View Poll Results: Which is the better series? Series 4 or 5?
S4: 1986-1988
227
50.67%
S5: 1989-1991
221
49.33%
Voters: 448. You may not vote on this poll
the ULTIMATE poll: S4 vs S5
12-04-08, 11:01 AM
#26
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My 1st RX-7 was a '91 N/A; the one I have now is an '87 N/A. I voted for S5. Just a personal preference considering power and features; getting the CEL codes is a breeze on the S5 and a bear on the S4.
12-04-08, 11:03 AM
#27
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wow an even split. of course, FD be better yet 
.
S4's are simpler etc as all above state, but S5 is more refined and much better looking imho. Build quality seems a notch better as well. Ive had 2 S4's and one S5.
Dislike the rat-trap belts on the S5 but not the car's fault, Big Brother's fault. And covered by Mazda fereverandever. If you want, loose em and get 4 or 5-point harnesses.
disbale the OMP with an Rtech if it bothers you that much. otherwise keep a spare ecu in the odd even it blows up.
S5 = 8krpm. For that reason alone I like it mo betta
. S4's are simpler etc as all above state, but S5 is more refined and much better looking imho. Build quality seems a notch better as well. Ive had 2 S4's and one S5.
Dislike the rat-trap belts on the S5 but not the car's fault, Big Brother's fault. And covered by Mazda fereverandever. If you want, loose em and get 4 or 5-point harnesses.
disbale the OMP with an Rtech if it bothers you that much
. otherwise keep a spare ecu in the odd even it blows up.S5 = 8krpm. For that reason alone I like it mo betta
12-04-08, 11:04 AM
#28
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I voted s4 for a lot of the reasons Icemark pointed out and due to my ownership of one.
I agree with an earlier statement though. S4 with s5 body panels ftw. That's what I am working on now.
I agree with an earlier statement though. S4 with s5 body panels ftw. That's what I am working on now.
12-04-08, 11:22 AM
#30
re-amemiya body vert
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I voted S5, even though I agree with many counter-points against S5, but I have an s5 jdm turbo vert. So regular belts for me, better console surround, nicer interior on the whole, body color matched moulding, and I love the s5 tail-lights. Both are great though, which is why I've owned both!
12-04-08, 12:06 PM
#33
F**K THE SYSTEM!!
I voted s4. I own an s4.
S5 is prettier and about the only thing fc3s guys want from and s5 TII is the bumpers and exterior.
S4's People always wantr the clutch LSD and the tranny has been said to be stronger? S4 OMP is wanted over the electrical S5.
I dont know if the S5 front bumper has brake ducting liek the s4's
S4 all the way=) With s5 exterior=)
S5 is prettier and about the only thing fc3s guys want from and s5 TII is the bumpers and exterior.
S4's People always wantr the clutch LSD and the tranny has been said to be stronger? S4 OMP is wanted over the electrical S5.
I dont know if the S5 front bumper has brake ducting liek the s4's
S4 all the way=) With s5 exterior=)
12-04-08, 04:23 PM
#35
Rotary Enthusiast
"S4 = lighter, more responsive suspension" that's why i voted s4.
Mines an s4 shell with an s5 engine, turbo, bumper, skirts etc.
A set up like that is ftw for sure
Mines an s4 shell with an s5 engine, turbo, bumper, skirts etc.
A set up like that is ftw for sure
Last edited by Napsterfreak15; 12-04-08 at 04:25 PM.
12-04-08, 09:34 PM
#43
I've had both and for me it goes to the S5. Each one has their good and bad points and ultimately some form of a hybrid would be my favorite. The S5 looks in every way do it for me. I think the S4 tail lights look like crap. The S5 also has a better engine in both turbo and n/a form. The S5 loses in a few areas already noted such as the seatbelts and the omp. The S4 radio bezel is fragile crap and the electrical issues are more prominent on them. As a whole though I'll take an S5 over an S4 anyday.
12-04-08, 09:46 PM
#45
Actually they should tell you absolutely nothing relevant in that department which is true because they don't! Look at every other car with a body update midway through the lifecycle. They never increase sales. Cars are always most popular when they first come out and popularity decreases for the most part throughout the vehicle's life cycle. Had they not have updated the 2nd gen, sales probably would have fallen off much worse than they did. The car was outdated and boring. It needed to be improved. Scratch that reason. It's invalid. The rest I can see to some extent though. As I said, the best would be a hybrid between the S4 and S5. Perhaps an S4.5?
12-04-08, 09:53 PM
#47
It would be interesting to tabulate only the responses from people who have actually owned and lived with both...
I had an S5 NA for 11 years and loved that car, but there were drawbacks. Biggest one is that the engine blew an apex seal at 89,000 miles and had to be rebuilt. I bought the car with only 8,300 miles and changed the oil every 3000 miles, always took good care of the car, etc. You hear about way more S5s with premature engine failure than S4s. Maybe not as much now since most of the ones that were going to fail already have. I think the quality control on the S5 engines was not as high as that of the S4s that seem to last forever if you treat them right.
Maybe the S5 interior was made of higher grade plastics, but I wouldn't agree that quality control was better for S5.
Also, everyone fawns all over the all-black S5 interior from a looks perspective, but now having a black S4 with gray interior, I think that combination looks better and is more pleasant to live with day-to-day than the more severe S5 black interior.
I think the S4 wins the most important categories: more durable engine, lighter weight, better steering feel, more NA cars available with the heavy duty suspension (e.g., my '88 GTU), more NA cars with LSD, mechanical OMP, etc. I will grant that S5 gets points for the body colored moldings, nicer factory paint choices, timeless looking 16" factory wheels, plus no "Bordello Red" velour upholstery. I'm also in the minority of 7 fans who think the S4 taillights are cooler. It's the retro appeal.
I had an S5 NA for 11 years and loved that car, but there were drawbacks. Biggest one is that the engine blew an apex seal at 89,000 miles and had to be rebuilt. I bought the car with only 8,300 miles and changed the oil every 3000 miles, always took good care of the car, etc. You hear about way more S5s with premature engine failure than S4s. Maybe not as much now since most of the ones that were going to fail already have. I think the quality control on the S5 engines was not as high as that of the S4s that seem to last forever if you treat them right.
Maybe the S5 interior was made of higher grade plastics, but I wouldn't agree that quality control was better for S5.
Also, everyone fawns all over the all-black S5 interior from a looks perspective, but now having a black S4 with gray interior, I think that combination looks better and is more pleasant to live with day-to-day than the more severe S5 black interior.
I think the S4 wins the most important categories: more durable engine, lighter weight, better steering feel, more NA cars available with the heavy duty suspension (e.g., my '88 GTU), more NA cars with LSD, mechanical OMP, etc. I will grant that S5 gets points for the body colored moldings, nicer factory paint choices, timeless looking 16" factory wheels, plus no "Bordello Red" velour upholstery. I'm also in the minority of 7 fans who think the S4 taillights are cooler. It's the retro appeal.
