The GSL-SE is a completely different beast from the 12A cars. I wish I could have kept mine.

 

The only thing thats the same is the body and most of the interior.

The supsension, brakes, rear diff, engine, trans, etc. is all better than the 12A counterpart.

 

well to let you guys now i found an 85 gsl for cheap in nice shape, im happy with it. it has... well read the sig. needs more torque down low, but is awesome up at higher rpms.

 

Nothing wrong with the GSL. My mom had an '84 for years and it was great!

BUT!
The GSL-SE is the BEST 1st gen made, hands down, no question.

Easier to find rims for, bigger brakes, 34 more HP, and a better 5th gear ratio.

I love mine.

 

The GSL - SE for sure!!

 

I beg to differ. I think both cars have equal merits. For the $, you can do alot more to a carbureted 12A than a Fi13B. Aftermarket carbs can be found for cheap and porting a 12A is cheaper as well (you dont need different side housings). Sure the SE has marginally better brakes, but it's also heavier. If these boards are any indication, the 12A powered RX7s seem to be more reliable too.

I think if you're planning on buying an RX7 and would rather leave it relatively stock, you're better off with the SE. On the other hand, if power and performance is what you're after, they are pretty equal cars. Most 13B owners looking for more NA power end up slapping a carb on their engine anyways... and the power difference between an aftermarket carbed 12A and 13B is negligible.

 

My 85 GSL got stomped on by an SE. BIG TIME.

 

I have an '84 GSL-SE a buddy has a 85 GSL. Mine is more finicky but has rear disc brakes, a locking rear diff, a different rear end gearing and a noticeable amount of extra jam when you stomp on it. An older 13b as you can tell by the posts has alot of quirky problems but the 12a also can be an odd animal to work on if you are new to rotaries. They aren't like carburated 4-bangers. The parts are easier to come by on the 12a. This can be an advantage. Either way its a trade off. If you have the money to spend both can be made very powerful. Good luck. I am not sorry I have the 13b.

Jim

 

Car and Driver - 81 GSL 2480lbs
Car and Driver - 84 GSL-SE 2590lbs

 

Weight difference....100 to 200 lbs., depending on options. The SE is the heavier, but not noticebly.

I have to agree with RXcetera, both vehicles have their merits. The SE was basically a vehicle that came from the factory with most of the mods needed to turn it into a Rally/Racer with a minimum of serious work. The GSL was the top of line sports car that came with all the options....sunroof, electric windows, and rear wiper, stereo sound with equalizer, air cond., and four wheel disk brakes and LSD.

I liken the GSL to mid/late '60's sports cars, but more reliable. (Cursed be Lucas Electrics, the Lord of Darkness) Fun to cruise in, light, nimble, and sort of exotic. With 100 horses to play with it is no straight line tire burner, but with a high revving motor, great brakes, and exceptional handling, it was, and is, a great little motor car to just have fun with. I love mine, the same way I like my little British car.

The SE is another vehicle altogether. In turn it reminds me of my old '69 Z/28. Not the straight line acceleration of course, but just as the old Z was full of options...LSD, close ratio 4-speed, 4:11 rear, choice of dual 4 barrels, or a 3-barrel Holley on top of an aluminum high-rise manifold, headers, mechicanical lifters, lumpy cam, disk brakes all around if ordered, cowl induction, etc. The old Z was still a "throw it, and catch it" type of car, but ready for Drag/Race with a minimum of garage work. The GSL-SE is in the same catagory, real oil-cooler, injected 13B, modified suspension, close ratio 5-speed, LSD with a nearly 4:11 rear, 4 wheel vented disks, big wheels and tires, etc.

And to be honest, it takes a special woman to recognize and enjoy riding in a modded SE with a crackling exhaust, and a polyurethane-stiff shock suspension, whereas most women are very pleased to step into a clean nice-looking GSL built for two to have fun, and not challenge every rice-racer cruisin' on the bricks.

Just my opinion, and experience...
Denny, from the abandoned corncrib....

 

Hmmm what color is your car Jim and your friends. I used to never see ANY 7's but now i see tons, well not tons but you get the point. What area do you live in. The other day i saw a brwon one and a gray one near Valley Gardens. Im in EK myself. How about you?

 

well...I think I can give you first hand opinion here...I have a 84 gsl-se with 88,000 miles and a 83 gsl with 85,000 miles...both are burgundy interior with leather (selling the gsl, want to buy it??..real nice car!!!).. I love both of them as, lets face it, they are "7's" ..and I love the 1g style...gotta say though, the se is more fun to drive...cause it is so quick,,,and handles more like a sports car.....zoom, zoom , zoom...I love my gsl also,,,fun to zip around town with it, it is peppy too but not like the se...but I still love'em both and i do have to sell one (and not the se) cause I have no room here at my home....I would take the se over the gsl anyday, but price and condition are everything.....I think they made a lot less of the se than other models...more rare???more desired??better investment???.......cjf........................... ................

 

a GSL-SE is faster than an N/A FC.

 

I don't know nearly as much about these cars as these guys, but the only thing I'd trade my GSL for is an SE!

 

isn't this thread about a year old ?

 

The GSL-SE is a GSL with larger brakes, larger wheels, and the fuelie 13B 6-port.

I'd rather have the GSL. Car's lighter, and I prefer 12As.

 

Ahh...just get one of each. That's what I did.

-proud owner of '83 GSL and '85 GSL-SE

 

Listen...I don't know nearly as much a 90% of you on this forum...but I am on here a lot lately. I keep quiet...read....and try to learn. But what I have noticed is this... Most of you are runnin' 12a's. And the problems I see you guys posting are really foreign to me. I have owned 3 SE's, and have never needed to rebuild a single engine. Never needed to do any real work other than your standard wear and tear stuff. From what I see you guys posting all these probs with 12a's, I don't think I would ever want one. I love my SE's!!

 

Don't knock the 12a.

12a rules! 1.1 liter of raw triangle power, yeah baby! *runs in circles* Woo Hoo!

Honestly, I haven't had any problem with a 12a. It seems to be a much simplier design because it has a lesser amount of modern technology attached to it.

 

12As WILL run forever. 300k+ mile 12As are not uncommon.

Problems begin when people good-naturedly start screwing around with it, though... ripping off all emissions controls just to clean up the engine bay, for example, and randomly plugging off stuff and not considering the consequences...

 

Or you can do what I recently did. Take it all off.

No need to worry about plugging anything.

 

GRAVE DIGGER!!!