Which Jap Car?

[*Kosta*]

At the end of the year i want to get rid of my Mini and buy 2 cars. The first will be a £2k Diesel car or small van.

Talking to a few mates they say that Japanese cars are the way forward. Excellent value for money.

I want to spend no more than £8k on something that is nimble, fast and relatively easy to tune. It's main use will be for track days and some spirited B road driving. I am not really bothered about whether it is RWD, FWD or 4WD.

I would want something that is relatively easy to get around 300-350BHP out of.

Can anyone make any recommendations? I've been looking quite in depth at GC8 STi Imprezas and some Evo Vs.

Gut feeling is s Skyline will be too big for what i want. It's got to be good around the twisties.

Thanks

• K*

[swordfish_gtr]

Nowt wrong with the handling of a R32 GTR. Easy 300bhp

[shadowninja]

What he said, although 300+ bhp in a heavy car isn't as nice as 250bhp in a lighter car... consider a 200SX.

[Jonesy CRX_Turbo]

Mates Sti Type R is an awsome car straight out the box and he track days his with no mods. Lovely car. For a bit of a risk how about an RX7? They're suppost to have excellent handling and also quick as standard

[buckman63]

Jonesy CRX_Turbo said:

For a bit of a risk how about an RX7? They're suppost to have excellent handling and also quick as standard

Thet do have excellent handling, and with a few cheapish mods can handle all the cars mentioned previously. Only a risk if they are not maintained regulary.


Bob

Edited by buckman63 on Sunday 12th August 18:06

[jonner]

"I would want something that is relatively easy to get around 300-350BHP out of."

I would say that your down to 4wd and rwd...

An Sti Or Evo would be nice...

[GravelBen]

STi or Evo are best option if you want nutter acceleration, traction and point-to-point B-road pace. Performance is pretty much identical both being 2.0 turbo 300ish bhp (officially 280 but understated) as standard, my pick is the Type-RA or R (2-door) STi Impreza - lightweight body, close-ratio gearbox, driver controlled centre diff - 64R/36F static torque split which the driver can adjust with a dial up to complete centre difflock for snow/gravel. Very nice balance to them. If the sound matters to you then I'd say go for the STi, in that area its a no-contest as the Evo sounds more like a sewing machine.

If you're less concerned about outright pace on demanding roads and prefer spending your time sideways (in a controlled manner of course ) then a 200SX is probably the best option. 2.0 turbo, nice tail-happy RWD chassis. Still a nice quick car, while less competent than the rally-reps on tricky roads/slippy conditions its much better than a lot of other cars out there. 220-250 bhp standard but 300+ is pretty easy to get.

R32 Skyline GTR (or modified GTS-T) also worth considering, a bit bigger than the others mentioned above but still very nice handling, clever 4wd system that effectively works as RWD until the back end starts to let go, then it shuffles drive forwards to help pull you out of it. Capacity for more power than the 2.0 cars if tuned/modified right but also higher running costs and potential for bigger bills if thats a concern.

As far as practicality goes (if it matters?) the STi and Evo are decent 4-5 seaters, back seats in a 2-door Skyline are pretty cramped and those in the 200SX are pretty much there for show. Have never tried an Evo myself but the other 3 all have very good driving positions IMO. They're all very different cars to drive though, so try and take a good example of each for a drive and see which you prefer.


hth

[*Kosta*]

Thanks for the above. I don't think i would ever have an RX7 a friend of a friend has had a nightmare with his. It is kind of off putting. I like the S14a Nissan 200SX, a really nice looking machine but it is probably not what i want. I really do like the look of the STi GC8 Scoobs and found a really nice STi 5 RA 4dr but it is a bit too soon for me to buy unfortunately.

[Wadeski]

also worth checking out an Mk2 MR2 Turbo - will need more mods to get to 300bhp than the Evo/Sti but its smaller, lighter, and surprisingly fast. Only 250bhp stock but 300+ bhp is very accessible (same engine as the Celica GT4).

Also, much cheaper to run than an RX-7, Skyline or Evo...

there is a place in Nottingham that specialises in them, pm for details...

Edited by Wadeski on Monday 13th August 13:51

[GravelBen]

Wadeski said:

also worth checking out an Mk2 MR2 Turbo - will need more mods to get to 300bhp than the Evo/Sti but its smaller, lighter, and surprisingly fast.

I think you'll find the MR2 Turbo is actually heavier than an STi-RA.

STi-RA 1190-1240 kg depending on year and spec
MR2 Turbo 1240-1310 kg depending on year and spec (1310 is T-bar, heaviest proper roof is 1290)


It is a bit smaller though I agree, and I expect more involving to drive in some situations being mid engine/RWD as opposed to front engine/AWD. Another option to consider anyway

[_Al_]

GravelBen said:

It is a bit smaller though I agree, and I expect more involving to drive in some situations being mid engine/RWD as opposed to front engine/AWD. Another option to consider anyway

The MR2 is definitely the more involving drive, the driver is a much bigger part of the equiation and they're not that much slower than the UK Scoobies (even my wreck of a '2).

Well worth a look, but don't expect to have brains-out throw-it-around type fun.

Trees and ditches lie down that road...

[E330]

Evos,Supra,GTO,200sx,GTR's or MR2 turbo great track cars. All are realativly easy to tune for track and B road use. The 2 Turbo wouldn't really need 330+ but would put some of the bigger engines to shame IMO

[_Al_]

Gazboy said:

_Al_ said:

GravelBen said:

It is a bit smaller though I agree, and I expect more involving to drive in some situations being mid engine/RWD as opposed to front engine/AWD. Another option to consider anyway

The MR2 is definitely the more involving drive, the driver is a much bigger part of the equiation and they're not that much slower than the UK Scoobies (even my wreck of a '2).

Well worth a look, but don't expect to have brains-out throw-it-around type fun.

Trees and ditches lie down that road...

My MR2 used to annihilate UK scoobies when it was stock. Remember yours was only boosting 0.5bar instead of 0.75- 0.8bar.

I got it up to just shy of 1bar in the end, but you're right. The only time I went up against a scooby was before I got that fixed.

[stara]

Gazboy said:

_Al_ said:

GravelBen said:

It is a bit smaller though I agree, and I expect more involving to drive in some situations being mid engine/RWD as opposed to front engine/AWD. Another option to consider anyway

The MR2 is definitely the more involving drive, the driver is a much bigger part of the equiation and they're not that much slower than the UK Scoobies (even my wreck of a '2).

Well worth a look, but don't expect to have brains-out throw-it-around type fun.

Trees and ditches lie down that road...

My MR2 used to annihilate UK scoobies when it was stock. Remember yours was only boosting 0.5bar instead of 0.75- 0.8bar.

annihilates scoobs? behave yourself.

[Catz]

Supra TT

[ScoobieWRX]

A well modified MR2 still won't be as quick as a well modified Scooby on the road, track or anywhere else come to that. In yer dreams Gazboy

[_Al_]

ScoobieWRX said:

A well modified MR2 still won't be as quick as a well modified Scooby on the road, track or anywhere else come to that. In yer dreams Gazboy

Honestly Francis - take a ride in one. They're more of a weapon than most people think. Stock UK 215bhp scooby against my MR2 was virtually matched even though I was running 0.5 bar boost at 179rwbhp.

For top speed the MR2 is ratio'd higher, has the aerodynamics and doesn't suffer the same transmission losses so I'd expect it to do very well. In 5th mine just pulls forever.

I remember an incident coming off a roundabout on a D/C in 3rd a few months back where it pulled past a scooby. Inch by inch, but it did it. Blob-eyed one with a big exhaust and spoiler.

Of course if there'd have been another roundabout things would have been very different.

[ScoobieWRX]

Judgement reserved for now then but i still think what i said before...and coupled with a halfway competent driver i still think the scooby is the winner but perhaps i'll just beg to differ on this one

I suppose like most things there is only one way to prove it really and that's by tasting the pudding - Std MR2 v Std WRX at the pod and on a track

[_Al_]

A run up Santa Pod would be very hard to call. The '2 has outstanding traction for a 2wd - but not enough to trump the scooby. It'd be interesting to see if the faster launch made up for the extra drag and energy loss...

On track - no contest. Scooby every time. My MR2 has lowered suspension and handles very well indeed (though less so now than when it was wearing Toyos). My Impreza looks like it's on standard shocks, not sure about the springs and is definitely on cheap rubber. Would still destroy the MR2 on anything other than a high-speed ring.

[havoc]

MR2 turbo is one hell of a quick car, but not as forgiving as some of the other suggestions, so depends what experience the OP has...

...he's coming from a MINI (assume new-style), so assuming no rwd experience then 4wd might be a bit safer...straight from fwd to a rwd turbo with big-power is an easy recipe for an accident if the driver doesn't learn the new style quickly (even more so if you go for mid-engine rear-drive turbo!).


That said, the RX7 is a lovely car...