ok guys... I've been around Rx-7 since I was 6 months old (im 18) and maybe I might sound dumb and **** but... whats an S4, S5 etc... I never heard about S5 or S4 n would like somebody to explain me what is the meaning of those terms...THANK YOU

 

its just another name for innie and outtie belly buttons

 

s4 86 to 88 = had accuator style that was exaust backpressure opperated for opening 5th and 6th ports

s5 89 to 91 = had the vdi style intake that was vacuum pressure opperated for opening 5th and 6th ports as well as changing the injector resistance
also interior tail lights mirrors and other exterior cosmetic changes were made

 

im going to go with S4 i just like the look better overall. it just screams HEY look at me. i do like the painted molding look tho like the s5 but thats about it.

 

AHHHHHHH how do people afford these seats!?!? lol, those are so nice but there so expensive. Personally, I like the build quality of the S4 (my buddies dad has an 86 gxl with only 19,000 original kilometers, and is a solid car.) But, I like the styling of the S5 better

 

Those are the cheaper bride seats. Look up a pair of sparco torinos, now those are expensive

 

GTUs is a meaner NA than GTU IMO, I loved that 4.30 in my GTUs..

Not to mention the turbo brakes ect...

 

88GTU had a stiffer supsnsion, and was lighter if I am not mistaken.

 

I've owned both. An 86 Sport, a 91 GXL, and now an 89 GTU. I wish for the handling of the 86, the ride quality of the 91, and the lightened no-nonsense-ness (I just made a new word) of the GTU. I want the 91 4 piston calipers on the 89 (in process). But I definitely like the additional 1K at the top of the powerband. Otherwise IMO the S4 is a true DRIVERS car. The S5 was refined for ladies, which explains why during the S5 years 65% of RX-7 owners were women. Look it up, it's true.

 

I prefer S4's "GTU" with S5 interior plastics running S5 housings and hardened rear Iron. If premixing also front Iron an Cover. If stock body S5 front valance. I prefer the S5 manual rack.

 

True.

I was just being corny, partiall to my GTUs, even though it had a TII swap on it.

 

fcDrifter13 knows whats going on, the 88 gtu is where its at!! i love mine, is your stock or far from it fcdrifter?

 

At least two other 88 gtu owners in the same thread, kick ***!

I am keeping s4 tails, I have s5 moulding, s5 front and rear bumpers (but I agree with Icemark... that embossed "Mazda" does look bad on front). Interior, I am just mixing and matching really, If mine ends up with a complete interior, I'll be happy reguardless of what series I stole parts from.

 

I love my s4, i love the feel of them, the gagues, and the badass way they tear up the streets, s5's to me are too luxurous, too friled up, just overall weaker. the s5s have their strengths too. i my eye, they have it with tail lights, interior pieces, motors. but i'd have to give to s4s on suspension, wieght, i myself love the black exterior trim. my perfect FC would have to be an 88 GTU/Turbo with s5 tails, radio surround,

 

I have an 87 turbo 2, i like the ride of the s4, it feels realy stiff and responsive. the person who had the car before me converted the car to the s5 tail lights, and i like them, so they are staying(obviously). i have plans to rebuild my engine or get a new rebuilt engine, and i think i want to go with an s5 engine. i also like the s5 front bumper. but the s4 definetly has the build quality. i just kinda wish mine had power steering, haha.

 

s4 all the way... just series five bumpers because more goodies are attachable... ie lips.... and i had an 88 gtu and am probably going to buy it back here soon... i miss it

 

im an s5 guy

 

I got a 87 TII converted to s5 taillights took me some time to bend and screw but well worth it. look so nice with the s5 taillights.

 

The '88 GTU had the "turbo brakes" as well and a much better suspension setup than any S5, even the overrated GTUs.

 

did the s4's not come with 4 piston front calipers? my car came with them, i just bought it a week ago, so i am stil l learning, and repairing.

 

not all of them did, read the FAQ and in the future dont hijack a thread making it go off topic.

 

just a quick question, you dont have to "snowball" me. haha. anyway, i think the s5 bumper looks a little better, but i dont mind the s4 at all. and the spot where the foglight goes on the s5 bumper, isnt that a brake cooling duct on the s4? so wouldnt that make the s4 bumper more functional(slightly better)?

 

I love my S4 88 gxl, i think it has the best of both worlds, with the turbo suspension and brakes, and the AAS system, which still works!!! I like my S4 taillights too, but I do like the lip on the S5 front bumpers. Also, I love the stock wheels....... I think the 88 gxl has the best looking rims of all the 88s..... thats just my opinion, to each his own.....

 

Overrated?

The 88 GTU and 89 GTUs are practically the same in every test, here let me school you:

88 GTU 89 GTUs

Slalom
64 63.8

Lateral G
.80 .81

1/4 Mile
16.5 16.6

1/4 Trap
84mph 85mph

Braking
60mph
152ft 152ft
80mph
260ft 256ft

Brake Control
Good Excellent
Overal brake rating
Very good Very Good

So how can you say overrated? If anything the GTUs is better than the GTU, with better brakes, damn near same 1/4 time(higher trap for the "s") and Slalom speed practically the same.
All this info taken from R&T Mazda RX-7/Miata Book, Published under Brooklands Books.

 

Each model has its pluses and minuses, your preference just depends on what you choose to focus your attention on.

Some call the S5 tails reminiscent of old T-Birds (87-88?). Well I think the S4 tails are reminiscent of nearly every early to mid 80's car out there. There are far more cars out there with lights that look like the S4's than there are 87-88 T-Birds, so that's just a lousy argument IMHO, because if you're going to argue pedestrian styling as a negative, you should make sure the other option is less pedestrian. They'd look more appropriate on a K car IMHO.

I hate the black body moldings on non black S4's, they're just plain ugly. I prefer the S5 bumper for its larger openings, it just looks better. I also like the S5 steering wheel more. Also, no S5 had the puny 4 lug brakes and wheels, now how's that for a cost saving "feature"? The S5's have more power due to better internal engine components. There's the undeniable point that the S5 is newer, so is more likely to have fewer miles, better paint, a better interior, less/no rust, and be more reliable. They're also much rarer, so are more exclusive. Plastic endlinks are just fine, they're stiffer and more durable than rubber busing metal endlinks, as with them the rubber degrades over time.

That said, some of the parts used in the S4 were a better design than some S5 parts, so they are better in that sense.

Sometimes I see people bashing S5's for some design points (which are valid points), and I can't help think that they suffer from a bit of small man syndrome, in that most people think that the S5 is better, and they can't stand it because they've got an S4 and want to feel better about themselves and their car. Pointing out that one model has some better parts is ok, but there's no need to bash the other model, insulting all those owners. (no offence intended, just an observation)

As for my least favorite model, it'd have to be the convertible, as it's heavy (and therefore softer, slower, less capable at handling, has lower grip, doesn't stop as well and so on), doesn't look nearly as good as a coupe, isn't nearly as stiff in the body as a coupe, has much less storage space, is not as safe (rollover) and is less civil than a coupe. In my oppinion those downsides just don't just aren't worth it for the little bit of extra wind and sky from having no roof.