Japanese Wizardry
Discussion
hmmm don't think my Japanese car counts as a wonder-wagon!
Afraid it typifies the 'white goods' approach to Japanese car design and manufacture (although the Nissan Sunny model was surprisingly expensive if bought new - 14k 13 years ago I think). But it has been utterly reliable and incredibly cheap to run, even though I haven't really looked after it.
I love the idea of a TVR Wedge, and could probably afford one if I tried, but its the effort and cost required to keep it in fine fettle that puts me off (and is also the reason I will probably soon get rid of one or both of my MG Midgets).
I hasten to add this is not a TVR reliability dig though - I am glad other people are prepared to make the effort, and get pleasure from the more specialist type of car, and maybe I will to later in life.
No, I'm afraid my next car purchase(s) will be Japanese, and very probably turbo powered. This will hopefully have the virtues of my present car, with a little more performance 'attitude', even if it does not have the 'soul' of TVR/Lotus/etc.
It's a trade off that I think a lot of (younger?) people are making.
Cheers, Phil (with obviously not enough work on at the moment!)
Afraid it typifies the 'white goods' approach to Japanese car design and manufacture (although the Nissan Sunny model was surprisingly expensive if bought new - 14k 13 years ago I think). But it has been utterly reliable and incredibly cheap to run, even though I haven't really looked after it.
I love the idea of a TVR Wedge, and could probably afford one if I tried, but its the effort and cost required to keep it in fine fettle that puts me off (and is also the reason I will probably soon get rid of one or both of my MG Midgets).
I hasten to add this is not a TVR reliability dig though - I am glad other people are prepared to make the effort, and get pleasure from the more specialist type of car, and maybe I will to later in life.
No, I'm afraid my next car purchase(s) will be Japanese, and very probably turbo powered. This will hopefully have the virtues of my present car, with a little more performance 'attitude', even if it does not have the 'soul' of TVR/Lotus/etc.
It's a trade off that I think a lot of (younger?) people are making.
Cheers, Phil (with obviously not enough work on at the moment!)
Yeah, I used to have a TVR, but my horrendous experience with them is well documented elsewhere! Doesn't mean I don't still love em though, I just couldn't own one again.
Filmidget, granted there is a massive market for day to day boringbox cars from Japan, but have you driven an Impreza or an EVO? Fantastic.
Filmidget, granted there is a massive market for day to day boringbox cars from Japan, but have you driven an Impreza or an EVO? Fantastic.
I have a 5-dr Impreza Turbo for everyday use and a Cerbera 4.2 for "other occasions". Both magnificent, if very different. Impreza is inspirational - inspires such confidence. I've fitted gold OZ alloys and Pirelli P-Zeros a la Prodrive and the new rubber improves adjustability. I'm currently living in Spain and the Impreza is ideal for the long, fast drives outside populated areas. Obviously it lacks the Cerbera's crushing mid-range punch - most noticeable on straight roads. Not a problem in the past, but lately I've been craving more power...thin end of the tuning wedge? And let's face it, when the chips are down, there's nothing like the exquisitely ugly howl of the Cerbera's flat-plane crank delivered through a sports exhaust (the noise that is, not the crank itself!).
quote:
Within Pistonheads, the TVR is king (Ted's influence a plenty) but I drive an Impreza which is utterly fantastic.
Was mightily impressed with my quick blast around Brands Hatch in an Impreza STi Type UK recently. Bloody thing broke after two laps though which pissed me off as I was just getting into my rhythm.
Hi all,
I just popped in to see if the place had got 'busier' and was pleasantly suprised.
I signed up for a Civic Type R at the weekend. I first test drove the car in November and decided it was too noisy for motorway use - I was doing 30k per year at the time (now doing half that).
I tried other cars - I felt the PD150 golf would be the ideal sports/economical mile muncher but I was really disappointed.
The VX220 was fun too - but not practical for work.
The Civic stuck in my mind as the best bang for the bucks and above all loadsa fun. The engine is superb and once brought on song at 6k turns into a devil
. I found the steering a little lacking in feel when I first tried it but on the second drive it was light but the feedback was there.
The 1/4 mile times the CTR achieves are incredible for a normally aspirated 2 litre - all in all its a great package - if only it didnt look so crap lol
Simon.
I just popped in to see if the place had got 'busier' and was pleasantly suprised.
I signed up for a Civic Type R at the weekend. I first test drove the car in November and decided it was too noisy for motorway use - I was doing 30k per year at the time (now doing half that).
I tried other cars - I felt the PD150 golf would be the ideal sports/economical mile muncher but I was really disappointed.
The VX220 was fun too - but not practical for work.
The Civic stuck in my mind as the best bang for the bucks and above all loadsa fun. The engine is superb and once brought on song at 6k turns into a devil
. I found the steering a little lacking in feel when I first tried it but on the second drive it was light but the feedback was there. The 1/4 mile times the CTR achieves are incredible for a normally aspirated 2 litre - all in all its a great package - if only it didnt look so crap lol
Simon.
quote:
Bloody thing broke after two laps though which pissed me off as I was just getting into my rhythm.
It's always bad news when it breaks as you're getting into your rhythm.
Not driven an STi yet, on the basis that I'd probably decided that I *had* to have one. For the same reason I haven't taken a Noble out for a spin.
I'm at Goodwood this weekend, which is a much faster track than Brands which I'm fairly used to. It'll be interesting to see how I get on, although as my Impreza is fairly standard I suspect I'll end up needing more power (isn't that a feeble excuse?). No other PH'ers down at Goodwood this Saturday?
Yup, I'm into my Jap cr4p too! 
Got a Nissan Skyline R33 V-Spec and it's fantastic. Hasn't missed a beat, despite having nearly 70,000 miles on the clock. It's standard and I guess that it helps. Tuning a Jap car is always going to be slightly risky as the engines can turn "chocolatey".
Not had the pleasure of owning a TVR yet, but have driven all modern variants except a Tamora. Would love a Cerbera 4.5 or a Tuscan, but servicing and reliability are both major downers. Still, there are good ones out there, so I might have to scratch the itch sometime.
Matt
Got a Nissan Skyline R33 V-Spec and it's fantastic. Hasn't missed a beat, despite having nearly 70,000 miles on the clock. It's standard and I guess that it helps. Tuning a Jap car is always going to be slightly risky as the engines can turn "chocolatey". Not had the pleasure of owning a TVR yet, but have driven all modern variants except a Tamora. Would love a Cerbera 4.5 or a Tuscan, but servicing and reliability are both major downers. Still, there are good ones out there, so I might have to scratch the itch sometime.
Matt
Yeah, thank God I only saw pwig's reply this morning!! Would not have slept a wink! LOL
Took the Skyline down some of my favourite country roads last night, and had a riot. It's still a little large to hustle past other cars at times, and the hedges do seem very close! However, it was a cool evening, and I came home sporting a massive grin from ear to ear!
Thankyou Nissan!
Matt
Took the Skyline down some of my favourite country roads last night, and had a riot. It's still a little large to hustle past other cars at times, and the hedges do seem very close! However, it was a cool evening, and I came home sporting a massive grin from ear to ear!
Thankyou Nissan!
Matt
Gassing Station | Evo Exiles | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff