'93 vs. '94 stock intercooler piping...
 

Just noticed something...

On my 1994 FD the two pieces of intercooler piping (circled below) were black:
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/...kpipingvf7.jpg

...and on my 1993 FD the two pieces are silver.
https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/...rpipingkj1.jpg



Soooooo, I'm guessing the 1993 model came with silver piping, and the 1994 came with black? Is this correct?

mines a 93 and has silver, so it's possible

Yes, they were different colors.

Is one plastic and one aluminimun...........

Both are plastic. The silver pipes are on the early 93s, both painted black plastic. The smaller pipe was changed to black (not painted) sometime during 93, the intake elbow that bolts to the throttle body was black for 94+ cars.

There is no other difference between the pipes other than color.

Anyone know why they made the color change? I've always assumed it was because the silver painted plastic wasn't fooling anybody that it was aluminum so they went with the more "authentic" plastic. Of course, it could also be that Mazda was just trying to save a few pennies.

I have a 93 R1, and the elbow is silver, Crossover pipe is black. All stock

In my opinion they were trying to save $$. Mazda cheaped out on many 94+ parts. The R2 strut bar did not have heim joints (neither did the rear strut brace) like the R1 did.

There are quite a few cost saving differences between a 93 and 94+ car. Of course the 94 has a lot of "fixes" too.

yea, like the interior plastics..didnt they also give it a better clearcoat? or does all the fd clearcoat just suck balls?

Actually the 93 plastics are more expensive to make. They are molded plastic with a rubberized paint. The problem is that paint is not very durable and peels easily.

The 94 plastics just come straight out of the mold with texture, no secondary process.

still better i think...yet to get my hadns on some though :(