Next Japanese Car Suggestions

[Neith]

Just been offered a permanent contract at work (finally), so it's time to look for a new car. I want to stick with a Japanese manufacturer, but aside from that there's only a few restrictions:

- Has to be insurable (as much as I'd love an R33 GT-R or an Evo, paying £200 a month insurance does not appeal to me too much)
- Needs to be pretty quick/fun to drive as I'm wanting to go on some track days.
- Budgeting for about £10k used, though may consider a new car.
- Has to be reliable!

Not too bothered about tax costs of fuel economy (if the Mayans are right, fuel economy won't mean much come next week)

So far I've been looking at a Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R (Japanese import), a Toyota GT86, a Mazda 3 MPS or a S2000 GT.

Anyone have any other suggestions? I'm just after something fun to drive (hence why I'm considering a GT86); I'd honestly love a R33 or an Evo, but I'm finding it almost impossible to find reasonable insurance (27, no NCD)

[LancerG]

Not so quick, but how about an MX5. If your looking at GT86, the MX5 isnt much different.

I have seen a few as low as 4995 now, then take it to BBR and get a super/turbo conversion !! mmmmmmmm

How about a 2003 Subaru WRX (not STi) they only ran 215hp as standard and had much lower insurance as a UK car not an import.

[MGZRod]

Forged + widened 200SX. Could get an absolute monster for £5-6k.

Try oddball choices like the nissan stagea etc.

[BrettMRC]

Toyota Soarer 2.5 Turbo

[Mastodon2]

OP, I was in this boat too, though I'm younger than you and have some NCD. I too own a mildly modded EP3 (noise and looks only, actual performance gains are a money pit on the EP3) and couldn't find much short of an Evo, Supra or Skyline that really excited me, but they are a big step up in terms of cost to insure and run over an EP3. As much as I love those cars, I don't want to spend so much of my earnings on one at the moment, as despite NCB, the insurance on them still isn't cheap. I reasoned that in the end, the extra outlay didn't justify changing the EP3, as I love it so much and it's just so fun to drive, yet easy to live with.

Unless you can get the car you love, getting a car you "like" for the sake of a change, yet stretching your budget will only leave you resenting the car. I firmly believe you have to get the car you love. If you don't love the EP3, then by all means change it, but I think the Type R sits in a great place of fun factor, incredible noise and relatively cheap running costs (compared to an Evo etc).

[Neith]

I love the Type-R (and would maybe consider looking at others), but I've had a bit of a dog of one in terms of reliability. Had numerous problems with emissions, spark plugs, the locking system completely failing (had to put a window through 2 weeks ago as it wouldn't unlock on the morning, even once someone was called out). I don't think it's representative of the normal EP3 and I think it's been ragged a bit too much in the past or repaired without any documentation being noted.

I'm going to try and look at a GT86 this weekend, as it seems very cheap to insure and as much fun. As much as I'd love an Evo, I'm not sure I can justify the costs at the minute- I could probably afford to insure a FQ-300 but the servicing and everything after that would bleed me dry I think.

So yeah, nothing as such against the EP3, I just think I ended up with a bad example of one (despite HPI checking and giving it a good look over when I bought it).

[nickrex]

My Uk spec Rx7!;);) Fully resprayed and rebuilt.

[rhinochopig]

Gt86 for 10k? Can you get one for even close to that?

[AerialAndy]

What insurance companies have you tried? Is it going to be a daily driver as a GTR can be put on a classic policy. I pay £450 a year for my V-Spec but I do live in the coumtryside where the most exciting thing that happens is some cows escaping from a field, oh and lots of floods. Tracker costs £120 a year which brings ins' costs down also. Otherwise the GTRs baby sis' any of the S14/S15 are particular fav's.

[Neith]

Nah, Gt86 is more like £25k but can afford one on finance.

Andy, dont you need to use it as a 2nd car for classic insurance? Might be getting mixed up with something though.

[Riknos]

Neith said:

Nah, Gt86 is more like £25k but can afford one on finance.

Andy, dont you need to use it as a 2nd car for classic insurance? Might be getting mixed up with something though.

Yes, you're confused. Most classic policies will have limited mileage, which is WHY people use them on second cars, depends on your mileage. Some also require the car to be garaged.

[Neith]

Riknos said:

Yes, you're confused. Most classic policies will have limited mileage, which is WHY people use them on second cars, depends on your mileage. Some also require the car to be garaged.

Ah, nice. Will have to run some quotes; a R33 has been my dream car since I was a kid I don't do that many miles (maybe 4000 a year at the very most) as my workplace is quite nearby. Don't have a garage which is the only drawback.

Thanks for clarifying that

Edited by Neith on Thursday 20th December 20:09

[Wadeski]

Check the insurance on a UK spec Supra TT. Surprisingly cheap to insure for what they are.

have you done the MR2 Turbo thing yet? also cheap to insure for the grunt, and very good cars.

[AerialAndy]

Yep, a classic policy is normally taken on 2nd cars with limited milage but there are daily driver classic policies and a lot of teenagers are getting classics as starter cars as they are considered by ins' companies to take better care of them. A lot of Porsche owners with 944s and old 911 Carreras have there cars on classic daily driver policies. My GTR is a 3rd car and garaged on 4000 milage with an accident claim in 2011 for letting my 944 turbo try to climb a tree. Took a big hit last year on the GTR but this year halved the policy to £450. Try the specialists like Footman James, Sky, APlan for quotes. Had a lot of bad words said about A Flux inc my own experience stiching me up.

[japgt]

honda s2000, honda integra dc5 type r????

[The Flying Ox]

Infiniti G35 Coupe?

I'd second the MR2 Turbo suggestion though. Can't think of another car that packs so much punch into such a small pricetag, and you would get an absolute monster for way under your budget. Excellent things, and despite having driven mine backwards into a hedge at high speed I'd say they're not actually that unforgiving as long as you don't drive like a cock. Go for a Rev3 or later.

[Neith]

Decided not to go for a GT86- as much as I love the idea of the car, I can't justify a £25k price tag at the minute.

Keeping my eyes open over Christmas/New Year but I think once the Japanese auctions open again I'll be looking at a S15 Silvia.

Cheers for all the suggestions; I'd completely forgotten about MR2 Turbos!

[WorAl]

Nissan 350Z? I've recently (3 weeks ago) bought one and I have to say, it's a fecking fantastic car, much more so than I was expecting. I'm a huge Scooby fan, but I have found myself not interested any more and already planning a 370Z as the next motor.....probably April/May next year

[EdBarrett]

WorAl said:

Nissan 350Z? I've recently (3 weeks ago) bought one and I have to say, it's a fecking fantastic car, much more so than I was expecting. I'm a huge Scooby fan, but I have found myself not interested any more and already planning a 370Z as the next motor.....probably April/May next year

+1

Just got myself a Fairlady on Saturday.. You get a lot of car for the money.

[_Al_]

I'm on my second MR2 turbo. I doubt I'd buy another as they are getting very old now but if you've never tried one that's all the more reason to get in now while there are any good ones left.