Like was mentioned before, was the Corvette much to take down back then? ZR-1 not included...

 

honestly, the c4 'vette was both good and quite bad by the early to mid '90s. it was very nose heavy and poorly built, rattled and flexed up the wazoo, but at the same time was quite fast and handled decently. i did like its looks a lot but it just was not a world-class sports car. the zr-1 was a slightly different story. i'm sure during development of most of the rwd japanese sports cars the corvette was looked at, but i wouldn't say it was used as THE benchmark

 

The 993 turbo (model years '96-'97 in th U.S.) had 400 hp, so it easily obliterated the Z TT's 300; but, the '94 911 turbo was the last rear wheel drive model and I'm pretty sure it was around 355hp. So, halfway through the Z's production run in this country Porsche upped its hp #s over the '91-'92 911 turbos, and also smoked the hp and torque of the ZX TT.

 

We'll see it when time comes closer.

 

Sure didn't seem to work for Mazda with the Speed 6 But of course that's what happens you you stupidly think it's so simple. The Evo, STI, and GT-R is what happens when you use a basic car for homologation purposes and then change just about everything about them to make cars that are all about performance. From there you improve on them regularly with things you learn from extensive R&D and from the race cars they homologated.

Your ignorance when it comes to other cars is baffling to me. The Supra was much more a GT car than the FD but it was a VERY good handler with most skidpad numbers ranging from .95-.98 G's and slalom numbers typically 68 mph+ Today there are a lot of dyno queen Supras but there are also plenty that can tear up a road course and a dragstrip in the same day and then be driven home in comfort and reliability. The were and still are incredible cars.

The 300Z was not a 15 second car and it's straightline performance is almost Identical to that of the FD. The ZTT also had little problems with the 300hp Vette which is what the horsepower was rated at from '92 on. It was a remarkable car when it was introduced and remained that way until it was discontinued.

You may be quick to discount the 3000GT as well but it was an interesting car with some cool features. It certainly had it's place and was more practical for people wanting to use their cars year round in poor weather. I will give you that it was probably the least impressive car in the class. However, it managed to beat the hell out of the FD in two areas in the US, reliability and longevity. That's not to take antyhing away from the FD though, it was and is a great performance car.

Here are a couple fun old articles from that interesting time in automotive history. You know, back when a "grounded aircraft carrier" could hold it's own with or even best a high dollar Porsche and Ferrari.

http://www.geocities.com/ma71supratu...93cdsupra.html

http://www.geocities.com/ma71supratu...93rtsupra.html

 

Couldn't agree more.

- AWD and a high output engine does not a great car make. The Impreza and Lancer have such a huge following because those cars have unquestionable character. So much character that people overlook flaws like the WRX's understeer or the the Evo's twitchy steering. Those cars were developed from the ground up, not just and afterthought like many other cars.

- The Supra was a top contender for anything remotely close to it's price range. Including the RX-7. The used Supra market might be overpriced as far as today, but its chassis dynamics and virtually unlimited tuning potential is nothing to scoff at either.

Rotarygod seems to have a pretty skewed view of any car powered by pistons.

 

i think most of us are excited just to know there's going to be a new 16x rotary on the horizon- hopefully w/ whp that's at least within range of the competition. only time will tell. personally, i don't think it's a big deal whether it's labeled a 7 or an 8.

 

that will be about the time i give up the 8 for another car so hopefully it will be a 16x car.

 

It's the response that I expected from you. I just wanted to see what it would say. It's fun to **** certain people off!

 

Yeah... I'm sure that was your intention Debating cars is something I rather enjoy, so I wasn't nor am I pissed off in the least.

 

In a few years the electric car will put pistons to shame.

 

Car to place a wager on that? In three years there still will not be an affordable electric car with good performance let alone putting "piston engines to shame". By the way, if they will put piston engines to shame does that mean it will make the rotary obsolete? Why on earth would it just be piston engines and not all combustion engines? What the hell does any of this have to do with the discussion? Could you be a bigger fanboi?

 

a few years = 20

 

My complicated analytical view:

Is it REALLY so hard for Mazda to bump up the Rotary to 250 to 280 bhp?

/flame suit

 

Two words: Direct Injection

 

Of course Mazda could use a modified MX5/RX8 platform and just put in a 2.5l four with over 300hp. Then Mazda could have a car that handles very well AND has power on par with the competition. Why not offer a RX7/MX7 RX9/MX9 or whatever combo. Those who want the rotary for its specific characteristics will be happy and those who want more straight line power are happy. You sell more units and offset your platform cost. You could even offer a NA 4 for those that want style and good fuel economy aka “secretaries” car. Like every other company does with V-6 and V-8 models.

 

If this happens, Mazda needs to put 325+HP in it or it will flop and be a complete disaster. This might work out perfect for me. I can payoff my car and once the RX7 comes out I can buy it and replace it for my Prelude (daily driver). They have been talking about the RX7 for years, so I'm not too excited. Maybe with the GTR coming over they feel a need to step it up. I just want something powerful. No one is going to want another RX8 and it seems like that is what Mazda is going to do. Mazda should make 2 versions of the RX7. A premium (MazdaSpeed) with tons of power, even if it was $45K people would buy it, it just has to represent on the track.

 

aw c'mon Ike, the Tesla is affordable isn't it?

 

The 8 didn't replace the 7 -- DUH!
The 8 has 4 seats, not 2 -- DUH!

 

the "two 2-seat sports cars" was referring to the miata and the possibly new 7.

Which would be two, 2-seat sports cars.

Still, it was done before in the early nineties.

 

like the design... it has the same rotary shaped hood as the rx8...

 

The RX-7 had rear seats in almost every model (except the FC3C) everywhere but North America.

Kinda ignorant comment for you to make.

 

I took this pic last year when they announced it was the next RX8

 

My 2 cents on a "New Rotary"..

We all know about the 16X.

With the price of crude I don't see Mazda going ahead.
Much will depend on how the face-lift RX-8 does sales wise.

 

I'm afraid you might be right, but does anyone actually expect the facelifted 8 to do significantly better than the current 8???