I agree T2 swap woul dbe the way to go.. After all the only reason they came to the states with a N/A motor was to avoid the "gas Guzzler tax".. Seriously. They were made for the T2 motor..

 

Chinno is selling his vert for $2500. Its one of the cleanest verts I have seen. You should ****** that up if you are in the market for a s5 5 speed vert. Check the for sale section

 

oh and the turbo vert is the only reason I own a rx7. Will never own a POS coupe.

 

The vert is not stiffer than a coupe. The bracing does not make up for the lack of a roof.
And, I've never seen any proof that the 2nd gen was designed to be a vert. If it was, it wouldn't need all that bracing.
And, the vert comes with the best suspension and brakes. The aftermarket takes care of anyone who wants better.

Its slow from 0-60 but can pick up chicks faster then anything.

 

He means the body was designed to easily support a convertible option, just like the RX-8 is (now if Mazda would only make one). Most chassis that support a coupe & convertible require additional bracing for the convertible.

I own both the turbo & vert, and the vert is by NO means slow. It doesn't have the muscle of the turbo, but is has the power. Granted it was a PIG with the stock exhaust, but it's amazing the difference a full exhaust & highflow cat makes

 

If you really want the car just tell the guy that you'll pay him 1,250 cash for the car, right now. If he still says no, say, "just kidding" hand him the 1,500 and enjoy your new vert!

iSP33D-for-J3SUS

 

I have a "90 convertible and it's a bitch. Don't get me wrong, it's an attention getter and girls love it, and it's a blast to drive, but the problems... Mine's a stick with 180k and I need a new engine. I plan on getting it though. At least in an automatic you can't play "pocket rocket"(getting drunk and redlineing every gear). It was fun, but I can't imagine that helped anything. If you want an idea of the problems, just check my threads.

 

You are way off ... apparently you have not read the specs.
The Coupe Dry Weight is: 2763 lbs
The Vert Dry Weight is: 3489 lbs

Do the math...
That is 726 lbs of major difference.

I love my vert also... all three of them that I currently own. The vert does not handle as well as the coupe... sure it has a stiffer suspension,, it has to due to the added weight.. the chassis as well as the body is reinforced. It has to be .. its a vert... it also has an additional cross member that gives it that much more rigidity. One of the verts has a 3rd gen T70 turbo motor and quite a bit of horsepower... on take off you can feel the flexing.

I love to cruise in my vert.... its great.

 

I have a 90 vert, n/a, which I bought for my son's 16th B-day. He has not been able to take over ownership, due to the fact I might not give it to him. I love the car. Summer and fall this year, when the top came down, so did the girl's sitting next to me. 151, 000 miles, on original, rebuild, I really am not sure, but pulling 110 or better on compression test, I really don't care. Handling is fabulous, 0-60 kinda slow, but after that, look out. Recently got to 138 mph, just wish 5th gear had a little more. I paid 2000 for mine, and I personally think I got a steal. Buy the vert.

PEACE THE DOG

 

Another bit of bracing that everyone seems to forget about is the top itself...
It has an integrated rollbar in it, the part the hard targa attaches to...
It's solid as hell, and prevents lots of side to side flex, in botht eh up and down position. It actually acts as a rear strut brace. Look at where it sits in the vert...... That piece is crucial to the stiffness of the vert.(not to mention all the x bracing between the framerails, the extra braces in the A-post [also the design of the A-post itself] the bracing under the spare tire cover, etc etc etc)

Also the hard top not only prevents sag, but when the top is closed(up), it's supposed to be almost as rigid as a coupe, becuase when it's all tied together it makes a connection front to back that's rigid, not soft like most convertibles.

There is a whole thread somewhere on this, that explains all the added stiffeners in the vert...


There's an extra support in the rockers to give more front to back stiffness. I believe that Icemark filled the space inbetween the outer skin and the reinforcements with a rigid foam to make it a bit stiffer....




And the 800# difference, there is a big difference between a n/a coupe and the turbo vert, but a n/a vert is a bit lights(as a tII is a bit heavier than a n/a coupe)
Maybe those figures you got are abit off.....

Anyways, I love my vert, and yeah, It's still fast enough to spank most new riced out imports...
LOL

Preacher- Does that rear wing help keep the dust from collecting on the bumper when you drive around town at low speeds? And do you notice any help in downforce at high speeds??
(I've thought at 130+ It's rear end gets a little too light- top down and top up)????

|M|

 

I am not sure on the dust in the wind... but the spoiler is nice... Hey are you going to join us at Markham Park next Sunday December 11th... we are having our largest meet yet with over 56 cars in one spot...

Here is the Thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...65#post5050265

It would be great if you can make it in your vert... at 130+ MPH it shouldnt take you that long to get there..

 

Where is the the 3489 lb weight coming from? My '88 vert is 3003 lbs, is a S5 vert that much more?

 

It's well known that the 'Vert has better suspension than the coupe.

 

He is either making it up or repeating what someone else told him in error. That's the way misinformation becomes known as 'truth'.

According to the FAQ and Mazda, the lightest FC Coupe ever made was the 1986 N/A at 2625 lbs. The heaviest N/A coupe was 1990 GXL at 2881 lbs. with the '90 turbo at 2981 lbs.

The 'Vert ranges from 3003 lbs. in 1988 to 3071 in 1991.

So, if we cherry pick among the specs, the math says 446 lbs from the lightest coupe ever made to the heaviest convertible of all times.

That is the maximum difference. Although it is a lot, it is not 800 lbs.

Keep in mind, this extreme example is from S4 to S5, so there is quite a difference in HP and TQ numbers between these two examples.

If we take the same year production so we have the same HP and TQ, the difference is as follows:

1988 3003-2720= 283#
1989 3045-2881= 164#
1990 3045-2881= 164#
1991 3071-2787= 284#

My personal theory is that Vert drivers are able to offset some of the weight difference by attracting thinner women than coupe drivers.

BTW, I had this same '800lb' quoted to me by a customer service guy from a well known Mazda aftermaket specialty firm.
That 800# was the reason that I couldn't use my eibach springs on my vert. He told me that the tires would rub and
the suspension would bottom constantly. To avoid this impending disaster, I needed to only buy the 'vert RB springs from him.
When I asked him (email) where he got the 800 lb. number because the factory specs didn't agree, he didn't answer.

Those eibachs are still the best upgrade I have yet made on my 90 Vert. Yet.

Hey Preacher, you have some dynamite cars, but you spread misinformation. Twice on this thread alone. Once on the compression tester,
dissing anyone that doesn't use a Mazda compression tester and once on the weight issue.

Preacher, if you want to tell me that Mazda is wrong and you are right, then I don't know what else to say.

I am going for a drive right now. 45* in DFW, sunshine. Top down, heater blasting. Ahhh... Every drive in the vert is a mini-vacation.

 

hehe
you too?

 

i got a 91 vert...and it run like hell.....the suspension sux if u aint got a strut bar......if you got vert.....get strut bar........
Fact: vert are slower than coupe....

 

I have an '88 vert and love every moment that I am in it. I started out in sports cars in a Triumph Spitfire, heavily modded it and then moved to a Datsun 240Z when they first came out. The RX-7 is everything that the 240Z should have been, except for the torque of the 240Z. There is a 70-80 lb. brace on the front end of verts from the factory to help provide stiffness. The verts will not perform as well as the coupes in acceleration, but we make up for it in pure sensual enjoyment.

It's just something you have to decide for yourself. One of these days, after I get most of the maintenance type items taken care of, I might try a strut bar just to see if it makes a difference. But it just doesn't make sense to add weiight to a, ahumm, already overweight vehicle. Yes, strut bars are light, but everything adds up.

I agree with jackhild59, every drive in a vert is a mini vacation. That statement just about sums it up. And that is what I missed with my 240Z, the open top, or the ability to drop the top.

Again, it is up to you.

 

you need to take another look at icemarks stickies before you open your mouth

1990 S5

2787lbs for coupe

2987lbs for turbo

3071 for vert

a little over 300lbs difference

 

WELL, the person selling lowered the price to $1000. Apparently someone backed into it. When I get a pic of the damage, and its not more than I can deal with, ITS GONNA BE MINE!!!!! I have a friend who owns a body shop and get it repaired and a nice paint job for cheap. I will keep everyone informed.

Thanks for all the weight arguments...not sure they helped but hey whatever.

I could finally be a 7 owner! wooohoooo!

 

The only problem I see with the vert is any NHRA track will not let you run 13.99 or quicker without a roll cage and no one makes one for a vert. I was quoted over a grand to fab up a cage for my car. I love mine and it doesn't feel slow to me.

 

damn I really want to, but I think my chances of making it are like 5%-15%.

I do maintence work for a doctor's building, and there's a good number of things I just can't do during the week when there's people abound. I was there most of the day yesterday, trying to get anything done around there I can, but I have to paint lots of handrails and replace a good number of ceiling tiles, along with a bunch of other random things..
hopefully I can finish it all up saturday, and then I'll def be there...

nothing I need more right now than to get out, drive the vert, and meet some new people.....(except rent money- I need rent money LOL)

 

late into this thread but here are some facts


1) all RX-7 with ATX (FC that I know of for a fact are not actual mazda trannys. they are Jatco trannys They crap out a lot. There not that strong espectially in the FC models that I know of that uses them. If you do get it I would take it to a Tranny expert( MAKE SURE ITS AN ACTUAL TRANNY EXPERT. Not Joe Shmoe down the street who knows how to mess with them or a Tuffy Auto care center etc... etc...) for him to look at it. On the other hand the MTX trannys are actual Mazda trannys. so if you find one with a MTX id get that instead. plus IMO i think they are worth less money as an ATX than an MTX so id compare prices first. thats just my opinion.

 

I currently have a 90 NA convertible as well. After owning 2 other RX-7s over the years (83 GSL-SE and 87 NA), this is by far my favorite. Sure a stock coupe NA or turbo version is faster than a stock vert. But I still think that the vert is MUCh more fun to own and drive. I have some minor mods on my vert and it's a bit slow off the line, but is a blast to drive. Enjoy your new convertible ! Top down of course !

Oh, mine has 123k miles on a stock motor. All original except for a new top, and aftermarket 16" rims, Apexi' intake and Racing Beat catback. It's my daily driver and has been a wonderful ride. Once this motor fails...one day... I'll probably consider the TII swap...

 

How does a request for advice turn into four pages of silly debate? As for advice, here's a few things to look for. Convertibles tend to rust in the floors and at the front edge of the rear wheel wells. Make sure the power windows work. Replacement motor assemblies are pricey and almost nonexistent. The auto trans is junk and the 3.90 rear gear ratio makes the car seem even slower than it is. If you're handy with a wrench, find a coupe parts car and swap the driveline from the transmission back. The coupe gear ratio is 4.11 and makes a big difference as far as accelleration is concerned. Coupes with roached engines are a dime a dozen. Hope this helps with your decision.

 

I just bought a 90 vert....It has an Eibach pro kit, Tokico 5-ways all around, and brand new urathane bushings all around, I think it handles pretty well.....as far as power its N/A w/ a RB header and Hiflow cat and Magnaflow mufflers...its kind of a dog, I paid $500 from a forum member for the car and it runs like a champ so I cant complain, Plus chicks do dig the vert.....(even in winter)