Seems like the SE has such a following... why the difference? I mead, the GSL has the 4 wheel discs and the LSD too.... and the suspension is the same, so there really isn't a handling difference. There's more 35 horses with the 13B, but that can be gained back through Webers. OK, the 4x110 hubs are a pain, but can be managed.

Are there other differences? Am I over-simplifying this?

 

i feel like the top model of any type of car is going to be the most coveted... isn't that how it always works?

 

I love EFI, and carbs scare me... honestly!
Plus, I like my extra 35 horses....
And easier bolt-on upgrades from a 2nd gen...

Plus I like owning the top of the line...

 

in my own personal opinion ... i think the SE is just a tad overrated. don't get me wrong, i'd get one if presented with the opportunity, but i'd probably want a 1979 model a bit more because i'd want the beginning, not the end. it may just be me ...

i think the 13B and brakes are the most attractive features, but some people just lack the insight ... and foresight! to me, an SE shouldn't mean much unless you're a collector that's going to keep it bone stock.

 

Like said before it is the little tag that is on the back.

 

flat torque curve, vented disc brakes (the GSL ones were smaller and solid), EFI, easier to aquire aftermerket rims, and starting with 35 more ponies than the other guy.

 

i personally like my gsl rather than the -se because of simplicity. one thing that really is a pain is the bolt patten. i am still trying to decide whether or not to buy bolt pattern adaptors, or swap the suspension over from a -se.

also, when it comes to sport cars, i think features shouldn't be so important. things like pwr. windows, locks, air conditioning, pwr. steering, etc. all that stuff makes the car complicated.

i am very happy that my car (85 gsl) came without pwr. steering or air conditioning, however i could do without the pwr. windows, and mirrors.

the first thing when i think of a 86 and newer rx7, is complication.....there is sooo much unnecessary crap on those cars...just more and more to go wrong and add weight, in my opinion. ohhh...one thing i like though about my gsl that contradicts what im saying here is that light that lights up the ignition when you get into your car, to help you find where to put your key. if it breaks, oh well, no big loss, and im sure it only adds a couple ounces of weight, so no big deal.

nick

 

13B vs 12A. Enough said.

 

I will be the first to admit that there are some 12a's that will beat the pants off my car however personally I am extremely happy that I own a fully working 7. I think that pjr did a good jo of putting it "7 is heaven"

 

excuse me?!!

ive smoked a ton of 13b's

the little 12a packs a serious punch!!

i like the 84-85 stripped down non sunroof light as hell model to play with

 

Hehe, you should have bought an -SE. They came with power mirrors and windows, but power steering and AC were options

 

Yes, but whatever you can do to a 12A, you can do to a 13B, and the 13B will have more power with equal mods...

And I also have an '85 base to strip down and 'play with'

 

nope

 

Alright Robert, what makes a 12A soo much better?



--Alex

 

yeah ... the 12As do some serious work! with the right mods, they will smoke a 13B, but i think the 4-port 13Bs will burn them with the same mods.

84-85? bah ... i think the 81-83 models are better for racing material.

 

I have owned 5 first gen rx7s - '79, '80 GS, 85 GSL, and 2 GSL-SE's and the GSL-SE is just the best of everything from the start, not as much needs to upgraded.

bigger brakes, higher geared diff, thicker sway bars, bigger wheels and tires with a better bolt pattern, fully loaded interior, fuel injected 13b, need I say more?

 

lets here it...I am interested in the mods... especially rotary shack...680rwhp that is freakin amazing

 

Personally, I like this quote....I love the fact that I have serial number 1090

 

MMMMMMMM no. the -se uses the same chassis code as the turbo 12a (gtx ) from japan . its a bit more reinforced than the standard 12a chassis that we see here in the US. and then if you prefer larger brakes,better suspension,power options like windows,mirrors,steering ,bit more power,fuel injection and a MUCH better gas tank then thats why people choose the SE . its not just a tag
since they are sports cars you dont normally see much difference in the street or 1/4 mile. take a gs , gsl and a gsl-se to a and road race track put three identical drivers and let them lose and slowly you will see the se- start putting distance on its younger brothers . the se's combo of suspension,brakes and better acceleration is what will make the small difference. i dont knock the 12a gsl, **** that was my first car and i still am in love with it . was way lighter tooo . i wish my turbo se wieghed as much an my first GS . just cant call them the same because they are not

 

I personally don't prefer the -SE. I like my car nice and base, and I like building up my '84GS so that I can eventually say "My GS beat your TII"... as it is, I can almost say "My GS beat your SE"

Jon

 

In no way was I saying that it was just a tag and that is it. What I was trying to get at was the fact that there are tons of people that retrofit parts onto their gs, etc models. It is ovbious that straight from the showroom floor that the gsl-se will outperform all the other models however there are tons of people on this forum that(IMO) have made gs and gsl way better than a stock gsl-se. To tell you the truth to me it makes no differnece just that starting out you have a better car and there are less upgrades that you have to worry about. All are great cars and deserve the recognition that their owners give.

 

I personally like the GSLs. I mean, why buy a car that's 20+ years old that doesn't have a carbuerator? I can fix my GSLs anytime, anywhere, which is important because I count on them for my daily 110 mile round trip to work. Can SEs do this? RX-7s went down hill in their effort to be cool.

Ray

Here's my most recent aquisition, $1548 on ebay:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=ray

 

Right now I have a SE and a GSL. If I had it my way, I would still only be driving my first 7, an 85 base model featured in my avatar.

 

PT Ray you bring up a good point...there is a certain nostalgia to the base model 7's. Quite frankly the rex was created to be a sprots car and sometimes it just screams to be taken down to the bare min. I personally have driven a 79 and now a 84 SE. If I owned both vehicles at the moment I would probably drive the SE. Just because in a completley stock outfit it is a little more fun to drive. There was something about the 79 though that really hit the sweet spot though.

 

this is exactly what i'm talking about.

for the guy/gal that wants to have an Rx-7 with power and doesn't plan to build a street car with more than about 180 HP ... the SE would be perfect!

however, for the guy/gal that wants much more, then stressing over an SE makes no sense. you can start with any year Rx-7 and get something that performs better than any SE, jacked up or not - and it doesn't matter if it's 12A, 13B, fuel injected or carbed.