2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
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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

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Old 12-09-08, 08:30 AM
  #76  
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Originally Posted by *TOUCH*
well your opinion sucks. 80's cars FTW!!!!


.....just kidding man, your opinion is just as valid as any other, just said that for dramatic effect....
Haha Mines still from the 80's!
Old 12-09-08, 10:42 AM
  #77  
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yea, but s4's are, as some one else put it, "more deliciously 80's'' !!!
Old 12-09-08, 04:07 PM
  #78  
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Originally Posted by *TOUCH*
sooo.....which is it mostly? s4, s5 or s6??
Well it is not mostly s1,2,3 or rene parts lol. I think the majority goes to the S5 **** that weak rear iron.
Old 12-09-08, 06:52 PM
  #79  
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you know i find this funny, everyone is sayin they like the s4, but yet they all swap the s5 parts onto it... :confused..

so you say the suspension in more nimble, so yet if you swapped s4 suspension onto the s5 would it than be superior??

and the OMP...lol i find this funny. everyone i know with a S4 removes it anyways, so what the difference, with that and a s5..lol

yes the seat belts suck, but all i have to say is, factory recall, lifetime warranty on them..

its funny, people were also complaining that the s4 engine was better casue of the low compression, but how many times have you seen a s5 with a s4 turbo motor swapped...lol, all i ever see is s4 cars with s5 engines swapped.

oh yea and the gauges..lol personally, i dont trust either stock one, so it doenst matter..lolz

its not really a fair comparision if you are saying s4 with these s5 parts bs.
yea thye both have thier up sides and down sides. i had a s4 and now i have a s5. i will take the s5 over my old s4 any day of the week. I think he should have done the poll, with the stipulation of stock to stock, s4 vs s5.

just my .02, if you dont like it.., oh wells.
Rob

BTW S5 FTMFW
Old 12-09-08, 07:06 PM
  #80  
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both of my sevens were s4's with all s4 body AND engine parts. i think the only thing s5 i have ever used is a turbo, and thats just cuz it was a good deal.

also, i think its an over statement to say that all s4 guys delete their MOP. i kno that i only kno one guy locally who premixes. but then again, i can count the rx7 owners i kno locally on my hands and toes
Old 12-09-08, 07:26 PM
  #81  
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all the rx7 owners i know, like 6 or 7, all premix.
they say they do it for "reliability"
guess people dont even trust the mechanical OMP...
Rob
Old 12-09-08, 07:58 PM
  #82  
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^^ true but I think I would be more worried with S5 pump.
Old 12-09-08, 08:22 PM
  #83  
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yay for limp mode......lol
Old 12-12-08, 11:29 AM
  #84  
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I have never had a close look at a completely stock s5.

So i want to know if they have the brake ducts like the s4's.

I am doubting s5 have ducts because they put big fog lights there.
Old 12-12-08, 01:24 PM
  #85  
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Originally Posted by mort2002
all the rx7 owners i know, like 6 or 7, all premix.
they say they do it for "reliability"
guess people dont even trust the mechanical OMP...
Rob
Why the s4 omp is much more reliable than the s5.
Old 12-12-08, 01:27 PM
  #86  
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Not all S5s had the fog lights. My '90 GTU did have a black plastic brake duct that channelled air from the opening in the front fascia to the front wheel well. Kinda weird that the base car would have brake ducts and the higher performance models would not. I suppose on a foglight-equipped car, you could remove the foglights and have the brake ducts there if that's what you wanted.
Old 12-12-08, 02:00 PM
  #87  
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s5 ftmfw x100

everybody is coming up with they're own opinions some factual some stupid. *suspension yes the s4 has metal end links , so what by now most fcs have been upgraded and alot of s5 people have added the mazda trix links or will when they're 20yo originals snap.

*motor does it matter most of us mod em any ways.except i agree s3 and s4 rotors are the ****, built my big boost fd motor with s4 lc rotors.

*body wise looks are opinionate but i must disagree with whoever said the tail lights copy the thunderbird mazda added the round lights reminiscent of the 70's rx vehicles that had round tail lights.

* quality unless anyone of you have recycled or cut these cars in bodyshops , you would know that s5 have more spot welds that s4's mazda also did this with the fd's as you will notice 93's have less spot welds that 94 and up. they find the chassis weaknesses and reinforce them.

* electrical , come on besides the bull **** omp, s5's have superior wiring ,higher quality connectors and more pliable wiring period.

my vote s5 or tastefully gutted ,s5 trimmed and interiored s4.
Old 12-13-08, 09:35 PM
  #88  
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we all know the S5s weight is heavier than the s4 but were the early S4s with fewer options lighter than later s4s
Old 12-13-08, 09:42 PM
  #89  
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Not really worked much on S5s but I can't see how much could have been improved within 2 years and keeping it itself... I do love the S5 tails though...
I like S4s because the more mechanical, the better... And it's closer to getting a historic plate!

Well, this isn't a fact thing, it's an opinion thing. IMHO, I like S4s because they're innovative.

Last edited by w0ppe; 12-13-08 at 09:44 PM. Reason: Oops
Old 12-13-08, 10:53 PM
  #90  
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Originally Posted by TurboII RudeBoy
everybody is coming up with they're own opinions some factual some stupid. *suspension yes the s4 has metal end links , so what by now most fcs have been upgraded and alot of s5 people have added the mazda trix links or will when they're 20yo originals snap.
Actually you would only need to replace them if they are a S5, as the S4 ones don't "snap" regardless of any suspension upgrades.

But clearly you forgot the softer bushings, softer springs, and base model shocks (on all S5 models except verts and GXLs).

* electrical , come on besides the bull **** omp, s5's have superior wiring ,higher quality connectors and more pliable wiring period.
actually the S5 models have considerably worse electrical... not just the MOP, but dumb things like the switches (for example the S5 wiper switches have don't have a flashing indicator for the hazards- and the S5 light switches have smaller traces internally) and of course that POS Idiot light panel, CPU and SRS computers- and don't get me started on the lame *** turn signal system on the 90-91 verts... No the S5 electrical systems are considerably worse than the S4 models.
Old 12-14-08, 11:32 PM
  #91  
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Originally Posted by Icemark


actually the S5 models have considerably worse electrical... not just the MOP, but dumb things like the switches (for example the S5 wiper switches have don't have a flashing indicator for the hazards- and the S5 light switches have smaller traces internally) and of course that POS Idiot light panel, CPU and SRS computers- and don't get me started on the lame *** turn signal system on the 90-91 verts... No the S5 electrical systems are considerably worse than the S4 models.
Agreed. In addition to that, most of the wiring for the rear main harness is smaller gauge on s5. Couple that with less current-handling capability of the switches and it's no wonder they have so many problems.
Old 12-14-08, 11:44 PM
  #92  
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I voted s5 mostly for aesthetics. Speaking of, the speaker placement in the s5 doors is far superior than the tacky-looking tacked-on speaker grilles in the upper middle of the s4 turbo and vert door panels. WTF were they thinking?

I also replaced my leaky s5 PD with a s4 primary rail and banjo bolt mod. For the better, I'm installing an s5 engine, wiring and ECU in my s4 Vert resto project, and s5 hybrid turbo and s5 irons on my s4 TII project.
Old 12-15-08, 07:07 AM
  #93  
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Originally Posted by junito1
I have never had a close look at a completely stock s5.

So i want to know if they have the brake ducts like the s4's.

I am doubting s5 have ducts because they put big fog lights there.

Yes, there are a pair of s5 brake ducts for sale on ebay as we speak....from a car that came with fog lights.
Old 12-15-08, 08:38 AM
  #94  
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Oh my God, we really just need to face facts people. The only reason that the S4's are ahead in the poll is because most forum members own them. If they are so sure that their car is superior to the later S5 models, why do they bother swapping in the parts? There are so many variables in your "facts" about the S4's being lighter and having less power but did you consider that S5's have so many other options that where standard. That translates to more weight. So if you really want to com pair them on an equal level add the options to the S4 or take them away from the S5's and if you still dont know who would come out on top, then your a moron. Just to make sure its judged as a whole I guess we could talk about the body and interior differences but I dont want to hurt the S4 guys feelings any more.
Old 12-15-08, 09:08 AM
  #95  
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Personally I think the differences are so marginal that people are just nitpicking.
On probably almost all FC's S4 and S5 the original equipment is reaching it's lifecycle endpoint and needs replacing.
Fortunately the cheapest route to go generally is with aftermarket upgrades rather than oem.
I can attest to the crappines of the S5 electrical equipment, witch we can thank Mazda for buying from Mitsubishi.

Icemark the rear tail light assembly on the S5 actually more closely resemble the tail lights of the same era Porsche 944 not a T-bird, take a close look next time you're at an autocross.

Last edited by niburu; 12-15-08 at 09:10 AM.
Old 12-15-08, 09:15 AM
  #96  
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Clearly S4 is superior, as I own one. /thread
Old 12-15-08, 09:53 AM
  #97  
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Originally Posted by MidnightOwl
Clearly S4 is superior, as I own one. /thread
Then why do you have a S5 turbo in your sig? I guess its not superior afrer all.
Old 12-15-08, 09:59 AM
  #98  
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i did say the s5 versions snap not s4 , i agree, question though you say base model shocks on all s5's so why have i seen s5's with aas and your sayin s5 t2's have base shocks?
Old 12-15-08, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by TurboII RudeBoy
i did say the s5 versions snap not s4 , i agree, question though you say base model shocks on all s5's so why have i seen s5's with aas and your sayin s5 t2's have base shocks?
Only the GXL model had the AAS, yet all the other S5 models had the same base shocks as the 86 Base and Luxury coupe models. This means the GTU, GTUs, and Turbo all had the pillow soft, lame *** valved base stock... considerable more cars than a few 89-90 GXL models .

Just because you have been very very limited in your exposure to the FC doesn't mean that they all have the same options as a GXL (which on the S5 GXL they seem to forgot to put a LSD on- like the 86-88 GXL had).
Old 12-15-08, 03:52 PM
  #100  
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I think in 90% of the cases it just comes down to aesthetics. Alot of people like the S5 more because it is more modern looking, alot of people like the S4 because it looks more classic. Many mechanical differences can be negated through the use of aftermarket parts, most of which are the same between S4 and S5.


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