RE: Turning Japanese: PH Blog

RE: Turning Japanese: PH Blog

Wednesday 23rd July 2014

Turning Japanese: PH Blog

A drive in an RX-7 has got Dan all wistful about the golden age of Japanese performance cars



Later today I’m off to drive a Mazda RX-7, for reasons that will become clear. Sadly those don’t involve me buying it but I’m excited all the same as it’s very much a bucket list car I’ve always wanted to drive. The Honda NSX is another and a few months back I thought I was going to be able to do just that at the SMMT test day. And then somebody wrecked it before I got to have my go. Still upset about that.

Honda's NSX shortly before its demise, sob
Honda's NSX shortly before its demise, sob
What is it about Japanese cars of this period that makes them so beguiling? I’ve already done a £100K garage and there’s a long backlog of PHer contributions waiting to go live so it’s not fair I abuse my position to create another one on this theme. But the dream of a collection of 90s Japanese classics would, I think, be an excellent way of spending a hundred grand, virtual or real.

As part of a generation of car nuts who gained as much of their four-wheeled education through Gran Turismo as car mags it’s perhaps not surprising Japanese cars figure so highly on my radar. Certainly games helped raise awareness but having ‘graduated’ into driving the real thing my love of them has only strengthened.

What is it then? One of the things I love about this period in Japanese performance cars is the sheer creativity of the engineers and, seemingly, the enthusiasm of their bosses to indulge them and nurture their talents. Culturally these cars were built to very different norms than European or American cars and that’s what makes them stand out. Here cars are inexorably linked to legacies of class and status – given that many of the early pioneers, especially the motorsport enthusiasts, were drawn from the upper classes and aristocracy it’s unsurprising notions of hierarchy remain deeply seated in European car culture. Meanwhile in America it’s easy to generalise that a more simplistic obsession with power and excess are the primary motivating factors. Both cultures have created many wonderful cars but there’s a modesty and humility about the way 90s Japanese performance cars were built that I just love.

There would have to be a Skyline of some sort
There would have to be a Skyline of some sort
Yes, hierarchy and exclusivity were still there, with ever more esoteric and exclusive special editions to appeal to the true aficionados. But in a different frame of reference, dictated by legislation that made the horsepower and vmax arms races seen in Europe and America seem a little vulgar. With strict limits to horsepower and top speed – 280hp and 180km/h respectively – the engineers had to look at other ways to make cars exciting, each coming up with their own responses. GT-Rs and others were designed to cope with two or three times the legislated power cap and it was left to the owner and the aftermarket to unlock the potential. Honda instead went for crazy specific outputs from high revving normally aspirated engines and anally retentive weight saving like titanium gearknobs. Then there were the rally boys, exploiting four-wheel drive traction and turbocharging to make up for on-paper power deficits. Amid this diversity constants like tactile contact points with the inevitable Nardi or Momo wheel and fast-shifting, close ratio manual boxes, well-placed pedals and compact dimensions all add up to cars that work as well on British roads as they did on the Japanese ones they were designed for. Given the growing disparity between modern fast cars’ abilities and the chances to enjoy them on road or track maybe there’s something we could learn from this.

Screaming EK9 Type R definitely on the list
Screaming EK9 Type R definitely on the list
Anyway. I’m getting a bit philosophical here. Back to the cars. The RX-7 I’m to drive later is a perfect example of what I’m on about; it’s small, it’s technically eccentric and interesting with its sequential turbos and Wankel engine and as time passes the good ones are becoming ever more rare and sought after. The tuning culture that’s part and parcel of the Japanese performance world is, in this case, both a blessing and curse. Tweaking and personalising the car to your taste is a fundamental part of the game. And yet hypocritically we all prize the treasured original, unmolested car over and above the one that’s been modded.

So if/when my financial ship comes in I’m jumping aboard and immediately pointing out east to try and scoop up my dream fleet of 90s JDM specials before they all disappear for good. On the shopping list there’d have to be a Skyline of some sort – an R32 like this one I think – and an NSX Type R. Indeed, there’d be a few Hondas on there, including an EK9 Civic Type R, an Integra and maybe even a Beat. I’d have to have an Impreza – an early stripped back Type RA I think – and of course an RX-7. A Eunos Roadster too? Well, already got one of them. You’ve got to start somewhere after all...

At which point I open the floor and invite you to share your favourites of the genre too. Over to you!

Dan

Author
Discussion

KMB

Original Poster:

254 posts

222 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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One of those cars I have always wanted!

hoganscrogan

725 posts

283 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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The RX7 3rd gen. (without the rear wing) has always been a nearly bought it car for me. Great looking, light, interesting engineering....and RWD, many essential boxes ticked.
Sad to say I have never driven en example, I do sense future classic with this one.

Edited by hoganscrogan on Wednesday 23 July 11:19

exceed

454 posts

175 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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I actually look for modifications when buying cars like this, and usually want to ensure I have the right base for the further modifications I want to make!

dukebox9reg

1,570 posts

147 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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I also wanted a 3000GT from this era with all its active aero. Growing up there was a passion red one parked round the corner from me and thought it was epic.

Was at the 11th hr of buying one years later but the day before I was going to hand over the money I got posted (Army) and my annual mileage jumped from 9k to 30k.

So didn't buy. Still gutted to this day. Was a facelift in white with all the aerokit, big wing etc.

Would I buy any of the current Mitsi range? Nope.

Edited by dukebox9reg on Wednesday 23 July 12:01

cocopop

1,300 posts

204 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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exceed said:
I actually look for modifications when buying cars like this, and usually want to ensure I have the right base for the further modifications I want to make!
Likewise. A well modified car can be leagues ahead of the factory standard, assuming the compromises made on the modified example fit with what you want from a car.

Enjoy the RX7 Dan, you won't be disappointed thumbup

iwantcheese5

76 posts

126 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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My first car was part of the 90's heyday of performance cars, a 300ZX twin turbo. It was a bit of a barge but it had a unique character like they all did. I still hanker after a nicer 2 seater one but don't have the spare money to throw at a good one. I've even got a soft spot for the often forgotten Mitsubishi GTO (3000GT) with all it's electronic gizmos.

McSatan

82 posts

116 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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1991 'Carlos Seinz' Celica GT4. That was a great car, I miss it. Hard to find a good one nowadays though.

SaqibCTR

464 posts

133 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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I currently own an EK9 Civic Type-R. Cracking little cars, absolutely love mine.

Once described by another PH member as the "original engineers recipe".

Riknos

4,700 posts

203 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Almost bought one 9 years ago from a work colleague, in red, fresh ebgine rebuild, with some silly rims on it (first thing to go in the bin!) for a bargain price of £5000. I was young and had low rent to pay so could justify it, but the £2k insurance quote put me off. Very much regret it now.

late 80's / early 90's jap cars will be what I'll be spending my money on if I ever won the lottery, so many good cars from that era.

paranoid airbag

2,679 posts

158 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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"With strict limits to horsepower and top speed – 280hp and 180km/h respectively – the engineers had to look at other ways to make cars exciting, each coming up with their own responses"

Indeed. Okay it doesn't fit every car - an M5 or CLK black being designed as a straight-line monster (that can manage corners), is fine - but for mid-range sportscars and hot hatches it becomes tiring when "innovation" means "a bigger engine with more power". If those extra CC's were so brilliant, why not put them in the first time?

Alias218

1,485 posts

161 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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The R32 Skyline GTR is definitely one of my all time favourite cars, and I agree with buying modified examples in this case (normally I wouldn't touch a modified car with someone else's barge pole). These cars shout out for mods and doing your own to an as-yet unmolested example is just confining another car to the list of already modified ones.

Given the space, I would have one in a heartbeat. I'll just have to make do with my 350Z for the time being! Now how much are those turbo kits...

Beefmeister

16,482 posts

229 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Hoorah! An excuse to post a pic of my old RX-7!


zeppelin101

724 posts

191 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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No mention of the Silvia?

I'd love an S15, but it offers nothing above what my 180SX has, which is one of the most beguiling and wonderful cars I've owned I think. Very characterful, I love the driving position and it can be bonkers fast round a track one minute and lock-stops hooligan the next.

I'm on my 3rd. I think this one is a keeper.



My previous:





The RX-7 I had was awesome to drive when it worked. The problem was in the 6 months I had it, it had an engine rebuild followed by any number of other gremlins in every other part of the car. I think I managed about 500 miles in it that weren't running in miles...

paulyv

1,017 posts

122 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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A red 90's pre-facelift manual NSX remains my (perhaps one day attainable) dream car. Ticks all the boxes for a sportscar in my book - red, 2 seats, rear wheel drive, mid-engined. Seemingly very reliable too.

For now I am making do with an MR2 mk1 which also meets all the above criteria with the addition of a t-bar roof. Such a fun car to drive - always willing to rev away and carry this grinning idiot wherever he wants to go at great pace. It must have been a terrific car to have owned from new in 1989.

BristolLee

42 posts

127 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Nice Blog,

I agree about the philosophy of the time for Japanese performance metal (and growing (still) on Gran Turismo ! wink ).

For me i'd have to go for the full deck.

240Z
EK Civic Type R
Evo V
Impreza STi V (and a Forester STi as a Q Car!)
ST205 Celica GT-4
Mk4 Supra TT
R33 Skyline GT-R
FD3S RX-7
NSX

The lot. They were (and in some cases still are) my poster cars. Don't get me wrong, I love Ferrari's, Lambo's, BMW's etc, but there's just always been something unique about the Japanese approach. The slightly obsessive approach.

Even as late as the 2ZZ Celica (my current car) and the S2000, they just felt different to their contemporaries, that I think most modern cars of any nationality just don't have. The NC MX-5 and GT86/BRZ are the closest to that at the moment, then until recently probably the RS Clio and Megane.

Regulations and politics are a big part of the homoginisation of todays cars, but we the consumer at the rest! If everyone wants big torques and all the gadgets, who can blame makers for working to that big market!

Perhaps the recent approach from Scion in the US is a good one. Perhaps we should all be a bit more Japanese and fettle a bit more? I know that after the safe, honest performance and learning experience i've had with my Celica, that my next car WILL be fettled to a degree, but i can be sure that it still probably won't feel as special as those 90's machines.

crispyshark

1,261 posts

144 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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The majority of the cars I have owned have been from the Sumo department, bar the 987. I have to say, I prefer engineering from the East.....it just feels more raw and ready to go.

If you asked me to rank my cars in order of enjoyment it would go:

1) Impreza
2) S2000
3) Boxster
4) MX5

As for where I go from here....new impreza or a widetrack? An Evo of some description prob a 5 or 6.....I just don't know!

Speedracer329

1,507 posts

176 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Indeed a wonderful car, this was mine & is still missed.


Hoddy910

92 posts

146 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Has anyone actually owned both the EK9 Type R and the Integra Type R? I've always wanted the teg but the EK9 does tempt me...

FD3Si

857 posts

143 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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There's something about Japanese cars that just makes them a bit different. The ability to launch what, oer there, is a mainstream product with all sort of eccentricities identifies well with some of the more quirky british offering . Their willingness to just do something a bit differnt, at a good price point, adn then the subsequent crippling depreciation over er makes them even more appealing!

I (well, my wife and I) have had a variety of JDM cars, and all have done various things exceptionally well.
3 MX5s, for various top down budget thrills
An AW11 MR2, for a wonderfully charismatic drive, with a soundtrack full of character (the 4AGE is a masterpiece!), and a real sense of feel for the road.
A DC2, for, well, we all know the things that make them so much fun.
2 200SXs, which do the budget turbo cruiser thing so well, but have so much tuning potential
And an FD RX7, which I've had for over 6 years now. It was a boyhood dream, has had 2 rebuilds, is rubbish on fuel, hugely impractical, but lives up to every single thing I thought it would be (including the previous foibles) And to these eyes it's one of the most beautiful car designs the world has seen. The turn in is crisp, mid corner poise is exquisite, the soundtrack is fabulous, and even stock, they are very, very fast road cars.

I sometimes do find myself wishing I'd never got carried away with tuning it though. As a relatively stock road car with just some breathing mods and an aftermarket ECU it was nearly 300 ATW and felt like a big engine in a petite chassis.
Wonderful things, I plan on keeping it for a looong time.

I have always had a soft spot for R32GTRs though - one of those would happily sit in my garage (in that slate grey) next to a fixed headlight NSX-r. Oh, and I want our 1996 DC2 back as well. Best car we've ever owned.

thatguy11

640 posts

122 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Absolutely loved this piece! As a fellow "Gran Turismo taught me everything I know about cars" person I have such an affinity for 90s/early 2000s Japanese performance cars (shameless pic of my Celica 190, at John o' Groats smile )