Hey everybody I am new to this list. I am trying to get a vert like around 1988 or a 1991. Is there a big difference in body style or something about the engine i should know? Is there any specific features that might be on one and not on another? Also is $3800 for a 1991 vert with 130,000 a fair price?
I live in the bay area and I just blew up my 1987 rx so I always wanted a vert, anybody with any cool sites I should check out. I have been to autotrader.com and cars.com already. Thanks in advance for any info you can give me.

 

get an 89-91 with alil more power. get a five speed. get one with a good top on it. most verts came with all options including the BBS wheels, and leather. Verts do not get tilt steering as far as I know. So just about everything is the same as a coupe except the weight. The price is o.k. if it is in good shape.

 

www.rx-7.cc

 

weight, acceleration (slower), differential 3.9(vert) to a 4.1(se to gxl) to 4.33(gtu gtus). The hood is completely aluminum, I would just roll it as a targa never drop top.

 

How rare is a turbo in a 1991 year? HOw much more gas does it eat up?
How can i tell it is a turbo when buying it from a seller? Will it say turbo in the back or something written somewhere on the car to signify it is a turbo 11?
Thanks for the quick replys.

 

Pop the hood and look; would probably be the most logical way.

If ya see an intercooler it's a turbo

If ya see a turbo, guess what! it's a turbo

If ya see a lot of broken parts, and melted stuff, and the guy is broke as hell, THEN IT"S DEFFINITELY A TURBO!

 

My 88 does.

 

I have a tilt wheel on mine, an 88. But I've seen a 91, with leather and CD package that did not have it. Get 89-91 years. Though 88 should be lighter, the hp's are lower. Does have mechanical as opposed to electrical oil injection pump.

 

There were not turbo version imported by Mazda into the US. Most likely, you will have a 6-port.

Things to look out for;
The top
1. check the seal between the targa top and the back half, make sure that the pins line up w/ the sockets
2. check for an signs of any leaks
3. check the side pockets, located right behind the side windows. see if it has a drain. It was modify by Mazda for the '89 and up
4. make sure that the top opens with ease and w/ no strain
5. rips on the top will cost $$$ to repair

The rest
Other than the above, it is pretty much general...the norm RX7 gremlins.

I dont have a tilt wheel...damn!

$3800 for a 91, that is a pretty good price. Save up for a rebuild though. I had bought my in almost perfect condition w/ 124k miles for $2500 w/ a bad motor.

I have an '88 vert, not so perfect..needs an engine...will not start. for $1000. Let me know.

 

The airbag models have differences. I think all airbag models were automatics.

Definitly get the 5 speed though. The convertible auto is NOT the same as the TII automatic (from Japan). The auto seems to suck too much HP at all speeds.

Most convertibles have clogged cats after 90K miles, so I'd recommend a downpipe, perf cat, exhaust, & intake. Or you can gut your cats if you're state/country has loose emmision laws.

My convert has so much backpressure I can shift at 1500 rpms right now. Hampering exhaust flow is not good for the engine.

 

I have a 91 convert w/airbag, Its a 5sp.

 

My '90 5 speed also has airbags

 

i though all s5 verts had airbags, regardless of the tranny


-Shawn

 

88-89 do not have airbags, so can have tilt steering and did have it available as an option.

90-91 all have airbags, so cannot have tilt steering by design.

88's have 3.9 rear diff gearing, so better gas mileage. 89-91's have 4.1 gearing, so better off the line.

88's only came in 5 speed. 89-91 all had either 5 speed or automatics available. However, it seems most 91's are automatics.

88's are lighter, simpler under the hood, and used parts are much more available, thus also for less cost. Key reason is mechanicals are the same for Verts and coups, and S4 production exceeded S5 production by 3-1 (I'm sure someone will correct me here, but I'm not that far off). So way more S4's in the wrecking yard for parts. So, cost to maintain S4 Vert will be less in many cases.

Mechanicals under the hood on S5's reflect more current engineering R&D simply because they are newer.

S4 stock sterios are more component in design, so more flexible to improve. For instance, you can modify a CD disc changer to plug directly into the head unit and avoid loosing the sound highs and lows as would be the case in a RF installation in a S5 head unit since it is not component.

89-91's (S5's) have more HP, sbout same torque as 88's (S4's), and are a bit heavier. Icemark will argue that the power to weight ratio,therefore, is superior on S4's.

However, body style tweeks on S5's are considered better by most (however, I'm one of the contrarians that prefer the S4 taillights as they can be color keyed to tie into the rest of the car).

Also, 89's have speed sensitive power steering while 90-91's have the lower grade engine speed sensing type.

My vote would be either '88 or '89's as neither have the air bag pillow steering wheel and you can legally customize it with what ever steering wheel you want. However, you might get a bit of break on insurance on the 90-91's because of the airbag.

THAT about sums it up. The rest is color choice for interior and exterior, a personal choice situation.

Me, I own both a S4 AND S5 Vert. But thats another story.

 

What's the point of that? You might as well get a coupe with a sunroof. The top is meant to be down every moment possible.
Besides, with the targa section out the rear section acts like a huge wind scoop. It's actually less windy with it all the way down.

 

Okay break down of North American model and years for the FC3C.

All had heavy duty suspension, 5 lug wheels with the 4 piston brakes, aluminum hood, light weight spare.

88:
146HP/ 138Ft/lbs
2950 or 3003 lbs weight (depending on option package)
Only an manual tranny available (although there are rumors of one coming off the boat with an automatic tranny, but the window sticker and VIN says it should be a manual)
Only the 3.909 rear end gear.
Optional P package equipped the car like a GXL with keyhole delay lumination, cruise, tilt wheel, CD, leather steering wheel, head rest speakers.
leather seating surfaces was optional
Came with GTU/T2 Mirrors.
Vehicle speed sensitive steering was standard.

89:
added HP (up to 160HP/140Ft lbs)
added 35lbs (gas tank went up two gallons, minor body changes, minor suspension changes, minor interior S5 changes)
added NA S5 styling.
added 4.1 rear end on manual tranny versions
added optional automatic tranny.
added to the optional P package was fog lights.
Manual trannys got the 4.1 rear end
auto trannys got the 3.909 rear end
standard german lightweight jack, was replaced with steel jack
engine speed sensitive power steering replaced vehicle speed sensitive power steering.

90:
added airbag (and redesigned cluster surround, stalk mounted turn signal controls, column surround, cruise control on button moved)
Moved roof control to center console
added another 40 lbs in airbag structure and wiring.

91:
all came with 4.1 rear end even if it was an automatic
90% of the vert production became automatic tranny.
paint was applied with the rotating body method (Mazda Hi-Reflex TM), which allowed thicker paint with less flaws (same method as the Millennia sedan would soon have). The option package became a B package and CD and leather as the options in that package.

 

Make sure you look at an 88 and a 89-91. I love my 88 and it is perfect for me and what I want to do with my car. I wouldn't want a s5 because of the added wieght. 160 lbs is what I have read. The power can easily be made up.

 

My 91 has speakers behind the seats, my 90 does not.
Anyone know if this was a factory option?

 

Rare option on the 91

 

hmmm, my 90 has those as well, I just thought all of them had those. Cool.
BTW..Damn Icemark, is there anything you dont know about our verts
j/k...thanks for all the info!

 

well S4 is really my forte'

 

actaully I was wrong, i just double checked. It looks like the rear lower speakers became a standard feature in 90 on the 'verts.