Any JDM fans here, recommendations?

almoststew1990

almoststew1990

almoststew1990

Soldato
Joined
12 May 2011
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Southampton
Now that I have a walk or cycle commute I am thinking of a 80s early 90s interesting car as my "weekly". The sort of thing that would be used a couple of times a week as a second car (my fiance and I share a fiesta but we both work from home most of the time so its usually available any time).

The sort of car I am looking at is

Mrk 3 Supra (right at top end of perhaps over budget, even for a non turbo)
3000GT/GTO (top end non turbo manual)
Z31 300ZX (weirdly big money for manual, even non-turbo, but probably my favourite atm)
90s MR2 (medium money for manual t-bar non-turbo, a bit more for the turbo)
Celica 4th 5th 6th gen but there are quite a confusing array of models I need to look into.

i.e. quite happy with some comfort rather than outright sportiness and I really only have the budget for something warm rather than hot for most of these.

Does anyone have this sort of era of Japanese sports/'sporty' cars? What is it like to live with as a "not daily but also not sunny weekend only" car? Given they're a bit softer I am assuming most will have power steering, central locking and ideally ABS! The main thing I am finding is checking MOT history is rust, rust everywhere.
 
200sx

www.ebay.co.uk

NISSAN S14 200SX 1996 *****GENUINE 56K MILES ONLY***** | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NISSAN S14 200SX 1996 *****GENUINE 56K MILES ONLY***** at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Pulsar Gti-R

www.ebay.co.uk

Nissan pulsar gtir | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Nissan pulsar gtir at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Integra Type R

www.ebay.co.uk

2000 Honda Integra Type-R UKDM DC2 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2000 Honda Integra Type-R UKDM DC2 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
A lot of those need a decent mechanic or yourself with the spanners. Very reliable in their day but most need constant fettle to keep them at their best.

I have a Gen 6 ST205 GT-Four. Mines been on axle stands for the past 18 months having a full rebuild. Mine does have power steering but doesn't have ABS or air bags :P.

MK2 MR2 would be my choice for your needs. T-Bar turbo if you could stretch for one.
 
Yeah you'll have to be handy with the spanners for anything like that nowadays

I have a big soft spot for the DC2 and DC5, i wanted a DC2 in around 2010 but they were starting to get a bit ropey then so as much as i love them i dont think i'd want to take one on now, but i guess the same applies to all of them really :(

I had a DC5 for a few years and that was ok but not as reliable as you'd expect from a Honda and terribly crashy on the UK roads, once the JDM novelty wore off it lost its shine to me so i traded it in for a 2005 Subaru STi UK car which i had way more fun with.

I've also had a JDM 1996 Subaru WRX which was cool but i never trusted that car for some reason so never really enjoyed it, it didnt' help i had that after my 2005 one so everything in it felt like a downgrade.
 
sovietspybob said:
Yeah you'll have to be handy with the spanners for anything like that nowadays

I have a big soft spot for the DC2 and DC5, i wanted a DC2 in around 2010 but they were starting to get a bit ropey then so as much as i love them i dont think i'd want to take one on now, but i guess the same applies to all of them really :(

I had a DC5 for a few years and that was ok but not as reliable as you'd expect from a Honda and terribly crashy on the UK roads, once the JDM novelty wore off it lost its shine to me so i traded it in for a 2005 Subaru STi UK car which i had way more fun with.

I've also had a JDM 1996 Subaru WRX which was cool but i never trusted that car for some reason so never really enjoyed it, it didnt' help i had that after my 2005 one so everything in it felt like a downgrade.
Click to expand...

The key will be to finding one that hasn't been abused, and such a car will command a premium. Even a good one will need some work becuase they're all getting on now. I would say they're worth the hassle of upkeep (undecided if they're worth the inflated prices) becuase this era of cars is so much fun and is before they all got bloated with (essential) things that modern cars need.
 
Doobedoo said:
200sx

www.ebay.co.uk

NISSAN S14 200SX 1996 *****GENUINE 56K MILES ONLY***** | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NISSAN S14 200SX 1996 *****GENUINE 56K MILES ONLY***** at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Pulsar Gti-R

www.ebay.co.uk

Nissan pulsar gtir | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Nissan pulsar gtir at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Integra Type R

www.ebay.co.uk

2000 Honda Integra Type-R UKDM DC2 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2000 Honda Integra Type-R UKDM DC2 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk
Click to expand...

I still miss my Integra, simply the best car I ever owned and the fact I sold it at the bottom of the market when my daughter was born still grates with me.

Practical, for a 3 door, quick enough to make b roads an absolute blast, but the agility is what makes you smile.

Downsides are that they're bloody expensive these days and you've got to like stirring the gearbox a lot. If you do like them though, no one I let drive it came out the seat without a massive grin on their face, even instructors when i did track days would wax lyrical about the chance to 'show me the lines'.
 
You have to have the love for 80's/90's Jap cars. They also will require the will to spend money to either soft restore or keep them in fine fettle. Which shouldn't be a surprise as they are 30 years old now :cry:.

If you want a warm/useable car (ie has some practicality) than I can recommend an RX8. But like the above, will require the will to spend to keep it in tip top condition.
 
Honda prelude VTI

Celica T-Sport

Integra Type-R DC2

Those all have high revving normally aspirated 4 clyinder engines

Good look finding one that doesn't need mega money spending on it though, sold my 2000 prelude in 2008 due to arch rust

Hatches, Civic VTI, Corolla TSport, I loved my Corolla but again they are old now and finding a good one will be difficult

If I wanted a weekend car that was fun to drive and cheap to run I would look for something more modern like a 1.6 Suzuki Swift Sport
 
Rust and body work issues are the biggest issues on a lot of the older jap stuff, in particular on things like dc2s as they are so reliable mechanically if cared for. I'd personally not have another as times have changed, but they're a lot of fun even at legal speeds. I also wouldn't buy an s2000 and I own one :D
 
A DC5 Integra would be my choice. I very nearly got one imported for me in 2016, but ended up buying a Megane R26 instead :o :(

Rust/corrosion would be my concern depending on when the car you go for was imported into the country. Recently imported cars should be good, but lots will have been over since they were only a few years old.

Once you decide what you want I'd be tempted to contact Algys Autos and get a price for them to import you one over. In 2016 they were quoting me ~£7500 to import me a grade 4/4.5 DC5 (including UK registration, MOT, and delivery to my door) This was around £2-3k less than private sellers had ones up for at the time!

 
As others have said, if your ok with a spanner you should be ok with any of those, otherwise the garage bills will be eye watering. And rust, anything of that era is going to have more than its fair share of rust, even the later imports are also suffering and or miss sold if you follow any of the youtubers that check out the auction houses.
As a gto tt owner i can say the NA manual is an unloved gem, if you find one thats been well kept then it will do well, unfortunately due to the value they tend to attract the crowd that dont and good examples are few and far between but they do exist. You can pick up a sorted tt for just shy of 10k, compared to comparative cars of that era thats an all out bargain.
As an example 8k will land you something like this
https://forum.the3000gtplace.com/t/mk1-twin-turbo-1991-regrettably-for-sale/2162

compared to the 15k 200sx above, well i know what i'd choose :D
 
dale1uk said:
A DC5 Integra would be my choice. I very nearly got one imported for me in 2016, but ended up buying a Megane R26 instead :o :(

Rust/corrosion would be my concern depending on when the car you go for was imported into the country. Recently imported cars should be good, but lots will have been over since they were only a few years old.

Once you decide what you want I'd be tempted to contact Algys Autos and get a price for them to import you one over. In 2016 they were quoting me ~£7500 to import me a grade 4/4.5 DC5 (including UK registration, MOT, and delivery to my door) This was around £2-3k less than private sellers had ones up for at the time!

Click to expand...

Yeah if you go DC5 be careful with rust, i sold my 2004 DC5 in 2011 or 2012 and it was starting to quite quite rusty underneath despite having been undersealed when it came to the UK. I looked at the MOT history after i sold it and it sounded like it pretty much rusted into dust over the next 5 years :( Amazingly looked like it managed to get an MOT in 2020 but nothing since then. The probably painted the underneath in waxoil so no one could tell how bad it was!
 
JDM Impreza WRX STI (blob/hawk)

Superb 2.0 litre engine with twin scroll turbo
Awesome 6 speed gearbox
Sounds like an RX7 (people will moan that they don't sound like a 'subaru', they're just jealous ;))
Much improved engine/turbo setup over the UK version
Not many issues reported with rust/corrosion
 
Mr2 turbo fan here had 2 now, have that unique Mmid engine turbo setup plus won't cost the earth to buy one.

Also 3000gt/gto can still be had for okay money. Had 1 last year, very quick, comfy ride. Watch out for rust!
 
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