I did a search for info on GTU and GXL and now I'm really confused. Some people say that in 1990 the gxl is better, but in 1988 the gtu is better. All I'm worried about is handling & power, not comfort and other luxuries. I thought that the GTU had better handling suspension, better tranmission and was lighter, than the GXL which was more comfortable with more plush options??
What is the best FC N/A road race car from1986 to 1991.
I'm looking at a 1990 GTU and I'm waiting for ya'll input before I buy. The car will be completly stripped and race only.

Thanks Brett.

 

Well the GXL brings no performance gains with it. Only luxury stuff(leather seats, power windows/locks, etc). So I'd say the GTU.

 

if this is a race only ride and will be "completely stripped" i would say just get whatever one it cheaper and put a coilover setup on it. that would be a good start for handling whatever one you get.

86-88 should be slightly lighter but the 89-91 have a little mor power. if yer gonna strip it anyway for weight and racing sake then you might want the S5.
then there is the case of the rear end. S4 limited slip differentials were a "clutch type" that most prefer as long as it is in working condition or been rebuilt.

hope this helps some, i'm sure more will chime in.

Good luck, have fun

 

88' GTU is arguably the best N/A RX-7 ever made.

There's a power (and a lot of weight) gain w/ the GXL.

However, the GTU is much lighter, and 'I believe' has the TII's suspension.

The 88' GTU is the S4 equivelent to the 89/90 GTUs

 

if this is a race only ride and will be "completely stripped" i would say just get whatever one it cheaper and put a coilover setup on it. that would be a good start for handling whatever one you get.

86-88 should be slightly lighter but the 89-91 have a little mor power. if yer gonna strip it anyway for weight and racing sake then you might want the S5.
then there is the case of the rear end. S4 limited slip differentials were a "clutch type" that most prefer as long as it is in working condition or been rebuilt.

By the way, a 90 GTU is nothing like an 88 GTU. a 90 GTU is just a base model( i know, i have one). in 88 the GTU was a bit of a sportier model with some nifty upgrades. now if you find a 89-90 "GTUs" (good luck) then that is what ya want to use to build yer race car.

hope this helps some, i'm sure more will chime in.

Good luck, have fun

 

A 1989 or 1990 GTUs would be ideal. The 88 GTU had the same suspension as the GXL, and same brakes. The GXL's are heavy beasts, same drivetrain though. The older GXL's had LSD's in them, and I think it was an option on the GTU.

 

dont all the S5's have the 4 piston front brakes and vented rear rotors (aka best brakes)? I know some s4's have them, but its different from model to model.

i would go with a S5 since you can make it as light as an S4 if you want, the weight difference is only like 200lbs at most (it says my car weighs about 2750lbs in the door on my car). Plus you have less of a chance of getting electrical problems, engine fires, and you get more power and a bigger gas tank.

 

the base model S5 GTU does NOT have 4-piston brakes...............dang it.

i would also agree with gutting an S5 and then build it up.

By the way it is not hard to add the 4-piston calipers to the base model

 

I believe that since the 1990GTU became the base model in '89 it did not have the four piston brakes in the front or the vented rear discs.This is something I believe you would want for a track car.You can get the other brake setup and do the conversion(people are selling the parts all the time) and you should be just fine.I personally would probably get the GXL(unless you're getting a really good deal on the GTU or you can find a GTUs) because if you're stripping it to use as a race car you'll end up taking the luxury items that make it heavy off anyway.The GTUs was the only S5 that came standard with LSD.It may have been an option on the GXL.

 

The 88 GTU did not have the same suspension as the GXL... it had the same suspension as the T2 and 86-87 Sport and came standard with a LSD. The GXL's mushy luxury car ride was the same suspension as found in the base model (with the exception of the AAS shocks).

The S5 GXL did not come with a LSD, however it came with the same (even more isolated) suspension as the base series 5 GTU and T2.

There would be no choice in my book. Only NA road race cars I would use; would be the 86-87 Sport, 88 GTU, and then the 89-90 GTUs in that order.

In fact I would be driving a S4 GXL before even a S5 GXL or S5 GTU.

 

the 89 GTUs is the best n/a rx-7 it has no extra features there is no sunroof i might actually not even power stearing the GTUs is already striped down so that would be the best car for you, but there really hard to find!

 

I agree. If the cars must remain somewhat stock, then those are the best models IMO, and in that order. However, if the cars are in a highly-modified racing class, then it doesn't make any difference. Always read the the rules of your racing class before buying or modifying a car.

BTW, the sunroof may be an asset or a liability, depending on how tall you are, and how much the sunroof must be secured for your racing class. Ask others who race in your class about this issue.

 

why the 86-87 sport over the other cars? Price issues, yet still basically the same?

 

cost and weight... found often for the same price as a base, GX/luxury, or SE, and none of the high weight extras like power mirrors, or tilt wheel, or heavy duty road noise insulation that was standard on the GXL.

also with the heavy duty S4 suspension, you have a slightly tighter (abet harsher as well) road feel and ride.

 

This is off topic but how does a MT 88 vert. compare to the others in suspension, transmission, etc.? I already know that I have four piston front brakes BTW, and no AAS.

John

 

Actually the 88-91 verts are one of the best handling ones... it used heavy duty springs and sway bars, but shock valving was re-configured for a more compliant ride.

So you had the grip of the heavy duty suspension with a more pleasent ride (although the swaybars on the 89-92 were still the S5 plastic endlink ball joint design, the cars didn't loose the feel, unlike how the rest of the S5 cars did. Top it off with the very light rims and a drop in the unsprung weight at each corner, for even better handling.

I personally think the verts are the best handling of all the FCs, it's just the weight of a 88 10thAE and lack of power generally makes it loose out for racing.

 

Hmmm, thanks I figured that they would have good handling as RX-7`s go. Mainly for safety since you don`t want a convertible losing control as easy as a low base model. I figure that`s why here in the states we got 4 piston brakes but the turbo option was not offered. :-( The handling is the thing that sold me one the car actually, it was way tighter and responsive than my Conquest, and it still feels pretty good even with my new heavy crome wheels. Mine came with 3rd gen wheels BTW so I never drove one with the original mesh wheels.

John

 

well the third gen wheels even without spacers are almost 5lbs heavier each than the 'vert BBS rims so you are loosing out about 5-7 HP... but hey most people wouldn't notice.

 

.......the last guy who owned the car said the rims were stolen so he got the 3rd gens, but since I now have crome wheels, they are even heavier I guess, but when I sold the 3rd gen wheels and shipped them out in the boxes my crome ones came in they weighed the same for postage, about 50lbs each with tires.

John

 

Thanks for all of your input, I was thinking that the S5 GTU would be the better car but it doesn't have 4 piston brakes. So I'm now looking for a S5 GXL or a S5 GTU with 4 piston brakes if that was even a option.
It's confusing that one year the GTU was the better performer of the N/A's then the next year the GTU was the base model ??
So let me get this straight the S5 GTU had the same sway bars as the TII but not the same brakes. The S5 GXL had the TII brakes and the sway bars. The S4 GTU had the TII brakes and sway bars. The S4 GXL had the TII brakes but not the sway bars. (WHEEEWW!!!)
I think I got it , Damn Stupid Confusing Fu**ing Japs!!!
If I got any of this wrong let me know.

Thanks Brett.

 

I agree. I had a '90 GTU before I bought my '89 convertible and they honestly feel like two completely different cars. While I didn't realize it until after I bought the convertible, the GTU felt really twitchy. The convertible is a lot more smooth and controlled, especially if you let the rear end out. But it might also have a lot to do with the fact that my convertible is equipped with a limited slip diff and the GTU was not.

 

How do I tell if my model (88GXL) has a LSD? Bought it with a seized engine and we are currently rebuilding it.

Jim

 

I used to remember which way it went... but this is how I think it goes...

Get both driven wheels off the ground and spin one, if the other wheel spins in the opposite direction you have an open diff. If the other doesn't spin at all then you have a limited slip.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

 

...oh, and make sure you have the transmission in neutral.

 

Hehe, actually there is a tag on the rear pumpkin that will tell you what it is. It's right on the fill/check plug. It will say "Limited Slip Differential"... basically warning you that if you put fluid in it, it needs LSD additive for a clutch type LSD... Fun stuff... smells like **** cause of the sulfer content.