RE: Mazda RX-7 Spirit R: Time For Tea?
Friday 25th July 2014
Forgive a slight Mazda RX-7 fixation over the last couple of days; after blogging about the delights of 90s Japanese cars, driving one for the photoshoot accompanying our PHHeroes piece and generally getting immersed in all things rotary related the charismatic Mazda has been front and centre of the PH mindset.
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R: Time For Tea?
Inspired by our RX-7 PH Heroes story? Seal the deal with this video celebration of the run-out Spirit R
We'll draw a line under this in fitting style, as indeed Mazda did when it introduced the run-out RX-7 Spirit R for the Japanese market before production ended in August 2002. Fitted with BBS wheels, improved brakes, Bilstein dampers and with the full 280hp it looked - and went - like the business. In its most focused Type-A iteration you even got fixed-back Recaro seats, saving another 10kg off the already light kerbweight. Full geek-out from the Mazda press release here.
The vid here is from Motor Trend, who managed to convince Mazda USA to lend them their sole remaining Spirit R for a drive on sun-drenched Californian roads. It's a nice vid, well shot and suitably deferential and geeky in tone. Enjoy!
[Sources: Mazda; Motor Trend, via YouTube]
Discussion
Such a beautiful car. This video hints at what most new performance cars are lacking these days. - What good is a sporty road car if you have to drive it at 8,9 or 10/10ths for it to be remotely exciting?
It's such a shame that "the market" and the average punter are such philistines and that car makers have to pander to them to survive. Gone are the days when performance cars weren't all about numbers and each new version just has to have "more" of everything on the spec. sheet. - Look at BRZ / GT86 sales figures to see that most people just don't "get it".
It's such a shame that "the market" and the average punter are such philistines and that car makers have to pander to them to survive. Gone are the days when performance cars weren't all about numbers and each new version just has to have "more" of everything on the spec. sheet. - Look at BRZ / GT86 sales figures to see that most people just don't "get it".
s m said:
I enjoyed the video but I presume the rhd models are a bit lighter than the 1306kg of the video example. By 1990ish standards I didn't think it was especially lightweight considering they'd gone for weight saving measures.
Hmmm but how many manufacturers are actually honest about what their cars weigh?Clivey said:
s m said:
I enjoyed the video but I presume the rhd models are a bit lighter than the 1306kg of the video example. By 1990ish standards I didn't think it was especially lightweight considering they'd gone for weight saving measures.
Hmmm but how many manufacturers are actually honest about what their cars weigh?Autocar's UK test car weighed in about 5kg ( no driver, 50% fuel load and all fluids ) more than this model but it was just a normal 237bhp model ( had a sunroof too like the video example )
I'm guessing as the one in the video was done from a normal lhd car and retro-fitted with the 'R' bits it might not be as light as a full on 'R' model?
A Mercedes 4-seater sports saloons of the same era with leather interior,aircon and sunroof was not much more weight.
The Bathurst models were considerably lighter I believe?
Clivey said:
Such a beautiful car. This video hints at what most new performance cars are lacking these days. - What good is a sporty road car if you have to drive it at 8,9 or 10/10ths for it to be remotely exciting?
It's such a shame that "the market" and the average punter are such philistines and that car makers have to pander to them to survive. Gone are the days when performance cars weren't all about numbers and each new version just has to have "more" of everything on the spec. sheet. - Look at BRZ / GT86 sales figures to see that most people just don't "get it".
thing about the gt86 is its appeal is hilariously limited even to car enthusiasts? why do i want a car with 197 hp if i have 30k plus to spend.It's such a shame that "the market" and the average punter are such philistines and that car makers have to pander to them to survive. Gone are the days when performance cars weren't all about numbers and each new version just has to have "more" of everything on the spec. sheet. - Look at BRZ / GT86 sales figures to see that most people just don't "get it".
eliotrw said:
Clivey said:
Such a beautiful car. This video hints at what most new performance cars are lacking these days. - What good is a sporty road car if you have to drive it at 8,9 or 10/10ths for it to be remotely exciting?
It's such a shame that "the market" and the average punter are such philistines and that car makers have to pander to them to survive. Gone are the days when performance cars weren't all about numbers and each new version just has to have "more" of everything on the spec. sheet. - Look at BRZ / GT86 sales figures to see that most people just don't "get it".
thing about the gt86 is its appeal is hilariously limited even to car enthusiasts? why do i want a car with 197 hp if i have 30k plus to spend.It's such a shame that "the market" and the average punter are such philistines and that car makers have to pander to them to survive. Gone are the days when performance cars weren't all about numbers and each new version just has to have "more" of everything on the spec. sheet. - Look at BRZ / GT86 sales figures to see that most people just don't "get it".
kambites said:
eliotrw said:
thing about the gt86 is its appeal is hilariously limited even to car enthusiasts? why do i want a car with 197 hp if i have 30k plus to spend.
I think that's his point, even car enthusiasts have become obsessed by raw power figures at the expense of everything else. I would rather have the BRZ / GT86 (or even an MX-5) than a new Golf R, for example (I don't need the extra practicality, which helps). Some people can't comprehend not choosing the fastest car in a straight line / the most powerful...however, my point is that firstly, opportunities to use 300BHP are sadly limited in most people's daily driving. Secondly, compared to my current "slow" 170 horsepower car, you wouldn't be able to drive the Golf let's say "enthusiastically", for as long. Even in my current 10-year-old BMW, the limits of grip are so high that on many roads you have to corner much more quickly than is safe to have any fun. That's only going to get worse in an M235i, new M3 etc.
Recently, someone attempted some cheap forum point scoring (woe betide anyone that criticises the driving dynamics of Golf-platform cars) because my own car isn't as fast or powerful. Well, neither is a classic Ferrari; I know what I'd rather have.
After the last RX7 article I was watching the Wheeler Dealers episode on the RX7.
http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.youtube.c...
It starts well as they tune up the car. Then for some reason take the car and "enhance" the exterior with some graphics being printed onto the wheels and bodywork. Incredibly the guy they buy the car from initially pays to buy it back off them for double the price he sold it for in the first place!!!
It's a not bad watch in light of the recent PH articles though.
http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.youtube.c...
It starts well as they tune up the car. Then for some reason take the car and "enhance" the exterior with some graphics being printed onto the wheels and bodywork. Incredibly the guy they buy the car from initially pays to buy it back off them for double the price he sold it for in the first place!!!
It's a not bad watch in light of the recent PH articles though.
JamStar said:
After the last RX7 article I was watching the Wheeler Dealers episode on the RX7.
WGT Auto Developments did the engine work on that one but not the graphics. They guy that sold/bought basically got a lot of work done cheap. He just needs to take the graphics off.WGT look after my two rotaries, the blue RX7 at the start of the Wheeler Dealers episode is mine.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff