What side skirts are those, they look nice!!!

 

Apexi replica side skirts

 

I personally think that the '99 spec front looks awesome. I really like the way that pianoprodigy and Mfanto's cars turned out.
BTW Mfanto I have SSR GT3s also. Are yours the satin finish?

 

I personally think that all of the '99 differences, besides the taillights, clash with the natural curvature and sexiness of the FD. The front doesn't clash as much as the '99 spoiler, but it still does. And the '99 lip spoiler looks way too gaudy and cheap, sticks out too far and is too "flat" (for lack of a better term) all the way around.

I know many people think the '92-'98 looks like a "Miata on steroids" but I honestly think there's a huge difference in appearance between the two front ends.

My 1994 front end with the addition of the stock 1994 lip spoiler = as sexy as it gets in my eyes. I do think '99 spec FD's look sweet as hell, but not as sweet as '94 spec.

Just MHO.

 

you have hit the nail on the head AND saved me typing till 00.30am! thanks!!

 

I did'nt know which I liked better for awhile. Till I saw the 93 and 99 (without the plate holder) next to each other, Then I couldnt wait to get the 99.

 

That miata looks like one of those Chevron cars on T.V.

 

A mazda speed hood adds alittle flair. The main man in DC elected office likes to borrow my ride.

 

that pic just made it as my wallpaper
hahaha

 

Wow...I'm surprised someone else thinks the same...esp w/ the hardcore 99spec fans we have on this forum. I think the 99spec front end is def. nice, but the "smile" effect gets to me too quickly. It would kirk me out too much to see it all the time on my car. Not for me.

Also, I agree w/ EdwardNorth, the 99spec spoiler (if he's referring to the rear spoiler in the first part of his post) clashes really badly w/ the curves of the FD IMO.

A 93 - 95 R front end (stock w/ R lip) simply takes the cake...unless of course we're considering non-OEM bumpers too...cuz I personally think (as played out as it is), the C-West front end is absolutely THE NICEST front end for the FD, no questions asked

 

Marion Barry???

 

remember when the neon came out? every time I see the 99 spec without the plate I think "beep beep...HI!"

 

I fail to see how the plate changes anything. The shape of the openings is exactly the same. The plate brick isn't a styling feature, it's an tacked-on addition. I could get an "L" bracket for my car and mount a plate right now... wouldn't be significantly different than the brick.

Most aftermarket noses have the top of the center opening as wider than the bottom. The PFS/knightsports is that way... as well as many others. The RX8 stock and Mazdaspeed aftermarket nose featured in the MAZPORT.NET banner ad at the top of this page is that way.

I'm a professional designer, I know what i'm talking about. You all are nutz, and asthetically challenged. End of story. :-)

 

I think your front end looks weird/silly/strange??? not sure what word I'm looking for. no badge...maybe?? something just isn't right for me.

but I'm glad you're a professional designer and like your car.

 

here are my pics..

 

Now that looks daaaamn good. Like how ya shortend the plate to let some air in.

 

My 2 cents

If I can be so blunt....*form follows function*

The styling changes made in 1999 were not only to bring the "style" up to date but to increase the level of performance.
For example:
1) The '99 rear wing is functional and effective - the '93 wing is useless...but looks nice to some.
2) The '99 front lip spoiler is sharp edged and flat for a reason, it's a more effective *spoiler* vs the '93 spoiler with more rounded and contoured edges.
3) The '99 front bumper has larger cooling openings for a reason. To keep things cooler. Comparing the oil cooler openings on the '99 vs the '93 bumper makes the '93 bumper look almost laughable. The center radiator opening although only marginally larger than the '93 bumper opening is apparently more effective at ducting the air *into* the opening. The upper edge of the '99 bumper actually protrudes further forward and a has a sharper leading edge grabbing more to the airflow and directing it into the opening vs that of the smoother and rounder '93 bumper.

I have hard data taken from a Mazda promotional video indicating the aero improvements of the '99 body modifications over the '93-'98 body. Again, form follows function.

To me a totally built up racecar looks fantastic. Take that racecar and strip off the aero parts and to me it would look goofy and odd. The compromise for me, for a "street" driven car was the '99 fornt end.

As you can probably tell I'm one of the pro-'99 fornt bumper people (minus the abhorant molded in front plate holder). There were other aftermarket bumpers that "looked" better to me but I couldn't get past the impracticalities of some of them - too overdone, made of fiberglass, fitment issues, questionable performance gains, etc, so I decided on an RE urethane '99 knockoff bumper. Yeah it looks a bit like it's smiling at me each time I pass by but at least I know it's a happy car And I have the comfort knowing that it will effectively improve the overall performance of my car.

Then again all you guys that want to drive your car on a track instead of pimpin' down the boulevard...yo, I'll wait for your '93 body car to go airborne at 140mph on the backstraight
of track X. But you sure will look good doing it!

My 2 cents,
Crispy
Yes my car: http://www.negative-camber.org/crispyrx7/99bumper.htm

PS just kidding about the airborn thing but let me tell you that driving a stock bodied '93 car without any aero help on a stock ride height car at anything approaching 130mph is downright scary. There is a reason the steering feels so light at those speeds.

 

I hate Scoot hoods. They are not flattering to the FD at all; nothing on it compliments the car.

 

nice plate design



u can add me to the list phil lol

 

can't agree with this statement...ducting works wonders

I've GOT IT!!! the bumper covers with no badges and no front plate look like snub nose sharks!!! <---of course my opinion means nothing

oh, and I've never gotten airborne at 140+mph

 

Apples to apples please not oranges. All else being equal the larger openings will allow more airflow. I ran ducted aftermarket oil coolers..with the '93 nose so I'm well aware of the effects of using well sealed ducting.

Did you read the "PS?"

But just in case you are being serious (I was not in case you missed it):

"I've run 20psi of boost on my car on the stock ECU and my engine didn't blow up"

Just because you can doesn't mean it's good or right. "Man" has done many questionable things and survived to tell about it.

Crispy

 

I thought I would hate it.. but it was better than this..



And when I had the 99 wheels to match my 99 stuff.. minus the fender..

 

I'm sure the 99 spec front end is better from a cooling and aero standpoint. However I've never had trouble with overheating due to insufficient front openings on my 93 front end and I do a lot of track days.

I have also had my non spoiler equipped stock bodied & stock ride height '93 up to 150mph on the track and it felt fine on the straights. Steering was not light. Crispy... maybe it was an alignment or tire issue? However that big banked turn at 140mph... me no likey... but I think that was due more to the size of my cajones (just not a Nascar boy I guess). I prefer tracks that are under 130mph anyway.

So since I have no problems with my '93 front end I'll keep it since I think it looks better (and I'm too cheap to buy the '99 conversion anyway)

Others results may vary!

-John

 

Only if you install the revised ducting components as well.

Most people just cut their fiberglass bumper, bolt on the bumper and spoiler, and call it good. If you lose the stock oil cooler ducts as part of that process (the duct from the bumper to the front of the cooler(s) themselves), then you're probably doing more harm than good with the larger opening. A larger opening doesn't necessarily mean that the air is going where you want it to. The same goes for the revised radiator/intercooler duct.

No argument there, although it is a fairly minor improvement.

My main objection is mixing and matching ('99 spoiler on '93-'95 bumper), and the shape of the driving lights in the '99 bumper. They just don't look good with sleek lights, in my opinion. Don't even get me started on the Viperesque hood.

 

i love the 99 front end but im biased

without trawling through the post, i thought that the plate had a function on the 99 spec front?? im sure i saw some sort of diagram with air flowing through the plate area... anyhow, in places where you HAVE to have a front plate for me 99 spec front it the only way to go, 100x better than the black plastic tacky plate holders on the 93+ nose