RE: Turning Japanese: PH Blog
Discussion
Well said, Dan.
Over ten years ago now (gulp!) I started a thread about this very subject on the MLR, asking if we'd seen the peak of Japanese performance cars.
http://www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=380...
OK, I was wrong about the GT-R and the unforeseen (unforeseeable?) LF-A is a bit of an outlier, but I still think the 90s were a high point in Japanese car output, at least as far as PH might be concerned.
Over ten years ago now (gulp!) I started a thread about this very subject on the MLR, asking if we'd seen the peak of Japanese performance cars.
http://www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=380...
OK, I was wrong about the GT-R and the unforeseen (unforeseeable?) LF-A is a bit of an outlier, but I still think the 90s were a high point in Japanese car output, at least as far as PH might be concerned.
"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."
You might think so, but look at the popularity of cars which are designed to reward at road speeds - the Toyo-buru gt86/BRZ comes to mind.
It should have sold millions already, but the recipe of light weight, great chassis and just enough power hasn't worked. Checking on "how many left" there's only 2,500 registered, but is it that unsuccessful, another lightweight drivers car which all agree is a staggering success was the Lotus Elise, but there are only 3,000 of those currently registered in the UK, and that's been on sale since 1996. Ultimately, the majority don't actually care how a car drives, they care about the top-trump figures and whether or not the car makes them look good while the clever engineering inside gets them round the corner in one piece.
You might think so, but look at the popularity of cars which are designed to reward at road speeds - the Toyo-buru gt86/BRZ comes to mind.
It should have sold millions already, but the recipe of light weight, great chassis and just enough power hasn't worked. Checking on "how many left" there's only 2,500 registered, but is it that unsuccessful, another lightweight drivers car which all agree is a staggering success was the Lotus Elise, but there are only 3,000 of those currently registered in the UK, and that's been on sale since 1996. Ultimately, the majority don't actually care how a car drives, they care about the top-trump figures and whether or not the car makes them look good while the clever engineering inside gets them round the corner in one piece.
If you want Japanese eccentricity and innovation, remember the Daihatsu Charade GTti?
Possibly the first production car to get 100bhp/litre (give or take)?
My list includes:
Daihatsu Charade GTti (x2)
Evo VI Tommi Makinen Edition (x2)
Integra Type R DC2
Yaris T-Sport.
The first three on that list were/are truly special. The Yaris is actually great fun to punt around too.
Possibly the first production car to get 100bhp/litre (give or take)?
My list includes:
Daihatsu Charade GTti (x2)
Evo VI Tommi Makinen Edition (x2)
Integra Type R DC2
Yaris T-Sport.
The first three on that list were/are truly special. The Yaris is actually great fun to punt around too.
KMB said:
The Supra above looks great, the dash inside is the only part that ages this fantastic car.
Look at the dashboards in its contemporaries (RX7, R33 GTR, GTO etc) and the Supra doesn't fair too badly. 
It's a really well designed and constructed car though, and puts all of the others I've mentioned to shame in those regards. j_s14a said:
The JZA80 Supra is probably the best of the bunch IMO.
One of the most tuneable engines in the world, coupled with the toughest transmission in the world equals probably the most tunable car there is.
And it still looks great.
I soooo wish I'd bought one of these years ago when I was looking at them.One of the most tuneable engines in the world, coupled with the toughest transmission in the world equals probably the most tunable car there is.
And it still looks great.
j_s14a said:
KMB said:
The Supra above looks great, the dash inside is the only part that ages this fantastic car.
Look at the dashboards in its contemporaries (RX7, R33 GTR, GTO etc) and the Supra doesn't fair too badly. It's a really well designed and constructed car though, and puts all of the others I've mentioned to shame in those regards. 
A RX7 and a NSX would definitely be on my lottery shopping list too.
Touching on the point re: the social and cultural nature of different nations and the cars they build and consume, I have to agree that the Japanese seem the most egalitarian and appreciate cars most for their fundamental virtues rather than brand appeal, price, status etc. I don't make any wider claims for my car being better or worse than any other, but I do love it very much for its performance, its character, its functional qualities and engineering pedigree without being bothered by the fact "it's only a Honda" or "it's almost 10 years old" or "you should have got a TT instead". I bought it for what it is, not what it isn't, and reflecting on what might replace it in the future, I'm a bit stumped as to me the current alternatives offering a vaguely similarly interesting package are more about making a statement about one's credit limit, about consuming a prestigious brand, rather than just enjoying a good car. Admittedly that's as much my own bias as anything else, but the fact remains - many people see a German performance car as more of a phallic extension or status symbol, whereas they see a Japanese performance car as simply an interesting car.
Touching on the point re: the social and cultural nature of different nations and the cars they build and consume, I have to agree that the Japanese seem the most egalitarian and appreciate cars most for their fundamental virtues rather than brand appeal, price, status etc. I don't make any wider claims for my car being better or worse than any other, but I do love it very much for its performance, its character, its functional qualities and engineering pedigree without being bothered by the fact "it's only a Honda" or "it's almost 10 years old" or "you should have got a TT instead". I bought it for what it is, not what it isn't, and reflecting on what might replace it in the future, I'm a bit stumped as to me the current alternatives offering a vaguely similarly interesting package are more about making a statement about one's credit limit, about consuming a prestigious brand, rather than just enjoying a good car. Admittedly that's as much my own bias as anything else, but the fact remains - many people see a German performance car as more of a phallic extension or status symbol, whereas they see a Japanese performance car as simply an interesting car.
TheJimi said:
j_s14a said:
TREMAiNE said:
Best car I've ever owned. Love it with a passion even though the bumper gets a lot of hate.
Is it just me, or does that bumper look like the one found on Dodge Vipers? 
[/URL]Think Tremaine mentioned it in a post at some point.
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