I hear you buddy, a lot of things about the '87s I've owned annoyed me.

The harsh ride of the Sport was a blast to drive fast but sucked for DD use.

The '87 base "luxury" felt really fast, partly because it was so light and partly because I was 16 at the time. In reality, it handled like crap on those phone dial rims.

But it all comes down to preference. For weekend driving / competitive use I would buy an '87.5 Sport or '88 GTU. For daily driving / occasional autocross I would buy an S5 NA.

Either way you have made a good choice, because it's an RX-7!

 

w00t for RX-7's!

 

So which 86 was the lightest out of all of the FC's?

The 86 base or the 86 sport? And what was the difference?

 

in order of performance (which apparently to most people on here means prettiest )

1. 86 base (lightest of all FCs{~2600 lbs} metal parts that later were made in plastic for S5s)
2. 87 Sport (same as above but with sport aero package to lower aerodynamic drag)
3. 88GTU (not the 89 or 90 GTU) Turbo everything except motor/tranny/DS/Rear end and power options(windows, sunroof).
4. any S5 (it is the "prettiest", heaviest, slightly more powerful)

 

is the 86 sport just as light as the 86-87 sport?

 

I don't recall if there even IS a sport for 86. I thought there was a base and a GXl in 86 and the sport came out in 87. either way, you can't go wrong with an S4 unless you don't like classic 80's styles.

 

Be smart. Get whatever you can find in the best MECHANICAL condition possible.

 

I'd disagree. Find the best BODY you can and then re-do anything ( and everything thet needs to be fixed) so you KNOW with 100% certainty that your car will be mechanically sound. motors, trannies, suspension, and all those components can be found at reasonable or cheap prices. A decent, rust-free, straight, GOOD body is harder to find IMO.

We all differ when it comes to what we like and what we think regarding RX7's but we can all agree on one thing: the 7 can't lose and with the right amount of TLC it will never let you down.

 

Well obviously he's not gonna buy some rust bucket...no one would! What I meant, is find the car in the best mechanical condition. Engine, tranny, steering/suspension and with some pure luck, electrical. Broken interior crap, seats, paint...the cosmetic stuff most everyone cares about...it's not as important when it comes down to being on the side of the road.

All of this really depends on what you want to spend. You can find some diamonds in the rough, so to speak, that run and drive amazing for being up to 21 years old...but the paint is faded, driver's seat is torn, a few switches don't work and you're missing all of your vents. Or, you can buy something that's absolutely stunning in every way, but it doesn't run.

Personally, I'd rather have the better running and driving vehicle. But that's just me.

 

i bought mine with no motor or tranny lol. Two different POV one final result.

 

Sport.

Lowest drag, lightest (not including 4lug crap).

But then again, all S4's were kinda fugly.

 

lol the only difference was the black rub strip, taillights, decals (instead of badges) and a square-ish front end. All those things can be replaced if anyone cared enough to. Maybe I am missing something?

BTW I own two S5's so it's not like I'm biased or anything.

 

I've already had a bunch of FC's, this'll probably be my fifth, I'm just looking for the most lightweight model from the factory.

So which one is it?

What I meant to say was, is the 86 base as light as the 86-87 sport, or is it the other way around and the 86-87 sport is lighter than the 86 base?

And the sport is just a 5-lug base with a spoiler, suspension and some other aero parts?

 

Rear bumpers are slightly different as well. Yes, they can be replaced, then it's not fugly anymore.

The 86 base is lighter due to crappier equipment. (brakes/suspension). If you're only concerned with weight then base it is. If you're worried about weight and decent handling/braking, then sport. If you want to look good, burn more gas, and have a little more less break if you look at it interior, GTUs.

/owned more of each than I care to recall!

 

Sounds like a GX except for the lack of bin buckets and manual steering (which could have been changed). Also, I don't think any Base's had sunroofs.

 

GTUs is overrated. 88GTU gutted FTW

 

How is the GTUs over rated?

 

1.It's an NA
2.no sunroof,
3. different rear end (which I honestly don't like)
4. turbo brakes, suspension and a lil decal that makes everyone
5. It's LIGHT but so is the S4 sport or base.

I don't know why anyone would pay over $2500 for a running NA GTUs or not.

If you pay MORE simply because it says GTUs on the side then you deserve to be ripped off. Don't get all caught up in the hype.

now, if the GTUs had been MADE here the WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MADE then yes, I'd drop any amount of money for it but there are only 2 (IIRC from Icemark) factory 3-rotor GTUs' and they're not for sale. I don't even know if they STILL exist. So until I can buy a 3 rotor factory GTUs they're overglorified non turbo FCs.

 

1. Given the nature of this thread, I'm not sure why you would even post that.
2. Performance != extra weight up top.
3. What's wrong with different gearing?
4. Performance word again
5. Sport lacks a LSD, base lacks everything. GTU depending upon the options can weigh more than the GTUs. GTUs is also gauranteed an aluminum hood, where-as the GTU and the Sport suffered the random plague as did most other models. 16" lighter rims is nice too. (And of course the S5 engine)

Cost is just localized supply and demand ontop of how picky you are.

 

1. you just asked ME why I thought it was overrated and I answered. Now you're telling me it's not related? I only mentioned the GTUs because a couple of people here were recommending it as if it was the coolest FC ever made.

2. he was asking for the lightest model. If anyone here is lookin gfor the lightest model it's because they are PERFORMANCE ORIENTED and it's all about power to weight ratio not ***** to the walls HP.

3. I didn't like the gearing. At ~80 mph you're past the point that the secondaries kick in as opposed to a 4.10 geared FC and it doesn't seem practical just for slightly better acceleration.

4. performance word again. I like the word too.

5. why would anyone interested in the lightest FC possible buy it and leave it stock? Hood?LSD? can be changed for better pieces. The S5 GTU WILL weigh more than a GTUs, S4 GTU will not. RIMS? can be changed for some lightweigh racing rims( like my SSRs)

To me it's overrated and I can say whatever I want because I have 2 of them. A '90 GTUs NA (the rear end seemed cool at first but it's really not that big of a deal) and an '89 GTUs with a full TII swap (including rear subframe). It's overrated and people ask too much for them.

Do I like them? LOVE THEM
would I sell them? no
are they overrated? very.

you don't have to agree ( isee you also own an '89 GTUs) but i honestly don't think everyone should be going nuts over these cars. They are Just NA with slightly better components.


To get back on track: for lightest FC models look at early S4 models and modify them from there.

 

Maybe i'm not understanding your list. Is it reasons the GTUs is NOT over rated? Or reasons it is? Given that you said you answered reasons as to why you thought it was I'll guess that list is reasons for. In which case, i'll clarify.

1) Given the context of the thread, it's implied that a thread comparing non-turbo's would generally not leave that realm.

2) You listed no sunroof, even though you agreed that it is beneficial from a performance standpoint. (Which is what we're discussing?)

3) Closed loop manages just fine. Fuel economy is a non-issue, so having them on really doesn't have an effect either way.

4) 4pot brakes, stiffer suspension, etc are all performance oriented. Why would that be cause for being over rated?

5) If you're going to dismiss a platform due to the ability to modify, then any one of them is as equally viable as the other. A s5 can be made just as light as a s4, and every benefit can be swapped between them with relative ease.

However, being that you mentioned cost, it's generally cheaper to start with the better platform than to swap everything in. As for them being overpriced, their average price is usually based upon condition of the vehicle and location more-over the build. On average two comparitive conditioned vehicles of different builds the GTUs is commonly listed at only about $250-$500 more. Not bad considering the diff alone can sell for $400, not having a sunroof, already having an aluminum hood, etc.

Does the number of cars imply validity or just the right to an opinion? If validity, I've got 5 FC's in my name at the moment...

 

well I was mentioning what the GTUs WAS ( my list of no sunroof etc., etc.) and I thought THOSE were not good enough reasons fir the value of these cars to be sao high. Sorry, I don't make sense sometimes. I don't know about you but I havent seen a GTUs for less than $3K running and less than $1K non-running in s everal years now (granted someone somewhere got a good deal but it's not the norm)

he's not looking for a better platform, he's looking for the lightest FC so he can build up from there. S4 seems to meet the criteria based on weight. NOw if he wanted lightweight AND all these other things then I would recommend the S4 GTU AND THEN the S5 GTUs (but that's not the case, which is why I posted S5 at the bottom of my original list of cars.)

As far a v alidity? yes, I would consider your opinion more valuable becase you HAVE 5 different FCs and your basis for comparison WILL BE much broader than anyone with only 1 or 2 FC's . Kinda the same way I'd listen to you if you said THIS, or THIS place is a MUCH better place to live ( according to your city(ies) of residence)

 

I went the 86 base route, did a 5 lug swap and put on some tokico blues with RB springs. It's not n/a anymore though. :p

 

^^See, start off with a light car end up with a light car. I'm SURE you're nowhere near the 2800-2900 lbs of an S5 turbo considering he started at ~2600lbs.

 

LOL, I was really having a hard time understanding your list I was like well what the.... But yeah, I've owned about 20 different FC's. So far for Auto-X/etc, the GTUs has been the best base platform overall against any other I've used. It weighed only 61lbs more than a '88 GTU in stock trim, so I never had much trouble with the weight idea.