Hey all I'm Erica, just joined. I have a 3rd gen RX-7 right now, thinking about going over to the RX-8. Just wanted to join a forum so I can learn a bit more about them. How would you say they compare to the RX-7?

Thanks,

 

I never had a rx7 so I can't compare

 

well your 7 is 10 years old...nothing like a new car....i have owned 2nd and 3rd gen 7's and I enjoy the 8 more than any of them.....i think everything about the 8 is better than the 7...the only thing you don't get with the 8 is the whine of the turbo and the push in your seat from the torque the turbo gives, but other than that I think everything is better...although, I am looking forward to a new 7 should they make one....but if you can keep your 7 and buy the 8...do it...your 7 is classic

 

Yes, definitely. I love my 7 but I do miss the new car, the warranties, and the reliability. Probably going to test one next week. We'll see how it goes.

 

Can tell you this.

The RX-7 is a kick-**** car, stops hard, goes hard, turns hard. Its an all out sports car that makes a Porsche owner tremble. So it has its place.........

The Rx-8 is a compromise on that theme. Much more "user-friendly", more practical, more economical, more modern.

However, don't expect it to be as quick, stop as well, cut through a corner as sharp..... it does come close to the latter though.

Having said all that.

I am about to sell off my series-8 RX-7 (99-02) to pay for the RX-8 as I actually find the cramped cabin of the FD RX-7 (92-02) not exactly to my taste. Still a fantastic car though.....

Buy yourself an RX-8, get a supercharger kit if its not quick enough. Upgrade the suspension if its handling is too soft & get a brake kit if its stopping power is under-whelming to you. You will love the suicide doors & they are a great talking point for your friends.

Although you have the stupid American thing about calling a 2003 RX-8 a 2004. Your 1993 RX-7 is more than likely a 1992 model meaning its over 10 years old & time to let some young kid have a play while you update to todays lane.......

REgards

This is what I am giving up to buy my RX-8........ Sigh!!!!

 

dmrh,
thats a sweet *** 7

 

The kind of feedback I was looking for, thanks DMRH. Very good information. BTW, nice 7!!!

 

I'm in the same boat. I love my '93 FD but I seem to have less and less free time, and I'm spending more and more of it fixing stuff. God forbid I lose the motor or something. I'm getting a lot of opinions like those expressed here...basically, while not as fast, raw or visceral, people seem to enjoy driving the RX-8 as much or more than the FD. Now for all out track junkies that may not be true...but I'm not one of those.

Ideally I'd keep the FD and buy an 8, but that's not realistic...I don't have the space or the disposable income to do that, frankly.

I have to say however that, if I had a '99 FD like DMRH's, I doubt I would be considering a change just yet!

jds

 

what are you gunna be using the car for. so far the rx8 is quite crappy for commuting, track racing, and ummm yeah. If its performance you desire I suggest the EVO8. The rx8 so far has been proven to be a bad choice due to the doors and structuring of them for a race car. the FD3S is one of the best cars in my opinion and I was considering it before I got my rx8.

 

Unfortunately, its not all about function. The EVO looks like a cheap Lancer with a big wing. Which, in fact, it is, only not quite so cheap, and much, much faster, granted.

I don't understand your comments about the 8 however, other than it seems you hate it. Crappy for commuting and track racing? Those are pretty much opposites!

jds

 

I commute everyday and the 8 is wonderful for it...the only bad thing is people stare at you alot...but is that really a bad thing?

 

The 8 usually beats the evo in autocross races

 

Erica, I own a 93 R-1 and a blue rx8. Comparing them is not easy because the only things that compare are the rotary powerplant, some vague style points (both are amazing looking cars IMO), enthusiastic responses from other motorists and pedestrians and the Rx badging. Pros for the 7, ungodly fast, great handling, attention grabbing and the knowledge that you are driving something that is getting more and more rare here. Negatives for the 7 are ride comfort, interior space and quality, reliability issues, no warranty, cost to maintain and a 10 year car. Pros for the 8, new car with the new car warranty, fun to drive, rev happy, handles very well (in my opinion not better handling than the 7--but more forgiving), space for 4, a well thought out, nice interior, comfortable ride and hopefully the lack of turbos return the car to the type of reliability that 1st and 2nd gen owners got. The negatives to the 8 are non existant for me. But others have complained about fuel consumption (I am not complaining), and lack of power (could use more torque--but I say just downshift). Also Mazda plans on selling a decent amount of these, so the driving a car you don't see every day factor will fade soon.
Bottom line for me is that I couldn't get rid of the FD because of the raw power, but the 8 is a better choice for real life. The FD is like a model girlfriend who cheats on you sometimes. For example, my model is getting 303 hp and 280lb/ft of torque to the rear wheels, but my primary turbo isn't spinning until under boost, so I smell a $3000 repair within the calender year, after spending $3800 last week for Tokikos, anti det, 1300 cc injectors, aluminum flywheel and ACT clutch.

 

DMRH, I would move down under just to have a chance to own that car. You wanna ship it to me in some mislabeled crate? Just kidding of course, but I am salivating just looking at that.
I say do whatever you gotta do to own them both!!! I understand that is not doable in a lot of cases, and believe me I should not have both. Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

I DONT SEE IT.

 

Well I am about to jump into the rx7 or 8 here in a month. My opinion is that if you can pick up a FD with low miles for under or around 20k, then drop another 5k-8k, you will have a safe car to drive. Now safer as in better than going out and getting a FD with high miles, or a reman. The RX8 is going to put you back 30k+ when it is all said and done. Then if your going to go and bolt stuff on then you just blew up your warranty...so no good there.

 

dont know why everyone claims the fd is unreliable.. awesome reputation in Oz winning back to back endurance races, and i have had 4 Rxs, all owned with NO problems over 15+ years. Can only speak from MY experiance!.

 

I've been shopping for an FD for years trying to find just the right one to make me pull the trigger. I would say better than 80% of the ones I find for sale have a new engine. Say they're reliable all you want, I won't believe it. I still want one though :p

 

The FD's reputation for poor reliability in the states comes from the very real problems Mazda techs had servicing the twin turbo rotary. Many engines and turbos and ECUs were replaced when actually vacuum lines and other minor issues were problems. The turbos actually had a very real propensity for failure. Most FD's surviving in the states have had engines replaced, 5th gear synchros universally went bad early, precat caused too much heat and helped lead to engine failure, AST tanks split and caused problems, engine fires were very common, and there is more. Many were modified poorly (granted--not Mazdas fault). I love the FD and feel t is a great car, but there are and were reliability issues.