FC and FD owners?

[20B_boy]

Evening all!

As a few will know I bought Jasons old FC last week. Its a high miler thats a bit tired to be fair but I knew that beforehand and have to say I\'ve already grown quite fond of it

Owning a 96 FD and having driven quite a few FD\'s over the last year in particular the FC is a totally different animal, although I can certainly see how the FD evolved.

So, I was wondering, does any one else own an FD and an FC coupe atm? or done so recently? How do you think they \'compare\'? I know mine is as already mentioned a fairly tired example - its done 145K miles+ and the suspension certainly feels like it - but I wondered what a tight low miler felt like in comparison? It feels a very heavy car but pulls ok in spite of having about 100K miles on the current motor. I dont like to use the word comparison as they seem to be different cars altogether but does any one have any any way?

I\'m trying to gauge what to do/replace first/at all I guess...!

Cheers all

[hotstepper1973]

Not that i am very clued up but here is my opinion i had the fc t2 was very good for me one because it was alot more reasonable to tweak ie: i had the car de-cat cool ligitimately then i had a fuel cut defenser and boost controller fitted for about 400 quid for the lot.
This made a considerable difference in the car with regards to torque and bhp but never put it on rolling road to find out exactly what though sorry.
Handling wise i thought it was absolutely amazing something to do with the steering firms up at speed to give better feedback, impressive for a car nearly 15 years old.
After a few months of getting used to the increased power i then took it on a trackday at donington which really then impressed me because i thought with the other cars that were on there like elises and the like i thought i did really as i am a total novice on trackdays.Whilst i was there i met up with a member of mrc who was in a 3rd gen who said that he wasn\'t experiencing no brake fade with his set-up so that along with other members telling how much different the 3rd gen was i then purchased one.
So then i had to learn to drive again as this 3rd gen is something else, the 3rd gen is tighter quicker and everything else ie before purchasing it i was able to take it for test drive, so with the owner sat beside me hit approximately 90 mph let go of the steering wheel and stood on the brakes the owner was then propelled forward in a big way cool but the car stayed in a perfect straight line SO IMPRESSIVE.
So for me i think the 3rd gen is way better driving car but that is just my opinion ok

[88GT-R]

Hi,
First point, the 3rd Gen is my dream car and i own an FC. Not that i can´t afford one, just the fact that i intend to fight the underdogs corner and want to build an FC that can hold its own when compared to tuned FD. The FD is a tighter car overall, and has more tuning and styling goodies than does the FC. The FD looks better than the FC, but they are of different eras. Working on the FC is far easier and less complicated.
With a bit of work, i reckon pound for pound, The FC makes a more rewarding drive.

John
88 GT-R

[20B_boy]

I was hoping you\'d answer Jon, as you appear fairly die-hard FC

I know the FD has a head start in that its late eighties/early nineties tech as opposed to early eighties. I think it was Carl I remember hear saying that he thought the FC was the worst looking car that Mazda made (sorry if I\'m mis-quoting Carl, I\'m 99% it was u who said it while I was looking at your RX3 a while back). Personally I like the 80\'s wedges, and at the moment I\'m a bit bored of looking at the FD - which it why I bought an FC - and the fact that I needed a beater.

I\'d like to know just how inferior the FC is in stock form, as mine is tired to the extent that I dont have any thing like a fair car to compare...I\'d like to \'do stuff\' to it but I\'m not gonna bother if its still gonna be a crate at the end of the day!

My first thoughts when driving the hard was of how heavy it felt. Are there normal paths of weight reduction? what can you realistically get the weight down to without bare metal I wonder...?

I really should leave it be but I\'d quite like to make it a bit faster and more dynamic! Probably best to replace all mazdas worn bits and go from there I guess...

Rich

PS beautiful car u have btw Jon!

[sadgoth]

So Rich, you have started playing the generation game too I\'m still after the FD then I\'ll have one of each!

hmmm weight reduction!

That was my first step, find yourself someone who is breaking a convertible and nab the bonnett as they are aluminium less than half the weight of the standard lead (sorry steel one). I\'ve taken all the carpets, rear seats, boot lining and sound deadening out, seems a lot lighter, no idea how much weight has been saved but car feels (well felt until I threw a rotor tip!) more responsive, back end is a little more twitchy with less weight over it. I have the same problem with the suspension being tired, I\'m having Tim at RX Motors do a rebuild & port job + replace the bushes de-cat downpipe and probably go for a microtech ecu. I suspect I\'ll need to replace shocks and springs too. One very odd thing though, the RX feels far faster the the STi even though I know on paper the STi hits 60 in just under 5 and the RX is about 6.4, so once the car has been fettled it\'ll be a flying machine. Should be ready for Japfest (Tim & I hope!)

cheers

Mark

[grinder]

cant think of anything to put really , but i need to stand in the FC corner on this one

im on my second FC at this moment in time - had an EGI first and then got the TII

and IMO the EGI is still a better car - the fact that you could throw it into a corner at 90 and come out the other side impressed me no end

now yeah ok the TII is quick - there is no doubt about it - but mine is letting me down on the handling - so i cant really have a fair comparison

the 3rd gens are nice cars - there is no two ways about it

i love the 2nd gen - its the styling that i like - its that square cut wedge shape of them - very 80\'s - but thats why i like it - tooo many 3rd gens on the road now ( and 8\'s ) - i like my FC because there arent many around now - and people are never too sure what it is

there is a massive debate about whats best the FC or FD - but they are two DIFFERENT cars - end of story - the dont share many of the same parts ( ok maybe engines !! ) - they are built around a different concept in different era\'s

i think thats the problem with most RX7 owners - they all say that they love there car to bits - get a new one - and suddenly they love that one even more - it would be nice to see a FD owner who prefers the FC !!!

i go with what 88 says - pound for pound the FC is more rewarding - although cost has a lot to do with my argument - mine cost about 5 times less than the average FD , and that plays a major part in my book

its the famous statement - what would you do with 10K - i would buy and FC and do that up - from speaking to various people they reckon on 600 - 800 BHP for about 5K , that 5K would only get you a 3rd gen and no tweaky bits ( dont quote on figures - im telling the story !! )

but at the end of the day , i always say that its not down to the car - its who\'s driving it

i usually find that the people who are all talk can only drive the thing in a straight line anyways

Stu

/gets off soap box now and lets some one else have a go ! /

[samfc3s]

I had driven both and owned both, the FC is a lot easier to live with, and still draws a lot of attention, i had owned a FC then FD and FC again....i had to admit FD looks better than FC but i just prefer the look of FC..the older classis shape, but my old mazdaspeed FD do look very sharp too...hahah:D

FD is a lot tighter on corner, may b my fc shocks is a bit tiring :rolleyes: goin to get some JIC coilver when i have some money left.........any


FC is BETTER...hahaha....for me.......


sam

[88GT-R]

Okay,:D
Stu, i like your points and there is much truth behind them. Its seems to me that the FC is a more robust car overall, and mabe that contributes to its weight. BUT, the average FD is heavier and this goes to show how well it performs dynamacly(sic). The brakes are ALOT better on the FD, and the FC´s handling is more sure footed(in std trim). Enough of comparrisons, as i am sure this could get long winded.
Depends how far you want to go on weight reduction. I estimate i lost about 40kilos, or more when i ditched the interior, power steering, airpump and other uneeded stuff from the engine. The steering is alot more direct, although abit more twitching at the backend.
I hope this helps,

John
88 GT-R

[Gman]

This has made interesting reading - I am looking into selling the FD an buying a heavily modded FC from Japan just waiting for a couple of specs so I can make an educated decison.

[grinder]

just keep both of them gman - you know you wanna !!

[Gman]

Your right i do but with my cash flow it aint gonna happen.  Gonna have to sell my body again.....do i hear 27p?:rollin

[grinder]

27p - blimey i only got 9 pence the last time i tried

[scooby_si]

yeah but that was kuz u said you got too much job satisfaction lol
Si

[88GT-R]

Originally posted by Gman
This has made interesting reading - I am looking into selling the FD an buying a heavily modded FC from Japan just waiting for a couple of specs so I can make an educated decison.

Modded FC´s from the rising sun....could you ask for more?? I would hope that this info has helped in making the educated decision. Put it this way, you will most probably have a more unique car, and raise the game a level or 5.

John
88 GT-R

[Grizzly]

Rich, i have had a 100k Fc and the diffrence between my 40k and 100k car is quite dramatic.

I fitted a set of Polly Bushings and a set of Toe Elim Bushings which made the car handle well i then fitted a set of Billys and droped it 1" (you need Pillow mounts and rear camber ajust bar) and it handles realy well.

You can make a Fc brakes as good as the Fd by fitting an FD Brake servo essembly and a set of Hawk pads. You will defo need to put some quality fluid in it and check all the pistons move freely.

chris