That is about it, who can help me out and are there any more? Ex. S3 or S6?? What does it stand for and mean?

 

search....? basically s4 = 86-88, s5 = 89-91

 

round tail lights or not round tail lights :-)

 

Well about the other series:

Series 1=79-80 SAs
Series 2=81-83 FBs
Series 3=84-85 FBs
and yes
Series 6 is the FD, I am unsure about any changes in the model that would require any notation to change in series. But hey, I dunno.

 

Exterior differences between series 4 (86-88) and series 5 (89-92)

All series 5 coupes came standard with a rear spoiler. The spoiler was slighty larger than the previous wing spoiler standard on the 88 GTU and T2.

Series 5 had different body trim that was painted to match the body color.

Series 5 cars different bumpers, including a raised/embossed Mazda on the front bumper and locations for fog lights.

All series 5 FCs had a larger more rounded power aero-mirrors.

All series 5 FCs had the mid-eighties T-bird looking tail lamps.

series 5 T2 models had a integrated side skirt.

All series 5 FCs had clear front turn signal lights.

There where only 15X6 or 15x6.5 or 16x7 inch wheels on series 5 cars, and they were all 5 lug.

Engine and driveline differences :
Bigger intake tube and revised intake systems.

More HP but hardly any more torque.

Lighter, higher compression rotors.

Shorter, thinner shifter and a new shift ****.

Revised 5th gear on NA transmissons.

Automatic available on series 5 'verts (wasn't available on series 4 US models).

LSD not available on S5 GXL (was standard on series 4 GXL) and the S5 LSD was revised to a fluid type only available standard on the S5 T2, and GTUs.

Only two cats stock on the NA versions (S4 NAs had 3)

5th/6th ports driven off airpump instead of exhaust back pressure as on the Series 4 NA models.

Revised ECU.

Interior and body differances
the series 5 cars were on average 200lbs heavier mostly due to gas tank and dash supports.

Revised instrument panel

Revised stereo surround (rubber covered, and smaller radio opening) and shifter surround (same rubber as stereo surround).

Revised Logicon display (S5 had pictograpghs of a person seating, rather than the pictographs of the face, feet, etc).

Mouse belts on the series 5 coupes.

Air bags on the 90-91 verts.

Rear hatch light moved from strut (on the series 4) to body in the trunk on series 5 cars.

Most series 5 coupes came with a cargo cover.

Larger (by about 2 US gallons) gas tank (a big part of the 200 lbs extra weight that the series 5 cars put on)

Base carpeting was not available on S5 cars.

Base insulation was not available on S5 cars.

Lower aero body parts not available on S5 cars.

Dark grey interior not available on S5 cars.

Revised seat foam and interior cloths and colors.

Revised center consol arm rest and storage compartment on Coupes (because of mouse belt system).

Revised suspension on S5, including new springs and plastic ball joint type sway bar ends, to isolate the driver/passengers more from road noise and vibration (and IMO feel ).


I am sure there is more, but thats all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

Yes this is an ancient thread, but I thought I'd do the right thing and search for something relevant...

So the S5 Turbo II's came stock with a little more power and better brake setup than the S4 Turbo II's (but also heavier than the S4's?)? Or am I confusing something?

I'm looking at an '88 T2 and I want to become more familiar with the details and differences between it and its brothers. I would also like to know if it would be reasonable to remove the exterior side trim and fiberglass over it, I'm not a fan of having mostly useless trim and I think it'd look pretty slick being smooth (I would be painting the car anyway, so I could fiberglass it first). I've never used fiberglass, but I want to learn, so any pointers?

 

2002??? duuuuuuude this is old.

 

the brakes on all tIIs are the same. The main differences between s4 tII and s5 tII were the rear, tranny, taillights, wing mirrors and front bumper w fog lights. the interior of s5 cars was also made of better less brittle materials.

 

What's different about the transmissions? Just final gear ratios or is there more to it?

 

No better brakes...FC Turbos all had the same brakes regardless of series. Not sure where you got that the brakes changed. The S5 Turbos did come standard with ABS... maybe that is what you are referring too... but I wouldn't consider that system to be better.

Looks pretty crappy actually without something to break up the large panels. There have been multiple posts with pictures from people that have done it

 

I can understand about breaking up the large panels, that's why I'd make sure there's a defined angle in the surface where the trim used to be. I'm pretty sure I've seen a good job of that being done (and it looked very nice), I just don't remember where.

 

I'm not a big fan of mass-produced ABS either, for various reasons.