ROTORROCKET

If you were to shop for a FC, which is the best year and why?

live4boost

iTrader: (2)

89-91 cuz they are the best. Diff. tail lights front bumper, better turbo, better TPS

pp13bnos

iTrader: (1)

And more hp....lighter rotating assembly, higher compression, faster ecu, all of wich help it have a higher redline than the 86-88. I guess i'm just partial, because i have one too. CJ

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

Also there are motor differences too, like double apex seal springs. Different rotors. etc

ROTORROCKET

Thanks for the info, any specific year from '89-91?

Audiofight

I have an 88 SE.

First, you are making the right decision if you are considering buying a RX.

Second, these guys are right on the money with the 89-91 being the better set of the two. And all their reasons are correct.

I can only add this:

Spend alot and get a car with low miles on everything or one with high miles and a newer motor with less miles. The other option is to buy a "fixer" and put a new motor in it yourself. The only bad thing that can really happen is you spend alot on one and the motor goes out quickly.

If you want serious power, go TII. Make sure you have experience driving a rear-wheel driven sports car. If this is your first rear wheel driven vehicle. I say go with a FI model and learn how to drive it. There is a performance difference between Turbos and N/A, but the handling is superb on all RXs.

Good luck and happy shopping.

SPEEDYRX-7

I agree, the 89-91's are by far better.

they received many more options standard, the 8000 RPM redline is great, 160 HP for NA's, better fuel injection system, the cosmetic changes, better rear spoiler, body painted rub strips, embossed mazda decals, larger brake ducts, 160 mph speedometer and several more things...


I dont know if there is a specific year for 89-91 they are all pretty similar, except for the 91 since there was no GTU or GXL. All 91 RX-7's came standard with a/c and pw and pl, plus leather wrapped steering wheels and shift *****.

I just bought a black/black 90 GXL and I love it, but I would say 91 is the best year since its the newest. If you are looking for a turbo II i dont think it matters from 89-91, they are all pretty much the same but if you are shopping for a NA go for a 89 GTUs, but they only made 100 so that would be extremely hard to find.

I think any fc is cool though, and the best one depends on what you can find, but anyway i personally suggest an 89-91.

hypntyz7

DEefinitely an 89-91. They are smoother, sleeker looking, and just feel a bit nicer when driving or looking at them. The 86-8 are basically the same car, but they feel so much cheaper to me. Also there are about half as many 89s as 87s, so they go for higher cash. I think 89 is the best year, cause theyre the same as teh 90 and 91, but yet are cheaper than the 90 and 91 also. Either buy one that is near mint and give a bit of cash for it, or else get one dirt cheap that needs a LOT Of work, and just go all out on the rebuild with body and engine upgrades. Just remember that, no matter what anybody says, about ANY modification/upgrade you can do is a trade off for reliability of some kind.

ROTORROCKET

I know this is a stretch but does anyone know of a '89-91 for sale in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area?

Erik

the black car in my sig might be for sale in the spring time...but not before then. i'm in NJ.

its a 91...96K, motor was rebuilt at 68K. extrememly strong compression and the interior is mint leather. but i'll still be keeping it for a few months

Node

iTrader: (1)

i hear 91s are kinda buggy
word to wise, on most cars, first and last year always have their bugs ;-)

ROTORROCKET

Erik drop me a PM when it's time.

HOZZMANRX7

iTrader: (43)

About 140,000 86-88's (Series 4) were sold in US. About 20,000 89-91's (Series 5) were sold in US. Therefore, used parts are WAYYYY more available on Series 4's and thus far less expensive to keep on the road.

But, you do get what you pay for. Engineering is much better in 89-91's. Also, 90 & 91 Verts were the only RX7's with airbags.

Best compromise, buy a clean '88 Vert, and a not so clean but in good running condition 87/88 T2. Retrofit the T2 drivetrain into the Vert, part out the rest of the T2 ultimately sending the shell to the wrecking yard. Bolt in play with only real brain damage is swapping out the main wiring harness's.

Obviously more tedious play. If you do the work yourself, you should be in for about the same or maybe less than for a 89-91 Vert. but much better performance with way better upside potential from power mods.

Mallard Duck

87 Sport, best year and model!

RarestRX

Yo,


Well, the year to get is gonna be 1989 or 1990, and the model to get is the GTUs. Note the little "s", VERY important.

This the Turbo II without the turbo. Only about 1100 made, look for white, black, and red ones.

Recycled text of mine:

About the GTUs: I've had mine for 2 years now, no major problems. Mazda created the GTUs to celebrate the domination of the IMSA GTU class in the 80's. Its kind of like a homogolation special. *wink*

Here are the good bits:

1. Manual windows (No pesky electricals to break)

2. No sunroof (Increased rigidity)

3. 4 piston aluminum front calipers (Same as TII, Da Bomb Sh*t.)

4. 4.30 rear gears (Beat your friends TII off the line, until he hits boost. *wink*)

5. LSD (For dorifto action)

6. Aluminum hood (Hella light)

7. 16" aluminum rims (15 lb's a piece)

8. Stiffened suspension (Same as TII)

9. Cloth Recaro-esque seats (Like R1 FD, no leather to slip around on)

10. No rear wiper (Who needs to see what's behind you? Again, dropped for lighter weight)

11. What else? Exclusivity. Its documented that they only made 100 in 1990, and I guestimate 900-1000? were made in 1989. They made 1500 10th Anniversary TII's.

They came in three colors: White, Red, and Black. That's it. The white has a blue interior, the red and black has black.

Here are some pics of mine:

https://www.rx7club.com/vforums/show...&threadid=31425

https://www.rx7club.com/vforums/show...threadid=31425



They're big, sorry!

It took me 3 months of searching to find mine, and I had to drive down to SoCal to get it. Cost me $5900 too. You gotta pay to play, especially with the GTUs.

KS
1989 GTUs "It's all about the "s" baby!"

Scott 89t2

year to get is 89,90. the quality went downhill in 91. the 91's are as badly and cheaply built as 3rd gens. which are POS's

fc3s.org

Reply to Node:

I would have to say a 91 would be the best due to the fact that they aren't the last ones that were made...they offered 92's in Japan and Europe if I recall correctly. I know that there are 92's out there is my point, so the 91's aren't the last year =)


Reply to everyone else:

Of the 91's there are 3 models:

Coupe
TII
Convertible

I plan on buying a 91 TII somewhere in the future when one presents itself to me. I already own a 91 white vert (plastered all over my website in the pic galleries ) and that car has done nothing but give me reliable mileage. And the fact that it is a vert makes it all the better, especially living in San Diego . How often do you hear people with 91 model year problems? Not very often, especially if you are on any of the email lists out there. Most of the problems are in the 86-88 years in all models. The 89-91's had their fair share of problems, but they seem to be less critical than the earlier ones had.

Personally, I love them all

fc3s.org

Where in the world did you receive this info? What data or knowledge do you have to support the statement that "the 91's are as badly and cheaply built as 3rd gens. which are POS's"? I completely dissagree with that.

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

theres a 1990 GTU in my town for $3000, its got like 100k on it, pretty good shape.

JerryLH3

iTrader: (11)

Like Dave (fc3s.org) just said, I disagree with this statement. The quality did not suffer at all in 1991. My interior is still in wonderful shape, with only moderate wear on the driver's seat. The engine lasted wonderfully until 140K miles at which time it was rebuilt and has run smoothly ever since. The stock suspension is starting to creak, but the car is 10 years old and has 170K miles on it.

The 91 model year was not cheaply built in any way.

Icemark

You know I am gonna have to disagree with most of the replies if you are looking for a daily driver, not a show piece.

While yes the HP and motor efficency is a little better on the 89-91, there are some major draw backs.

#1 The 89-91 are much heavier. Typical about 200lbs. This makes the HP advantage only about .5 seconds better, in 0-60. (except the GTUs).

#2 The 89-91 has those damm mouse belts on non-vert models.

#3 The majority of the 89-91 models did not come with LSD, and those that did came with an inferior design.

#4 The quality and fit and finish of the 89-91 was not the same caliber as the 87-88.

#5 The 89-91's electrical OMP was not nearly as reliable as the 84-88 mechanical one.

#6 I personally think that the 89-91 taillights look like they came off a 88 Ford T bird.

So IMO if you want a sportier car, the 86-88 had better balance, and a lighter more reliable body.

My personal opinion from owning and driving a 87, a 88 and a 91, is that the 88 was the best year, and a 88 GTU the best choice, with a 89-90 GTUs as a very close second choice, and a 87 sport or 87-88 T2 as a third choice.

Or get a 87-88 sport or GTU and stuff in the 89-91 motor with the 84-88 front plate (for mechanical OMP) on it.

Erik

yeah, i'd really like to see an example of a 91 suffering from quality. out of ANY 89-91 FC i've ever seen or ridden in, both of my 91's are in better shape (with the exception of Gladwyn Lopez's 91 T2 )

Saku

c'mon guys, give us 86-88 people a break
Think of it this way, would you rather spend some money on a 86-88 rx-7, then spend the money you saved moding it? Or buy a stock 89-91.....personal opinion i guess...i would rather have a 89-91, but they're very rare in Canada, so that means $$$.

The Ace

Check my sig....

Node

iTrader: (1)

Yeah but didn't they make almost none at all?
I just know that in 91 they didnt make as many, and the price went up and in 92 i have no idea so i just guess they didnt make that many either.

And I didn't mean that 86 and 91 were bad because first and last year meant. I have no idea about 86s, and 91s arent last year meant, but i meant that as to most cars.
Anyways i meant i meant i meant i meant