Tuned R33 GTS-T or standard E36 M3 Evo (or perhaps S14a??)?
Discussion
Me again folks. Having been through a Merc phase very recently, I'm now looking at a couple of other cars after deciding that A. I don't want finance, at least not right now, and B. I'm not old enough for a Merc yet 
So now my research has moved onto Skylines and M3's. I have to say, I have always wanted a Skyline. I have also always wanted an M3, so what to do!?
I must admit, when I have envisaged owning a Skyline as a kid it was always a GTR and if I were to buy one now, due to not wanting finance it'd be a GTS-T. However, I believe I would much prefer the RWD dynamics of a tweaked GTS-T, running between 350 - 400bhp to the GTR's occasional 4WD system.
I used to own an E36 328i Sport, and loved it, but it lacked power. The M3 would solve that, and I have to admit that I perceive the M3 Evo to be the better car as a complete package. But I've never owned a Skyline of any kind, and a big part of the joy of owning a car for me is the engine and suspension tuning, which the Skyline would give me more of an opportunity to carry out. Plus I enjoy the feel of a turbocharged car.
But would the M3 be a more rewarding car to own/drive? Would I get bored of being stuck at stock power, give or take a small amount of tuning? Has anybody owned both?
Budget would be £4k - £5k, purely for purchase.
As an aside, should I also look at S14a's?
So now my research has moved onto Skylines and M3's. I have to say, I have always wanted a Skyline. I have also always wanted an M3, so what to do!?
I must admit, when I have envisaged owning a Skyline as a kid it was always a GTR and if I were to buy one now, due to not wanting finance it'd be a GTS-T. However, I believe I would much prefer the RWD dynamics of a tweaked GTS-T, running between 350 - 400bhp to the GTR's occasional 4WD system.
I used to own an E36 328i Sport, and loved it, but it lacked power. The M3 would solve that, and I have to admit that I perceive the M3 Evo to be the better car as a complete package. But I've never owned a Skyline of any kind, and a big part of the joy of owning a car for me is the engine and suspension tuning, which the Skyline would give me more of an opportunity to carry out. Plus I enjoy the feel of a turbocharged car.
But would the M3 be a more rewarding car to own/drive? Would I get bored of being stuck at stock power, give or take a small amount of tuning? Has anybody owned both?
Budget would be £4k - £5k, purely for purchase.
As an aside, should I also look at S14a's?
Op, what sort of budget are you looking at and how many miles?
I had an S13 200SX and loved it, but it was evident that it was a non premium Jap coupe. I've been in an S14 and while nicer it still feels like a Nissan inside. Also more GT than sports car and not as quick as you'd maybe think in standard trim. I do like the look of them though.
The BMW if solid should be good, and is likely to hold it's money fairly well over the mid to long term. But I suspect potentially more expensive to run should something go wrong.
The Skyline is cool, but the S just doesn't look as good as the R and will always live in its shadow. So image wise I think the Skyline is the best and worst, to some it'll seem a good left field fast coupe, to others it'll seem a chavvy piece of Max Power come Fast and the Furious wanta be.
If custom tuning is your thing then I'd say look out for one of these:
Quite rare in the UK so very good for exclusivity Prices from £1800-4000 depending on spec/condition/model.
Available as a hatch or notch back.
Plus points are:
-One of the largest tuning communities in the world
-5.0 V8
-~1400kg
-2+2
-decent boot
Easy to get 300bhp n/a and loads of supercharger/turbocharger kits available.
I had an S13 200SX and loved it, but it was evident that it was a non premium Jap coupe. I've been in an S14 and while nicer it still feels like a Nissan inside. Also more GT than sports car and not as quick as you'd maybe think in standard trim. I do like the look of them though.
The BMW if solid should be good, and is likely to hold it's money fairly well over the mid to long term. But I suspect potentially more expensive to run should something go wrong.
The Skyline is cool, but the S just doesn't look as good as the R and will always live in its shadow. So image wise I think the Skyline is the best and worst, to some it'll seem a good left field fast coupe, to others it'll seem a chavvy piece of Max Power come Fast and the Furious wanta be.
If custom tuning is your thing then I'd say look out for one of these:
Quite rare in the UK so very good for exclusivity
Prices from £1800-4000 depending on spec/condition/model.Available as a hatch or notch back.
Plus points are:
-One of the largest tuning communities in the world
-5.0 V8
-~1400kg
-2+2
-decent boot
Easy to get 300bhp n/a and loads of supercharger/turbocharger kits available.
300bhp/ton said:
Op, what sort of budget are you looking at and how many miles?
I had an S13 200SX and loved it, but it was evident that it was a non premium Jap coupe. I've been in an S14 and while nicer it still feels like a Nissan inside. Also more GT than sports car and not as quick as you'd maybe think in standard trim. I do like the look of them though.
The BMW if solid should be good, and is likely to hold it's money fairly well over the mid to long term. But I suspect potentially more expensive to run should something go wrong.
The Skyline is cool, but the S just doesn't look as good as the R and will always live in its shadow. So image wise I think the Skyline is the best and worst, to some it'll seem a good left field fast coupe, to others it'll seem a chavvy piece of Max Power come Fast and the Furious wanta be.
If custom tuning is your thing then I'd say look out for one of these:
Quite rare in the UK so very good for exclusivity Prices from £1800-4000 depending on spec/condition/model.
Available as a hatch or notch back.
Plus points are:
-One of the largest tuning communities in the world
-5.0 V8
-~1400kg
-2+2
-decent boot
Easy to get 300bhp n/a and loads of supercharger/turbocharger kits available.
Appreciate the help and the suggestion, but it's really not my thing if I'm honest. I had an S13 200SX and loved it, but it was evident that it was a non premium Jap coupe. I've been in an S14 and while nicer it still feels like a Nissan inside. Also more GT than sports car and not as quick as you'd maybe think in standard trim. I do like the look of them though.
The BMW if solid should be good, and is likely to hold it's money fairly well over the mid to long term. But I suspect potentially more expensive to run should something go wrong.
The Skyline is cool, but the S just doesn't look as good as the R and will always live in its shadow. So image wise I think the Skyline is the best and worst, to some it'll seem a good left field fast coupe, to others it'll seem a chavvy piece of Max Power come Fast and the Furious wanta be.
If custom tuning is your thing then I'd say look out for one of these:
Quite rare in the UK so very good for exclusivity
Prices from £1800-4000 depending on spec/condition/model.Available as a hatch or notch back.
Plus points are:
-One of the largest tuning communities in the world
-5.0 V8
-~1400kg
-2+2
-decent boot
Easy to get 300bhp n/a and loads of supercharger/turbocharger kits available.
I'm a big fan of both fast Jap stuff and M cars, so I am really stuck and definitely need to drive examples of each nearer change time.
The Skyline would scratch a long term itch, but so would the M3. As I say, my only concern with the M3 is quickly getting bored of the power and not being able to tune it easily if that does happen.
I have no problem with the Skyline not being a GTR, but I do prefer the GTR looks and would probably invest in making it look like one, although I'd never go as far as putting GTR badges on as I have no interest in that sort of thing.
I'd want one with stiffer ARBs and coilovers I think.....
But then, as I say, there's the S14a. Some very nice, tuned cars around for £4k now.
The BMW though, would definitely be the nicer place to be inside.
My choice would be an E36 coupe.
although I did a trackday last month and there was a Skyline saloon with stupid boost on standard internals the guy reckoned 400bhp
....... it f
king flew !!! all over him through the twisties though.
whereas the E36 M3 is quick in all instances with out modifications.
although I did a trackday last month and there was a Skyline saloon with stupid boost on standard internals the guy reckoned 400bhp
....... it fking flew !!! all over him through the twisties though.whereas the E36 M3 is quick in all instances with out modifications.
Argh so confused right now! Spent serious time on the SXOC last night. I'm starting to really fancy an S14a, which I could take upto about 350bhp.
But then there's the Skyline.... I love them. I'm just concerned about them being quite boat like in comparison to the other cars. Am I right to worry about this? The M3 is better out of the box, but might bore me overall as I can't make much of an ongoing project out of it, and once I'm used to the power, that's really that.
The other two cars can be tuned to my hearts content but I think the Skyline would need OEM GTR wings/lights and a diet involving a carbon bonnet and bootlid to really make me happy.
But then there's the Skyline.... I love them. I'm just concerned about them being quite boat like in comparison to the other cars. Am I right to worry about this? The M3 is better out of the box, but might bore me overall as I can't make much of an ongoing project out of it, and once I'm used to the power, that's really that.
The other two cars can be tuned to my hearts content but I think the Skyline would need OEM GTR wings/lights and a diet involving a carbon bonnet and bootlid to really make me happy.
I have to recommend the M3, though I am somewhat biased!
Even as standard, if everything is running well they are great fun to drive. The Evo revs to 7400rpm and makes peak power pretty much around that figure. It goes fine from low revs but it's much more fun drive it hard.
Even though it doesn't have that much power, since you're working hard to extract the power if you want to go fast it makes you feel very involved!
I had a short drive with someone who had a ~300bhp 200sx and the m3 was quite a bit quicker in a straight line. Didn't find out about the corners however.
I found the Evo is a bit more prone to understeer, (though you can provoke them!) changing the suspension made a big difference to my car and made it handle really nicely.
Even as standard, if everything is running well they are great fun to drive. The Evo revs to 7400rpm and makes peak power pretty much around that figure. It goes fine from low revs but it's much more fun drive it hard.
Even though it doesn't have that much power, since you're working hard to extract the power if you want to go fast it makes you feel very involved!
I had a short drive with someone who had a ~300bhp 200sx and the m3 was quite a bit quicker in a straight line. Didn't find out about the corners however.
I found the Evo is a bit more prone to understeer, (though you can provoke them!) changing the suspension made a big difference to my car and made it handle really nicely.
Trommel said:
BlueTwo2 said:
but I do prefer the GTR looks and would probably invest in making it look like one
Except that it won't - it will look like a GTS-t which has spent time on a council estate.300bhp/ton said:
I quite like the dash in the 4th Gens. Mines a little grey looking I admit, but its pretty solid, works and isn't unpleasant to look at IMO. Far nicer than my 200SX or my e36.
I read that title as "Whats the fastest thing I can get for for four grand which will proceed to bankrupt me", I have been bitten in the past by the old/fast/reliable thing.
I say go for it, but get someone to check out a potential purchase very carefully, an M3 can ver easily double its purchase cost (and then some) to get it put right, pretty much anything at that level can, 200 SX probably the best bet on a potential financial ruin versus performance trade off basis.
I say go for it, but get someone to check out a potential purchase very carefully, an M3 can ver easily double its purchase cost (and then some) to get it put right, pretty much anything at that level can, 200 SX probably the best bet on a potential financial ruin versus performance trade off basis.
BlueTwo2 said:
k-ink said:
The thread is more to do with 90's cars onwards. A decent example of a vehicle like an R33 will cost £8-10k. The cars I posted can be had for that ball park. Some there can be had for £2k or less. Of course some are newer, some older and some of lower volume. All I was illustrating is a spectrum of fast cars with interiors which are not shocking.
A fantastic R33 GTS-T can be had for £4k. You're talking GTR money at £8k - £10k.As for your choice. Well I think the BMW is a good car, and might in years to come be sort after. But if modding is your scene then it's not really the right choice. It also won't deliver up the huge low down grunt.
The Skyline is the more sexy (if a car can be sexy???) of the Jap motors and is probably a better car out of the box. But the 200SX certainly has potential and while lacking the sex appeal does look rather good.
Reckon you need to drive them and see.
Also with the Jap motors, if you buy modded (and know what you are buying exactly), then it'll save you a load on parts and fitting.
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 4th May 17:39
since my post got deleted and was vaguely relevent...
Imho, if you want to go down the skyline route, i'd say skip the R33 gts-t, eat pot noodles and live in darknes with no alcohol for a few months and buy a R32 GT-R, essentially they arent bad cars, but personally i feel they look a bloated compared to the R32 GT-R. That and they are the only GT-R which can be switched to full time RWD by a pull of fuse (others run 10% to the front all the time)
R32 GT-R, you can't go wrong
or you could get a R32 Gts-t which will be just as cheap as a R33 GTS-t, and with a GT-R front end can look at least semi decent.
the one advantage of the R33 Gts-t which makes them cheap to, is the were mass produced in ludicrous numbers so you can always find spares. Though at the same time.... this does mean they are cheap enough that alot of them have had wannabe drifters behind the wheels and become council estate specials.
Imho, if you want to go down the skyline route, i'd say skip the R33 gts-t, eat pot noodles and live in darknes with no alcohol for a few months and buy a R32 GT-R, essentially they arent bad cars, but personally i feel they look a bloated compared to the R32 GT-R. That and they are the only GT-R which can be switched to full time RWD by a pull of fuse (others run 10% to the front all the time)
R32 GT-R, you can't go wrong
or you could get a R32 Gts-t which will be just as cheap as a R33 GTS-t, and with a GT-R front end can look at least semi decent.
the one advantage of the R33 Gts-t which makes them cheap to, is the were mass produced in ludicrous numbers so you can always find spares. Though at the same time.... this does mean they are cheap enough that alot of them have had wannabe drifters behind the wheels and become council estate specials.
my opinion is that you will be board of a M3 in about a week and then they are very hard to do anything with.
I would go for a S14 pretty quick, built proof engines if don't you mess around with the boost with supporting mod and fun, also when you do get board they are also easy to tune with loads of support for mods. need to look for a good one as they do tend to get metal worm and rot especially around the rear sub frames
I would go for a S14 pretty quick, built proof engines if don't you mess around with the boost with supporting mod and fun, also when you do get board they are also easy to tune with loads of support for mods. need to look for a good one as they do tend to get metal worm and rot especially around the rear sub frames
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