Opinions on quick Jap estate cars...

[450Nick]

Just looking at getting something a little more practical than the S14a for a daily driver but I'd quite like to keep the Jap Turboness. I've had my eye on a couple of cars so far but I've no experience with them. Perhaps someone here could offer some advice?? Candidates so far are:

-Subaru Legacy (especially the JDM twin turbo edition)
-Subaru Impreza STi estate
-Mitsubishi Galant twin turbo estate - is it called a Legnum??

If there are any other cars that fit this sort of description, feel free to shout!


Thanks in advance

Edited by 450Nick on Thursday 19th February 22:54

[*Kosta*]

Evo IX Wagon

Prices range from about £12-£16k though.

Car Planet in Warrington always have a few in

Cheaper, there is always the Nissan Stagea. Often called the Skyline Estate.

Edited by *Kosta* on Thursday 19th February 23:07

[fluffnik]

450Nick said:

-Mitsubishi Galant twin turbo estate - is it called a Legnum??

Legnum VR4.

I bought one recently. It's quick, comfortable, surefooted and fairly spacious.

The INVECS II tiptronic gearbox swung it for me.

Club VR4 is friendly and helpful.

450Nick said:

If there are any other cars that fit this sort of description, feel free to shout!

Nissan Stageas and Toyota Calindas are the other JDM options.

[450Nick]

Thanks for the quick reply! That Evo looks good, though I should have said that I'd like the budget stick around £5K if possible! Like the sound of a Skyline estate... I shall get googling

[magpie215]

forester turbo
Caldina GT-T
legnum vr4

[450Nick]

fluffnik said:

The INVECS II tiptronic gearbox swung it for me.

Whats one of these when its at home??

Looks like a good list of cars. I like the look of the Legnum, are any of these particularly better than the others or is it a pretty even bunch?

[mr2-turbo-gar]

this is my choice antway!!

www.jalopnik.com/tag/nissan/?id=324219
and here is one actually for sale! all be it over here in ireland!

www.wkdimports.com/1997-nissan-stagea-r34-gtr-fron...

[GravelBen]

450Nick said:

fluffnik said:

The INVECS II tiptronic gearbox swung it for me.

Whats one of these when its at home??

Automatic

[Vixpy1]

I have a Legacy TT, although i can't quite remember what it looks like, its been so long since i saw it!

[chevy-stu]

450Nick said:

fluffnik said:

The INVECS II tiptronic gearbox swung it for me.

Whats one of these when its at home??

Looks like a good list of cars. I like the look of the Legnum, are any of these particularly better than the others or is it a pretty even bunch?

All got good points and bad points and usual personal preferances.. VR4 Legnums & Scooby Legacy's probably cheapest and easiest to source..

[GravelBen]

Subaru through and through for me - have an '02 Legacy GTB (twin turbo, 280bhp) and a few NA Legacies previously. Some points:

-Older twin-turbo Legacies can have a quite noticable flat spot around 4-4500rpm as the turbos change over. Not an issue with mine, but there are a few afternarket solutions as well.
-VR4s and Stageas are both significantly thirstier than the GTB, I average 27-28mpg in mine and no problems getting 30-32 on a run. Not sure about manual Caldina GT-T but my mates auto one is very thirsty.
-All of them are relatively complex with the potential to cost $$$ if things go wrong.
-Impreza/Forester are a size down from the rest if that matters, Stagea half a size bigger and heavier than Legacy/Legnum.
-From 2003 onwards Subaru went back to single turbo with the Legacy GT, but thy seem to be still holding values significantly higher than the previous model (in NZ anyway).

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 20th February 00:31

[Vixpy1]

my one has one big flat spot till about 4700, then all hell breaks loose

[GravelBen]

Vixpy1 said:

my one has one big flat spot till about 4700, then all hell breaks loose

But it is a little 'special'...

Mine makes over 80% of peak torque from under 2k rpm right through to 6500. but it is my sensible car.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 20th February 00:44

[fluffnik]

450Nick said:

fluffnik said:

The INVECS II tiptronic gearbox swung it for me.

Whats one of these when its at home??

It's a 5-speed auto/tiptronic box with fuzzy logic and some learning ability.

It's pretty good and works nicely with the virtually lag free motor - two tiny turbos spool quickly and mostly make the engine feel like a bigger one with plenty low down grunt.

The 4wd system with AYC (Active Yaw Control) is basically the same as the Evo's - it can be hussled along at a considerable pace...

450Nick said:

Looks like a good list of cars. I like the look of the Legnum, are any of these particularly better than the others or is it a pretty even bunch?

cptsideways did a rather nice comparison here.

[Mr E]

magpie215 said:

Caldina GT-T

Are hens teeth IIRC. I've only ever seen one in the UK, and it was towing a 600bhp Corolla...

[GravelBen]

Might be rare in the UK but pretty common in NZ (and therefore I expect Japan) so shouldn't be too hard to import one. Manuals are very hard to find though. In-between an Impreza and Legacy for size and basically a Celica GT4 under the skin.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 20th February 11:36

[sparkyhx]

Stagea's (skyline estate) seem to be quite 'common' these days - two recent ones purchases in SXOC to my knowledge - or maybe thats just a Nissan thing.

personally I'd prefer the Legnum - never heard of the Toyota one.

[magpie215]

Mr E said:

magpie215 said:

Caldina GT-T

Are hens teeth IIRC. I've only ever seen one in the UK, and it was towing a 600bhp Corolla...

that will be fensports ST246 caldina
I have the earlier ST215 caldina (avensis shape) in manual its not any more thirsty than my earlier celica gt4

[GHW]

I've had my Legacy GTB (the twin turbo nutter jap edition) for just over a week, and so far it feels like a pretty nice bit of kit. The things I've noticed so far, in no real order:

• Very very solid feeling car. Definitely isn't going to fall apart in a hurry.
• It's fast. Seriously fast. 'Oh my god where did that extra 50mph come from' fast.
• Surprisingly handy in the corners for such a massive beast. Coming from an MX5, you can't ignore the fact that it's a much bigger, heavier car, but it carries the weight incredibly well.
• The mid-range flat spot from the twin turbo setup isn't subtle. It's going to take some getting used to. However even with just the one turbo operating it's still pretty powerful, so you can happily spend most of your time never even bothering to use the second turbo.
• The interior is gash. It's solid and hard-wearing, but it's not at all pretty. The front seats are suprisingly comfortable though.
• The boot is ENORMOUS. I had a garage clear-out the day I bought the car (so I could fit it in the garage). I couldn't believe how much rubbish would fit in there.

[horton]

magpie215 said:

Caldina GT-T

agreed.

But I am biased.

Mine has had a couple of minor issues.
Needed a new speed sensor.
Will require a new steering rack.

But overall it has been a perfect compromise as far as work/play goes.