ive heard a lot of you throw around the terms S4, S5, etc. what does this mean? is this a model?

--eric

 

it's the naming system in Austraila (if not other non-US locales). I believe the s1 is the savanna, s2 the FB, FC gets split at 89? for s3,s4 then the s5 is the FD.

 

oh yes, s = series.

 

Bzzttt wrong, try again.. LOL Kidding.. S(eries)1 is the SA (79-80), S2 is the '81-'83, S3 is the '84-'85, S4 is the '86-'88, S5 is the '89-'91 and S6 is the third gen...

--Danny

 

Ding Ding!! This is correct. I am not sure on the exact years for the following, but there are up to a series 8 in other countries.

Series 6 - 93-94
Series 7 - 95-98
Series 8 - 99-01

 

S6 = '92/93-95 (ALL US-market FD are S6)
S7 = '96-98
S8 = '99-02 (The only four year series)

Interesting to note that, apparently in all non-North American markets, all 1st-gens are SA's. Here, only S1s are SA's, while S2 and S3 are FB's. Also, everywhere else, all S2/S3 are trimmed to GSL spec (all the gadgets and geegaws and 4 wheel discs etc) and all S3s have the 4x4.5" bolt pattern.

Of course, we're the only place to get the 13B 6-port in a 1st-gen Plus I'm fairly sure that all Japanese non turbo 12As after '81 or so have been 12A 6-port. Don't hold me to THAT, though...

 

ahh i get it now

--eric

 

""ahh i get it now """
I'm gunna have to put it in a flow chart first!! By market I guess?

 

What's interesting is Mazda doesn't go by either '1st gen' OR 'SA, FB' etc.

The Mazda system is as follows:

1978 = X605 - North American versions, requiring more stringent rear-impact reinforcement, are 2 seat only; other versions without additional rear-impact bracing could be had with 2 'occasional seats' in back.

1979 = P642 - upgraded interior materials ('P' stands for 'Production')

1980 = P815 - the new bumpers lowered drag coefficient to 0.34, equivalent to a 5HP gain, and reduced front end lift from 0.18 to 0.12

1982 = P130 - lean-burn 12A engine (still different than the Japanese and European model 12As), revised interior. Black Dynamite stereo added... the first Mazda shipped to North America with this system had it stolen from the car within 3 hours of landing at Mazda Motors of America.

1983 = P132 - the GSL-SE with 13B, built for the North American market only. SEs with headlight washers and other Canadian spec additions are the rarest. Japan got the 12A turbo because there were factory repair services everywhere in Japan but worries about reliability meant North America got the more conservative approach to boosting displacement.