Okay.... my friend and I keep going back and forth about which handles better. For some reason, he thinks that his RX-7 is actually a better handling car than my MINI. I cannot for the life of me find specs for slalom and skidpad anywhere to shut him up. He claims that the FD is known for it's handling abilities and I keep telling him that I have never heard that in my life, and that if there is any one single thing that the MINI is known for is ITS raw handling abilities. A fact that has been established a good 30 years before his car was even made.

I told him that if you put a stock JCW MCS on the track with a stock RX7 that the MCS would dog his car badly. Thats just what MINIs do.

If anyone has any links to data or videos, please throw them my way. I need some outside input to send his FD running away with it's tail between its legs.

 

The FD has perfect 50:50 weight distribution and furthermore is a rear drive car. The car also has excellent structural rigidity and is one of the weapons of choice for drift racers.

Skidpad numbers show an impresive 0.97g (from this site)

Add that to a 255hp engine and I doubt very much that the MCS will embarass a seasoned FD driver. Or, as that site above says "The final iteration of the RX-7 was either the greatest track weapon the world has ever known or the harshest street machine to bottom out on the lip of a driveway"

Sorry.

 

I'm sorry, but he's right. The RX7 would most likely TROUNCE a Mini at any track, except for a tight-cornered autox. Even then, it'd be a close match. FDs ARE known for their handling abilities and still remain one of the best handling cars on the road.

Haven't you ever seen the Best Motoring videos where the RX7 always places first against NSX-Rs, Ferrari 360s, etc.?

Is the Mini the best handling FWD car? I'd undeniably say yes. Would it beat an RX7 around the track? Probably not.

 

While I love my MINI I am careful not to dimiss other cars as inferior. Each has it's virtues.

The original Rx-7 was introduced in 1980. The last Rx-7 was equipped with twin turbos and was capable of 13 sec. quarter miles. And they handled. One guy has one in ASP in local SCCA autocross and he's very close to setting fast time at every event.

Here are some specs for you.

http://www.stevemullin.com/

 

Yeah dude I had to deal with this little monster at the track on Sunday:



I have to say even after my friend letting me drive it and the 27lbs boost being almost uncontrollable when u got on it in a turn, I still ran 58.6 and the MINI was way back at a 65.01. RX-7s know how to handle whether modded or not, that's exactly why I plan on getting one this winter for an all out modder car, and keeping the MINI for everyday fast fun.

Mikey

 

Obviously the MINI is not going ot be able to put up a fight straight line due to the tremendous power disadvantage, gearing and drag, this I know and would never question it. However, on an autoX course, which is what I was specifically talking about, the power is not going to dominate and its where the agile MINI would win.

Where are the numbers for the MINI? I know I have seen them before but can't find them to compare.

And I still firmly believe that the only way to settle it would be to put a JCW MCS and a stock FD on the track to duke it out. Oh, and I want to see an Elise out there too to see what happens.

 

Sorry to disappoint you but even with the reclassification of the MINI JCW to B stock it will not beat a stock FD with equal drivers. The stock FD runs SS class in SCCA autox and that's where Elise runs.

edit: 06 JCW is in B stock

 

I put my money on the RX-7.. It's better balanced and RWD... While the mini is quite capable.. its not in the same class.

 

i'd like to see comparison between a RX-7 with your friend vs you in your
MINI.

who cares about spec racing. means nothing if you can't drive.

 

Keep in mind, I wrote compare them using equal drivers.

The car is what the issue is about not the drivers. I say, put in the same driver in both cars, and compare the two, and keep in mind that the FD was last made in 1995 so unless it's fresh as a MINI the comparison will be tainted.

Edit: and it goes both ways because owning a MINI does not automatically mean good driver

 

well....i guess I'll have to recant....but I won't tell him that. I know there are limitations to fwd, but wouldn't think that would come into play as much in autoX.

I will definately take him out to gateway for autoX this summer, which will be funny because he's never done it before.

What will happen if/when they make an awd mini?

 

which imho is meaningless.

put your car and your friend's car at a auto-x and see who's faster.
the car and driver is one.

 

Btw, you know that "Typhoon" thing is a joke, right? :-D

 

it's an overpriced 6inch elbow with a filter on it....whats wrong with that

 

Could not have said it better...

 

No offense, but the MINI has only been around since 2002. The MINI and the Mini are two different cars. Comparing a MINI against an FD3 RX7... that's kinda apples to oranges. You might hold up in the corners, but on the straight you're probably going to be sucking fumes behind him!

 

sorry i did not get the capitalization correct, but you know what I mean.

 

It kind of knocks the wind out of that

MINIs handle the best line, doesn't it?

For some hard numbers, try road & track who seem to have this down to a science. Now some ppl will tell you the JCW MINI was handicapped with OEM RFs but guess what, thats how MINI builds them. You don't get to choose tires. If you change the tires on the MINI, you can change them on any cars. The optional tires on Elises are barely legal thread.

JCW MINI .86 Slalom Speed 66.2 mph

To give this some perspective for those who are convinced MINIs are the best handling cars

Elise 1.03 Slalom Speed 72.6 mph
Boxster 1.00 Slalom Speed 73.9 mph (current record holder)

 

--The FD is an awesome track weapon. I want one just to fiddle with. Tuned and rebuilt properly it is unstoppable. The engine has a tendency to destroy itself though. The rotary sprays oil into the combustion chamber to lubricate the apex seals and gasoline to cool down the chamber prior to spraying the combustion mixture. Can anyone say inefficient cooling and lubrication?

It definitely would be a labor of love but I'd still love that car.

We can get our coopers pretty fast through mods but as someone else said the FD is already in another class stock. I SO want one!

 

I checked Road & Track's website. They didn't have anything for the rx7, and nothing like what is in the magazine for the MINI either. They don't have the spec pages in the back anymore either.

I never dismissed the FD's abilities, because I know how awesome they are. I was getting annoyed with my friend calling the MINI out on its strong point when we could find not hard data to settle it with. I never floated the 'minis handle the best' out there either, but they are definately among the best. And when it comes to bang for the buck, there is no denying what the MINI serves up.

As I mentioned earlier, how do you guys think the potential all-wheel drivetrain will contribute to the MINI's abilities?

 

Sure they do. For example, see http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...data_panel.pdf
You can download the data panel for any recently tested car in the last few years.

RX7 was lasted tested in 72? Long before the Internet so its not there.

As to "among the best" Go download some of the other tested cars in the last two years. You might quickly find that 66.2 in a Slalom used equally for all cars, is not very good at all. I know this tends to burst the "MINI" bubble but numbers are numbers.

Miata did 67.7
Solistice 67.0 Sad when an American car beats it.
BMW 330I 66.6 and so forth

 

imho that's useless and meaningless. the car and driver as one, is that out of southpark? Be the ball? hahahaaha

edit: Let's say you put Hans Stuck in a Ford Escort, and he races you in your MCS. I have no doubt Hans Stuck will beat you(assuming you know who Hans Stuck is). And now the Escort is better? You bet this was meaningless, just as meaningless as your statement.

 

woof woof!

http://www.fd3s.net/magazine_article...article02.html

guess someone scanned the magazine. I have the 1993 Autoweek buyers guide somewhere with the FD in it. It was a nice looking yellow car.

The FD was one of my choices until I found out that it's not all that reliable compared to say, a turbo supra.

 

That's actually really funny seeing slalom numbers from those older cars. Makes you wonder how much is suspension improvement, and how much tire improvement.

 

the FD is a weapon - and a beautiful one at that....