What shall I get?
Discussion
My Audi decided to catch fire while parked at work the other night and is no more. So I'm back in the car market again.
I've posted this in the Jap forum because I'm thinging of going down that road. I've still got the TVR (Chimaera) but it's currently sitting in the girlfriends folks garage waiting for me to fix it. Not sure whether to sell that or not yet.
But right now, I'm looking for a car for maybe £2500ish, I'd like it to be at least in the early 90's, fun is important, and have a certain degree of practicality, I do alot of miles (maybe 20k a year), but I'm not really to bothered about fuel economy!
My thoughts so far are.....
Celica GT4 (turbo?)
200sx
300zx
old Rx7
Anyone fancy adding to the list?
Once the Tiv is sold I'll be thinking about an R32 or R33 GTST but that could be months or years away!!
I know the place is littlered with "what car shall I buy" threads, but I'd really appreciate your help on this one chaps.
Cheers, Dan
I've posted this in the Jap forum because I'm thinging of going down that road. I've still got the TVR (Chimaera) but it's currently sitting in the girlfriends folks garage waiting for me to fix it. Not sure whether to sell that or not yet.
But right now, I'm looking for a car for maybe £2500ish, I'd like it to be at least in the early 90's, fun is important, and have a certain degree of practicality, I do alot of miles (maybe 20k a year), but I'm not really to bothered about fuel economy!
My thoughts so far are.....
Celica GT4 (turbo?)
200sx
300zx
old Rx7
Anyone fancy adding to the list?
Once the Tiv is sold I'll be thinking about an R32 or R33 GTST but that could be months or years away!!
I know the place is littlered with "what car shall I buy" threads, but I'd really appreciate your help on this one chaps.
Cheers, Dan
early Scooby WRX? (can you get those for that sort of money there? there cheaper than that down here)
first-gen Legacy RS turbo (or GT wagon)? - excellent sleeper car, 2.0 turbo AWD, they used to rally them until they built the Impreza, should be pretty cheap but make sure its been looked after well. and dont even consider an auto Scoob.
first-gen Legacy RS turbo (or GT wagon)? - excellent sleeper car, 2.0 turbo AWD, they used to rally them until they built the Impreza, should be pretty cheap but make sure its been looked after well. and dont even consider an auto Scoob.
If you're looking for something fun then go for RWD and with a rear LSD.
The GT-fours in you price range will just be the bog standard things which are a bit boring to drive... I used the have a ST185 gt-four and it was no fun at all.
The 200sx's and 300zx's are a good buy... you get a nice handling car which has plenty of power to give good oversteer drifts if/when required. Just make sure it has the all important LSD fitted.
The GT-fours in you price range will just be the bog standard things which are a bit boring to drive... I used the have a ST185 gt-four and it was no fun at all.
The 200sx's and 300zx's are a good buy... you get a nice handling car which has plenty of power to give good oversteer drifts if/when required. Just make sure it has the all important LSD fitted.
I'm quite tempted by a 300zx or 200sx at the mo. Can't find a huge ammount of info on them, I'm trawling through www.300zx.co.uk right now, but has anyone here got any comments, info or advice on these cars?
I'd imagine the 300's are kind of thirsty, I know I said economy isn't an issue but I'd like more than 10mpg!!!
Mainly after info on reliability and running costs, but anything welcome
>> Edited by _dan_ on Sunday 2nd April 18:46
I'd imagine the 300's are kind of thirsty, I know I said economy isn't an issue but I'd like more than 10mpg!!!
Mainly after info on reliability and running costs, but anything welcome
>> Edited by _dan_ on Sunday 2nd April 18:46
www.sxoc.co.uk/vbb/index.php
For £2.5k you could get a tidy S14, a mint S13 or a bit of a ropey S14a.
S14 & S14a Usefeul topics thread
S13 Useful topics thread
Running cost wise, MPG averages about the 20 mark for day to day driving. Some people get as high as 36
but 99% dont 
Regular servicing is critical (as with all cars really) and warm up and cool down will also reduce repair costs.
S13's can suufer from Big End knock if not properly looked after, and you'll be looking at the best part of £500 minimum to put right (unless you DIY)
Celica GT4.
www.gt4oc.net/
For that money you'll be looking at the ST185. Either a mint A2A (Air to Air intercooler, 200bhp stock) or a ropey CS/RC (Carlos Sainz, Water/Air Chargecooler, 210bhp stock (??), shorter gearing, stronger drivetrain. WRC homologation model)
Personally, I'd go for the tidier A2A, as MrE once said, if you cant afford a good one, you cant afford a bad one.
My old ST185 CS averaged about 18mpg, and never put a foot wrong.
But if it were my money, I'd go for a tidy S13, as its more fun to drive as standard than the GT4, and it feels quicker. It also returns better MPG, but is just as reliable.
HTH
For £2.5k you could get a tidy S14, a mint S13 or a bit of a ropey S14a.
S14 & S14a Usefeul topics thread
S13 Useful topics thread
Running cost wise, MPG averages about the 20 mark for day to day driving. Some people get as high as 36
but 99% dont Regular servicing is critical (as with all cars really) and warm up and cool down will also reduce repair costs.
S13's can suufer from Big End knock if not properly looked after, and you'll be looking at the best part of £500 minimum to put right (unless you DIY)
Celica GT4.
www.gt4oc.net/
For that money you'll be looking at the ST185. Either a mint A2A (Air to Air intercooler, 200bhp stock) or a ropey CS/RC (Carlos Sainz, Water/Air Chargecooler, 210bhp stock (??), shorter gearing, stronger drivetrain. WRC homologation model)
Personally, I'd go for the tidier A2A, as MrE once said, if you cant afford a good one, you cant afford a bad one.
My old ST185 CS averaged about 18mpg, and never put a foot wrong.
But if it were my money, I'd go for a tidy S13, as its more fun to drive as standard than the GT4, and it feels quicker. It also returns better MPG, but is just as reliable.
HTH
The FC RX-7 (2nd Gen) would be an interesting car for the money. Quite a lot of tuning potential without spending big bucks. Engine life a bit better than the 3rd Gen (FD).
Findong one with mint bodywork for that monoey might be a bit tight but you'll pick up one with around 200bhp. A cabrio T2 might be a bit more ~ 3k...
Lovely cars though.
Findong one with mint bodywork for that monoey might be a bit tight but you'll pick up one with around 200bhp. A cabrio T2 might be a bit more ~ 3k...
Lovely cars though.
Andy Mac said:
From that list I'd go 200sx...
The more I think about it, the more I think a 200sx could be the one to go for.
A good 200bhp (or more!) plus not a nightmare on fuel. Service costs would be pretty good I'd imagine, as well as reliability. Also good RWD fun to be had. Not the best looking jap car, but not the worst by any means.
A 300zx would be good for a occasional car, but it'd just drive me to the poor house doing the mileage I do.
So good info to be had on www.sxoc.co.uk - In the meantime, anyone got any good advice here? What model to go for (s13 or s14). Do they all have LSDs? What are the different engine types, I'd imagine the 2.0 turbo (same engine as a Pulsar?) would be the one to go for. What is the touring model? Features etc etc....!!!
Cheers guys, getting pretty excited about getting a new car now!!
_dan_ said:
From that list I'd go 200sx...
The more I think about it, the more I think a 200sx could be the one to go for.
A good 200bhp (or more!) plus not a nightmare on fuel. Service costs would be pretty good I'd imagine, as well as reliability. Also good RWD fun to be had. Not the best looking jap car, but not the worst by any means.
A 300zx would be good for a occasional car, but it'd just drive me to the poor house doing the mileage I do.
So good info to be had on www.sxoc.co.uk - In the meantime, anyone got any good advice here? What model to go for (s13 or s14). Do they all have LSDs? What are the different engine types, I'd imagine the 2.0 turbo (same engine as a Pulsar?) would be the one to go for. What is the touring model? Features etc etc....!!!
Cheers guys, getting pretty excited about getting a new car now!!
S13 had a Viscous LSD fitted from about 1992 (ish) onward. Not the best LSD in the world, but better than the pre-facelift open diff. The S13 has the CA18DET engine (1809cc). As I said previously, the only problem is if its been thrashed from cold, or not properly looked after, the big ends could throw a wobbly.
S14/S14a have the SR20DET (same as Pulsar GTiR) 2.0l, and generally regarded as having a smoother power delivery. There is no real difference other than the looks between the S13 & S14/14a. Both are easily tunable, and there's not much in it as far as weight is concerned (about 50kg IIRC)
Touring spec, from what I can gather, basically means leather & aircon as std.
If it were me, and my money, I'd get a nice tidy standard ish S13 for £1500 ish, and spend £200 on S14a leather seats, for the 20k miles a year.
2nd Gen RX7 (FC3S)
I got mine for about £1500 with good bodywork - engine was anew ish (the car had covered 115k) I have since seen good FCs with lower mileage for circa £2k engine life is about the 90-110k area some hold on longer. Mine was on it's second engine when I bought it had done about 25k on the second engine - would have continued for ages longer had I not abused it + I wanted to bridgeport the thing
They are a lot rarer than the 200SX and, contrary to popular opinion, reliable.
I got mine for about £1500 with good bodywork - engine was anew ish (the car had covered 115k) I have since seen good FCs with lower mileage for circa £2k engine life is about the 90-110k area some hold on longer. Mine was on it's second engine when I bought it had done about 25k on the second engine - would have continued for ages longer had I not abused it + I wanted to bridgeport the thing
They are a lot rarer than the 200SX and, contrary to popular opinion, reliable.
The RX7 was the rival to the 924 when it first came out, according to top gear. They had them side by side, and they were almost identical!
Anyway, back to 200 sx's, I'd personally have an S14 rather than the S13. The 13 just looks a little dated, and although it's supposed to be a nice ride, it just doesn't have the nice feeling about it. Sit in a 13, then a 14, and you'll know what I mean. The 14 isn't a slouch either. Gets to 60 in the late 5's, early 6's, but being a turbo, you can sort that out in a few months if you become bored. VERY comfortable to drive, and they do have those wee seats in the back, which may be cramped for an adult, they are fine for the wee sprogs should you have any. Very nice with the arse out!! Easy to drive, and very low to the ground feeling. Nice cars all round. You can drop the skyline engine in as well, with little, or no modifications afaik, (I looked into it when buying my tubby). Cracking cars, and certainly very subtle, and inconspicuous.
Anyway, back to 200 sx's, I'd personally have an S14 rather than the S13. The 13 just looks a little dated, and although it's supposed to be a nice ride, it just doesn't have the nice feeling about it. Sit in a 13, then a 14, and you'll know what I mean. The 14 isn't a slouch either. Gets to 60 in the late 5's, early 6's, but being a turbo, you can sort that out in a few months if you become bored. VERY comfortable to drive, and they do have those wee seats in the back, which may be cramped for an adult, they are fine for the wee sprogs should you have any. Very nice with the arse out!! Easy to drive, and very low to the ground feeling. Nice cars all round. You can drop the skyline engine in as well, with little, or no modifications afaik, (I looked into it when buying my tubby). Cracking cars, and certainly very subtle, and inconspicuous.
Andy Mac said:
The RX7 was the rival to the 924 when it first came out, according to top gear. They had them side by side, and they were almost identical!
Anyway, back to 200 sx's, I'd personally have an S14 rather than the S13. The 13 just looks a little dated, and although it's supposed to be a nice ride, it just doesn't have the nice feeling about it. Sit in a 13, then a 14, and you'll know what I mean. The 14 isn't a slouch either. Gets to 60 in the late 5's, early 6's, but being a turbo, you can sort that out in a few months if you become bored. VERY comfortable to drive, and they do have those wee seats in the back, which may be cramped for an adult, they are fine for the wee sprogs should you have any. Very nice with the arse out!! Easy to drive, and very low to the ground feeling. Nice cars all round. You can drop the skyline engine in as well, with little, or no modifications afaik, (I looked into it when buying my tubby). Cracking cars, and certainly very subtle, and inconspicuous.
www.sxoc.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=206341&highlight=rb25
Discussing the RB20/25 engine conversion into an S13. So very tempting.
Also agree with the comfort point. Although I drove 400miles in my S13 and felt fine. No back ache etc. Just the usual long journey tiredness.
Cheers for all the replies chaps. Pretty much got my mind made up on a 200sx now, just going to read up on them lots and learn as much as possible. Might be able to stretch to an S14. Saw one drive through town yesterday and I must say, they're alot more striking in the flesh, pictures don't seem to do them justice.
So is it recommended to buy one that hasn't been tinkered with too much (or at all?), or is it best to gain from someone else piling thousands into it? I guess for what I want, I should be looking out for a pretty much standard one. 100k or less miles would be good too.
Are they all imports or are there some UK spec models out there?
Edit: I guess I'd be looking at a 95 model for what I'm willing to pay?
>> Edited by _dan_ on Wednesday 5th April 14:55
So is it recommended to buy one that hasn't been tinkered with too much (or at all?), or is it best to gain from someone else piling thousands into it? I guess for what I want, I should be looking out for a pretty much standard one. 100k or less miles would be good too.
Are they all imports or are there some UK spec models out there?
Edit: I guess I'd be looking at a 95 model for what I'm willing to pay?
>> Edited by _dan_ on Wednesday 5th April 14:55
get an untinkered one. It's cheap enough to modify yourself. They do look good in the flesh, (better than most in my opinion. Very nice lines), and does go like stink. I'd try to stretch for a 14 if you can. I think on the whole it will be a much nicer experience. Then all you need is some nice, retro, deeper dish alloys, and a Huuuuuuuuger bean can exhaust! (Nice blitz jobby should do nice, and a nice filter for t'induction roar!)
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