Jap performance for 4-4.5k? Advice needed

[Makem]

Hi guys, after a bit of advice. i have had plenty of jap cars in the past, impreza sti, supra TT, evo etc. Im looking at the moment for something cheeper as a second car. Have a budget of around 4-4.5k. It must have a turbo (for obvious reasons)
The cars ive been roughly looking at are:
-Toyota mr2 turbo-might get flammed here but the looks dont really do it for me as much as others
-nissan 300zx-quite like the jap GT cars,like the looks, is the reliability that bad?
-skyline 33gts-friend had one of these few years ago and always remember them being too tail happy?
-200sx-dont know alot about these but people seem to like the s13.Are they hard to get decent power out of?
-imprezas/evo's-like these but done them to death so after something bit different.
-open to any other suggestions.
Any help gladly appreciated. Thanks in advance guys

[Wadeski]

Q: you need cheap jap speed.

A: you need a 300bhp MR2.

[bodhi808]

ST205 Celica GT4?

[mrmr96]

Turbo Supra?

[Makem]

I loved my supra, it was a mkiv manual TT. If they were in my budget i wouldnt hessiate to buy another. I have driven the automatic TT and not too fond of them compared to the manual. The n/a supras are a bit of a let down performance wise aswell.

[RobCrezz]

I would say MR2 turbo, but as you said you didnt like the looks, look for a late JDM 180sx.

Its a S13 with the newer 2.0 engine and bigger turbo from the S14.

Nothing wrong with the uk S13 (I had one), but they are getting on a bit now, and there are lots and lots of dogs out there.

[TotalControl]

MX5? Then turbo the little bugger.

[Makem]

i like the mx5 but im not keen on aftermarket turbo charging

[jimpson]

Mr2 turbo all the way

[Makem]

Seems a landslide for mr2 at the moment. No one liking the 300zx?

[Mr E]

Makem said:

Seems a landslide for mr2 at the moment. No one liking the 300zx?

Starship enterprise on boost but rather complicated...

[Wadeski]

the 300ZX also weighs as much as the Death Star (to keep the sci-fi metaphor going). And they make all other jap cars look easy to work on. Including the 3000GT....

[350GT]

MR2 Turbo vote here!

[GravelBen]

Wadeski said:

the 300ZX also weighs as much as the Death Star (to keep the sci-fi metaphor going). And they make all other jap cars look easy to work on. Including the 3000GT....

I wouldn't go that far! I'm told they hide their weight very well on the move but haven't driven one myself.

300ZX being up to 200kg lighter than the 3000GT for a start, 15-1600 vs 1650-1700 kg. Impression I've had is that its easier to work on the the 3000GT, not to mention that being a Nissan rather than a Mitsi makes it so much less likely to need work doing anyway.

[RobCrezz]

Makem said:

Seems a landslide for mr2 at the moment. No one liking the 300zx?

Will be alot more expensive to run, and its a bit more of a big cruiser, although im sure they do handle.

[CrisW]

ST205 GT4 - very nice. UK car possible and very solid
300ZX - very quick and well engineered
RX7 - excellent if the engine has been looked after
R32 GTR - possible if you want the bottom end of the market
R33 GTST - nice enough but a bit heavy for my liking
Stagea RS4 - surely the quickest way to move a fridge-freezer in this price bracket
200SX - good and solid
MR2 - with a little stretching you could get a MK2 with the 3.0 V6 conversion
GTIR - very quick and well within budget

[Wadeski]

why get a MR2 V6 when a MR2 turbo shows it a clean pair of heels in every gear?

[Makem]

I would like a 32gtr, the ones in my budget appear to be a 100k smoker

[350GT]

Wadeski said:

why get a MR2 V6 when a MR2 turbo shows it a clean pair of heels in every gear?

I don't quite get that either... It's not like the tubby isn't torquey!

[OlberJ]

Sure about that?

Am pretty happy the 2GRFE V6 we built would demolish a turbo Mr2, in every gear. Rev3 included.

Infact, let's not go down this route. Please.


GT4 with a few mods would be a good choice.