Best handling jap cars?

[Guest gt4core]

Slightly biased but the gt4 is pretty much exactly what you are looking for. The suspension components (fig 8's and lower arms)go at around the 80k miles mark and it will cost about 800 - 1200 to replace the lot - depending how much you do yourself. I dont think thats unreasonable really.

 

The clutch is fine for 60 - 80k and 300bhp is easily attainable with intake / decat and EBC. Same as all cars, make sure you get a service history with it and before you go increasing the power change the dizzy cap, rotor arm and sparks and fluids. handling is great as standard, but with a whiteline arb for £130 you can transform it to an awesome handling weapon.

Same as any performance car as long as you take care of it they are fantastic cars.

 

Insurance group 16 is a good bit better than 20 for imprezas and evos. Plus they look good and they arent belly button cars like scoobs and evos.

 

Only reason im considering getting a supra as well is because i think they are awesome cars, but i wouldnt sell the gt4 to get one!

 

cheers!

[Matt H]

Any opinions on a Mitsubishi GTO?

 

I've read that some of them are All Wheel Steering, but still not that great handling.

 

You won't beat the 4WD cars such as the Scoobies, Evo's and GTRs

[Chris Wilson]

A front wheel drive GTO is the most reliable. The transmissions on the turbo 4WD ones are very frail, and generally they are a nightmare to work on. The wife used to like them, I was looking for a front wheel drive none turbo one for her when she came home with a 928, which was a right POS.

[j_jza80]

Not Jap, but if you want AWD have you thought about an Audi S2 Coupe?

 

 

Maybe not quite as precise as an Evo but had loads more communication in the steering, and the engine note is in a different league. Cheaper insurance than an Evo or Impreza too.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pElGQnj5sc&feature=related

 

I'd say the best handling Jap cars are the DC2 Integra and then the FD3 RX7. NSXs are supposed to be great too, but i've never driven one, and if you're struggling with a front engine, rear drive car at the limit, a mid engine one probably isn't best.

[Holeshot]

I always enjoyed my Civic Type R as a well handling car that doesn't cost a fortune to run. Probably not quite fast enough though and it's not great in the wet.

 

4WD is great for this country IMO. It's all well and good having big power and RWD but you can't drive them hard in the wet which is 1/2 of the year.

[dr_jekyll]

i would buy ;

 

a full geo

rltc

and some good tyres and if your that concerned some advanced driving lessons and keep the best looking car

[supra_aero]

Rx7s hands down. I am biased but they handle like go karts. Awesome toys

[cobrastang]

You can have a very good GTiR Pulsar,but an average Impreza for 5k.After 5 mins in a pulsar you will think you are a rally driver and pray for snow.Great fun and different as well.

[supra_aero]

I'd be quite embarassed to be seen in one of those Pulsars without meaning to sound snobby. They just look like a jap 306, but worse.

 

Are they quick then (straight line I mean)?

[shima60]

i know a guy selling a MINT imprezza (as in clean) all body work touched up its still in km with only 74k on the clock he's only after £2400 for it all service history from japan etc fresh import muahaha that'll give you some change

[cobrastang]

I'd be quite embarassed to be seen in one of those Pulsars without meaning to sound snobby. They just look like a jap 306, but worse.

 

Are they quick then (straight line I mean)?

 

Very fast,after 5 mins you wont care what others think.They are great little cars.I think nicer to drive than a standard sti as well.

[jk136]

DC5 handling is sublime...longest I had ever kept a car (2 years), and the most fun....except the Supra on a wet roundabout. And even then, the DC5 was a bit tail happy from time to time. Probably wouldnt fit into your price range though.

 

So DC2 would be a good option, the only problem being, its 200bhp not the 300bhp you require.

 

I remember an article from EVO magazine where they were looking for the 'Best Drivers Car of all Time'

 

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/204801/mclaren_f1_v_ferrari_f40_v_pagani_zonda_c12s_v_lancia_delta_integrale_v_bugatti_veyron_v_honda_nsxr_v_porsche_997_gt3_v_nissan_skyline_r34_gtr.html

 

McLaren, Ferraris, Porsches, you name the supercars they were there....then suprise, suprise the DC2 was there too....

 

Can get a real nice one with low miles for 5k too

[supra_aero]

Very fast,after 5 mins you wont care what others think.They are great little cars.I think nicer to drive than a standard sti as well.

 

I'd like to try going in one at one point. There is always someone at jap meets singing very high praises for them. Wolf in sheeps clothing perhaps

[cobrastang]

I'd like to try going in one at one point. There is always someone at jap meets singing very high praises for them. Wolf in sheeps clothing perhaps

 

Yep,definately have a test drive if you get the chance.They are little buzz bombs.I remember one racing a dodge viper 0n 5th gear some time ago.Very good little cars,and reliable.My Girlfriend got rid of hers for insurance reasons at the time and bought a non turbo'd Gti,even that was a fast little motor.I used to love racing around the trossachs in it.[GRIN][/GRIN]

[Guest George89]

So far then.

DC2 most reliable and an amazing engine/handling performance

Subaru imprenza STI - not as reliable do drink more petrol but are better handling cars expeshly if its wet.

 

And as someone said RX7 i would love to get a RX7 and i can quite easily afford one. but the only thing that puts me off and am sure a lot of other people is the engine rebuilt. If i know i could get one and it would be reliablelish. fair enough it drinks petrol i would get one over any of the others anyway

[Paul R]

Impreza type R's are great cars. I had one for a bit. They handle so well and are very fast. Bit of a pain keep changing gear all the time though as they have a short ratio box in them......I've had a few imprezas - not impressed with the build quality of them.....or the engines...managed to break 2 engines in not so many months!!

 

Paul.

[supra_aero]

So far then.

DC2 most reliable and an amazing engine/handling performance

Subaru imprenza STI - not as reliable do drink more petrol but are better handling cars expeshly if its wet.

 

And as someone said RX7 i would love to get a RX7 and i can quite easily afford one. but the only thing that puts me off and am sure a lot of other people is the engine rebuilt. If i know i could get one and it would be reliablelish. fair enough it drinks petrol i would get one over any of the others anyway

 

If you can easily afford one, just buy one from jimmysrx7s (http://www.jimmys-rx7.co.uk/). Andrew runs it and he knows rxs inside out and if you buy one from him, it'll have a fresh engine rebuild with warranty. And he is always happy to help on the phone.

 

Way better looking and more exotic a car than anything else mentioned on this thread.

 

And whifbitz can service it seeing as you are from London.

[AlexJames]

R32 GTR you won't regret it

 

yep id agree with that, not impressed with the looks but handling wise they are great...

 

... that and an evo

[Project Blitz]

if you can get used to it, Sti type R

I personally didnt like the dccd but if you are looking at evo's then the yaw is same

 

I've owned a few and a GT4 is a good choice also, the weight lets it down but great cars

abeit i've never owned an R32 gtr but thats a serious car to consider, bit retro and some down like the looks- i do

[supra_aero]

It's coming down to whether you want to:

 

1) look good going round corners quickly (rx7-nsx)

2) look bad going round corners quickly (pulsar )

3) look ok going around corners quickly (evo-subaru-r32)

 

I'd take option 1.

[Project Blitz]

I love the REx but i have avoided buying one due to the engine issues!

albeit many subarus arnt much better!

[jon5698]

What about a mazda 323 GTR?

[Guest George89]

If you can easily afford one, just buy one from jimmysrx7s (http://www.jimmys-rx7.co.uk/). Andrew runs it and he knows rxs inside out and if you buy one from him, it'll have a fresh engine rebuild with warranty. And he is always happy to help on the phone.

 

Way better looking and more exotic a car than anything else mentioned on this thread.

 

And whifbitz can service it seeing as you are from London.

 

Now this looks like the most interesting post. I live 5 minutes from whifbitz. And if you recommend the company your just posted. I would consider getting one only if its in mint condition with very low milleage on new engine as i don't have the patience or the money to keep repairing it when something goes wrong. Am loveing the black rx7's. Way better option then any of the other cars but you can't really use it as a everyday car but i wouldn't mind that.

[Chris Wilson]

If you can put up with less power an N/A rotary is pretty bullet proof. It's the heat issue and det when you turbo them. I have just bought an FD RX-7 with a blown engine, not sure what's happening with it yet, jury is out

[Guest Andy_H]

easy, mk1 mazda MX5 with a supercharger. i have a normal 1.6 MX5 and can hang the back end out every where, the are so light and predictable. dont have out and out grip like a 4WD but you have so much confidence in them you can put them all to shame, and they are mega cheap to run and very reliable