240sx or FC3S?

[Sle3py]

which car would you drive?

[XbusinessX]

Give us your intentions for a better response..

What are you plans? What is your budget? How much do you know about either car (especially rotaries)? How much have you researched? What are your intentions with either vehicle?

[Euro_rev]

i would go with the FC3S.

[Supra RZ]

240sx

[Blackbeltx]

I'd probably go for the 240sx. I drove a n/a rx7 before buying my 240 and wasn't impressed a bit.

[Euro_rev]

If you know how to work with them you can change that.

[PhrozenLikwid]

If you know how to work with them you can change that.


Wtf kind of comment is that. No shit captain obvious, you can say that about any car.

240sx is popular, and easy to deal with. Parts are abundant. The rx7 is gonna be slow unless its a turbo model. Rotaries are completely different than most other cars, and are tempermental if you aren't well versed on their needs.

Unless you know your rotaries, I would jump on the bandwagon and get a 240sx. Rebuild the KA in it, or buy one off somebody who did the SR swap. Then turbo that and enjoy the torque.

[Euro_rev]

haha, i know, i earned that one. My point was, Rx7 could be better then a 240 if you know how to work with them.

[Blackbeltx]

What makes an rx-7 have more potential than a 240?

[PhrozenLikwid]

yes, please go on and push your intricate knowledge of all things car-related upon us some more...

[Euro_rev]

Well im not stating that I do know much about rx7's or 240's, i just get my opinion from i guy that i know, who custom rebuilt his engine and it now out-
performs many in its class, such as a 240sx.

[XbusinessX]

Euro...

Quit while you're ahead. Post whoring on an actual subject with limit knowledge isn't a good idea.

Your "facts" that come from "some guy" means nothing. Please stop.

[DK]

Get the 240. I have a 240 as a daily driver because I own an FD3S. Enough said about the rotary.

[2Kaccord]

The KA24E or DE make very good reliable engines. I, personally would choose the turbo2 RX7, just because I drove a stock 240sx for a week and also could've bought one for $1200 (speedometer didn't work though). Unless you get a blatantly illegal motor, you won't be that fast. What I mean by blatantly illegal is that the SR20DET will not be tolerated on a driven vehicle, but things like bigger turbos and piping for a Turbo2 are not as easy to spot and much easier to change to be street legal.
My cousin's friend Joe had a lightly modded red Turbo2 and ran 13.6 at Fontana Speedway with only about 10 runs. I don't know what the mods were exactly, but that thing was quick and it was fun when fire shot out of his muffler <- LAME.
It's your choice; study the cars and make a decision.

[neofreak]

240, cuz newbies with RX-7s are retarded.

[yozsi]

i would say the fc. i think they handle better (stock vs. stock) than a 240sx. but both cars can be made fun. so its really up to personal preferance.

[neofreak]

yeah, but a newb that is asking about these cars wants to drift, not handle. 240s drift better.

better get on the bandwagon before there isn't any more room.

[Fenrir]

Lol, long live the piston-pumping RX-7.

Just get the 240SX; the RX7 is worthless. Seriously. Take my word for it.


I'll be "semi" jumping the bandwagon. 70-73 240Z, here I come. But that is more for looks and engine space than it is for mad durifto.

[BOB]

I would drive either; as long as it had a V8 swap under the hood.

p.s. I really do feel for you Cali guys, those smog nazis must really suck ass.

[onboost]

RX7 is a sports car, 240 is only a sporty car.

which has higher power potential with its original equipped engine? RX7
which has better grip, more lateral g, better weight distribution? RX7
which has better body designs? alluminum hood, aerodynamic? RX7
which one has stock equipped LSD? RX7
which one comes with 5 lug 4 wheel disc 4 piston brakes? RX7
which japanese car manufacturer is the only one from japan won Le Mans? Mazda
which company has better racer support? Mazda USA

obvious choices....

other than that a 240 is more popular in drift scene now, I don't know what is the argument here.

[sleeper15]

240, cuz newbies with RX-7s are retarded.

I agree. I see more fc3s in the junkyard than 240sx. I'd go with a 240sx, just cause there more commen, and, their engine is alot easier to work on than the rotary motor. But, if you want to be differnt, go with the fc. All up to what you want.

[spinnin]

We have a 13BT motor in stock and I've been thinking of buying a n/a model rx7 to toss it in with a front mount intercooler. I know that we can import a 3 rotor motor from japan, but is it possible to just modify the 2 rotor motor to a 3 rotor motor?

[neofreak]

but is it possible to just modify the 2 rotor motor to a 3 rotor motor?

Not really.

[PhrozenLikwid]

RX7 is a sports car, 240 is only a sporty car.

which has higher power potential with its original equipped engine? RX7
which has better grip, more lateral g, better weight distribution? RX7
which has better body designs? alluminum hood, aerodynamic? RX7
which one has stock equipped LSD? RX7
which one comes with 5 lug 4 wheel disc 4 piston brakes? RX7
which japanese car manufacturer is the only one from japan won Le Mans? Mazda
which company has better racer support? Mazda USA


Your reasoning is opinion based, and in many cases, wrong. Not to mention the fact that you didn't differentiate between which generation of model years that we are talking about. A 1st gen RX-7 isn't going to fair well against a S14 240.

Comparing two engines theoretical "power potential" is dumb, because you have no idea about how far the owner wants to go in respect to modifications. A SR swap is easy, and relativly cheap. A three rotor swap is not. How far is he willing to go?

240's with the SE package came with a limited slip.

Mazda won Le Mans with a three rotor 787b. That car (and subsequent racing program) has no merit here.

Mazda has better racing support? Racing support for what? What kind of support is Mazda going to offer to this guy?

What is this subjective shit about body designs? Aluminum hood, who cares? Aerodynamics, who cares? The guy asked a generic "which car should I buy" question, do you really think that the miniscule differences in drag coefficient are going to be any benefit to him?

The other two arguments are model specific, and since no one declared which model we were talking about, serve no purpose.

[Spiderman]

You sound more and more like an OG every day Phrozenlikwid.

Between the 2 cars...If you're asking the question in the first place, my suggestion would be to purchase the 240sx. It would be more manageable for a noob and easier to maintain. Rotaries aren't for bandwagon hopping, bad ass dorifters.

Besides, im driving the damn 240 bandwagon, and I know there's still room. So hop on in.

[Ritz S14]

240's with the SE package came with a limited slip.


Almost right. If your car is ABS equipped then you have VLSD.

I know someone with a base abs equipped s14..he has vlsd.

VLSD=ABS
ABS=VLSD
Stock at least. This applies to the S13 as well.

[neofreak]

A SR swap is easy, and relativly cheap. A three rotor swap is not. How far is he willing to go?

Yeah, a SR swap will get you to basically the same place as a a stock TurboII. One of these is smog legal. A 3 rotor only begins to make sense beyond 400rwhp, since thats "easily" attained on a stock 13bt/13b-rew.

Mazda has better racing support? Racing support for what? What kind of support is Mazda going to offer to this guy?

They do. If he were to actually race, he could get a Mazdaspeed sponsorship that includes parts below cost and techsupport, as well as continginency depending on what race programs he competes in.

[yozsi]

i would also like to ad the ka24 engines have more tourqe available in the lower rpm's than a 13b does. it would be easier for a newbie to "dorifto" that.

[PhrozenLikwid]

Almost right. If your car is ABS equipped then you have VLSD.

I know someone with a base abs equipped s14..he has vlsd.

VLSD=ABS
ABS=VLSD
Stock at least. This applies to the S13 as well.

I stand corrected. I was under the assumption that only 240's with the "SE" package came with said parts.

Neofreak - Your are correct about Mazdaspeed, but what do you think the chances are that the guy asking this question will qualify for contingency? I'm sure they just don't pass those things out, and given the type of the question being asked, I would have my doubts about this guy actually developing a serious racing career.

[G_Fish240]

IF you get an s13 with HICAS you have VLSD as well.

[neofreak]

Neofreak - Your are correct about Mazdaspeed, but what do you think the chances are that the guy asking this question will qualify for contingency? I'm sure they just don't pass those things out, and given the type of the question being asked, I would have my doubts about this guy actually developing a serious racing career.

No chance. I was simply answering the question about what Mazda provides to sponsored racers.

[greg]

which car would you drive?

I would drive, and have driven, both.

[onboost]

Your reasoning is opinion based, and in many cases, wrong. Not to mention the fact that you didn't differentiate between which generation of model years that we are talking about. A 1st gen RX-7 isn't going to fair well against a S14 240.

Comparing two engines theoretical "power potential" is dumb, because you have no idea about how far the owner wants to go in respect to modifications. A SR swap is easy, and relativly cheap. A three rotor swap is not. How far is he willing to go?

Well, like mentioned above, a stock T2 engine will get you easily passing SR level on a FC, not to mention, you can now buy adapters to drop in the REW engine and having even more potential.

Even for a 1st gen RX7, S14 will have a hard time competing on race track. 1:40+s in Laguna Seca is not uncommon in the SA22, but no S14 has even come close to that.
Same thing for Touring ITA, Autocross, even on the drag strip, the non turbo 1st gen RX7s are deep into the 10s.


240's with the SE package came with a limited slip.
every RX7 Turbo comes with LSD, but LSD is a factory option on SE(eventhough most of them have it)


Mazda won Le Mans with a three rotor 787b. That car (and subsequent racing program) has no merit here.

The technology, and the support team, the contingency program is all there. Doesn't matter what car won. Mazda was the winner. Not Toyota, not mitsubishi, not Honda, NOT NISSAN.

Not only Le Mans, what about IMSA? The Second Generation Mazda RX-7 breaks the IMSA record for a single model car with 67 victories and most consecutive wins for a model ( 11 years in a row ) and there is Peter Farrells' winning with 3rd gen... There is the Autocross wins too. The list can go on for many page, and 240 is not in any of these.


Mazda has better racing support? Racing support for what? What kind of support is Mazda going to offer to this guy?

same thing, mentioned above, mazda gives out contingency program for all racers, this guy can be just a normal autocrosser who puts mazda decal racing in properly sanctioned autocross, and get the Factory Racing support from Mazdaspeed.....Solo1, Solo2, Rally, HPDE, NASA, endurance, Speedvision cup, formula D, JGTC and on and on.....


What is this subjective shit about body designs?

240 has higher cd, clf, clr

Aluminum hood, who cares?
evidentally a lot of you guys care, care about wight... What is a common reason when you hear a rice boy buy a carbon fiber hood? "i want to save weight, and it looks cool"


Aerodynamics, who cares? just about everyone whos got a brain out shopping for a sportcar. why don't you go race in a tahoe? it will make great topspeed i am sure, and no lift at high speed.


The guy asked a generic "which car should I buy" question, do you really think that the miniscule differences in drag coefficient are going to be any benefit to him?
yes, it will benefit him to make the right decision. answering his question "what car i SHOULD buy", and the post is not recommending him to buy the worser car of the two.


The other two arguments are model specific, and since no one declared which model we were talking about, serve no purpose.
it doesn't matter which model. In the US, there is only S13, S14, and both of them meets the above arguments. that is, its just a sporty trendy car. Not a true sport car.

[Blackbeltx]

yes, it will benefit him to make the right decision. answering his question "what car i SHOULD buy", and the post is not recommending him to buy the worser car of the two.

[ViEtNaMeeH]

get the 240 and turbo it.... i hear turbo KAs make pretty good power

[Jay]

got a noob..get a 240 and be diffrent just like everyone else

[onboost]

how is getting a 240 is more "different"... they are all riced out and everywhere

sad to see 240s image get distroyed by ricers

[2Kaccord]

how is getting a 240 is more "different"... they are all riced out and everywhere

sad to see 240s image get distroyed by ricers
He was just kidding...
That's why he said, "like everybody else."

[RAWbin]

Euro...

Quit while you're ahead. Post whoring on an actual subject with limit knowledge isn't a good idea.

Your "facts" that come from "some guy" means nothing. Please stop.

whoa he stopped, thats amazing!

id go with the 240

[PhrozenLikwid]

Long ass post....

While I disagree with many of your statements, and think that some are flat out wrong, I have neither the time nor energy to go googling for tech to make things right (On a seperate note...school sucks.). I am hoping that someone else will do it instead.

Regardless of such, I think you are missing my point. To use a bad analogy, you are missing the forest for the trees. Yes, an RX-7 might be a better car from some people. Someone else might even be able to argue engineering finepoints as they relate to both cars. I myself do not think that I am qualified to do so. If you think that you can, then by all means continue.

However, my reason for choosing the 240sx was because it was a beginner friendly machine that would make a good first "sports car". I, as well as many of the people on this board judging from the responses, think that the rotary-powered RX-7 is beyond the scope of what most people would be able to handle in terms of "liveability". It is a car that requires the utmost in attention and matienance, and many people find out that they just aren't able to comply with the demands set forth by the car.

Anyways, enough with the bullshit. The question is a shitty one, as the user provided no information on what he planned on using the car for, or his experience with vehicles in general. While it can be gathered that the user is a "noob", without said info everything here is just speculation that is relative to hypothetical situations. The guy hasn't even been back since he posted the question....

If you would like to continue this argument, however trivial it might be, go for it. I am sure there are people here who will argue your claims. If I can find more time in my schedule, you can bet that I will be one of them.

[jussie]

ok, well lets think of it this way. he seems like an uber fuckin n00b. he probably doesnt know shit about piston engined cars. rotaries have 3 moving parts. the reason they are so short lived, is the apex seals go. Sure, they are hard to tune, and they HAVE to be tuned or they run like shit, but thats not that big of a deal. The bottom line is the RX7 is a better car for performance. He should get the rx7 and learn to work on it, just like he would have to learn to work on the KA if he got a 240. I dont see how people think the rotary is soooo scary and complicated. its not complicated, its misunderstood. check www.nopistons.com theres alot of great info there. and the abundence of rx7's in junkyards is a good thing! more spare parts, cheap engine cores!


*edit* and rotarys are also susceptable to overheating, which fucks them up.. thats another reason they are short lived.

[neofreak]

I, as well as many of the people on this board judging from the responses, think that the rotary-powered RX-7 is beyond the scope of what most people would be able to handle in terms of "liveability". It is a car that requires the utmost in attention and matienance, and many people find out that they just aren't able to comply with the demands set forth by the car.

Yeah, changing the oil every 3000 miles is kinda hard to do.

In the 3 years of owning my old fd, thats all the maintenance I had to do.

In fact, out of my 8 RX-7s, all I've ever *had* to do was fluid changes, one broken alternator belt and replaced a couple clutches. Hardly demanding.

Rumors are overblown.

edit: oh, and sparkplugs/wires.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Personally, I love FCs but I have S14 240sx. If i get to pick still, id rather have my 240sx just cuz its newer and a hell lot more easier to work with. Turbo IIs are kool but i hated the gas mileage. Stock for stock...an NA FC will be pretty much even with any DOHC 240sx. But even it out...Turbo II vs any SR equipped 240sx, imma have to give it to the 240sx.

[ILL-Eagle]

im FC biased cause I own one...so ill drive the FC

[Spiderman]

and...the mustang out of nowhere 4tw!

honestly, that kid hasnt even posted since the original post.

[fliprayzin240sx]

If skys the limit tuning wise and engine swap wise. Hmm....an FC with a 20B in it or a 240sx with a RB26 in it....I might go with the FC on that one. Iono bout you guys but have you guys seen that vid of a 3 rotor AE86???

[G_Fish240]

20b cost more then an rb26 and I think its harder to swap

[neofreak]

20b cost more then an rb26 and I think its harder to swap

20b is about $3k-$4k retail. Not a hard swap, just buy the premade motor mounts. If you've already got the IC/engine management/fuel mods that you should have already installed its not that difficult.

How much is a rb26?

[Scott]

20b is about $3k-$4k retail. Not a hard swap, just buy the premade motor mounts. If you've already got the IC/engine management/fuel mods that you should have already installed its not that difficult.

How much is a rb26?

The engine/trans costs about the same (around $4k IIRC). The kit to do the swap is about $1200-$1500. It's not that hard, but it's defenitely not as easy or straitforward as an SR20.

[tbkonwso]

hmm i never drove an fc before, but 240 is pretty cool, but the ae86 was still the funniest car i ever drove, and miata.... anyne got a miata for sale? i need a beater supra is a gas hauler lol aspeicaly with gasbeing 2.50 these days

[boo5t3d7]

as a previous owner of a s13, and a current owner of a fc3s..... i must say that the 240's are a easier car to maintain and to drive. once the skill level gets up the fc will be a more potent weapon, when properly maintained. both cars are contenders in my book, and you can find more fc's at the tracks on track days, and mad s13's on drift days. go to a track day and see if you can find each platform equally set up, and see what lap times they turn. to tell you the truth driving the car is everything, you can see many specimines that you like, but you in the car is the telling tell.