I may have lost it completely - FC RX7 instead of RX8?

After missing out on the MX-5 ND launch edition I decided to track/auto-x another Mazda for a year or two before we put in the order for an ND. I was pretty set on an RX8 until this N/A FC showed up in my Wankel CL search.

It's one of the cleanest I've seen for quite a while that isn't parked in my neighbour's garage and I'm tempted.

My plan would be pretty similar to what I'd do with an RX-8 - suspension, exhaust, rear toe steer eliminators, slightly bigger wheels with sticky tires.

I'm guessing the RX8 will be faster out of the box and does have more of an aftermarket left, anything else I'm overlooking?

I say do eeet. I like the RX-7 more than the 8.

Buy that!

Having driven all 7's except the FD, and also having driven an RX-8, I think it would be hard for you to go wrong. The FC is an extraordinary car, even NA, and you can wake them up enough to be quite fun without opening up the engine. Maybe not as quick out of the box or as practical as the RX-8, but the lack of serious issues and the simplicity make up for that. I kick myself over not buying one when you could still find nice ones for cheap here in the rust belt.

I've actually owned one of each generation of RX-7 (FB, FC Convertible, FD), but never an N/A one - even my FB had a turbo (it was one of the rare UK-only Elford Turbos). I did drive an RX-8 last year before I bought the MR2 and liked it a lot, too.

My main concern is parts availability on the FC as I'm having those kinds of issues with the MR2 (most of the good stuff is only available used and not that easy to find). OTOH, as SlickDizzy pointed out, the simplicity may work in my favour.

It's probably going to be a week until I can go look at the car if it's still around at that time. We have to go see the in-laws in Fla this weekend and I doubt I'll be able to go see it during the week.

Is there a easy fix for the idiotic motorized shoulder belts other than a harness? Had them in an early 90s Eagle Talon and I really hated them.

maj75 wrote: Is there a easy fix for the idiotic motorized shoulder belts other than a harness? Had them in an early 90s Eagle Talon and I really hated them.

Yes. Buy an 86'-88' chassis.

There's still a decent aftermarket available for the FC, though it is starting to dwindle. Most OEM parts are still available. The N/A FC is a tough little car and aside from the piss-poor fuel economy and transmission heat my old '87 GXL was a great daily driver that never left me stranded. Heat shielding in the transmission tunnel will make it more bearable. Something else to be aware of are the flaky 80's electrics, which usually are caused by bad insulation or bad solder joints on the circuit boards.

My GXL is now Dave Estey's hillclimber. I have a JDM turbo-swapped '86 Sport in storage, but I plan on parting it out a little then selling it.

That thing is pretty cherry. I'd buy that more to collect or just play with than turn into a track rat. The RX8 drives better, handles much better, better brakes, better suspension design, has more power, better gearing - all will make the 8 more fun on and off track.

I had an 88 GTU for a good long time and tracked it MANY times. Full exhaust, intake, shocks, springs, sway bars, wheels, tires. The RX8 is a much better car - especially if you plan on tracking it a lot.

I need to test drive both a FC RX-7 and a RX-8.

I really want to drive an FC to see if I actually want one.

I like that car!

The brakes on that could possibly be the crappier ones (like those found on an S4 base model).

It is an easy swap to put the "turbo style" brakes on it.

Parts for these cars are easy to find.

Jim Ellis Mazda still has most parts available to be ordered. The rearends and trans share alot of parts with Miatas.

Body parts and suspension parts are still easy to get at your FLAPS or from Rock auto.

We race one of these cars and only replace brake pads and fluids most of the time.

Good Luck!

I'd go for the RX-7. The 8 really does nothing for me.

We test drove a GTU car back when they were new - I remember liking that car almost as much as my Z back then (and there was NOTHING I liked even remotely close to my beloved Z-car).

I'd go for it. I wish we'd bought that car.

I also wish I'd bought the orange SVT EAP that I test drove too...

Can't go wrong either way. I LOVED my FC. I also love driving my brother's RX-8. I am currently contemplating getting one for myself.

No offense, but you're nuts. Given your history with used cars, you know this is going to be a complete dog and pony show right?

I didn't think it was possible that anyone would possibly have worse car luck than me, but you definitely do...

In reply to docwyte:

He's bound to catch a break, right? This probably stands less of a chance of going wrong than an RX8, although he is accustom to engine rebuilds.

I put 286K miles on my ’87 NA FC and I’m now at 233K miles on my ‘05 FE.

I never locked down the rear toe on my FC but having said that, I find driving my FE at 9/10’s waaaaay easier than my FC.

The longer wheelbase and better suspension geometry takes the twitchiness down to a manageable level (just being honest here…the FC’s responsiveness could at times exceed my reaction time putting me behind the car).

Also, the FE’s extra gear and slightly better torque to weight ratio make it a lot easier to avoid inadvertently scrub braking down under the power curve. In other words, I had to carefully protect my momentum in the FC whereas the FE consistently has enough grunt to quickly pull me up into the power curve.

I absolutely loved my FC and if I had room, I’d snatch up any good specimen I encountered in a heartbeat but that would be driven by styling preference and nostalgia.

As a track car, I believe the FE is a qualitatively better platform than the FC.

Hubba hubba! I haven't seen one that clean in a long time! The price is great, too!

That's all I've got. I loved my NA FC, I love my turbo FC, and I love my Rx-8. You really can't go wrong here.

Okay, okay, so I should be a bit more helpful. Plan an engine rebuild in the next 200,000 miles or so (mine was rebuilt at 220k and was completely in spec, I just wanted to port it), and seriously, if a problem isn't a ground issue then it's a brittle/cracked vacuum line. I would replace all of them due to the age of the car.

And I would drive the crap out of it for at least another 150k!