Which 1st-gen interior do you like better and why?
 

Do you prefer the big front-and-center tach of the '79-'83s? Or the more organized look of the '84-'85s? The circular vents of the earlier cars? Or the '80s feel of the later cabins?

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The earlier interior definitely has a charm the more businesslike later interior lacks. But to my eye, the '84-'85 inside exudes more quality than the '79-'83.

Thoughts? Preferences?

I like the 80 interior best of all. To me, it epitomizes the first-gen spirit.

But then, I'm biased because I a) own one, and b) have spent a lot of hours trying to maintain the essence of the design while making it my own.

this is actually a tough question. one that i've given some thought to over the years.

i've never owned an SA, so while i have come to appreciate them on many levels. i simply have no experience living with one. therefore, they can't be my favorite.

that leaves the S2 vs. S3 ...

instinctively, i guess i want to say i like the S3 interiors more and be done with it. so that's what i'll do. i really, really like them. my beloved FB grew up.

i get what you say about them being more business-like, but lacking the charm because while my head made the decision to answer your question, i think my heart rests with the '83 GSL. they feel like home to me. everytime i drive my brother's car, it makes me feel different - the orange gauges, the thinner shifter, the pedals, the key-in chime, no buzzer. everything just feels right.

Are there major differences between the S1 and S2 interiors? I always the design was 95% the same with only some very minor updates, hence the reason I lumped them together...

Also I should have done a poll with this thread. :(

The '84-'85 RX-7 has always had one of my all-time favorite interiors. It's so neatly-designed, understated and clean. I love the way all the instrumentation is organized, and the relative wealth of it (6 gauges!). I also really like the way the console sweeps up and into the dash area; that's one of my favorite interior features.

All that said, there's something about the S1/S2 interiors that seems, somehow, to fit the character of the 1st gen slightly better than the '84-'85. The SA/FB is so...elemental...and the earlier interiors seem very...analog? The later interiors dip their toe ever so slightly into the techno-digital-ness of the '80s and seem to bridge the gap between the FB and FC in some ways... I dunno.

The older steering wheel for sure looks better and the round vents. Just looks more simple

Sent from my iPad using RX7Club. how bout that!

I like the SA interiors because the instrumentation has a much more retro 70's feel than the '81-83, which has some very '80s lettering and iconography. I'm also quite partial to the SA shifter knob. While the S3 interiors are much better, quality-wise, I really don't like the look. Losing the center tach and the beautiful four-spoke steering wheel is too high a price for the added quality, IMHO.

For the 12 years I drove 84/85 GSLs I liked the S3 interiors better, maroon leather is best. The S3 is a very smart and classy design.

But now that I have an 83 GSL I like the S2 interiors better, still in maroon leather of course. The S2 layout has more soul, looks more like an old school sports car.

SA all the way. I'm with DD, the 80 SAs are the best of all the interiors. All the good parts and no
speaker holes in the dash above the glove compartment you see on the 79s.

i grew up with the 84-85 interiors too, and while they are classy, and good quality, and they look great at night.

the early dash just looks more traditional sports car to me

and then the 79-80 is even better, as it does have that retro future thing going on (Mazda does this well in general), and the shifter is just better.

so i like em all, but if you gave me a choice, i'd pick the SA

I choose S2 because I prefer the tach front and center on a sports car.

The S1 is better for the white on black lettering and the shifter position, but the clock in place of the oil pressure gauge isn't very sporty. Reminds me of a Volvo.

The S3 interior is a little too squared off, firmly into 80s territory. The red on black gauges I don't like as much as white or orange of the others. I also prefer the older 4 spoke steering wheel to the rectangular 3 spoke of the S3.

IMO, the only weak point in the 80 interior is that the instrument lighting is too dim, even at full brightness and with fresh clean bulbs. One of these days I'll need to deal with that.

Nope, dont forget the tiny brake booster

80 interior for me, but again I'm biased. Just love it's simplicity - and Series 2 onwards in the UK came with a sunroof whether you liked it or not whereas my S1 hasn't.

Agree with DD though - the dash lighting is terrible so would be interested to see any upgrade. Maybe LED, but weary of it looking ricer.

**edit**

And the 80 seats are way cooler.

dad and i have been playing with LED's in the house, and once you pick the right shade and wattage, the lighting quality is really nice.

the trick is finding the right shade and wattage...

Mine is as bright as I need and I usually turn down the brightness. Maybe its time to get those cataracts checked.

I've also noticed since I have an 80 and an 84 the earlier cars have more passenger leg room plus the dash seems smaller giving you more room from like your chest area to the dash.

Har.

SA interior all the way. Ever since I started DDing an FB I've missed my SA interior.


On the other hand because the S3 doesn't feel clasic at all. I've noticed that I drive more recklessly because I don't feel like i'm in a clasic car. I kind of like the generic run of the mill 80s car feel at times, but there is nothing special or classic to me.

I love the S3's (contrary to everyone posted before me) because I've owned an amazing example of a maroon one. I've had two S2's in black and neither was a good example of a nice interior.

I do agree that it feels much more modern than earlier cars, but I still love it. Want a grey one in an SE next.

I'm partial to the S3 as well! You're right though: We definitely seem to be in the minority.

My perspective on it is this: Sure, the S1 & S2 interiors have more charm and are more "classic," but if I want classic there are so many other interiors to choose from. My automotive sweet spot is from the early '80s to the mid-'90s (when I grew up) and the S3 has a perfectly-executed example of an interior from that period. YMMV of course.

I'm partial to my 85's brown interior myself it gives it a classy feel and looks better than red or black/gray to me but I also like the 83 tan interiors and the 80 ls full brown leather interior

I prefer the S2 interior myself. Goes with the classic look of the car IMO. Feels more racey, sporty to me. I was pretty happy when I went to look at my 85 GSL and the PO swapped in a S2 black interior :).

what you have there in the picture is perfect! I like series 2, with the plain door cards and the door handles all the way to the back so my knees don't hit them. Also the gauge color is more pleasant to look at yellow>red.

Taking apart the interior ruined the S2 interior for me for a while. Something about knowing exactly what it's made of makes it feel less like a cohesive whole and more like a bunch of plastic pieces and metal brackets. So for a while I would look at S3 pictures and think "Wish I had that instead!"

Then I drove an S3 for a while and realized the interior really felt like the same place, just looked a little different. So I became happy with the S2 again.

That probably sounds really weird.

Anyway, my only actual beef with the S3 is that cheese-tastic fake stitching :P

i love the SA black interior, simple sleek and the seats give me more leg room, im a big guy so it helps