For the few that will care - Mazda planning new RX-7 for 2017

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I drove the Z for a week. It was powerful, pulled like crazy, handled well. But, I couldn't overlook the weight of the thing.

It felt like I was driving a really fast tank.

Yeah, different sort of feel to the RX-8. The 350Z is definitely heavier, and more from the 'old school' bruiser class of coupe, heavier inputs needed, stiffer ride and bit more jittery on the limit but a fun drive nonetheless and the engine just blows the RX-8 off the road. Noticeably more power (around 300bhp from what I can remember), much more low down torque, more more usable rev range, creamy smooth yet makes a great sound. You can even hit 70mph in 2nd gear!

[tennis_balla]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I drove the Z for a week. It was powerful, pulled like crazy, handled well. But, I couldn't overlook the weight of the thing.

It felt like I was driving a really fast tank.

I drove my friends Ferrari 599, talk about weight. 6 litre, V12, 620hp, FR setup. Big car, but handles amazing. The acceleration is awesome, but taking it in and out of turns at the speed it can do it at feels like its physically impossible given its size and weight....yet it just sticks to the road and doesn't move. Its all in how the car is developed.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by tennismonkey

if mazda's idea for the new rx-7 is a $20-25k two seater/2+2 like the new subaru BRZ/scion FR-S -- then i think this is a great idea. lightweight rotary engine and supreme handling would make for a fun car. if mazda is making a competitor for the 350z or 335i in the $30k+ price range -- i think it's a fail. rotary is too low on hp and torque and fuel/oil economy.

I hope not. From a marketing standpoint, if Mazda price the new RX-7 as low as $20-25k, it'll de-value the RX-7 brand/image. RX-7 has established itself as a premium, no-nonsense sports car. It was originally designed to compete with the likes of Porsche. You can't price the car at the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ and say you want to compete with Porsche. If the RX-7 is in the conversation with the NSX's, 911's, GT-R's, etc., it can't be priced that low.

Originally Posted by Torres

Yeah, different sort of feel to the RX-8. The 350Z is definitely heavier, and more from the 'old school' bruiser class of coupe, heavier inputs needed, stiffer ride and bit more jittery on the limit but a fun drive nonetheless and the engine just blows the RX-8 off the road. Noticeably more power (around 300bhp from what I can remember), much more low down torque, more more usable rev range, creamy smooth yet makes a great sound. You can even hit 70mph in 2nd gear!

I don't know about the sound. I found it to be fake, "tries too hard", and ultimately super annoying. That drone made me not want to go onto the highway.

[FD3S]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I hope not. From a marketing standpoint, if Mazda price the new RX-7 as low as $20-25k, it'll de-value the RX-7 brand/image. RX-7 has established itself as a premium, no-nonsense sports car. It was originally designed to compete with the likes of Porsche. You can't price the car at the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ and say you want to compete with Porsche. If the RX-7 is in the conversation with the NSX's, 911's, GT-R's, etc., it can't be priced that low.

I'm torn. On the one hand, the RX-7's last incarnation was indeed a high-priced, high-end car capable of competing with just about any car out there - on the other hand, a light-weight two seater with a rotary power-plant appeals to the part of me that holds cars like the AE86 and FB in high regard. I'd say $25-30k would be a decent price, as any lower and they'd probably have to start cutting corners.

[krz]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I hope not. From a marketing standpoint, if Mazda price the new RX-7 as low as $20-25k, it'll de-value the RX-7 brand/image. RX-7 has established itself as a premium, no-nonsense sports car. It was originally designed to compete with the likes of Porsche. You can't price the car at the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ and say you want to compete with Porsche. If the RX-7 is in the conversation with the NSX's, 911's, GT-R's, etc., it can't be priced that low.



I don't know about the sound. I found it to be fake, "tries too hard", and ultimately super annoying. That drone made me not want to go onto the highway.

I agree with both of these points. If they are going to build a true RX-7 successor (RX-8 was far from that) it's going to cost a lot more than 20-25K. They sold for nearly 40K in the early 90's priced pretty much on par with the Supras. So, a new true RX-7 with a MSRP into the 40's-50's wouldn't be out of the question. Though the car is going to need some serious performance.

I can't stand 350z/370z's either not only does the car "try to hard" but, it's kinda the image I have of the drivers too.


On the topic of the BRZ/FRS they are planning a turbo version so, I have high hopes for that one.

[hollywood9826]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I have always thought about buying an old porsche..something super sweet and retro like a 944. It just would not make sense as a daily driver, which is what I need.

I think the best cheap daily is still an older 4runner.

944's aint bad. For a cheap daily you cant beat those old Volvo 240 diesel wagons. Those things seems to last forever.

[hollywood9826]

And as far as Rx-7's go Im pretty sure those 87-88 ones destroyed any legacy of an RX-7 being in the same boat as porsche. My aunt had one and she is a hair dresser.

[krz]

Originally Posted by hollywood9826

And as far as Rx-7's go Im pretty sure those 87-88 ones destroyed any legacy of an RX-7 being in the same boat as porsche. My aunt had one and she is a hair dresser.

You do realize the the quintessential hairdressers car is a porsche right?

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by krz

You do realize the the quintessential hairdressers car is a porsche right?

Didn't you just say you were annoyed by people calling Miata's girl cars?

I'd rather drive a Porsche than a Miata.

[FloridaAG]

I like Mazda. We have a CX-5

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Didn't you just say you were annoyed by people calling Miata's girl cars?

I'd rather drive a Porsche than a Miata.

It depends on the person. I honestly think one can have as much fun in a Miata and a Porsche.

[krz]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Didn't you just say you were annoyed by people calling Miata's girl cars?

I'd rather drive a Porsche than a Miata.

I was merely pointing out the irony of calling the RX7 a hairdressers car compared to a Porsche when you have the Boxster the quintessential hairdresser car.

and being a hairdressers car and being a good drivers car are not mutually exclusive e.g. Miata, Boxster, MR2 Spyder all amazing driving cars with the stigma of being women cars.

[Power Player]

lol..yeah the boxster..stupid guy i know bought one..bragged about how he owned a porsche and went into debt over it...terrible.

[krz]

Originally Posted by Power Player

lol..yeah the boxster..stupid guy i know bought one..bragged about how he owned a porsche and went into debt over it...terrible.

Great car but, I could never own one for shallow reasons lol.

1. Hairdresser Stigma
2. Everybody thinks you bought it because you couldn't afford a 911
3. 911 owners like to make fun of it e.g. "not a real porsche"

986's are dirt cheap these days too. But, it suffers from the same illness as the 996. Egg Yolk Headlights = Epic Fail.

[tennismonkey]

if mazda wants to create a new RX-7 halo car that competes with the porsche, the new NSX, GT-R, etc -- it's going to have to magically come up with far more than 300hp that the renesis engine is supposedly capable of. or it will have to create a car that weighs about as little as a miata with that 300hp.

1st and 2nd gen rx-7's were affordable sports cars. the early 90's rx-7 was stupid expensive. it's no coincidence that toyota supra and rx-7 are no longer around.

a $40k+ mazda sports car is a hard sell -- less than 1000 cars a year. the only reason mazda would do that is if it really wants a halo car for image. nissan's GT-R is a beast of a car and sales for that are not exactly stellar - about 1500 or so a year - but it brings people into the dealership.

my prediction is mazda creates a sports car that slots above the miata and mazdaspeed 3 in their lineup. and competes with brz/fr-s/370z/genesis coupe.

[Mick]

i have a 370z Nismo and the ride is super harsh.
On roads that aren't perfect, the car feels like it has a flat tire

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Power Player

lol..yeah the boxster..stupid guy i know bought one..bragged about how he owned a porsche and went into debt over it...terrible.

Richard Hammond said it best when they reviewed the S2K/Z4/Boxster.

"There's only one reason why anyone would buy a Porsche Boxster, it's because they can't afford a 911."

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Power Player

lol..yeah the boxster..stupid guy i know bought one..bragged about how he owned a porsche and went into debt over it...terrible.

At work. there's a porsche panamera Turbo S that sometimes is parked next to my car. One day, I went online to check the price of that car. Holy cow, it's so expensive!

[hollywood9826]

Originally Posted by krz

I was merely pointing out the irony of calling the RX7 a hairdressers car compared to a Porsche when you have the Boxster the quintessential hairdresser car.

and being a hairdressers car and being a good drivers car are not mutually exclusive e.g. Miata, Boxster, MR2 Spyder all amazing driving cars with the stigma of being women cars.

She bought the RX-7 in like 88 or 89. I dont think they were making Boxsters at that point, but maybe Im wrong becuase I dont have legendary knowledge on porsches, and Im too lazy to wikipedia.


You guys must grow up in different times and area's. Around here nobody in the market for a porsche would have for one second considered a RX-7 as an alternative.

[Chuck]

I'm glad to hear MAzda has decided to continue the RX-7. The 1st one I owned was a '91 N/A (2nd gen Series 5). The one I own now is an '87 N/A (2nd gen Series 4).

A lot of RX7 owners don't know that the oil consumption of 1Qrt/2500 miles is the result of an automatic system at work. Because rotaries behave like 2 cycle engines, oil needs to be mixed with the gas. Knowing that no modern car owner would be willing to manually mix, the Mazda engineers designed a pump system that injects a small amount of crankcase oil into the combustion chamber. Therefore, if you are an RX7 owner, you should know to check and top off oil frequently.

They handle amazingly well; hug the road and 6500 rpms and 100 mph in 3rd gear does not phase them.