Best Jap sports coupe or GT car?

Best Jap sports coupe or GT car?

Author
Discussion

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
There's the:-

Mitsubishi GTO (see my other post).
Nissan 300Z
Mazda RX7 (later ones) still a bit more expensive than the above.
Mitsubishi FTO.

Anything else with excellent performance and a small price tag and utterly reliable?

Your experience on these and others much appreciated.

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
MR2 Turbo, 200sx, Celica GT4,

>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 28th September 15:52

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
andy mac said:
MR2 Turbo, 200sx, Celica GT4,

>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 28th September 15:52


Uhhmm.

MR2 is a bit small and the 200sx a bit bland.

What is the GT4 like, do you have any photos?

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Kentish said:

andy mac said:
MR2 Turbo, 200sx, Celica GT4,

>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 28th September 15:52



Uhhmm.

MR2 is a bit small and the 200sx a bit bland.

What is the GT4 like, do you have any photos?


200sx is certainly not bland, and the MR2 actually has a decent boot on it!

GT4 comes in several flavours...







What about a Supra??

andy g bmth

4,916 posts

230 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
twin turbo supra gets my vote, followed by RX7. Both very tasty and fantastic drivers cars.

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Ahh that's the GT4. Had a yamaha engine IIRC?

Sorry, didn't mean to offend when I said the 200sx is a bit bland. What I mean is that it isn't as jaw dropping in looks as the GTO and the later RX7's and the Supra. They're all low and wide bodied, does that make sense?

I've always liked MkII MR2's but I think I'd like something a bit biggere bodied and front engined like the GTO, RX7 and Supra.

I guess these are the main ones.

What's the deal on specs and reliability?

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Same yamaha built 3s-GTE as seen in the MR2 Turbo, and is near as damn it bullit proof. Plenty of potential. GT4 is awd, and in its day was the rally slag to be seen in, that was until Scoobies, and Evo's kicked its arse. Mr E has one, and he is probably the best chap to speak to about it. He'll be here shortly I would imagine!

200sx, by the way, is an absolute stonker of a car. Proper GT car. Big power, rwd, and very comfortable... Might be worth a pop. (Have a go of MR2 Turbo as well, probably one of the fastest on the list!)

Out of that little lot, I'd go TT Supra, MR2 Turbo, RX7 then 200sx.. GTO is too much trouble...


200sx... Seriously.. go and give one a go if you decide against Supra, GTO...






>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 28th September 16:20

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Cheers andy, that's very helpful.

I like the later (is it '93 on) Supra with the aero top, the one with the round rear lights. 3.0l 24v. Probably looking at around £4k for a good mid '90s car I guess.

I've always thought that the MR2 was not as reliable and more expensive to repair because of the mid-engined configuration, is that not true?

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
andy mac said:

200sx... Seriously.. go and give one a go if you decide against Supra, GTO...




That's nice, very much like a skyline in looks. I like it

I was probably thinking of the earlier '90's 200sx with the pop up lights.

I forgot to list the Prelude, are they any good?

For looks the Supra, 200sx and the 300z in that order are doing it for me right now

RX7 is a looker too of course but a bit expensive (the Vin Diesel F&F model that is).

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Nope.. Not in my experience. But I did a lot of work myself on the car when I could. Its the same engine as the GT4, parts are readily available. The only bummer I found was a cam belt change, as it can be 700 quid, (although I found a garage that did it for 150!!).
The 3S-GTE is one of the unsung hero's of the engine world if you ask me. Usual Japanese reliability, and shedloads of power.

I like the older Supras too, but thats the retro lover coming out in me! I love the very old square ones even more! You can pick them up for not a great deal nowdays. They still look good, too, with a nice set of wheels on. Not sure about the bodywork. Should be fine, as the MR2 I had of the same age (early 90's NA), had no problems whatsoever bodywork wise, unlike the mk1's before it...

Your best bet is to go and try the cars out for yourself. drive them all, and see which one leaps out at you. They are all very respectable, and all very good cars... Plus... I can ramble no longer..

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Another thought ....do any qualify as classics for insurance purposes?

Is it just on age or are there specialists for these models?

Mr E

21,629 posts

260 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
andy mac said:
Same yamaha built 3s-GTE as seen in the MR2 Turbo, and is near as damn it bullit proof. Plenty of potential. GT4 is awd, and in its day was the rally slag to be seen in, that was until Scoobies, and Evo's kicked its arse. Mr E has one, and he is probably the best chap to speak to about it. He'll be here shortly I would imagine!


Kicked arse by scoobies? I must have missed that.....



Buy one. Go on go on go on go on go on....

www.jamesneale.com/GT4/GT4.html

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Kentish said:

andy mac said:

200sx... Seriously.. go and give one a go if you decide against Supra, GTO...





That's nice, very much like a skyline in looks. I like it

I was probably thinking of the earlier '90's 200sx with the pop up lights.

I forgot to list the Prelude, are they any good?

For looks the Supra, 200sx and the 300z in that order are doing it for me right now

RX7 is a looker too of course but a bit expensive (the Vin Diesel F&F model that is).


early 90'2 200sx was a 1.8 if I recall. very well liked motor as well, but nowhere near as good as the next generation S14!

The prelude is a great car. Especially with that 200bhp VTEC H20(?) engine plonked in the front. Only trouble is that it is fwd, which takes a bit away in the handling department. very good looking, and fast barge though!

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
I agree about the earlier Supra, awesome looking car with bags of presence, low and wide body. True supercar looks.

Thanks for you help and advice and I will most certainly have a look around and try and drive a few.

Cheers

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Mr E said:


Kicked arse by scoobies? I must have missed that.....







I meant as the rally sdlag to be seen in!!! The scoobies and evo's took over when there was some disagreement with the rally stewards, and so on!

Just mod it up a tad and shouldn't ba a problem! I'm with you though, I'd have one over a scooby, (but not an evo!).



And why is it when someone m,entions a Jap car, I always describe them as great? Is there a bad Jap car??


Mk 1 Supra!!



>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 28th September 16:41

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
I thought you loved the Supe, Gaz?? You regretting it?? If so, parcel said supe off to me, and I'll find you a replacement in a few weeks..

_Al_

5,577 posts

259 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
is more grown up.




Much as I love my '2 I can't help but feel like a big girl when I'm close to a supe...

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Gaz there is currently a very clean looking aerotop for £4k on the autotrader website, is that not really representative of the average price. It did look rather cheap for what it is.

At the moment, I'm thinking along the lines of (in order of preference) Supra mk3, 200sx, MR2, Supra mk2. I really need to go and look at some now to assess handling and performance.

andy mac

73,668 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
Performance will be fine on all of those choices.. Its the handling, and overall look that you should be assessing. All are tunable, and all will do 140+ with reletive ease.

GTS Turbo

246 posts

226 months

Wednesday 28th September 2005
quotequote all
love the MR2 turbo, trying to sell mine at the moment and every day i come close to pulling down all the for sale ad's after driving it! damn fine car for the cash and stat wise even match to a boxster S, 0-60mph easily brought down to dead on 5 secs with a few mods and nothing much can leave a standing start as quick as an MR2 turbo!