FT86 vs. RX-7 FD

[Wink]

Interesting thread... This is my current car, 2000 RX7: Thinking of moving onto a FT86 or 370Z because of new car warranty, easily leased, creature comforts, etc. etc. Still haven't decided... power of the 370Z or the handling of the 86. FD has both.

[AX_FRS]

^That's a nice looking car.

[OMNOM]

Originally Posted by Wink

Interesting thread... This is my current car, 2000 RX7: Thinking of moving onto a FT86 or 370Z because of new car warranty, easily leased, creature comforts, etc. etc. Still haven't decided... power of the 370Z or the handling of the 86. FD has both.

So jealous, those are my favorite cars. Sucks that the US stopped importing them after '95.

[Brian S]

Rotory motors are great until you realize how much you are in for after you buy the car. I remember oil lines leaking all the time on those cars no matter what you tried to do to prevent it. I remember the motor constantly blowing up as the compression seals need to be changed 30k-50k miles before they start to cause serious problems. Unless you are buying a Rotory motor for racing its not worth the hassle. As a daily driver the 86/brz is by far the better investment and its not even a competition in my book. And however Mazda claims they have fixed these conditions, they are full of crap and the motors should be used for racing only.

[baldolera]

Originally Posted by Wink

Interesting thread... This is my current car, 2000 RX7: Thinking of moving onto a FT86 or 370Z because of new car warranty, easily leased, creature comforts, etc. etc. Still haven't decided... power of the 370Z or the handling of the 86. FD has both.

You're on rx7club too!

Originally Posted by Brian S

Rotory motors are great until you realize how much you are in for after you buy the car. I remember oil lines leaking all the time on those cars no matter what you tried to do to prevent it. I remember the motor constantly blowing up as the compression seals need to be changed 30k-50k miles before they start to cause serious problems. Unless you are buying a Rotory motor for racing its not worth the hassle. As a daily driver the 86/brz is by far the better investment and its not even a competition in my book. And however Mazda claims they have fixed these conditions, they are full of crap and the motors should be used for racing only.

Well, if you REALLY want an RX car you can just swap in another engine. The OEM apex seals are 3 piece and are extremely sensitive to detonation. Rotary engines overall are, and the apex seals just break when the engine runs too lean. If you rebuild an engine (MUCH easier than a piston engine), you can use aftermarket 2 piece apex seals and if you really want to splurge, ceramic seals. Stock, RX7s (especially FDs) are not reliable, but they aren't as unreliable as you claim they are. Heat is an FD's worst enemy. The twin turbos on the FD are iron, and they produce a lot of heat. That sits right next to the aluminium housings of the engine. You tell me what will happen. The solution would be to do cooling mods as well as reliability mods (emissions hoses being cooked, replace with silicone hoses) like bigger intercooler, twin oil coolers, and a good setup for less heat would be to go single turbo.

Also, by the way, if you take care of a rotary engine, you won't have to replace the seals for a long time. On the RX7Club there are quite a few people who have gone over 200,000KMs on their engine without a rebuild. However I agree, you shouldn't use a rotary as a daily driver.

And as for other people who say they consume oil too much, what's the problem with topping it off? The rotary is designed to burn up oil. Just don't be lazy and top it off. Check your oil every other gas fillup and top up as necessary. These engines usually consume a quart every 1000 miles.

[Ms. FR-S]

Originally Posted by Wink

Interesting thread... This is my current car, 2000 RX7: Thinking of moving onto a FT86 or 370Z because of new car warranty, easily leased, creature comforts, etc. etc. Still haven't decided... power of the 370Z or the handling of the 86. FD has both.

Keep your FD as a fun/track car if you can afford it. I'm loving my FR-S, but parked right next to her is my FD, and I plan on keeping her. The FD handles better and is faster (I do have a few mods on her, but nothing major done to the engine). Yes, she is high maintenance, but it's worth it. The FR-S is like a fun wife, while the FD is more like the fiery mistress!

[BioRage]

I would kill for a mint FD3S LHD in Toronto.

Except there are none!

That and a nice MK4 2JZ Supra

[gt8613]

Nice license plate! lol

Originally Posted by Wink

Interesting thread... This is my current car, 2000 RX7: Thinking of moving onto a FT86 or 370Z because of new car warranty, easily leased, creature comforts, etc. etc. Still haven't decided... power of the 370Z or the handling of the 86. FD has both.

[Turbowned]

I drove a '94 Touring the other day... was kinda disappointed actually; like when you meet one of your childhood heroes and they aren't like you remembered them. It felt so old and clunky compared to my BRZ. Felt exactly like my old FC3S Turbo, just faster and with nicer styling. Doesn't help that they were designed for short Japanese occupants and I'm 6' 2". Given $25k cash and the opportunity to buy both, I'd definitely stick with the BRZ.

[Kiske]

+1 for RX7CLub, 2nd Gen section though

I went from FD to FC to BRZ. After I sold my first rx7 I missed it enough to buy a s4 2nd gen and loved the bare bones even more. No reliability issues ever. Then again the Rotary Ressurection/Banzai motors are top shelf. Bought a brz as I wanted to go from a 2car format to a one car. I will probably buy another RX7 after I get a big-ass garage. This time I want to go nuts for a wide-body re-amemiya build with a single turbo 20b, full nuts time attack build, air plane wing and all.

You haven't lived until you have heard a bridge-port rotary engine screaming off the rev-limiter.

Having both I'd probably buy another BRZ unless I was building a track car. The modern comforts and interior made the decision though.

[WolfpackS2k]

I would take a mint condition FD over my BRZ every day of the week, and twice on Sundays. (Yes I've driven them).

[Skyhound]

Apples and Oranges on this one. The FD is such an amazing car that it is sometimes considered an exotic in it's own right. Not to mention as explained before, the FD would be sold at almost double the price today. Of course, there was the DEALER OPTION of a twin turbo set up. The FD was basically made as an exotic killer and you had to pay for it.

If they ever make another RX, I highly expect Mazda to follow Nissan and Honda's example by making it a super car. Really the only way to do it justice.

Simply no contest for the twins. Economic back-to-basics fun car < Expensive experimental/niche tech exotic killer.

[Rotarynerdette]

I <3 both of them..

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by ae86stunt

My Old beater. 6 years ago.

FRS is better

Had an FC Turbo, loved my FC Turbo, miss my FC Turbo.

BRZ/FR-S is better indeed.

Originally Posted by Kiske

I will probably buy another RX7 after I get a big-ass garage. This time I want to go nuts for a wide-body re-amemiya build with a single turbo 20b, full nuts time attack build, air plane wing and all.

Like dis?


My S5 TII was black and I was trying to make it basically like the car above. I had a Cusco 7pt cage, MOMO seat, Mazdaspeed MS01 wheels, RE Amemiya mirrors, 3" turbo-back exhaust, GReddy FMIC, 720cc injectors, turbo timer, boost controller, and was getting ready to buy suspension and aero when the motor went kaput and I ran outta money. Then I bought an SW20 Turbo and that was basically the end of it