1st had a 38 million budget, but it pulled in 206+ million. A number of them had ticket sales about 4-5 times budget (not counting 7 due to paul's death).
Yeah, I also wish they would get back to the cars more than the action. They aren't ex-green berets with training or anything. They are a bunch of raggedy street racers who robbed semi-trucks. Its not like they were even world class racers. Wow, you beat Ja Rule in his 98 Integra, I bet you could take on a private military force no problem.
Of all the movies I tend to rewatch the first two the most. There mora about cars and just entertaining because they weren't trying to be action heroes.