k so i just picked up a 90 n/a 7 yesterday, i figured it was just a base model rx7 but i saw on the "what did and didnt my car come with" thread that they didnt make a base model rx7 for that year(or at least thats how it looks) the car was originally automatic but has a auto to manual swap, i checked the vin to make sure it was actually a 90, and it doesnt have the rims that the gtu came with (as listed my icemark in the "what did" thread) although it does have some mazda oem rims on it, because of this im lead to believe its a gxl but is there anyway to to tell for sure?

 

GTU was the base model in 1990. There just was no model called a "base" or an "SE". If you ran the VIN, you would've known which model it is. Which I am hoping you did that???

 

untrue, I've run the vin on a 90 GTU I had and it came up as "GXL/GTU" so at least in VA's DMV database it doesn't really delineate what model it is

pics and some interior features (or lack there of) would clear things up

does the car have single piston caliper brakes?

 

run the vin you mean like carfax? then no i didnt, i picked up the car then went to work that night so i hadnt had time to take pics, interior features it has power belts, sunroof, manual windows, manual locks, no a/c but i dont know if it came like that or if the guy took it out during the rebuild(although the car still has power steering) heres a crappy pic of the mazda rims it has maybe thatll help, and as for the brakes im not really sure how to go about checking that :\

 

Most likely a GTU - manual windows, manual locks and your rims aren't polished. The S5 GXL and GTU came with the same style rims, just I believe the GXL's were polished while the GTU's were more flat. Or at least thats how my GXL and my buddies GTU is.

To check the brakes just jack it up and take off the wheel and take a good look at it.

 

it's a GTU
you can never really tell by the wheels, since they're so easily swapped around

power windows, mirrors, sunroof, and AC were pretty much standard on all the 90 S5's
with the exception of the GTUs

 

That's odd. My 90 came up as just GXL and I was in Maryland. And it had all the features of a GXL, thats for sure. Oh well, these cars will continue to confuse people 20 years from now. lol

 

haha they might not be polished looking cause of how old it is lol, but thanks for the help everyone

 

i have a 89 gxl have those same rims.

 

S5 GXL and GTU rims are Exactly the same, if any difference at all, the GXLs are polished.

and to OP: If you just give em a good scrub they the shine should come through. If after some scrubbing its still flat grey, then you have GTU s5 Rims, but not necessarily a GTU FC itself.

 

yeh im prolly just gonna stick with niburu's statement, i was just lookin at the spec sheet thing and he has a point, i didnt really care which one it was it was just a comfort to know haha

 

easy way to tell them apart is

GXL: 4piston brakes(vented all around), power window, cruise control, rear hatch window wiper, Black interior(for the most part),

GTU: manual windows, single piston brakes(non vented), no rear hatch window wiper, crappy looking 5spoke star rims,

i know im missing stuff, but yea thats pretty much some stuff..

 

the brakes are the only real big difference and frankly the single piston calipers are just fine for daily use and autocross
now for road course racing there are differing opinions - they don't have quite the stopping power of the four piston calipers BUT they're not made of aluminum so they don't warp as easily
the only problem I ran into with my 90 GTU was finding the rear unvented brake rotors

 

I may be wrong, but didnt all GXL's come with the sport tuned suspension.

You should have a thingy that lets you switch from sport to normal suspension modes.

Also, it may be an S4 feature (correct me if i'm wrong) but But my GXL has an LSD. Again, i dont think this will apply to your S5.

Also is there no Sticker on the front fenders. lol i hope not, otherwise you got some serious :P

 

the lsd was for S4's


the only S5's which had lsd were GTUs and Turbo ll's.

 

Thats what i thought.

what about the sport tuned suspension?

 

damn dude should have traded my car for ur old t2..would have told ya exactly what it was/has/needs ha ha. it is what it is though ill be meeting up with ya soon. ar you going to go to the big va beach spring car meet?