Ricers - Educate me...

[KingRichard]

With some of the bhp/£ that seems to be available if you choose sushi over roast beef or Saurkraut, it seems I may end up missing out by plumping for a TVR S or a 944.

Jap cars have always held that stigma of Fast and the Furious in my mind. This has always put me off them. Just recently though, I've spotted a few skylines and scoobies that have avoided the spotty halfords employee with a sticker set and found them quite arousing.

Trouser Tents

What's the score with these RWD, turbo nutbag, oversteering bastards then?

Reliable?
Everyday?
Any available with a nice interior?
What are the best options for about £6-7k?

I wouldn't mind having a go at some track days next year, and it would need to be a decent motorway car, as well as quite lively on the twisties. Not too worried about fuel costs, or to a certain extent insurance costs... bear in mind I'm 25 though so I'd need to at least be able to get covered.

What are the options then?

[Jonesy CRX_Turbo]

For that kind of cash you could get an R33 GTSt Skyline, RWD 2.5litre single turbo good for around the 250bhp mark and a few tuning tweeks!! These are ofton looked down on because of the GTRs status (2.6litre twin turbo 4WD) but they still are a fun car to drive. As far as i've heard they are quite tunable but will require a turbo and ecu upgrade to push any real major power (correct me if i'm wrong anyone!!) Would've though that the Skyline badge alone will put insurance up though!!!!

If i wanted something for that price i'd go for an S14a 200SX, it's a reliable 2litre turbo with RWD putting out 197BHP. They've got a really nice leather interior and look really good standard. Mate had one and said fuel economy was OK but that's to be expected with a bit of boost action. He was 22 when he insured his and had no probs.

Ricers are the Jap boyracers who put massivly heavy and performance dulling parts/wild bodykits on small engined cars to make them look fast!!! Think i'm offended!!!!!!!

Edited by Jonesy CRX_Turbo on Friday 20th July 16:07

[KingRichard]

Jonesy CRX_Turbo said:

Ricers are the Jap boyracers who put massivly heavy and performance dulling parts/wild bodykits on small engined cars to make them look fast!!! Think i'm offended!!!!!!!

Oops. Well that's exactly the sort of look I'm not keen on.

Skyline sounds a bit daddy Seen some R32's that look in good nick for about £7k. Can you get a skyline all leathered and aired up? That's quite important

It's not all about speed you know, I need to wipe lady juice off easily too

[HotTotty]

KingRichard said:

What are the options then?

Depends if you want to get laid.

[KingRichard]

HotTotty said:

KingRichard said:

What are the options then?

Depends if you want to get laid.

Well of course. Stoopid.

But as you well know, I don't need no car to do that for me

[Jonesy CRX_Turbo]

R32s are pretty sweet too. My personal fave Skyline. You can get the GTSt (2litre, RWD 220bhp in these) for really cheap around the 2K mark or a really nice modified one for 5ish. As for R32 GTRs i don't think i'd trust one for sale around that price as it'll probly be highish milage or thrashed. The engines and $wd system is quite advanced and expensive if it breaks!!!
Think only the UK spec R33GTR and R34GTRs came with leather and they're rare as rocking horse s**t. You could always pick up a cheap GTSt and get it retrimmed!!

I wanna get laid do Del Sols work????? lol

[KingRichard]

Jonesy CRX_Turbo said:

I wanna get laid do Del Sols work????? lol

Cheers.

Not with that one I wouldn't have thought.

HotTotty seems to get a lot of satisfaction from blowing blokes in the weeds...

I meant 'into'. Promise

[Jonesy CRX_Turbo]

I'll shut up now then!!! lol.

[Streetlife TV]

well mate im 24 now and iv had my WRX STi for 2years now and i love it. But i have a bodykit on my car but i have the engine also. The car started totally standard and over the 2 years iv played with engine etc to tune it above factory spec.

even before i did the engine i really enjoyed driving my scooby and for what you wanna pay you can get something in good condition with low milage. Iv never driven a skyline but i feel i'd be disapointed if i spent the same money in a liner cause i feel you dont get as much power for your money. Obviously im a scooby driver so im gna say get a scooby but id say go out for a few test drives.

If u got any questions about the scooby as an everyday car just ask. As far as everyday use etc iv had no problems.

[Chauch]

You could get a fairly standard R32GTR for that sort of money but make sure you know what you are looking for and check the back arches for rust. A well sorted R33GTST is a lot of car for the money and they are great fun to drive. No leather but aircon was standard on all.

The Skyline "tax" is huge everywhere you you and make sure that you get an insurance quote first.

I too would have a look at a 200SX - great value for money and if you get a UK car, the insurance should be a lot less.

[liner33]

All Skylines are group 20 even the na ones!!

I have a R33 GTST paid £5500 for it last year , spent a fair bit on it now but thats the nature of these car for some of us

A 400hp well loved, modded one went for £6500 recently so there are bargains to be had.

There are a couple of good sites the Skyline owners club and the skyline owners forum , often good cars on there for sale

As they become cheaper there is an undesirable element to them and you sometimes see the gtst's especially with some pretty tasteless mods , but there is the hard core following which tend to look down on those kind of mods

[wee_skids]

Gazboy said:

I've tracked both of my Toyotas, the MR2 was a lot cheaper on consumeables but servicing/belts was more expensive, MR2 was more rewarding on track & twisty road, Supra rules the motorway & wide A roads, I suspect the RX7 would be in the middle ground.

RX7 is much more the track/twisty road car than the Supra or MR2 would ever be. Fluidity and poise.

[cptsideways]

Nissan S15 maybe just within range? stunning car standard & definately the S14a which is also a lovely car in standard trim.

Standard spec cars are sooooo much nicer to own, easy to sell on & won't go wrong generally.

Quite a few stealth machines too if you go for Toyota's with the 2.5 1JZ engine, or opt for the 3.0 2JZ in the Supra. Nissan RB engines are not quite as reliable but keep them stock & they are fine. Theough the RB26 lump takes some looking after.

[Pierscoe1]

Gaz, have you got links to those vids?

only one I've seen is the S15/RX7/R34/Supra modded battle.. where the GTR punts the S15 off on the last lap..

in that race the RX7 was kicking everything's arse...

CptSideways.. I WISH the S15 was that cheap.. i'm very strongly considering one for my next car.. but £10k - £12k is the sort of money needed for a nice low-mileage one.....

I'm saving hard as I type!



edited to ad: I was talking crap about that vid.. the RX was quick in the corners, but monstered by the other three cars on the straights, and hence fell behind.. think I must have got it confused with another video....

Edited by Pierscoe1 on Saturday 21st July 18:23

[GravelBen]

Are S15's really that expensive over there?

They're not too bad here in NZ - can get a good one for under $20k NZ which is under $8k GBP.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=10...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=10...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=10...

And I rather like this one:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=10...

Looks like good stage 1 mods done from the ad so maybe ~350 bhp at a guess

[Rob_F]

Those S15s are very sweet, look so much better than a 200sx.

Cheers,
Rob.

[shadowninja]

For £7k you could pick up an R32GTR with light tuning to around 350bhp. Quick, handles well and reliable. The only downside with Skylines (apart from having every chav in a Corsa wanting to race you at the lights) is the annual bills and costs to fix things, unless you take it to Botchitt And Scarpa Automotive.

Rob_F said:

Those S15s are very sweet, look so much better than a 200sx.

It is a 200SX. The previous spec was the S14 and then S14a.



Oh and yes, "ricer" is a term for the likes of Honda Civic drivers who bolt OTT bodykits on it and still drive around in a standard 1.4litre engine thinking they are Vin Diesel.

Edited by shadowninja on Saturday 21st July 13:37

[KingRichard]

shadowninja said:

For £7k you could pick up an R32GTR with light tuning to around 350bhp. Quick, handles well and reliable. The only downside with Skylines (apart from having every chav in a Corsa wanting to race you at the lights) is the annual bills and costs to fix things, unless you take it to Botchitt And Scarpa Automotive.

Rob_F said:

Those S15s are very sweet, look so much better than a 200sx.

It is a 200SX. The previous spec was the S14 and then S14a.



Oh and yes, "ricer" is a term for the likes of Honda Civic drivers who bolt OTT bodykits on it and still drive around in a standard 1.4litre engine thinking they are Vin Diesel.

Edited by shadowninja on Saturday 21st July 13:37

Ok, ok.

I can't edit my thread title though can I?

So you'll all have to stay ricers for the moment

I'm struggling to see anything with a quality looking interior though. I'm just wincing at the thought of all those brittle plastics and rattly switches my Civic was plagued with

Any thoughts on scoobies? Still worth a squirt these days. I've seen a couple of P1's at about £8k but they looked a bit worn. I'd want a nice one

While you're at it, grab me one of jupiters moons and whack it on a stick

Edited by KingRichard on Saturday 21st July 13:51

[Rob_F]

shadowninja said:

It is a 200SX. The previous spec was the S14 and then S14a.

Aye, i know mate - been looking at them on ebay lately. Thought it was pretty obvious what i meant, tho' I love the jap cars now i've got one, fanboyism has landed

Rob.

Edited by Rob_F on Saturday 21st July 14:13

[GravelBen]

KingRichard said:

I'm struggling to see anything with a quality looking interior though. I'm just wincing at the thought of all those brittle plastics and rattly switches my Civic was plagued with

I quite like the interiors in the Nissan 200SX and Skylines, I guess its personal taste though. Old Impreza interiors tend to look a bit cheap but the newer ones are much nicer, and all of them have very good ergonomics, driving position etc.

KingRichard said:

Any thoughts on scoobies? Still worth a squirt these days. I've seen a couple of P1's at about £8k but they looked a bit worn. I'd want a nice one

I Like 'em, as do many others. Don't really fit the 'RWD oversteering bastard' criteria you mentioned in the OP though, more along the lines of very competent, very quick and composed any weather, any roads - great fun especially on the loose stuff and in the wet, but 'playing' when on dry tarmac can see you into license-losing territory very quickly so keep that in mind.

The cars with the DCCD (driver controlled centre diff) drivetrain are the most fun, current model has a 50:50 torque split but the earlier DCCD cars (classic STi-R and RA, and post-bugeye STi) had a 64R:36F static split which helps eliminate understeer and give more tail-out antics. Nice balance, awesome traction out of corners. (The other purpose of the DCCD is that its variable via a dial by the handbrake up to complete centre difflock for gravel/snow etc.)


Theres been a few Subaru threads on here lately so worth browsing through the last couple of months of JapChat to have a read.

Edited by GravelBen on Saturday 21st July 14:24