Which Jap Car??
Discussion
Hello fellow jap enthusiasts!
just a quick question, i currently own a Toyota Gen7 Celica VVTLi 190, im looking to change the car soon due to mileage and just fancy a change really, and i was wondering what you guys think is the best car for me to get?
It needs to be quick and reliable as im guna be doing 45k a year for at least another 8-10months. with the new tax law im not to bothered about age, just needs to start on a low mileage?
oh and im not bothered turbo or Na, idealy would be rwd and turbo.
Thanks
just a quick question, i currently own a Toyota Gen7 Celica VVTLi 190, im looking to change the car soon due to mileage and just fancy a change really, and i was wondering what you guys think is the best car for me to get?
It needs to be quick and reliable as im guna be doing 45k a year for at least another 8-10months. with the new tax law im not to bothered about age, just needs to start on a low mileage?
oh and im not bothered turbo or Na, idealy would be rwd and turbo.
Thanks
If you are doing 45k a year something fast and comfy would be good so how about a Toyota Soarer? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=415
Budget, im looking for say 8k tops but would rather around the 5-6k mark, would giv me change to play with etc.
im not really worried about warranties cus i can get my hands dirty. want jab because iv had very few problems with my celica so wana stay jap, but would love a bit more tuning potential than the gen7 celica ive got.
Im realy tempted by an S14 200SX, any body use one as their dd? problems?
Thanks so far guys.
im not really worried about warranties cus i can get my hands dirty. want jab because iv had very few problems with my celica so wana stay jap, but would love a bit more tuning potential than the gen7 celica ive got.
Im realy tempted by an S14 200SX, any body use one as their dd? problems?
Thanks so far guys.
Silvia's are pretty bullet proof but that mileage is still huge, on an old car. How long do you plan to keep it for? I mean assuming a 5k jap car will have 50k on it when you buy it, then in two years you will have 140k miles...
I would be looking at something that has cheap spares, so nothing that was not officially sold here. S14 sounds like a pretty good bet, and you can get a minter for your budget.
Remember you will be buying things like new shocks (and other suspension bits) maybe a new turbo, alternator, etc etc which add up.
I would be looking at something that has cheap spares, so nothing that was not officially sold here. S14 sounds like a pretty good bet, and you can get a minter for your budget.
Remember you will be buying things like new shocks (and other suspension bits) maybe a new turbo, alternator, etc etc which add up.
general190 said:
I currently own a Toyota Gen7 Celica VVTLi 190
You appear to like cars with long names. Can I suggest the "Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-360" ?In all seriousness, if you're doing 45k miles per annum I would NOT buy an Evo to do it in. They will do 18-22mpg and need a service every 4.5k miles. You'd need TEN services that year. Also, 45k miles (divided into 240 working days per year) is an average of 187miles per day. I can get 200-250 miles out of a tank, so you'll be filling up (at about £50 a pop) 2 out of every 3 days.
Can I ask what job you do which requires you to do 45k miles per year but doesn't supply a company car?
mrmr96 said:
general190 said:
I currently own a Toyota Gen7 Celica VVTLi 190
You appear to like cars with long names. Can I suggest the "Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-360" ?In all seriousness, if you're doing 45k miles per annum I would NOT buy an Evo to do it in. They will do 18-22mpg and need a service every 4.5k miles. You'd need TEN services that year. Also, 45k miles (divided into 240 working days per year) is an average of 187miles per day. I can get 200-250 miles out of a tank, so you'll be filling up (at about £50 a pop) 2 out of every 3 days.
Can I ask what job you do which requires you to do 45k miles per year but doesn't supply a company car?
with regards to how long i was guna keep it, if S14, was thinking about a year if around 50k then drop in a fully built norris designs 400bhp SR20DET?
Anyone know of other companys who will do a similar complete build? cost?
Thanks again for all your help, looked at the supras and the insurance wasnt as bad as i thought! but i thought running costs would be way more than a S14?
You can pick up a nice low mileage 2003-2005 Impreza STi with full SSH for £7.5-£8.5K with service intervals at 10K miles. Leaves you about £1K-1.5K to do some mapping and mods (to 320/350bhp with basic physical mods), and you have a decent looking, comfortable, uber fast, cracking handling 4dr saloon with 4x4 traction for added safe driving in any weather and any road. With that sort of bhp you can easily crack the 165-175mph barrier should you find yourself on unrestricted autobahn in Germany, with 0-60 nr 4secs and still return 25mpg on a normal run.
How's that!!
Doing 45K miles a year you need something that will be reliable, practical, and take a good seeing to from time to time, and be fun to drive very quickly with very few cars on the road that will ever bother you.
Black, Blue or Black (you can tell i like black)
How's that!!
Doing 45K miles a year you need something that will be reliable, practical, and take a good seeing to from time to time, and be fun to drive very quickly with very few cars on the road that will ever bother you.
Black, Blue or Black (you can tell i like black)

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Monday 6th October 15:40
ScoobieWRX said:
You can pick up a nice low mileage 2003-2005 Impreza STi with full SSH for £7.5-£8.5K with service intervals at 10K miles. Leaves you about £1K-1.5K to do some mapping and mods (to 320/350bhp with basic physical mods), and you have a decent looking, comfortable, uber fast, cracking handling 4dr saloon with 4x4 traction for added safe driving in any weather and any road. With that sort of bhp you can easily crack the 165-175mph barrier should you find yourself on unrestricted autobahn in Germany, with 0-60 nr 4secs and still return 25mpg on a normal run.
How's that!!
Doing 45K miles a year you need something that will be reliable, practical, and take a good seeing to from time to time, and be fun to drive very quickly with very few cars on the road that will ever bother you.
Black, Blue or Black (you can tell i like black)
I would love a black Scooby STi, but would be able to afford the ins! it would be crazy for me on one of those, as having a company car previously i only have 1years no claims. The supra for me was alot less than the scooby STi and even less than the WRX! How's that!!
Doing 45K miles a year you need something that will be reliable, practical, and take a good seeing to from time to time, and be fun to drive very quickly with very few cars on the road that will ever bother you.
Black, Blue or Black (you can tell i like black)

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Monday 6th October 15:40
Umm....
im going to sound really boring here, but for that kind of miles, anything thats highly tuned (400bhp norris idea) is a really scary idea!
highly modded and rock-solid reliable don't necessarily go hand in hand....and 400bhp puts a strain on clutches, driveshafts etc.
S14 or maybe an IS200 might be a good idea...lexi are pretty cheap to insure.
When i was in a similar-ish position I looked at all the jap stuff and ended up going with a turbo Saab. turbo fun, but much much comfier than all but very high end jap stuff (which tends to come with high end parts costs).
Chipped Saab with a suspension upgrade would save your sanity for 140 miles per day with the cushy seats, but still push your head into the restrain with nearly 300lb/ft of torque. And with petrol prices rising turbo petrol family cars are a BARGAIN right now.
im going to sound really boring here, but for that kind of miles, anything thats highly tuned (400bhp norris idea) is a really scary idea!
highly modded and rock-solid reliable don't necessarily go hand in hand....and 400bhp puts a strain on clutches, driveshafts etc.
S14 or maybe an IS200 might be a good idea...lexi are pretty cheap to insure.
When i was in a similar-ish position I looked at all the jap stuff and ended up going with a turbo Saab. turbo fun, but much much comfier than all but very high end jap stuff (which tends to come with high end parts costs).
Chipped Saab with a suspension upgrade would save your sanity for 140 miles per day with the cushy seats, but still push your head into the restrain with nearly 300lb/ft of torque. And with petrol prices rising turbo petrol family cars are a BARGAIN right now.
I think if it was my £8000 I would buy a Skoda Fabia VRS to do 45k a year in, but I guess a Civic Type R would be sensible reliability for that kind of mileage.
If my subaru is anything to go by then I wouldn't trust it to do 45k per year reliably (especially if you start modding it)
If my subaru is anything to go by then I wouldn't trust it to do 45k per year reliably (especially if you start modding it)
Edited by SClarke on Monday 6th October 18:51
Just checked auto trader, the Mazda 6 MPS dealer prices are about £9 - £10.
with mid 20K miles.
This car would appear to tick all your boxes and a private sale might get you in your £8K budget.
They are a very good car and probably more important to you if you are going to be doing 45K a year, comfortable.
with mid 20K miles.
This car would appear to tick all your boxes and a private sale might get you in your £8K budget.
They are a very good car and probably more important to you if you are going to be doing 45K a year, comfortable.
general190 said:
ScoobieWRX said:
You can pick up a nice low mileage 2003-2005 Impreza STi with full SSH for £7.5-£8.5K with service intervals at 10K miles. Leaves you about £1K-1.5K to do some mapping and mods (to 320/350bhp with basic physical mods), and you have a decent looking, comfortable, uber fast, cracking handling 4dr saloon with 4x4 traction for added safe driving in any weather and any road. With that sort of bhp you can easily crack the 165-175mph barrier should you find yourself on unrestricted autobahn in Germany, with 0-60 nr 4secs and still return 25mpg on a normal run.
How's that!!
Doing 45K miles a year you need something that will be reliable, practical, and take a good seeing to from time to time, and be fun to drive very quickly with very few cars on the road that will ever bother you.
Black, Blue or Black (you can tell i like black)
I would love a black Scooby STi, but would be able to afford the ins! it would be crazy for me on one of those, as having a company car previously i only have 1years no claims. The supra for me was alot less than the scooby STi and even less than the WRX! How's that!!
Doing 45K miles a year you need something that will be reliable, practical, and take a good seeing to from time to time, and be fun to drive very quickly with very few cars on the road that will ever bother you.
Black, Blue or Black (you can tell i like black)

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Monday 6th October 15:40
Wadeski said:
Umm....
im going to sound really boring here, but for that kind of miles, anything thats highly tuned (400bhp norris idea) is a really scary idea!
highly modded and rock-solid reliable don't necessarily go hand in hand....and 400bhp puts a strain on clutches, driveshafts etc.
S14 or maybe an IS200 might be a good idea...lexi are pretty cheap to insure.
When i was in a similar-ish position I looked at all the jap stuff and ended up going with a turbo Saab. turbo fun, but much much comfier than all but very high end jap stuff (which tends to come with high end parts costs).
Chipped Saab with a suspension upgrade would save your sanity for 140 miles per day with the cushy seats, but still push your head into the restrain with nearly 300lb/ft of torque. And with petrol prices rising turbo petrol family cars are a BARGAIN right now.
yea, i know a tuned engine is going to be less reliable, but it would be a completely rebuilt block, so basically a brand new engine and its built with all the internals to cope. i will have already uprated clutch, suspension etc.im going to sound really boring here, but for that kind of miles, anything thats highly tuned (400bhp norris idea) is a really scary idea!
highly modded and rock-solid reliable don't necessarily go hand in hand....and 400bhp puts a strain on clutches, driveshafts etc.
S14 or maybe an IS200 might be a good idea...lexi are pretty cheap to insure.
When i was in a similar-ish position I looked at all the jap stuff and ended up going with a turbo Saab. turbo fun, but much much comfier than all but very high end jap stuff (which tends to come with high end parts costs).
Chipped Saab with a suspension upgrade would save your sanity for 140 miles per day with the cushy seats, but still push your head into the restrain with nearly 300lb/ft of torque. And with petrol prices rising turbo petrol family cars are a BARGAIN right now.
and 400bhp is pritty tame out of a 200sx, if you want norris designs will build you a bored out 2.2ltr 800bhp SR20 DET if you have the money! i was hoping a s14 expert would pop in and give me their opinion.
See if you can insure a Subaru Legacy B4 RSK. Probably won't have the Stigma of an Impreza WRX to insurers.
a la http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/725640.htm
Remove that wing though
Or alternatively a Galant VR4?
a la http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/725640.htm
Remove that wing though
Or alternatively a Galant VR4?
Edited by *Kosta* on Tuesday 7th October 13:04
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