the rx8 chassis is stiffer than even some of the even more expensive exotics, i wouldn't doubt that it handles better than some cars at $302k

I thought all FD's were crap right until the end of the japanese production line. So if I bought a 2002 version of the FD I would be fine?

They were fine by 1997. It's just too bad they stopped shipping them to most countries by that time :(