Dltreezan

iTrader: (3)

the foam stuff you get from a plastci fiberglas store and its called urethane foam. its two parts and you mix and pour. Probably cost you 200 to do your whole car. Look on the web for uethane foam.

MPM

Foam Stuff

This is what you want.

And just to add my .02 cents worth. There is no difference in the chassis(unibody frame) for our cars from 86-91. The suspension itself has some differences. And don't forget our cars are atleast 13 years old. There is not a fair way to compare one to the other. That age makes a huge difference in how they drive due to some parts being wore out more than others. Things like bushings and struts come to mind not to mention the tires.

drago86

Drive a sport, not all s4's are like that.

Icemark

and without the turbo tranny, aero dynamics, rear end, springs, ABS, hatch cover, and a hundred other things.

That is just a dumb statement.

That is like saying the vert is the same thing as a Turbo, just without a roof and the turbo...

In fact a vert would be much closer to being a Turbo, than a 89-90 base model strippy GTU would be.

Icemark

No, that is wrong...

The GTU was the Sporty model for 88, but the strippy base model for 89-90.

Icemark

And this whole thread is silly...unless you are just comparing base models...

Comparing S4 vs S5 is just dumb like this. Maybe if they were the same model with the same miles (say like they both were GXL models with 80K miles each on them) then you could compare S4 to S5.

Or a S4 Turbo to a S5 Turbo...

But the base and even the entry level 89 GTU model are not even in the same ballpark other than they were both base models for their respective generations.

Dltreezan

iTrader: (3)

I am just comparing base models...my slightly modded base model versus his more modded s5 with more miles than my s4. my basic statement being that i was suprised to see how different the cars were in their characteristics and that I cant wait to mod my suspension as well as other things. Just throwing in my own personal observations for those bases out there

Icemark

ah, just remember that the 89-90 GTU (and all S5 models) had a simular suspension set up to the 86-87 Sport, or the 88 GTU.

All the S5 models got the heavy duty suspension set up except for the revised shock valving and then the funky plastic endlinks for the stabilizer bars.

Dltreezan

iTrader: (3)

so that means there is a pretty big difference suspension wise from an 86base to a sport model?

Icemark

Yes, you would notice a considerable difference between a Sport and a base suspensions.

the stabilizer bars alone between the two would be a considerable cornering difference.

Madrx7racer

I stand corrected..... My mech told me it wasn't a GTU when I sold it to him....he is like "sorry bud, but this doesn't have the aluminum hood" and he said other stuff too......I thought it was the base for 90 only......well now I know better

Icemark

Sounds like your mechanic is confused about the 89 and 90 GTU and GTUs models.

In 89-90 only the GTUs (not the GTU), the convertible, and the Turbo were the only models with an aluminum hood.

Dltreezan

iTrader: (3)

wow so all of this difference that i am feeling is just a simple sway bar difference. Wow. So a car can really feel different like night and day just from a few metal bars. I mean i knew this in theory but its different when you drive one car and it feels fun and sporty then drive another and try to get the thing to break lose and it wont. Cool

Cosmo_TT

iTrader: (11)

i cant really understand how somebody would buy a non turbo rx7 when the turbo models are so so so so much better
seriously i dont understand it


so how about lets hear the reason why you people who own non turbos instead of turbos
was it price?
was it availability?
or was it something that i may be unaware of?
please explain

Icemark

No, the later suspension also featured revised springs and spring seats as well as shock valving very simular to the Heavy duty S4 suspension versions.

Most people when comparing the two find the S5 to be slightly mushier and not as in touch with the road.

Mazda revised all the S5 models so that they had less road feel, based on customer comments that the suspension on the S4 was too tight when compared to some of the other Japanese sports cars of the time (noteable the Starion and 300zx).

Icemark

Turbo models that have not been butcherd up with badly installed or other funky mods are getting very very rare.

It is very rare to even find a T2 in stock form anymore.

And the non-turbos are much better Sports cars. The extra weight of the turbo and driveline, only make the car better in the 0-60. The non-turbos will handle considerably better than the Turbos once the wheels and tires are upgraded to Turbo size.

<edit
In addition the non-turbos are much much more reliable engines than the turbos.