The FD RX7 is the best looking 90's JDM car

[GTSBoy]

33 minutes ago, MBS206 said:

Are you saying hes a bit Gregged up?

Comes with the turf.

[Kinkstaah]

I wonder if people like the FD because it reminds them of old 60's roadsters and such. It just gives me such a 'roadster/soft cruising' vibe as opposed to anything more hard-edged and purposeful.

That, mixed with 90's melted soap bar styling. It's hardly ugly, but it's kinda oddly proportioned to me, relative to about 10 other cars I had a think about based on this thread. 

[GTSBoy]

Yes, it's because it has hips and bulges on the top/front surface, a tiny cockpit and roof, and the skin looks like it is stretched over muscle.

The proportions are....perfect. Long nose, short rear, short roof. What's not to like? It continues the theme started with the S1, that peaked with the FC, being "looking like a front engined Porsche", while gaining a little more of the 60's Mustang coupe profile and stretching the skin more tightly over the understructure.

The FD is definitely colour sensitive though. Like all Mazdas.

There are plenty of details on it that changed over the years that were either better or worse, could have been done better the first time and/or never changed for the worse. But...the same can be said for the NSX. In fact, that's probably even more true for the NSX.

I've also just worked out that part of the reason I don't like the rear of the NSX is that the integrated wing is too similar to that shitful R33 rear wing.

 

[The Bogan]

11 hours ago, niZmO_Man said:

S15 Silvia looks nice.

A red or yellow S15 wins my vote, Ack that it just scraps in with the 90's cars theme, but they are great looking little sports car

Next would be a A80 Supra (pre face lift), whilst the A80 has its own issues, I feel is the best looking larger GT car

As for the FD, "I" feel that the reason it triggers me in a non-positve way when looking at one, is like looking at a high maintenance pretty girl who you know is mentally unstable and likely to explode for no apparent reason

[Kinkstaah]

26 minutes ago, GTSBoy said:

Long nose, short rear, short roof. What's not to like? It continues the theme started with the S1, that peaked with the FC, being "looking like a front engined Porsche", while gaining a little more of the 60's Mustang coupe profile and stretching the skin more tightly over the understructure.

A 180SX has a much better look than a FD. The roofline is far superior being a fastback. It's popups look better. In a world where we all subconsciously add a little bit of low, and wheels of our preference, it's just more handsome than the FD is.

The FD just looks 'bubbly' in comparison. It can come down to preference, sure. But "The FD is the BEST looking (on appearances alone) 90's JDM car without question?"

Nah. Plenty of questions lol. I could think of 8 cars I think look fundamentally better, and probably a handful of ones that look about on par with a FD. (like say a SW20 MR2)

I feel people like/overrate the FD because of it's mythicality/rarity, its rotary and it's unpredictable nature. It probably drives great, you can stuff a ton of tyre under there, has a unique sound, light as hell. I feel that people reading this thinking "YOU CANT RATE A 180 ABOVE A FD BECAUSE A 180 IS A CHEAP DRIFT BUCKET" prove the point about bias as to what the car represents, moreso than how it actually looks..

I feel the 80's boxy/squared off look is becoming better looking due to time, and 90's melted soap bar aesthetics have not aged well. (yet?)

And this thread is purely about looks :p

[PLYNX]

22 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

I'd drool over a HG Kingswood before I'd drool over an NSX.

FD absolutely the bets looking.

R32 GTR vs A80 Supra fighting for 2nd place, although GTR looks the goods with no mods and an A80 needs at least wheels, lowering, and the right colour to look the best. GTR looks good on stock wheels and in any factory colour.

Yup but for me its the HR ! Cut my teeth on the old holden 6s in the day !

And here's me thinking in the day it was also the 300ZX and the Mitsubishi GT3000 !

All, as well had good lines, but always seemed to need finishing off, style wise.

[GTSBoy]

1 hour ago, The Bogan said:

As for the FD, "I" feel that the reason it triggers me in a non-positve way when looking at one, is like looking at a high maintenance pretty girl who you know is mentally unstable and likely to explode for no apparent reason

If they just called it the "Mazda Tiffany", it would have been spot on.

[GTSBoy]

I used to hate R31s, and any of the other Nissans that led up to it, and any of the Toyotas with similar styling, because of the boxiness. They were, and remain, childish, simplistic, and generally awful. I appreciate R31s a lot more now, but only the JDM 2 door. The ADM 4 door (and any other 4 door, even if they are unique compared to our local one) can eat a bowl of dicks. The Aussie R31 is also forever tarnished by their association with stereotypical bong clutching Aussie R31 owners of the 90s and early 2000s.

I think the Nissans of the 70s (other than 120Y/180B/200B) are far superior looking to the 80s cars. The 240K era Skylines are boss. The same is broadly true of Toyotas. Hondas don't ever register in my thinking, from any era. Mitsus are all horrid shitboxen in any era, and so also don't register. Subarus are always awful, ditto. Daihatsus and Suzukis also don't generally register. They are all invisible.

I think the SW20 MR2 looks fiddly. The 3000GT/GTO is like that but way worse. Too many silly plastic barnacles and fiddly gimmicks ruined what could have been a really nice base shape. Kinda-sorta looks like a big heavy ST165 Celica coupe (and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing).

I think the 180SX is dreadfully bland. It's not bad looking. But it has no excitement to it at all. It's just a liftback coupe thing with no interest in its lines, and bad graphical elements (ie wide expanses of taillight plastic on the rear garnish). The S13 Silvia is a little better - getting closer to R32 shapes. But still....bland. S14? Nope. Don't love it. S15...a little better. Probably a lot better, actually. Benefits from not being like a shrunk in the wash R34 (where the S13 was a shrunk in the wash R32 and the S14 looked like a Pulsar or something else from the stable on Nissan mid 90s horrors). The Z32 was hot as f**k when it came out but hasn't aged as well as the A80.

Keep in mind that I think the R33 is the most disgusting looking thing - and out of all the previous cars mentioned is objectively closest to my precious R32. It's just....real bad, almost everywhere you look. And that is down to the majority of what was designed in the 90s being shit. All Nissans from that era look like shit. Most other brands ditto. In that context, the FD absolutely stands out as being by far the best looking car, for reasons already discussed. Going behind the aesthetics, the suspension alone makes it better than almost any other car.

 

[Kinkstaah]

in my list I had the R33 GTR as the best Skyline.

Infact I had all GTR's (33>34=32), the NSX, the GTO, the 300ZX, the 180SX, the S15 better than the FD RX7. I had the MR2 and the A80 as 'just' better. I also think the DC5R Integra looks better but this is an 01 onwards car. I also think the FC>FD.

It's almost like aesthetics are individual! The elements @GTSBoy likes about the FD and dislikes about the 180 are inverse in my eyes. I hate the rear end of the FD and it's weird tail lights that are bulbous and remind me of early hyundai excels. They are not striking, nor iconic, nor retro cool.

The GTO has supercar proportions. I maintain these look much better in person (like the NSX) especially with nice wheels and suspension which is mandatory for all cars pretty much. Some (or all) of these you have to see in person to appreciate. You can't write a car off until you see one in the flesh IMO.

Like most people we probably just like/dislike cars which represent certain eras of design or design styles in general. I also think the 60's Jag E type looks HORRIBLE, literally disgusting, and the 2000GT is nothing to write home about.

FWIW I don't think the Dodge Viper Gen1's have aged very well either. You can probably see where I rate bubbly coupes like the FD. I know we're straying now but the C4 and C5 absolutely murder the Viper in the looks department as time goes on, for my eyes.

Wouldn't surprise me if people who love the FD, also love the MX5, Dodge Viper, Jag E Type, etc etc.

[MBS206]

Suzuki Cappuccino beats them all... But the Toyota Will Vi beats the Cappuccino too...

 

And I love the Dodge Viper, but not because it looks like/similar styling to an FD.

[GTSBoy]

I like the Viper because it is ridiculous.

I like the E Type because it is ridiculous.

Cars with long bonnets and short rear decks that are ridiculous are as close to automotive perfection as you can get.

The RX7 is also ridiculous. Therefore, given the above, also as good as it gets.

I rest my case.

[admS15]

Sorry Greg. FD is sex on wheels. LS fits in the bay nicely too.

[Ozdavroz]

I checked a few aussie RX7 and rotary forums but sadly there were no threads about the Skyline being the best JDM car

 

[Milkmun]

S2000 is nice.

[Duncan]

13 hours ago, MBS206 said:

Suzuki Cappuccino beats them all... But the Toyota Will Vi beats the Cappuccino too...

 

And I love the Dodge Viper, but not because it looks like/similar styling to an FD.

Thank god Matt understands this thread, should have added a pic to help us all though

My favourite was the s-cargo though (I see what they did there)

Now *that* is some proportions

[GTSBoy]

I believe the abominations thread is elsewhere.

[Duncan]

Nah that's this thread....otherwise why are we talking about the most melted looking car since the AU falcon?

[Duncan]

they look even worse with tri-spokes

[GTSBoy]

Everything looks worse with tri-spokes.

[Ozdavroz]

4 hours ago, Duncan said:

 

 

Duncan what the hell is this thing, just so I am aware and can avoid situations in future where I might encounter one face-to-face?