Both models equiped the first gen RX-7.

U.S. Spec ones are waaaaay better looking, but the Euro ones fold, and the mirror is slightly bigger

I like the U.S. ones


From above you can see how the Euro ones are thiner


Mirror area








big "barn door" design


"bullet shaped"

 

What do you guys think?

I bet no one ever saw them side by side before.

 

North American spec looks far better. I think ECE (European regulations) requires the folding mirror, but I'm not sure.

 

i think the u.s. spec look far better than the euro spec... u.s. fit the body lines far better too

 

Personally, I am a HUGE fan of the euro-spec mirrors. Not only do they look much better but you can actually *see* stuff with them. The US-spec mirrors are not convex, so they are utterly useless to me. If my euro-spec mirrors were in better condition (one of the folding mech springs got messed up), I would have them painted and installed on my daily driver. Here is a pic of them on my old race car:

 

US is my choice. I understand blakes point as for seeing though, its kinda hard.

 

Yeah, not having convex passenger side mirrors makes them all but useless. But imho the US spec ones look much better as far as fitting the car.

 

us spec!! (wanted)

 

US spec 200 percent. I would put those mirrors on other cars.

 

It looks like my SA mirrors are a pretty good combination of both. I could be wrong, but the mirror looks to be a bit bigger than the FB one, and the shape still fits the lines of the car pretty nicely.

 

Nope- euro spec rules - more sophisticated (dare I say it?? more "European" ) If the style is good enough for Porsche its good enough for me.
Visibility is _OUT_standing compared to hookey lil' US spec model...! USA got shafted on that deal IMHO. (Added the euro-spec taillights to my SA to complete the Look). But each to their own. Lotta folks think their too big, but old skool-wise, they were right in with BMW, Benz, Saab etc. on mirror sizing Back in the Day. Certainly made it an obvious choice in the European market. Even the japanese home market dumped the fender mirrors in favor of this style (there were actually 3 different mirror models) in 82.
XLR8's is the electric version that came out on the FB in '81. Mine are the manual SA version sold on the 1980 in Europe (no 79's there). BTW the mount holes and wire harness all match up - its a plug-and-play swap out...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Would it look weird with only one Euro spec mirror on a car?I ask because my SA only has one mirror,and I don't want to drill holes in the door.

 

It looks to me like the AUS spec mirrors are the same as US spec.
I have ditched my OEM mirrors in favour of Miata/MX5 mirrors. They look good,have more visibilty and better areodynimically as well.

 

Australia got the best SA's though No side repeaters in front fenders, 210 kph on the clock as opposed to 180kph for JDM spec, better interior.

Are those extra red bits on your taillight lenses factory?

 

US spec look better to me.

 

US spec look better, and im sure drasticly improve MPG.

joking on the mpg part by the way

 

id like to get my hands on some euro spec mirrors. anyone want to trade?

 

HA! but your SAs have no sunroofs! - you poor Ozzie bastids!!
Lack of side repeaters is neat, tho I really like the little round mid-fender ones the europeans got...

Better interior?? Since ONLY Japan got the "Limited" version SAs (different than US version) with Leather and power windows, etc. I doubt the Ozzie SAs match that?

Red bits on lenses standard on all rear lenses - just stand out more on these because they are Continental Europe-spec tail-lights with Amber signal lenses on the out sides.
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

^^^Pffft 7's with sunroofs have less headroom. I don't see not having one as a disadvantage,also it's one less place for rust to happen. JDM SA's have no side intrusion bars in the doors, really the only good thing about them is the chrome taillight lamps which I have on my car. IMO leather seats are over rated, i wouldn't put them in my car purely because of in cabin temps and the fact that you slide around too much.

 

^^ sevens with sunroof have less headroom ?? how so, if you slap on a glass sunroof and open it there's way more space for head room than one without.

 

I don't think glass roofs were available for SA's, which is what they're discussing. You're right about FBs though

 

I can't wear a hat while im driving because of headroom. But I think it would be the same without a sunroof. I usually knock my hat off when I look out the drivers window, so I just throw it on the passenger seat when I get in now

 

are you tall/wear a top hat? :p

 

I'm 5'10", so average, but the beak of my hat hits the door frame, and knocks it off. Although a top hat wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

they were. i have a 79 with a glass top. its MUCH larger than the FB top.