kvc@scgvaxd.UUCP (Kevin Carosso) (10/01/85)
Well, I finally got hold of a brochure on the '86 RX-7. In fact,
I got the first one the dealership handed out, as I happened to be
there when the package arrived. As I promised earlier, I'd supply
whatever info on the car I could get, so here goes. I should state
that I haven't seen the car in the flesh yet, they should be out
very soon, however. I am second on the list to be notified when they
arrive. If I have anymore info after driving one, I will follow up with
that.
Most people interested in the car know by now more or less what it looks
like, so I won't go into that in much detail. It's hard to describe
how a car looks anyway. Suffice it to say that it's kind of a blend
of a 944 and an RX-7. I think it looks ok, though not nearly as nice as
a real RX-7.
Highlights of the car are (some relative to previous RX-7's):
- 6-port fuel injected 13B rotary engine. This sounds like
the same engine that the GSL-SE has, however it cranks out
a little more power. 146 Hp at 6500 RPM and 138 ft-lb torque
at 3500 RPM (the -SE is about 134 HP). The electronic fuel
injection has a new computer monitoring system.
Great to see they put this little beauty in the whole line.
It really livened up the RX-7 GSL-SE!
- Disk brakes all around. Previously, the RX-7 had drums in the
rear on the cheaper models.
- Heftier transmission to handle the extra power.
- Some sort of whiz-bang new suspension system. The brochure
really touts this. The key here is "dynamic tracking".
The rear suspension "steers the rear wheels to provide
controlled toe-out or toe-in -- whichever is most
advantageous at any given stage of any given driving
situation." It controls toe-in and toe-out depending on
factors such as acceleration, braking, lateral G-force, etc.
There is also a "camber control system" that supposedly helps
maintain traction and control through bumpy corners.
This sounds like it could be quite a neat feature, however I
would like to see some reviews by reputable car mags on this.
This is supposed to significantly increase the handling of the
car over previous RX-7s.
- The interior is not radically different. From the photos in the
propaganda it looks like they did away with stalks on the
steering column. When I took the RX-7 Club's performance
driving class last year (highly recommended, by the way) it was
really funny watching everyone spin out off the track and come
to rest with the wipers madly wiping and the headlights popped up!
When you're flailing around with the wheel, the stalks always
seem to get in the way! The controls for these have been moved
to the side of the instrument console. They look to be easily
reachable. Also the knobs are shaped differently, so you can
verify by feel that you got the correct control.
Airflow through the interior is supposed to have been increased
dramatically, improving things like defrosting. I hope so,
since this is one of the problems with my '79 RX-7. With the
windows up and the roof closed there isn't enough airflow.
Instruments look nice, pretty much the same as my -SE looked.
None of that digital nonsense.
Some options changes:
- The sunroof is quite different. It now electrically slides back
over the roof of the car, similar to the sunroof I've seen on
the CRX. Looks a little odd, though not nearly as odd as a CRX
with the sunroof back. On the one hand, this does do away with
the hassle of removing the roof, but I think a removable sunroof
leaves a bigger hole -- so more sun.
- You can get a back seat now. Looks far too small to be useful,
but it may do for children and groceries.
- 4-speed automatic (I think previous ones were 3-speed).
- Standard low-end now has 14" wheels with 185/70HR14 tires.
Optional 15" wheels with 205/60VR15.
- If the picture is anything to go by, avoid the Mazda louvres.
Ugh-ly!!!!!
There are currently 4 models of the car. The basic RX-7, a "sport" package,
a "luxury" package, and the high-end GXL model. The sport package
provides the 15" wheels, some spoilers (yuck, I hate spoilers) to bring
the drag coefficent to 0.29 from 0.31, more options (like sunroof), and
the "sport tuned suspension". All the cars have the fancy dynamic
tracking and other goodies, so I assume they merely adjust some parameters
somewhere to "tune" the suspension.
The "luxury" package has more to the stereo, tinted windshield, standard
sunroof, electric mirrors, and optional back seat and automatic.
The GXL is like the "luxury" package, but has even more stereo, power
windows, etc. (much like a GSL in older model years). It also has an
automatic adjusting suspension. It lets you choose between normal and
"sport" suspension parameters and controls the shocks in real-time to
supplement the standard dynamic tracking. Could be neat, could be useless.
Also you get limited slip differential. (Why can't they put this in the
lower models? It's one of the few things I've really wanted that makes me
even think about shelling out the bucks for a top-of-the-line car... In
previous RX-7 years the same was true of disk brakes)
Sometime early next year there is supposed to be a turbo-charger option
for the GXL.
As far as price goes, the dealers aren't saying. Expect something like
$1000 above what '85 RX-7 prices were for comparable models. The brochure
uses $12,000 when talking about a basic model. Expect a big markup at the
dealers until the novelty wears off.
All-in-all, my impression is definitely favorable. I like
everything about the car, though the body-styling is mundane. It looks
much like everything else on the road these days. I must assume that this
is due to aerodynamics. As car stylists concentrate on reducing
aerodynamic drag they are converging on a shape. It does not look bad,
just not quite an RX-7. The other improvements are more than ample
to keep my interest in the RX-7. I am still hunting for a GSL-SE to replace
my stolen one, but they are not easy to find in the form I want. Once I
drive an '86 I may have a different opinion of the car. I have noticed
that my impression of the styling is improving as time goes by. When I
first opened the brochure I said "yuck", that's not a -7! I guess it sorta
grows on you.
/Kevin Carosso {allegra|ihnp4|seismo}!scgvaxd!engvax!kvc
Hughes Aircraft Co.
ps. The stupid third brakelight is mounted just under the latch for the
rear hatch in the center of the car. The hatchback keyhole is just
under the light. It lives as high as it can get without being in the
car shining through the glass or on the roof. Looks tacky, but less
obnoxious than most other third-eye brakelights. Maybe this is why they
had to redesign the whole car?? :-)
pps. Does anyone know if "Road and Track" or "Car and Driver" or any other
mags will be reviewing this car in the near future?rsanders@watdcsu.UUCP (Roger Sanderson PEng) (10/07/85)
In article <416@scgvaxd.UUCP> kvc@scgvaxd.UUCP (Kevin Carosso) writes: >Well, I finally got hold of a brochure on the '86 RX-7. In fact, >I got the first one the dealership handed out, as I happened to be He goes on to describe it. >As far as price goes, the dealers aren't saying. Expect something like >$1000 above what '85 RX-7 prices were for comparable models. The brochure >uses $12,000 when talking about a basic model. Expect a big markup at the >dealers until the novelty wears off. Road and Track shows the GXL as $17,800 est. base price. > > /Kevin Carosso {allegra|ihnp4|seismo}!scgvaxd!engvax!kvc > Hughes Aircraft Co. > >pps. Does anyone know if "Road and Track" or "Car and Driver" or any other > mags will be reviewing this car in the near future? Funny you should ask! I just (today at Noon) recieved my issue of R&T in the mail. The cover picture and feature road test is the new RX-7! I have not yet read it so I will not comment furthur than the price quoted above. -- Roger Sanderson Electrical Engineering Dept. University of Waterloo Waterloo Ontario Canada N2L 5E6 {decvax,allegra,ihnp4}!watmath!watale!rsanderson
cal@pyramid.UUCP (Craig Levin) (10/08/85)
We received a call from our local dealer today (Oak Tree for locals) and got to touch, but not drive, his first three cars. Two of which were sold within the first two hours on the lot. My impressions follow: DISLIKE: 1) Front hood opens from front, with hidden safety catch. 2) Rear Speakers now sit, pointed up toward glass hatch, on top of rear strut columns. 3) Sunroof is not removable, but slides up and back over the back hatch. 4) Base price $12K. 5) Front and rear designs are acceptable, but the profile shows too much 944 influence. (R & T says that the design was frozen prior to 944 release, but they should have changed it prior to release) 6) Very limited color selection (6, I think). 7) Angled rear storage compartment, now squared off, limiting seat reclining. The space is blocked off and hollow on all but top of the line GXL. It is still the perfect place for after market rear speakers. 8) There are psuedo fog lights, mounted above parking lights but below headlights. There is not space to mount effective quartz halogen fog lamps. LIKE: 1) New engine is rated at 146bhp vs. 135 for my '85 GSL-SE. But I cannot determine what has created the increase. 2) Distributor has been replaced by a 4 coil system. 3) Stereo readout is now orange light LCD instead of LED. 4) Rear hatch is now metal framed and, thus, lighter. Hinges are now hidden. 5) Front bumper/nose panel is now single molded piece, similar to Pontiac Firebird. 6) From the comments I have heard others make, I should not have any problems making a profit selling my SE, those who were waiting for the new RX-7 are willing to pay a premium for older models.
mark@gatech.CSNET (Mark Johnson) (10/09/85)
The latest issue of Road&Track has a long article on the 1986 RX-7 and
I would expect the next issue of Car and Driver to have one as well. They
both should hit the news stands within a few days.
In short:
0-60 7.9s
60-0 157ft
slalom 62.0mph
lat. acc. .86g
top speed 128mph
R&T says it is very close to a 944 in every respect. They really liked it.
The biggest complaint was that the interior was not as nice as they expected
in a $20,000 car.
Price was estimated at ~$20k. Base price ( according to a Mazda ad in the same
issue is $11,995 for the base and $16,600 for the GXL top end car.
--
Mark Johnson
(404) 894-2746 (404) 894-3152
CSNet: Mark @ GATech
ARPA: Mark%GATech.CSNet @ CSNet-Relay.ARPA
uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-sally}!gatech!markkek@mgweed.UUCP (Kit Kimes) (10/12/85)
The new RX-7 is reviewed (including a driving impression) in the October 14 issue of AutoWeek. Although AutoWeek is not generally available on most news stands, it is usually available at your better performance shops. They reviewed it pretty favorably. RE the new rear suspension, they say it is most noticeably better during quick lane changes. It tends to cut down on the fishtailing effect. They said that it will help the typical enthusiastic driver but may hinder the professional somewhat since it tends to induce understeer instead of oversteer near the limit. Big news is the arrival of the turbo RX-7 next year. They drove a model of it in Japan and really love the smooth way the power comes on and super acceleration. It will probably cost approx. 21000 but still be 8 to 9K cheaper than a 944 turbo. Kit Kimes AT&T Information Systems Montgomery Works Montgomery, Il. 60538-0305 ..!ihnp4!mgweed!kek