What is a better car, in your opinion? a Series 4 n/a FC, or a 13B-powered GSL-SE FB? Explain your reasoning. Thank you!

 

HMMM?..I wonder?..and you asked it in the SEC GEN FORUM too!..I wonder what the answer would be in the FIRST Gen Forum?..series 4..better Suspension.

 

**** s4's ugly cars, the brake lights, etc

s5 <3

I'd prefer the GSL-SE FB, hell I'd prefer a SA-Rx7 over a s4

 

the GSL-Se is like a 1700lb car i think(looked at the door seal thingy for that info)
the S4 N/A is a 2800lb car roughly. do the math.

 

Alright I'll chime in here. I was going to post at this thread in the first gen section , but here seems more apropriate. First off I just corner weighed my GSL-SE at about 2400 lbs. The sticker you ^ were reading was axle/axle weight.

The key question you should ask is wich is better for what?
The S4 clearly out corners the S3 with its independent rear suspention, and dynamic tracking.
However if you are looking at stock 1/4 mile times the GSL-SE is just a hair faster.
Also the rarety and collectability of the GSL-SE is something to be considered. When you easily find a 86-88 RX-7, A 84-85 with a 13b can sometimes be a task in itself.
I Daily drive a GSL-SE and love the thing, but when it comes to the sheer handling performance of a series 4 there really is no compairison.
Then of corse you get into the S5 with its VDI and all those goodies and anyway thats another thread.

 

I would take the GSLSE over a s4 and I would take a S5 over either the SE or the S4

 

I'd go S4 over the GSL-SE, because I love the 2nd gen.

 

Wow thats still pretty light, is it a full street trim car? My question would also be what the car would be used for. For a nice street car with occasional autocrossing I'd prefer the 1st gen for better styling, interior and uniqueness/rarity. If it were a track or autocross car that I didn't want to completely build from scratch I'd pick the S4 and mod as I go along. The first gen has an older steering system and the solid rear suspension will always be a set back. They are much lighter though and the steering can be upgraded to the rack and pinion setup with the kit from re-speed. So if I were to completely build the car from scratch I'd pick whichever one I personally liked more.

I would personally pick the first gen just because I haven't owned or driven one yet and I like the styling and interior a lot better than the 2nd gen.

 

i like s4 for its simplicity, to tune no electronic metering pump to mess with ,when it starts acting up finding parts are easier than the s5 ..the s5 looks better but you can find a junked s5 and swap ,but the s5 motors are a nightmare when there in limp mode i like the fb but the handling in the s4 blows them away i love all of them but for siplicity under the hood s4 hands down .parts are every where

 

fb gsle for simplicity and rarity. Probably easier to fix and maintain.

s4 for far better handling, better room, better mpg, everything. I think it's faster too, or at least has a lot more power. Sure, they can be as much as 2700-2800lbs. with add-ons, but the base weight is 2626. So really they're only a couple hundred pounds more. 8% more weight and a much greater power difference. As dennis pointed out the s4 is still simple & reliable & light compared to the s5. But IMO the small advantages of the s5 aren't nearly enough to make up for it.

So do you want performance & newer tech or simplicity & a classic?

 

I love both

I have an S4 love it I want a GSL-SE I hope to have both one day!

 

Try 2400-2500, and 2600-2700.

 

Cool, thank you for your input!

I realize the independent rear suspension in the s4 is much better than that of the s3, but I would think the weight difference would offset that somewhat. What do you say to that? How big of a difference is a couple hundred pounds vs. the difference in suspension?

 

What is the steering setup of the first gen? I know I could go look in the FAQ/tech section, but I'd rather have a discussion comparing those two cars here.

 

The S4 has better brakes, better suspention, better chrome on the housings, better intake manifold design, interchanable with all newer 13B parts, and looks better imo. I dont understand why all the S5 guys rag on the S4s. Its a much more similar car, just a bit more dated. The styling is much newer than the 1979-era body of the GSL-SE.

 

^I don't want an S4 vs S5 war in my thread, but also there's the difference in LSD

 

have the best of both worlds go S4 N/A in a FB like i did. had the GSL-SE engine in it. but the difference is unbelievable. and im only running two injectors i cant wait till i get my stand alone for it so i can run four 750 CC injectors. that would be a treat right there.

 

Not sure exactly what the difference in the S4 and GSL-SE LSDs are (besides one being solid axle and one being IRS) but Mazdatrix uses the same part numbers for the rebuild parts. Since they have the same internals, I would assume they would behave similarly (besides the obvious axle differences)

and, sorry for the S4 vs S5 blurb.

 

they use a different clutch pack. one is a vlsd and one is a clutch type lsd that would be the GSLSE. if you do go with the GSLSE id find a GLS and use the gears out of that one because they have larger teeth on them the GSLSE has really small close together teeth on the rear gear. the S4 i have no idea about. just my 2 cents though.

 

The wieght differance is only a couple hundred pounds give or take. You also have to realize the S3 put 135hp to the flywheel stock and the S4 only 11 more at 146. That 11 or so hp is made up in the weight, so as far as power to weight they are almost neck and neck, with the S3 being a little quicker in the 1/4 mi.
As far as the differance in suspension, like I said before, Independant rear suspension is no compairison to a strait axle. The IRS is far more superior.

 

I don't know exactly what the difference is but I've been told its different from the rack and pinion setup and has more slack in it. Thats why the re-speed rack and pinion kits are getting popular.

 

Just by going off of Mazdatrix's website, they list all 81-88 NA RX7s with an LSD with the same part numbers for the clutch packs.The only LSD available in the S4 (and S3 for that matter) were clutch-type. The only LSD available in the S5 was a viscous-type. Regardless, this isnt really an arugment for against either car as they are pretty equal in this since. Although, the GSL-SE uses a 4.076 versus the S4 4.1, but that is a negligable number.

The GSL-SE does however have shorter trans gears.

 

SA/FB has a recirculating ball steering system. Think muscle car without the power steering. It not a horrible system, but Rack and pinion is better. I choose S4 because of the IRS, wider body, and slightly increased power.

 

I love my FC's and FB's I own both.

 

its all good though. but the 85 SE has a .711 5th gear they do also have different rear gear ratios 84-85 SE has the 4.076 and the has three available autos are 3.909 manual is 4.100 and the GTU is 4.300 i guess thats what i was thinking about. how knows ive been tired. too much messing with the rotary. question how does the S4 have there TPS set up? i hope it is better than the GSLSE upper intake is set up.