Ransom wrote: "First you get the FC, then you get the LS, then you get the FTD..."
You mean FD. Much better chassis.
Ransom wrote: "First you get the FC, then you get the LS, then you get the FTD..."
You mean FD. Much better chassis.
I used to use the tie down straps in the back of my FC to secure my step son in his car seat facing backwards.
I throw myself at the mercy of the hive…
Vote “A” for Crappy Pappy or “B” for different times with different perceptions of safety (circa late 80’s).
Oh, before deliberating, please know that I always taped his spit up towel to the glass to keep the sun out of his eyes.
BTW, he’s all grown up now, drives a 3 Series BMW, and except for an oddly shaped forehead, appears to be doing just fine.
Brett_Murphy wrote:Ransom wrote: "First you get the FC, then you get the LS, then you get the FTD..."You mean FD. Much better chassis.
Well, yeah. And dead sexy. But from the pragmatism standpoint, a lot rarer and pricier than an FC... I don't disagree with you, but my wallet won't shut up.
As someone who used to own an S5 FC and has two kids, the answer is RX8. I've had the wife and 2 kids, both in car seats, in the car without being cramped.
Brett_Murphy wrote: I think the real solution would be to import a 20b Cosmo.
I may or may not have a line on a 13B-RE JC Cosmo. Would those qualify for GRM Challenge Aristocrat classing? (Yes, I could purchase it for $2016 pricing)
RX8driver wrote: As someone who used to own an S5 FC and has two kids, the answer is RX8. I've had the wife and 2 kids, both in car seats, in the car without being cramped.
Opportunity knocks:
How do the two compare (Road handling, feel, and power-wise)? I'd really like to know as the RX-8 may be a potential candidate based on their prices right now.
The RX-8 is an amazing car to drive, and it is easier than an FC to drive at the limit. Real adults can fit into the back seats as well, and the suicide doors make it easier for them to do so.
The RENSIS is probably about as reliable as a 13B turbo, and has more power than they did, but it drives like any other normally aspirated car, you have to wind the snot out of it. The Series 2 RX-8s are even better, but prices on those are still a bit high.
Active thread on the subject:
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/is-the-rx8-the-bargain-priced-performance-vehicle-/106946/page3/
My FC was NA, so the RX8 is definitely faster. Overall the RX8 is just plain better, handles better, has more room, brakes better, everything.
Stock for stock it'll certainly handle better than the FC, which will be a little soft and sagging after 25 years, the RX8's also fully adjustable for alignment, unlike the FC. Both have very forgiving handling qualities, both stock and as I had them set up with coilovers and bigger sway bars. The RX8 has better brakes, better ABS (my FC had none), better suspension design and fits bigger tires (max ~285 vs. ~235F / 275 R on the FC), so it'll post much better numbers. It's more practical and generally feels like a much nicer, more grown up car.
I loved my FC and it gave me 10 years of nearly trouble free service (bought with a fresh rebuild), but it's older, so expect more breakdowns, problems and the like. They're good cars, but they're getting old.
In reply to RX8driver:
Thanks man. My FC was non-turbo as well, loved the beans out of that car.
Maybe, just maybe, I'll give a gander at an RX-8 or two... you know... just to see. FC still looks better though 
Today I got to touch my Alfa, so the crisis isn't as bad. Unfortunately I don't get garage time on the weekends, so please bear with me if you find be back at this thread with gusto come Sunday. 
I don't particularly care for the looks of the S1 RX8's, but to me anyway, the S2's look pretty good (I've got an R3), plus they've got some important mechanical upgrades to make them stronger, more reliable, etc.
I decided on it after comparing lots of options (on paper) and figuring out that it took some of the least work to track prep one of them compared to my other choices, it was practical with rear seats, I could fit 4 spare wheels and tires in it, etc.
NARG! Now I'm looking at RX-8's, prowling the forums, and drafting craigslist ads for my Impala.
I think we can call it a victory when an Impala is getting replaced by an RX8.
The Impala is a classic, though. If you could get a project RX-8 and find the time to work on it, that may be the way to go if it lets you keep both.
If you're going to replace the Impala and need a daily driver, seriously get a 2009 or later car.
Depends on the Impala and if that's your sort of thing. I assumed late model FWD blandness.
RX8driver wrote: Depends on the Impala and if that's your sort of thing. I assumed late model FWD blandness.
'66 but 4-door and 6-cyl.
I'm going to post it for sale at a price I think is too high and let it sit there 'till spring. If it doesn't sell by then I'll mark it down a bit when the sun comes out
When it sells, I'll have a better idea of its replacement. I told Mrs. Hungary she needs to write down what the absolute minimum requirements are for my next car, because her husband is about to get completely stupid if left unchecked
Good times
Hungary Bill wrote: because her husband is about to get completely stupid if left unchecked
When you're able to warn your wife you're about to go off the rails so she can at least keep you slightly tethered to reality, it makes the resulting train wreck much more gentle, though.
Oddly enough, it was a similar train wreck that landed the Impala.
Backstory: One of the dealerships in town (this is in Hungary) had an RX-8 for sale. It was black and it looked good so I went completely gaga. Mrs. Hungary told me "If you're going to buy a stupid boy car, you better do it now before we have too many kids" (we didn't have kids then)
So I started pulling money out of the ATM's. In Hungary you pay for everything in cash, so I had to pull out almost $14k. I also called a friend to help me translate, but ended up not needing him because you don't need to know much Hungarian to understand "sorry dude, it sold an hour ago".
cash in hand, there was NO WAY I wasn't getting a car. Hence the Impala (found it in Budapest).
Ironic then, that I'm again going rotary crazy and am contemplating selling the Impala to get an RX-8 (or RX-7, or RX-3, or Eunos Cosmo... I'm not picky)
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