90's JDM car help

[Benny J]

I'm the most indecisive person on the planet and am really struggling with the decision of what car to buy.

To put it in perspective I'm 23, have fairly bad joints and have managed to get myself a budget of £15k and possibly up to £20k.

I'm looking at really fun, lightweight cars that feel special and unique with good power that are somewhat comfortable. I'd like to be able to use them as much as possible and preferably want to spend more time driving them than fixing them.

I've sort of narrowed it down to an MR2 turbo, FD RX7, Nissan S15 and a GC8 Subaru Impreza STI type R.

Anyone got any experience of any of these cars that can offer advice? Does anyone have or know someone that wouldn't mind taking me out for a passenger ride in one of these cars?

[anonymous-user]

Where are you based? I wouldn't say an MR2 or RX7 was particularly comfortable.

[Benny J]

In Royston, just outside of Cambridge.

Would they be comfortable enough to have an hour or so stints in without it being too bad?

[Angpozzuto]

Benny J said:

In Royston, just outside of Cambridge.

Would they be comfortable enough to have an hour or so stints in without it being too bad?

You're not a million miles from me I'm in cheshunt, I've got a MR2 MK2 turbo and a MK1 MR2 with supercharged V6 swap. You're welcome to pop over and see how you fit in a MR2, I regularly spend 2 hours+ in them with no issues at all

[Benny J]

Angpozzuto said:

You're not a million miles from me I'm in cheshunt, I've got a MR2 MK2 turbo and a MK1 MR2 with supercharged V6 swap. You're welcome to pop over and see how you fit in a MR2, I regularly spend 2 hours+ in them with no issues at all

That would be awesome if you wouldn't mind!

[Angpozzuto]

Benny J said:

That would be awesome if you wouldn't mind!

Not a problem at all, email me through my profile and we'll sort something out

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the RX-7 from your list.

[Benny J]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say the RX-7 from your list.

I love the look of the RX7s but they're at the top end of my budget already, add in that insurance is £2600 for me and then reliability/high maintenance costs and I can see it being incredibly expensive to run

[Mikee19]

Benny J said:

I'm looking at really fun, lightweight cars that feel special and unique with good power that are somewhat comfortable. I'd like to be able to use them as much as possible and preferably want to spend more time driving them than fixing them.

Integra DC5, very reliable, lightweight, fun, practical hatchback, will get a very good one within budget.

[Benny J]

Mikee19 said:

Integra DC5, very reliable, lightweight, fun, practical hatchback, will get a very good one within budget.

I already have an FN2R which depending what I buy may be upgraded to a DC5 in the next year or so anyway. They look great though and are supposed to handle really well.

[Mikee19]

Benny J said:

Mikee19 said:

Integra DC5, very reliable, lightweight, fun, practical hatchback, will get a very good one within budget.

I already have an FN2R which depending what I buy may be upgraded to a DC5 in the next year or so anyway. They look great though and are supposed to handle really well.

Then I would get something wild for the weekend, the RX7, if it's broken you can always drive the FN/DC.

[Benny J]

Mikee19 said:

Then I would get something wild for the weekend, the RX7, if it's broken you can always drive the FN/DC.

The only thing with the Rx is that I'd be worried it'd always be broken or waiting for funds to fix it and that's the only car that if I bought I wouldn't be able to move to the DC5, just due to their price and maintenance costs.

[kurokawa]

Benny J said:

The only thing with the Rx is that I'd be worried it'd always be broken or waiting for funds to fix it and that's the only car that if I bought I wouldn't be able to move to the DC5, just due to their price and maintenance costs.

As a ex owner of FD3S, don’t get one unless you have the time and use it only as a weekend toy. I am not saying you can’t drive it daily, just rather annoying as a daily. I would say it is the most driver car I have even own, my current FK2 and all praised S2000 are no match for the engagement of RX-7, but also come with loads of pain.
The S15 Silvia is a good choice, I had a spec R and use it as a daily for few years, practical and good power just beware there are no traction control and quite a lot of power going to the rear wheel

[Benny J]

kurokawa said:

As a ex owner of FD3S, don’t get one unless you have the time and use it only as a weekend toy. I am not saying you can’t drive it daily, just rather annoying as a daily. I would say it is the most driver car I have even own, my current FK2 and all praised S2000 are no match for the engagement of RX-7, but also come with loads of pain.
The S15 Silvia is a good choice, I had a spec R and use it as a daily for few years, practical and good power just beware there are no traction control and quite a lot of power going to the rear wheel

I wouldn't be daily driving the car but would just have it as a fun second car. How much do you need to save per month for maintenance? Are the horror stories really as likely?

I think the S15 would be fun but I think the interiors are a bit plain. I think it should be the easiest to maintain and most reliable on the list but not sure if they feel special enough.

[Mave]

kurokawa said:

As a ex owner of FD3S, don’t get one unless you have the time and use it only as a weekend toy. I am not saying you can’t drive it daily, just rather annoying as a daily. I would say it is the most driver car I have even own, my current FK2 and all praised S2000 are no match for the engagement of RX-7, but also come with loads of pain.
The S15 Silvia is a good choice, I had a spec R and use it as a daily for few years, practical and good power just beware there are no traction control and quite a lot of power going to the rear wheel

I'd kind of agree. I used mine as an on - off daily driver for a few years, absolutely loved it but it always felt a bit like the details hadn't been fully sorted. I noticed a comment about joints in the OP - I'd comment that an RX7 doesn't have quite the delicate, light controls that it's weight and shape might suggest, and it's not the easiest to get in and out of (although that's fairly common for low cars with deep footwells and bucket seats). If you're over 6' you might find legroom a bit short on a JDM car as the seat runners dont go as far back as UK cars, although you can mod them.

Edited by Mave on Tuesday 24th December 09:14

[Cambs_Stuart]

Just a word of warning, a lot of those cars are getting on a bit. Although they are all well built, a lot of parts will be towards the end of their life. Suspension, bushes, rubber hoses etc will all been though a lot of cycles of use.

But if it was me I'd go for the Subaru, Either a type R (or a P1). if you do you've got some excellent specialist support in Zen performance in Earith and Tim Farmer (fantastic Subaru mechanic/engine builder).

Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Tuesday 24th December 10:43

[Evolved]

20k will put you into a very nice Evo and won’t lose any money if you buy right.

Edited by Evolved on Tuesday 24th December 10:45

[adam.]

Mikee19 said:

Integra DC5, very reliable, lightweight, fun, practical hatchback, will get a very good one within budget.

This.

A good DC5 will last you, rarely need work, and barely drop a penny.

Everything else in your list, you'll spend more time underneath them than driving them.

[TheAngryDog]

if you want reliable, then none of the cars on your list are going to match that.

They're all old Japanese cars that were open to rust issues. The RX7 is the one I would be most weary of, as you will have no idea how the tips of the rotors are. It is probably the most interesting car on your list though. Also, finding a standard one, or one that hasn't spent it's more recent years being owned by someone who hasn't had it sliding around every roundabout may prove difficult, especially the S15.

I echo the above, I'd aim towards an Evo myself.

[Angpozzuto]

TheAngryDog said:

if you want reliable, then none of the cars on your list are going to match that.

This is technically true but I'd rather own a 90s jap car with all its issues than a boring new ish car. They just have more character