.
Daston said:
Question to those who have owned an RX7, what do you think of the noise? My brother has an RX8 which is a little flat sounding, it hasn't got much going for it other than a change in pitch.
You shouldn't be buying a car because of how it sounds. If you are you have too much money 
I like mine, it'll depend on the exhaust too because they can be very loud. Plus they're turboed so you'll have the BOV sound, even the stock recirc type is noticable if you've got aftermarket intakes.
There are so many variations, get onto fd:uk or MRC and I'm sure someone will take you for a spin. I'd offer to but I'm a bit far away
I've not owned an S2000, but have got a single turbo RX7, and had a twin turbo a few years ago.
Unbelievably simple engines to work on, servicing is a piece of cake, consumables aren't particularly expensive. My old twin turbo one was pretty bullet proof too, and I ran that as a daily for a year and a half, my current car has been fine so far as well. The important thing is to keep well on top of servicing (which I guess you'll be used to with a Tuscan) - I like to change the oil and filter on mine every 2-3k miles (luckily oil is about £20 for 5 litres) and plugs every 6k.
Fuel costs can be quite painful, twin turbos tend to be a bit more thirsty than singles due to being on boost more often, but both can comfortably put you in single figures.
The owners community is fantastic as well, huge amounts of knowledge and always willing to help out if they can. Get on FDUK or MazdaRotaryClub and do some reading, there's always a few great cars for sale.
As for noise, I love it. A completely standard car is pretty quiet and restrained, but with minimal modifications you can achieve a lot of different noises. It's very easy to make them very very loud. My current car is decatted with a sort of half arsed attempt at a silencer in place of the cat, I'm very glad I don't use it everyday. On boost, it is ridiculous, but I love it.
Ported motors start getting you into the stereotypical 'brapbrapbrap' rotary sound.
IMO RX7s sound a whole world away from RX8s.
Unbelievably simple engines to work on, servicing is a piece of cake, consumables aren't particularly expensive. My old twin turbo one was pretty bullet proof too, and I ran that as a daily for a year and a half, my current car has been fine so far as well. The important thing is to keep well on top of servicing (which I guess you'll be used to with a Tuscan) - I like to change the oil and filter on mine every 2-3k miles (luckily oil is about £20 for 5 litres) and plugs every 6k.
Fuel costs can be quite painful, twin turbos tend to be a bit more thirsty than singles due to being on boost more often, but both can comfortably put you in single figures.
The owners community is fantastic as well, huge amounts of knowledge and always willing to help out if they can. Get on FDUK or MazdaRotaryClub and do some reading, there's always a few great cars for sale.
As for noise, I love it. A completely standard car is pretty quiet and restrained, but with minimal modifications you can achieve a lot of different noises. It's very easy to make them very very loud. My current car is decatted with a sort of half arsed attempt at a silencer in place of the cat, I'm very glad I don't use it everyday. On boost, it is ridiculous, but I love it.
Ported motors start getting you into the stereotypical 'brapbrapbrap' rotary sound.
IMO RX7s sound a whole world away from RX8s.
Daston said:
Question to those who have owned an RX7, what do you think of the noise?
I have been on youtube but you never really get the same sounds through as you do in person.
listen hereI have been on youtube but you never really get the same sounds through as you do in person.
Imagine this, but A LOT louder. That's your average RX7 with screamer pipe.
you will not regret it! What do I think of the noise? Utterly wonderful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Q1R_wydQM
Truly heart cars - head will never justify.
They well and truly get under your skin. Don't get me wrong, I love Hondas, and I'd love an S2k as a daily, but an FD is just a little bit special. Visually, there's no contest either. FDs are, in my slightly biased opinion, utterly beautiful cars when not draped with fibreglass add ons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Q1R_wydQM
Truly heart cars - head will never justify.
They well and truly get under your skin. Don't get me wrong, I love Hondas, and I'd love an S2k as a daily, but an FD is just a little bit special. Visually, there's no contest either. FDs are, in my slightly biased opinion, utterly beautiful cars when not draped with fibreglass add ons.
Another vote for Rx7, get one with a strong engine and you won't have any problems for a long time. Aim for a recentish import to avoid rust problems although these cars are generally quite good for lack of rust. The main thing is the engine, if it has good compression you'll have care free driving for quite some time. Just check the oil every 3 or so petrol stops just to top it up.
Fuel consumption is pretty poor, I use my mx5 as a runaround as it gets nearly double the mpg. Prices for them are going up now, especially for near stock models. Parts are generally quite cheap as so many people are breaking their cars so quite a lot of tastey bits for sale.
I've had mine for nearly 2 years, only significant issue was the ecu went insane, aftermarket ecu fixed the problem.
Fuel consumption is pretty poor, I use my mx5 as a runaround as it gets nearly double the mpg. Prices for them are going up now, especially for near stock models. Parts are generally quite cheap as so many people are breaking their cars so quite a lot of tastey bits for sale.
I've had mine for nearly 2 years, only significant issue was the ecu went insane, aftermarket ecu fixed the problem.
TREMAiNE said:
As an RX-7 owner, yes, get a 7. I've had no issues other than basic maintenance in my 11 months of ownership. I've had lots of smiles though!
Neither have I and I've had mine for 8 years As long as you do the maintenance you should be fine. If it's modified you just need to make sure you do things like change the oil/plugs every 3k miles etc. It's all available on fd:uk/MRC.I'd recommend registering on either of those as you'll get some helpful advice
Well the time has come
Off to see this next week, it is currently undergoing a full engine rebuild and will have a resprayed bonnet and 99+ front bumper.
It looks to have had a stock spoiler on there think its the R2 (2 struts).
Any idea if the 99+ spoiler fits the same holes? If so I may see if he can spray one up at the same time as the bumper for some extra 's
Old Spoiler holes
I am quite excited
Off to see this next week, it is currently undergoing a full engine rebuild and will have a resprayed bonnet and 99+ front bumper.
It looks to have had a stock spoiler on there think its the R2 (2 struts).
Any idea if the 99+ spoiler fits the same holes? If so I may see if he can spray one up at the same time as the bumper for some extra 's
Old Spoiler holes
I am quite excited
Afaik the 99 spec wing does not line up with the holes in the boot on the earlier cars, but this is pretty much anecdotal stuff off the web so could be wrong (i wondered about getting the newer wing for my own car). The older spoiler has grown on me with time however
Good luck with the car, best decision i ever made going ahead and getting an FD!
Good luck with the car, best decision i ever made going ahead and getting an FD!
Edited by Mazzeh on Friday 23 May 13:09
Edited by Mazzeh on Friday 23 May 13:16
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