Are 1990s "performance" cars still quick?

[Cotty]

My E30 is still quick,

[BricktopST205]

My 20 year old ST205 GT-Four can still show the new boys a thing or two. The car was quite advanced for it's time (super strut suspension, twin entry turbo, Torsen LSD etc). Okay it is not standard but what 90's jap car isn't. Currently at 330BHP and is around 100kg lighter than say a Golf R. Has no problem keeping up with the lease boys. My current setup is a forged engine away from 400bhp+ and then you are in M4 territory

That is the great thing about 90's japanese performance cars. For a small outlay you can quite easily make them as fast as today's M4's and RS4's

[300bhp/ton]

BricktopST205 said:

That is the great thing about 90's japanese performance cars. For a small outlay you can quite easily make them as fast as today's M4's and RS4's

It's not always a small outlay. I'm not saying you can't tune them (I own a Jap turbo car and have had others).

You can normally get small to modest gains, but for big performance increases you nearly always need new turbo's and engine rebuilds. At this point you are spending the same money as you would on non Jap turbo cars. If not indeed more.

[e21Mark]

300bhp/ton said:

BricktopST205 said:

That is the great thing about 90's japanese performance cars. For a small outlay you can quite easily make them as fast as today's M4's and RS4's

It's not always a small outlay. I'm not saying you can't tune them (I own a Jap turbo car and have had others).

You can normally get small to modest gains, but for big performance increases you nearly always need new turbo's and engine rebuilds. At this point you are spending the same money as you would on non Jap turbo cars. If not indeed more.

Even then, you'll end up with something that isn't run of the mill, or that you're likely to park next to at Sainsbury's. Added to which you'll have had the enjoyment of building something just how you want it.

[AntiLagGC8]

e21Mark said:

300bhp/ton said:

BricktopST205 said:

That is the great thing about 90's japanese performance cars. For a small outlay you can quite easily make them as fast as today's M4's and RS4's

It's not always a small outlay. I'm not saying you can't tune them (I own a Jap turbo car and have had others).

You can normally get small to modest gains, but for big performance increases you nearly always need new turbo's and engine rebuilds. At this point you are spending the same money as you would on non Jap turbo cars. If not indeed more.

Even then, you'll end up with something that isn't run of the mill, or that you're likely to park next to at Sainsbury's. Added to which you'll have had the enjoyment of building something just how you want it.

I agree with all of these posts.

I've spent a lot on my old car but then I consider it part of the family and I do love driving it as it feels alive, raw and a lot of fun. In several areas I could of spent less but I decided to do it to my spec and that included as 300bhp/ton pointed out a engine rebuild, turbo and really just about everything else.

P.S. My car has a bit over 300bhp/ton!

[e21Mark]

AntiLagGC8 said:

e21Mark said:

300bhp/ton said:

BricktopST205 said:

That is the great thing about 90's japanese performance cars. For a small outlay you can quite easily make them as fast as today's M4's and RS4's

It's not always a small outlay. I'm not saying you can't tune them (I own a Jap turbo car and have had others).

You can normally get small to modest gains, but for big performance increases you nearly always need new turbo's and engine rebuilds. At this point you are spending the same money as you would on non Jap turbo cars. If not indeed more.

Even then, you'll end up with something that isn't run of the mill, or that you're likely to park next to at Sainsbury's. Added to which you'll have had the enjoyment of building something just how you want it.

I agree with all of these posts.

I've spent a lot on my old car but then I consider it part of the family and I do love driving it as it feels alive, raw and a lot of fun. In several areas I could of spent less but I decided to do it to my spec and that included as 300bhp/ton pointed out a engine rebuild, turbo and really just about everything else.

P.S. My car has a bit over 300bhp/ton!

Mine's about the same I think?

[AntiLagGC8]

e21Mark said:

AntiLagGC8 said:

e21Mark said:

300bhp/ton said:

BricktopST205 said:

That is the great thing about 90's japanese performance cars. For a small outlay you can quite easily make them as fast as today's M4's and RS4's

It's not always a small outlay. I'm not saying you can't tune them (I own a Jap turbo car and have had others).

You can normally get small to modest gains, but for big performance increases you nearly always need new turbo's and engine rebuilds. At this point you are spending the same money as you would on non Jap turbo cars. If not indeed more.

Even then, you'll end up with something that isn't run of the mill, or that you're likely to park next to at Sainsbury's. Added to which you'll have had the enjoyment of building something just how you want it.

I agree with all of these posts.

I've spent a lot on my old car but then I consider it part of the family and I do love driving it as it feels alive, raw and a lot of fun. In several areas I could of spent less but I decided to do it to my spec and that included as 300bhp/ton pointed out a engine rebuild, turbo and really just about everything else.

P.S. My car has a bit over 300bhp/ton!

Mine's about the same I think?

I think I'm very jealous!

[s m]

e21Mark said:

Mine's about the same I think?

Very nice

I guess you have to be a bit careful when comparing older modded cars

Though there are plenty of 80s/90s cars that would still be classed as quick, by even car enthusiasts, in my opinion.

[Welshbeef]

e21Mark said:

Mine's about the same I think?

Very nice


What drivetrain do you have in it?

[e21Mark]

Welshbeef said:

e21Mark said:

Mine's about the same I think?

Very nice


What drivetrain do you have in it?

Engine is M52/2.8 (M50 inlet, light alloy flywheel, 6 branch & ECU re-flash)
Sport gearbox, quick shift & uprated clutch
E12 LSD
LEDA coilover suspension



This is my daily driver though, as opposed to being a show car or trailer queen. It was built from a bare shell, blasted, rust proofed etc and is as close to a 'new car' as I could get it.

[chris watton]

e21Mark said:

Welshbeef said:

e21Mark said:

Mine's about the same I think?

Very nice


What drivetrain do you have in it?

Engine is M52/2.8 (M50 inlet, light alloy flywheel, 6 branch & ECU re-flash)
Sport gearbox, quick shift & uprated clutch
E12 LSD
LEDA coilover suspension



This is my daily driver though, as opposed to being a show car or trailer queen. It was built from a bare shell, blasted, rust proofed etc and is as close to a 'new car' as I could get it.

That is superb!

I used to buy new all the time when I was younger, thinking the latest plate was the be all and end all. But as I have got older, I find that transforming an older car that I like to 'as new' is a lot more rewarding, and more fun to drive, irrespective of whether newer cars are 'faster' or not...

[s m]

Slightly off topic but did anyone notice there is a new mag just out for 80s/90s performance cars?

[e21Mark]

s m said:

Slightly off topic but did anyone notice there is a new mag just out for 80s/90s performance cars?

Think I'll nip to WH Smiths later. The cover cars all just look modern to me and not so much 'classic'. It's probably more to do with my age though.

[lostkiwi]

e21Mark said:

s m said:

Slightly off topic but did anyone notice there is a new mag just out for 80s/90s performance cars?

Think I'll nip to WH Smiths later. The cover cars all just look modern to me and not so much 'classic'. It's probably more to do with my age though.

It does say 'Future Icons".....

[danllama]

I'm now very tempted to go and test the 0-60 of my mr2 turbo rev 3.

My modified Rev 2 was quite a bit slower, mainly due to slower spool and lower boost.

[e21Mark]

lostkiwi said:

e21Mark said:

s m said:

Slightly off topic but did anyone notice there is a new mag just out for 80s/90s performance cars?

Think I'll nip to WH Smiths later. The cover cars all just look modern to me and not so much 'classic'. It's probably more to do with my age though.

It does say 'Future Icons".....

True. Still not sure how 'iconic' any of those are though?

[Catatafish]

If not as fast or faster, then definitely more enjoyable and thrilling.

Usually smaller, lighter, far more agile and analogue. On my local well sighted b roads with no witnesses you cant go wrong with something like a 205gti or classic impreza turbo.

[CS400]

J4CKO said:

wonder what the nearest modern equivalent is to the Carlton.

VXR8?

[300bhp/ton]

CS400 said:

J4CKO said:

wonder what the nearest modern equivalent is to the Carlton.

VXR8?

I don't suppose there really is. Not directly. I suppose the 'Ford FG Falcon XR6 Turbo' is similar in a number of ways too, 6 pot, turbo charged, even a similar power figure.




But wasn't a bespoke tuned by a 3rd party company. As I posted earlier I suspect the Hennessey are probably more faithful to the concept.

[e21Mark]

300bhp/ton said:

CS400 said:

J4CKO said:

wonder what the nearest modern equivalent is to the Carlton.

VXR8?

I don't suppose there really is. Not directly. I suppose the 'Ford FG Falcon XR6 Turbo' is similar in a number of ways too, 6 pot, turbo charged, even a similar power figure.




But wasn't a bespoke tuned by a 3rd party company. As I posted earlier I suspect the Hennessey are probably more faithful to the concept.

Don't TWR do a Monaro in the same vein as the old Lotus Carlton?