The FC Mazda RX-7 is The Brilliant Porsche Alternative The USA Loved and The UK Forgot
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- Опубликовано: 4 май 2022
- Today I drive a car with a crazy engine, funky seatbelts and a cool history.
#Mazda #RX7 #FC3S
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I bought an RX8 new in 2003 as my first "nice car." I still own it. Took it to an autocross when it was a week old. Did years of track days with it, road trips to distant rotary meets (2700km each way) and it's never failed to bring me home. A number of performance mods, lots of maintenance but only mechanical failures have been a slowly dieing fuel pump and a clogged catalytic converter. Been a great car and I'll have it for life. Also own 4 FC RX7s, including the one in my profile pic.
Also yes, the clutch safety interlock to start is a North American thing. Still like that on new cars today.
seems like you perfected the rotary maintenance. nice and great sounding machines indeed
My ‘05 RX-8, owned for 13+ years, was super reliable, too. Always fired right up, every time. My secret? Read the ‘effin’ Owner’s Manual and just do the simple (but VERY IMPORTANT) routine maintenance! Most owners didn’t. Without the simple routine maintenance, the engine will prematurely fail. Most Americans are too stupid and too lazy to read the manual. Grrrr!
@@Redshift42 Yay for North American "safety" interlock... Only reading this morning about how "Mechanic killed after Jeep ‘lurched forward’ following oil change. Vehicle owner sued"
The FC was intended to be more of a grand tourer by Mazda than other rx7s, which is perhaps where the refinement and quietness come from. To me, it's always been more of a gentleman's car and has its own sex appeal
There's not much else I can say about this car. It was a purer alternative than something like the s13, especially in Japan, as a date car, sports car and something for kids to tune up and race back in the day. There's not much else I can say about it
Some notes about the FC, off the top of my head
- Featured in Shuto kousoku 5, the 5th film in a 6 film Japanese movie series about street racing, featuring Keiichi Tsuchiya
- The 1990 IMSA car is one of the famous ones, it took pole position in the first race of the season at Daytona
- To my knowledge, the only Rx7 to have not competed on Bathurst
- Rod Millen built a 4wd mostly tube framed FC, it was the first 4WD car used on pikes peak
- One of Rod Millen's cars was sold to Re-Amemiya, a coveted tuner in Japan. Not much was done with it. The plan was to race it on highways but it was mainly repainted and used for show. It sat outside the workshop for years before recently being bought and restored to how it originally was
- Set a 392km/h (243mph) on the Bonneville salt flats in 1986. The car was built by Racing Beat
- Was just a beautiful car (IMO) and tuning/racing staple for many years
Something that is a multi-purpose all-arounder is by definition not a "purer alternative" 😅 It's still a great car though, one that I think is currently under-appreciated in the exploding 90's-fever sportscar market. A facelifted FC is on my "medium-list" for future project cars 😁 (especially since the FDs are so expensive now).
I used to own one of these - a base model, not a turbo. I loved it, I still miss it. True, the car was a Poor-sche, but most people stop at the overall 944 shape, and neglect to note the cool 928 doors!
I've always thought these are an extremely attractive shape, but finding one for sale in the UK is next to impossible
All rotted away.
Still I think there are more RHD RX-7 built, then Left side steering.
Second generation (FC3S) 1985-1992
Total 272,027 produced
Was a pleasure spending the day with you to do this review James. Currently on the driveway at my in-laws cleaning and polishing the life out of the flat dead paint 😅 then it just needs the broken trims fixing and putting back on and she will be minty once again ❤
1999 Mazda MX-5 is a car I own.. its nice to see an Rx-7 owner using the title if I may say 🤘send her back to James for a follow up when she's fully dressed 🤩
Damn this man is riding in a nonce's car
Had rx-8s as my first, third and fourth cars (two pz special editions and currently an aurora blue r3). All of them had at least 45,000 miles on them to begin with and I must’ve done a total of at least 40,000 miles between them. None of them ever blew up or left me stranded. I honestly like their unreliable reputation as it’s the only thing keeping prices affordable given how brilliant they are
Was watching a video the other day from a channel based around collectible American cars from post-war to the 80's, the average mileage of an American land barge around the time of the 70's fuel crisis was 12MPG. For perspective, that's the economy of a current model Shelby GT500...in the city. By that standard, 20MPG is astounding
Minor point - UK MPG = 1.2xUS MPG. The Yanks like to make everything more extreme, using imperial weights etc.
These don't do 20 to an imperial gallon, even on a run, let alone 20 to a US gallon. About 16-17 imp is more like it.
@@AbuZak14 actually, you've got it backwards. UK gallon is oversized, as is mpg.
Wait, so a carbureted 5500 lbs leadsled on soft tires powered by a low compression 200hp big block going through a tall three speed torque converter auto isn't the recipe for efficiency?
@@Russell_and_Rosko my dream car ;)
I've owned a rx8 for 12 years now and it's the best car I've ever owned, the body rotted away quicker that the engine going wrong so over covid reshell it.
RX-7s and especially the FC were popular here in Greece because of their 1300cc engine and their power.
I don't know if it's true but I've heard that Mazda in the 80s had made an error and put the price tag lower than it should which meant that a lot of people bought the FC for less money than they would otherwise.
Recently, there have been a few auctions of rotaries located in Greece.
@@nigel.w not surprising . Out of the 1.151 FDs that officially came to Europe, 168 were sold in Greece. I have also heard that more than 300 FDs were sold here but there is no source to back that statement.
the 1300cc in a Rotary engine has no relation to a 1300cc regular engine. I think its more like a 2000cc regular piston engine.
@@AgtX999 Greece probably has or had a system of taxation on cars based on engine size. Many European countries do or did. That would likely mean RXs were taxed purely on their actual cc, not an equivalent rating. And FYI, back in the day, the rated equivalent was 2:1, so a 1300cc 13B was rated equivalent to a 2600cc conventional piston engine.
@@AgtX999 it was 1300cc on paper which meant that it wasn't taxed heavily
Had a couple of FC's an early 1986 C plate in White which I bought at 8 years old in 1994 with a genuine 13k on the clock. Fabulous condition and had this until about 2001. In the meantime in 96 I also bought a Red 1989 Turbo II which had a mega sound system, lowered, tints, stainless exhaust, cat delete, and was chucking out 250 bhp+ doing 14mpg! 140 miles on a full tank in the late 90's fuel price and availability times!! and an absolute hoot to drive. Both cars were sold to same chap in about 2001 and still local to me (and therefore not that far from you) but not on the road, until sold about 3 years ago. No idea where they are now (but '86 was last MOT'd @ 45k miles, and Turbo II was still on road until Sep 21 with 114k miles), neither been scrapped AFAIK.
I've had 4 of these at various times in my life and I loved them all like my own children.
Not my first car, but owned an RX-8 here in the U.S. for over 16 years and loved it! It always felt like a very special car. I drive a “Racing Orange” ‘19 Mazda MX-5 RF now and love it, but the RX-8 was really wonderful.
Grew up in a northern England car auction that my best friends dad owned. We used to love driving the MK1 RX7,s because dealers were scared to death of the rotary and just blocked them. They were just amazing machines and my friend and I loved them. Later in life I daily drove an RX8 and apart from my MX5. Bear in mind I’m in the car trade ( retail these days ) but used to have a used car pitch and have owned or driven most unusual vehicles. It was the best machine EVER ! She wanted to kill you at every kink in the road when it was wet. But as you disappear from a WRX at 10,000 rpm on a dry twisting road. OMG the best feeling and noise. A very under rated car and still have the itch for another one. Like most cars the problems with them are down to user error. If you know how to treat them they will never let you down.
I got an RX8 as my first car, and still use it as my daily. Learned to drive on it, took my driving test on it (the look on the examiners faces was priceless) and I learned how to fix cars on it. Love the thing. 😁
Same here, rx-8 as my first car, still have it. I don't daily it right now. However it is wonderful to drive. Revving the engine over 9000 rpm is addictive.
@@oktayozs nice 😁👍I got the 192 version, so only 7.5k rpm for me, but still good 😅
Ha! I did just the same, passed my test in it!
I think its fantastic that the current owner is restoring this car to factory spec rather than modifying.
I actually saw a convertible one last weekend at an MX-5 meet. Have never seen the convertible RX before.
Bought an rx8 as my first car for 700 pounds, ran like clockwork :)
What a surprise treat, JayEmm in an FC! I was smiling ear to ear throughout the whole video, thank you for the review! Lovely to see these things still being daily driven.
During a fuel crisis too 😅 not the cheapest daily I have to admit lol
My first proper car was an RX8. I was 21 and thought the rotary engine was just the coolest idea. I only owned it for about two years as I needed more boot space for my work. It wasn't powerful but had good handling and never felt like it was going to bite me for making mistakes, of which I made plenty.
I live in the US and have had an 89 convertible since 91. For years it was my daily driver in New England which in winter takes a certain amount of dedication. I have owned many cars in my life but the vert is still my favorite in a stable that includes a 2011 Boxster. I find the ergonomics of the cabin second to none, everything is perfectly at hand. Performance is adequate for a GT though it has nonexistent torque at low revs but exciting at the higher revs when the car really comes alive. Comfort is second to none but maybe I’ve just grown up with it. The convertible roof is an odd contraption: it has a solid targa piece that can be taken off separately if you want to drive a wind scoop and though the top is motorized, because of that rigid panel you have to get out of the car and walk to the passenger side to release a latch. I suspect in a right hand market you could theoretically reach behind you but I doubt that would work. With the roof down and even at highway speeds, the interior is quiet and your hair stays completely unmussed. In younger days we could go cross country skiing in the dead of winter, skis on the trunk carrier, top down, heat on and stay comfortably warm. It is a brilliant car and I love it, there is a very dedicated community in the US but they are mostly young modders so finding an unmolested example is difficult and profesional shops that will work on them difficult.
Thanks Jay for giving the FC the credit it deserves. I've owned several cars and the RX7s (all 4 of them) have been fantastic. My latest one - an 89 convertible - is "like new" and is sitting in the garage a few feet away... It always draws a crowd.
I had a 1988 GXL model. Two issues the FC is known for are the cold solder points in the electrics, particularly in the HVAC control module, and the BAC valve, which is known to cause a hesitation or stumble around 4000 rpm when going bad.
One of my early childhood memories is going to America and the automatic seatbelt thing of our hire car hitting me in the face.
One of the first times I saw that style of seatbelt, it was in a video on RUclips of a man either trying to review it or maybe they had just got it as their 'new' car (could have been an old home video that was uploaded too, so genuinely new in that case). They obviously weren't used to that belt as they kept looking out the driver's door window while opening and closing the door. I can't remember the specifics, but I think it went something like looking at the camera/person/family member holding it, when closing the door, resulting in their head getting pushed into the B pillar and possibly knocking their glasses off out the open window. On getting their head free I think they then leaned under the now parked belt (in the 'fastened' position) to see where their glasses landed while opening the door again, and got caught by it again as it moved to park itself on the A pillar. :) I have a bit of an imagination at times so I don't know is this is an accurate recollection (I've mis-recalled a more entertaining version of events for some things in the past), but I do believe he got caught by it once in each direction somehow.
I nearly bought a 1979 RX7 which would have been my first car. Instead I bought a new Mustang Cobra as I received a discount as my father worked at Ford. I saved 15% buying the new Mustang. Keep up your great work Jay.
No Rx as me first car, but I had a first gen Mitsubishi GTO VR-4. Door tag was may of 91' and a Montero tag at that, bought it off a fellow who worked for Akebono brakes by the name of Mitsuru "Matt" Sato. Co-workers claimed he spoke no english, my 65 year old (at the time) grandfather understood him well enough to contemplate life along side him. I miss that thing; Blue as a saphire, comfortable as an old armchair, and fast enough to lose your right to drive.
I feel these live in the shadow of the FD, but in my opinion are a fantastic car in their own right, as you stated the FD didn’t sell nearly as well, yet thanks to popular culture when you say “RX7” most people immediately think of the FD.
james owen. Not sure about elsewhere but one reason the FD sold less is probably due to price - the earlier gen RX7's were still relatively affordable for a sports car, but when the FD went on sale here in Aust I recall that they were significantly more expensive (from memory, close to double the price) of the outgoing model. I always liked all 3 generations of RX7, and even drove a mates series 1 back in the day - I was a litte underwhelmed, but that was probably because not only was it a 15+ y.o "well used" example, it was also an auto (he had to get an auto so his wife could drive it too) - I don't think he kept it all that long. Used prices here for all generations are now pretty nuts, so I can't see myself ever getting one now. Cheers!
Bit of information, Rx7 used to see 3 versions uk spec. The NA with around 145 bhp. The turbo 2 was around 185. Other version cabriolet. The base 145 was easiest to work on as intercooler not on top of the engine. To get at spark plugs was easier. Car and thermal reactor early version of cat. The version is series 4, series 5 had different tail lights and few tweeks.
I have tremendous first car envy for one of my partner's friends - Japanese-American, he father bought her a new FC RX7 as her FIRST car. He was a first-gen immigrant, very proud of Japanese engineering, proud of his success and proud of his daughter and wanted her to have a baller-ass car at college while she became a doctor.
Nicely done video, I appreciate the effort in educating us on this generation RX-7 despite the struggle in getting all info on it
I had 2 - both convertibles. I loved the engine (apart from the maintenance) - so smooth and it made plenty of power
The first car I bought was a USDM 1987 Base Model non-turbo (California USA). I absolutely loved it and learned how to work on cars fixing it up. Paid $1700 for it back in 2006. They were DIRT CHEAP back then. I was making below minimum wage and wanted a RWD sports car so bad. Of course I wanted a FD, but they were (laugh) like $15000 back then.
Got a parts car (engine blown, of course) for $300 that I had to borrow a plastic crate to use as a seat to be flat-towed home behind my buddy's pickup truck. My car was about 5 different shades of gold with the maroon interior. The interior color was great because no one wanted it, so I could get good condition pieces for cheap. Got a set of Turbo 2 seats for like $150. Scrapped the parts car after stripping it, and my car was traded in on the "Cash for Clunkers" program getting me $5100 toward a new 2010 Mazda 3 Sedan. The engine was pretty much toast on the FC with around 140k miles, and it took 5 or so minutes to get it started for its last drive.
Also had a NA Miata, "Gen-pu" Mazdaspeed 3, and currently have a NC Miata that I take to track days. I'm teaching my buddy how to work on cars with his RX8, and we're currently rebuilding the engine for it. The NC with 2.5L engine swap is fantastic, but I've still got that rotor shaped defect in my brain that lights up every time we take the 8 out and hit 9000 rpm. 😂🔺
calling the turn signal switch a "toilet handle" really got me haha.
You mentioned the low torque quite a bit. Rotaries are known to have low torque with most of its power coming in at the higher revs. So if you did want it to slide you'd need to be in the higher rpm range for sure.
I had 1986 RX7, nice enough, but the engine was a pain, needed to rebuild twice. 18mpg and body finally rotted away. UK forgot due to fuel consumption. Engines were getting replaced under 3 year warranties. Revving should hit limiter and warning buzzer. I fitted a Ford engine in the car and it lasted a few more years before getting £15 at scrap yard.
By far not my first car, but I currently run an RX-8 (231) as my 'occasional' car while my Mk1 MX-5 remains in the tucked up garage pending a promise of future restoration. The RX-8 looks great in 'winning blue', is approaching 90k miles on its original engine build and still going strong. Why am I running it? Three reasons: fantastic handling, tuneful engine/exhaust note and a growing attention-grabbing rarity amongst a sea of MPVs and dull hatchbacks. As per your review video, the driving experience is great fun on the right roads. Insurance is very reasonable, at less than it costs to insure my Peugeot 307 1.6 HDi, but as expected it drinks E5 fuel like its going out of fashion (er, like I guess it is) and if it were not for the fact that it's a 55 reg, the annual road tax bill would be over £600. In terms of fun to the pound, it's hard to beat.
Ha, I love the Djungelskog (bear plushie sold at IKEA) in the back of the car
My brother bought a rx8 as his first car. As we went to look at it I noticed many issues with it such as rust, misaligned body panels, leaking water into cabin, transmission was easy to grind, compression test papers showed not so ideal numbers and so on. I warned him of those issues but he was still determined to buy it, fair enough, let him learn of bad purchases. The wheel bolts were so tight that the winter studless tires never came off during the ownership, it was the 190bhp model, consumed 18l/100km but was still one of the best handling cars I've driven. The engine died after just 3000km.
Awesome to see one of these. I saw one a few years ago in the Initial D white spec. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for this Jay. I loved this video. You’re right. These where everywhere in the USA when new. Very much a budged 944 just as the original was a budget 924. Sadly, most all are gone now. I’m a little bit older than you. One of my best teenage memories was at 17 borrowing my mom’s roommate’s then new ‘87 RX7 for a day. Yes, it was a low spec with crank windows and an automatic, but soooo very smooth and had a great stereo which I listened to Crowded House at full volume. It seemed like a rocket ship compared to my 1302 VW Super Beetle. I recently acquired a low spec 92 Honda Prelude automatic that reminds me of the RX7 quite a lot though no where near as smooth an engine. Great memories!
Having owned both an RX7 T2 and a 944 S2, Mazda in 90s Porsche in 00s I don’t think I can split them as to which one I preferred but I do know I loved them both
Nice assessment of freedumb at the beginning.
Yes! I always loved these but I've never had the pleasure so thank you Jay for yet another brilliant video
I did see it’s condition, although I said “I love the fc, I want one, he must of liked it” as an ap1 owner i bet revving an engine out like that feels just right.. love the channel Jay God Bless
8:28 it’s funny when most of the world has LHD he thinks he’s on the “wrong” side 😂😂
I remember seeing Mazda in Australia selling this model of RX-7 with the atmo and turbo motors as well as the convertible model. There's one that's been parked in the front yard of a place near me for years
Yeah, Mazda rotaries were very popular in that part of the world.
Oz RX7's had temperature sensor under seats, to warn of overheat. The engines run very hot.
I had a 87 RX-7 I had a love hate relationship with it. A friend of mine talked me into buying it from his uncle. Some friend, but anyways after awhile the motor had to be replaced from Mazda Auto recycling out of California. I love it but glad it's gone from my life.
I had a very dubious 323F but I loved it. One of the floppy headlights worked most of the time. One rear damper only on the test drive.
One day I will geek out and learn all the 900 numbers. I get so confused when people talk Porsche
Rx8 first car club here! Around 2002 when I was a sophomore in hs
Always my fav gen RX7. There was a book out in the late 80's that went over its design and such in great detail. Well worth the reed if you can find it
Nice to see you in a FC James. Truly the forgotten Rx-7 in the UK market, they have a terrible habit of rotting from the inside out courtesy of winter road salting. They are now a very rare sight here.
The First Gen Rx-7 was introduced in 1978 thru 1985
Second Gen (FC) from 1986 thru 1992
Third Gen (FD) from 1992 thru 2002.
Nice! A very interesting, rare and different car... @JayEmm: If you like rev-ing up to more than 9000 rpm, you should once get your hands on a Suzuki Cappuccino. It revs up to 9300rpm with its 660 cc 3-cylinder turbo engine 😁 (I own one)...
I owned two 1st generation Mazda RX-7s and one 2nd generation RX-7 (a 1987 model) throughout my college years in the early 1990s. I loved all of those cars. The 2nd generation model (at least in the very early 1990s) was, IMO, more fun to drive than a Porsche 944 from the same time period. I had a chance to purchase a 1986 944 or my 1997 RX-7 and chose the Mazda simply because it was more fun to drive and felt lighter. The only driving experience I've had that's ever matched the time when I owned my 2nd gen RX-7 was when I finally bought my grail car, a Porsche 997.2 Carrera S a few years ago. I love that you posted a video of this car and I'd definitely be happy to let you know of any of my experiences owning a 1987 Mazda RX-7 (manual) should you ever want to know. Thank you for your content!
Great review, had a 1996 white one back in the early 90's (actual UK car!), ahh how I remember those repair bills, those late nights waiting for the AA (rotary engine flooded on short runs), and those spirited drives cut short by the passive rear steer that made you think you were about to die (mid bend)....looked great though....
whoops..1986 not 1996!!!
I’ve always thought it is much better far a car to be a bit untidy cosmetically but sorted mechanically than be cosmetically beautiful but the mechanics be on the verge of being condemned. The owners obviously had their priorities right: make it work properly first, then make it pretty.
I currently have the UK rx7 coupe in white but it is a full project they are very pretty cars and never seen on the road you are right I can wait for the day I get to turn that key and go for a drive
The convertibles look amazing too..( had one in the 90s)
This brings back memories. I have one of these, a 1991 non-turbo. It was my first car, bought in 2006. (My second car was a 2009 RX-8 R3 which I kinda regret selling.) Unfortunately it's been sitting in a barn for many years now and I forget I even have it. It developed an electrical issue (wouldn't hold a charge) that I never figured out and I eventually lost interest. I sometimes think about trying to restore it, but it's in pretty rough shape (including some rust) and not worth the time and money it would take for me to get it back in decent condition. I probably should have sold it a long time ago, but part of me wants to get it going again some day.
Very cool car
I’ve only ever known three of my friends to own these . One was a blue turbo 2 convertible that was scrapped , another was a white hard top that’s now 400bhp 1jz , and currently a friend of mine is turning a red turbo 2 convertible into a drift car (much to a few peoples distaste)
Super rare as is - and can’t imagine there being another American car over here .
J & all: 5 year ownership experience: I had an ‘88. If stored…the apex seals dry up and engine looses compression and won’t start. A little ATF down the spark plug holes and crank + let soak in solves…then big plume of smoke when starting. Also electrical gremlins include a dead spot when ignition switches from low RPM injectors to the high RPM ones. Very disappointing when this happens as it looses power just when you want more. When running right, they are great fun, especially with a set of snowtires. Alas, solve it all by dropping in a V8.
I know this generation of the RX-7 well from Gran Turismo, I always loved them there and in the flesh 😀🤘 .
Thank you for the videos, great to have a frequent to enjoy.
I had an RX7, lovely car to look and drive. Saldy lent it to my girlfriend for a month, after two weeks she called saying it was not working. No problem, collected the car and took it to the garage. Engine was dead, not sure what happend, but it was very expensive to repair. (BTW the girlfriend is now my wife)
I have always loved these. I used to walk past a shiny new red one every day on the way to elementary school. The FB styling reminds me of the 924 more than the FC reminds me of the 944. In terms of pure shape, to me the FC is more of an 80s icon with its straight edges and 8-bit video game appearance vs the 944 being simply a muscular evolution of the 70's 924. Plus the FC is miles more mechanically interesting than the 944.
Towards the end of it's lifecycle there was a twin sequential turbo version, called the "major -minor update" .That was the 13B engine version that eventually came as standard in the later FD
A Good Friend of Mine had a UK Black RX7 Turbo II 1990 on an H Plate in 1994. it was a quick car but it was heavy on Fuel & Oil. Seriously Fast Car for the tine 👍
An 87 Turbo II was my 1st sports car in the mid-90s. I learned to wrench on it and I loved it.
All series 4 cars have a normal 3 point harness. I think all S5 had the automatic belts but that was a regulation that quickly went away so it might have only been the 89s.
Being a tall guy it could be a challenge to get in and out of. Once you were in it though it was so light and nimble. With really excellent sight lines, except for around the mentioned B pillar. Surprisingly if you kept it if boost interstate economy was pretty good, memory says 25ish at around 80mph but that's memory. Track with read another thing entirely. Somewhere between 6-9 depending on the track.
You were right to be cautious of the breakaway. It has the classic 80s short trailing arms and behaves much like an e30 but worse. The passive rear steer works by adding toe making bumps at the limit in corners "challenging". I eliminated that as soon as I figured it out. The breakaway then became at least predictable.
The engine's characteristics (lack of torque, revy-ness, etc.) is really a function of the fact that a rotary engine is essentially a 2-cycle engine (compression, ignition, exhaust, repeat), so it's HP is more like an engine twice it's size, but it requires rev's to do it. This also introduces challenges to slapping on a more open exhaust since they are very sensitive to the harmonics of the exhaust pipes. If you ever look at the exhaust system of a racing rotary, you'll see a HUGE muffler/resonator -- and they are VERY LOUD! This is to tune the exhaust scavenging of the engine. If you get it wrong, you can kill the performance of the engine.
You should try a 1st generation RX7, they are a wonderful car and were a great bang for the buck back in the day..
...I always thought the rotary engine has due to it characteristics a huge potential for further development in primary usage of LPG/CNG fuel which naturally has high octane level...
You’re spot on! I work in racing, some of the fastest rotary powered closed cockpit serious cars have small primary header pipes that expand into much larger piping and mufflers.
@@WhiteMouse77 I remember reading somewhere back in the day that the IMSA GTU and GTO race cars actually ran better on regular octane fuel than the high-octane racing fuel that the piston engines were running. I've never researched the combustion process of a rotary compared to a piston engine to try to understand why.
The back seat bear looks like you James !!!!!!!!
You should have given me a shout, i have roadtest from when they came out. Car magazine managed to get the most lateral g of any car it tested. It pulled 0.88 of lateral g on a hundred foot radius circle.
a good friend of mine, she was a stripper, had one of these in white . This was when they were a current model. She used to drive it wearing sky high stilettos .
I learnt to drive in an RX8 and still have it as my daily. It has to be said - they are not ideal to learn in as they are super easy to stall and if you do there is a chance of flooding the engine
I had a 1991 Turbo II Cabriolet for a while, bright red, which I sold back in 2003. Strange semi-electric roof (the centre was a solid piece, which could be taken out separatly like a targa). Loads of fun. @JayEmm - if you can find one of these for review, definitely do it!
I have a h reg one I brought around 2013/14 driven almost daily for around 4 years and then unfortunately due to life has been sat around doing nothing until now with a engine fault under high boost, I'd love to see him review it if I manage to get it sorted this summer as I've always found the car mind-blowingly fun and totally unlike anything else I've driven and I've had quite a few Japanese cars from the later 90s early 2000s but the little fc vert is my favourite to just drive
To drive us the word.
Nowadays, car culture is to be driven.
Thank you!
I'd love one of these, a great 2 car garage with my mx5....
I had a gold Turbo II 2nd gen when I was in California in the early 90's - it was a really nice car, adequately quick, handled nicely and I always liked the 944-ish shaping. I brought it with me when I was transferred to Ireland for a couple of years, where it stuck out like a sore thumb. The local joy riders tried to rob it a couple of times from the locked garage it was in - I put lockable steel posts in either end of the garage, which eventually dissuaded them!
It's interesting that not every car had the funky seatbelts, mine didn't - I think it was very much a short lived experiment. I sold it when I moved back to the 'States, I often wondered if it managed to survive the Irish joy riders!
When I got back to the states I bought a 3rd gen RX7, that I still own. That is the race car to the 2nd gen GT.
Oh and yes - the US cars have a defeat switch that requires the clutch to be depressed to start the car, I believe it is a federally mandated safety feature on manual cars to ensure it is not in gear when you start it up. I think this saved me the first time the Irish boys tried to rob it!
I have a FB which l’ve owned for nearly twenty years, l still drive occasionally.
I remember a go in the brand new Turbo II (euro-spec) version of this, aged 14. Fastest thing I’ve ever been in, clearly..
Great looking things.
I had a GTS in the mid 90s. Same engine, but it was lower, more stiffly sprung and more damped and had lower profile wider tires. It felt roughly comparable to my Elise in terms of ride quality. One of the things I loved about it was that with an LSD, it was very easy and predictable to drift in second gear. Surprisingly, the mileage got better at continuous highway speeds, peaking at about 80-90 mph. I would like to have had more power and torque, though. The stock chassis could have handled a lot more.
A friend had an RX-7 Turbo in the early 90s. It looked great and was fabulous to drive, but the turbo would stop working over the top 500 ft or so of a 6000 ft mountain pass.
My dad used to have an rx8. It's battery keep getting drained by the modded stereo and it became unreliable because he accidentally go to a flooded street and from what I heard it really is hard to find people who know how to fix it. but man I love that car
We hated those belts here in the US. They only lasted for about a year before they were realized to be a terrible idea and the Japanese for some reason seemed very keen on installing them in their cars sold here. As I understand, they were never actually mandated by law. But, were expected to be and with the Japanese makes being known for being tech heavy marketing dictated they have them. I actually have a story about one. When I was 19 my boyfriend and I were hiking along a trail in New Hampshire when we came across an early 90's Toyota Carolla at a part where the trail crossed a road. Parked with the driver's side door open we could hear the door chime bonging like crazy. Upon getting to the side of the car we could see a woman slumped partly to the side. She was dead. From an apparent heart attack she'd gotten to the shoulder and opened the door as if she was going to get out (she probably felt quite ill) and just passed in that position. We just stood there in silence, wondering what to do. This was spring, 2001 and cell phones were still something of a luxury item. So, we decided to stay with her until we could flag down a passing car. Being a bit stunned ourselves he found himself leaning on the open door to the point where it closed. Being an early 90's American market car it had the stupid, automatic safety belts. Upon closing it activated and made her rise up in the seat. I think someone realized there was a dead body there when they saw us jump past the treeline from the next town.
I have FC series 4, Turbo so far have rebuilt the engine due to old age and have fitted series 5 rotors which are lighter and special Apex seals sourced from America. Need to complete the interior and has a Japanese body kit fitted. and I live in Adelaide, Australia. Prices for these are on the way up. It is fantastic to drive and love the open road. I also plan to remove the oil injection to the motor which is engine oil, and run premix from the tank instead.
That GTUS trim designation makes me think of the Rodents of Unusual Size... Clutch down to start I think of as a German thing, my '89 944t required it if I remember correctly as have all the German cars I've owned in the past few years.
I'd love to see you review a FB sometime!
Fun fact: Honda is the only manufacturer in America to produce a car with more than 90 percent (97 I think) of ALL parts and pieces coming from North America.
An early S1 AT RX-8 was my first car. In hindsight, the 4AT was absolutely dreadful, because it only had one usable gear (2nd) around town that wouldn't slowly kill the engine over time. Despite that, I had a lot of fun learning how it handled, and when other cars came along with much better transmissions, I certainly appreciated them a lot more.
At the time, I liked my AT RX-8 so much that, when it was totaled by a FedEx truck, I bought another one. In total, I owned a 4AT RX-8 for 8 years. The engines in both cars never gave me any real trouble. I don't regret it, but I'm also very, very happy to be free of the anxiety, pedantry, and expense of rotary ownership.
With the right transmission (even the 6AT is fine, same as the one from the NC/ND), the RX-8 is a great car: poised, practical, and (at least in my opinion) beautiful. But it is demanding to own. Many owners will say "just do _____ and it'll be fine," and that's okay, except most of those things you either don't have to do for a normal car or will need to do much less frequently (pre-mixing, short OCI's, cruising at high RPM, specialty oils, etc.). An RX-8 takes a lot of dedication.
What a sweet sounding and driving car ! Probably much nicer than a 944S or whatever the equivalent 944 Porsche
Japanese cars from the 80s and 90s, not just the RX-7, always seem to be a lot better than you would think upon first impressions. They don't look like much and, on paper, some of them are quite underwhelming especially in terms of performance. But even lowly cars such as the Toyota Tercel and the Nissan Sentra (which was considered a subcompact until the early 2000s) are often much better driving than one would expect. Slow by modern standards, of course, but sometimes that just doesn't matter.
I was one of the few to have a GTUS here in California. I also had an ae86(still have it) and I found myself wanting to drive the ae86 more. Both cars had no AC but anyone who has had rotary powered cars will know the cabin gets hot fast, even in winter months I would have to roll the manual windows down and let the rain in because I was getting cooked. Then you come to fuel economy and it really isn't good. Next we come to the driving aspect and over all the ae86 is far more fun to drive so I sold the GTUS. When they announced the rx8 and it being a more practical car I was on board but when I found the fuel economy was worse then the V8s at the time I just couldn't bring myself to buy one. The FD on the other hand was an amazing car and I wish I never sold mine it drove so well and those turbos almost made the car feel naturally aspirated, what a car it was.
...this is like Mustang...great even if kept OEM right from the box....but boy oh boy it begs for furious tuning just because of the potential recognized once you look at it....somehow right bodykit and wheels is what lights up its spirit it was born for....
My mate had an RX8 back around the turn of the century. It seemed like a supercar to me. This RX7 has a lot of similarities. I've read somewhere that the notional '1.3' translates as a true 2.6 or something due the the conventional engine capacity calculation not working on rotary motors? Either way my mate's RX8 went like the proverbial.
Such an interesting review. There used to be a lot of these around in Canada but now you never see them on the road or for sale.
Well there was always the famous Mazda Canada rust-out package included for no additional cost until about 2015...I remember several epic little Mazda things, and all RIP by now. Great fun or utility while they lasted.
@@acchaladka I must be getting old as I had purged that option from my mind. It came as standard on most Mazda's back then.
These were always a good early choice in Gran Turismo 4!
My previous car a Kia Cerato needed the clutch depressed to start it, as does my current BMW 130i.
Thanks J, another curious oddity for us! I don't think rotary engines ever got a good reputation in the Uk, so always low sales.
shoutout to the djungelskog in the boot
he isn't my only one, I have that one who lives in the boot, and another in my Golf, and two more at home 😂 they are honestly some of the best pillows you'll ever find
My second car was (still is) an RX8 R3, I actually bought it while on my provisional license. Would you believe I took my driving test in it last year and actually passed!
1st gen launched as a 1978 model. I owned a '79.
Fantastic car James, great that the owner isn’t making those hideous drift mods with wheels in the arch’s at 45 degrees - god help us what’s the attraction? Those seatbelt are just plain mad! I think that even the RX8 will be appreciated because fuel and oil consumption combined with the lack of wankel experience means they are peanuts now and many are scrapped too early as a result.
I had completely forgotten about those moving seats belts lol