Best Sub $10k Performance Nissan?

[mooseman]

Gday Guys,

Im looking at buying my first Jap import for some fun until I get a new company car beginning of 2010.

I just want something thats fairly quick (easy sub 15 quarter) reliable and comfortable. Ability to seat 4 adults is a bonus but not required. I was looking at most of the imports like soarers, RX7s, skylines, 200s, etc

How do the R32 GTS' and the S14 200SX's compare to eachother? I have driven a 200sx with only boost mods and I was impressed with the power and performance.

I don't want to spend more then $10,000

[Crans]

S14 will probably cost more than 10k

Plenty of modified r32 GTS-T for 10k and under

[N1GTR]

If you can do it on the cheap, RB25 S13.

[TTT]

Lots of R33 gtst's around for under $10K

More room in the back than the R32 (not much but still bigger).

thinking outside Nissan stable...

WRX

Lancer GSR

Familia GTX

Celica GT4 (if you're queer)

Galant VR4

Soarer TT

MA70 Supra (if 7mgte engine, get the TYPE A, or get one with a 1jz)

FC RX7 series 4 or 5 (expensive on fuel and expect repairs)

I've had a series 1 S14 200sx and a couple of R32's and liked the 200sx better.. all cars had usual mods.

Currently have an R33 which I'm looking to sell for $9K.

Looking to go t a WRX hatch (need the space).

[mooseman]

I've seen a few S14s for under 10gs. I would prefer something I can just pick up and go with. A manual turbo SR20 S13 would probably suffice. I don't really want to have to piss fart around with the car too much with engine swaps and stuff.

Performance wise how do the R32s compare to the S13 and S14 SR20s?

[TTT]

what do you mean by "performance"?

[mad082]

r32 is slower than both silvia (of any series) and r33. s13 is about as fast as a r33 (in stock form).

r32 gts-t = 157kw, 265nm 1320kg

r33 gts-t = 184kw, 295nm, 1370kg

s13 = 151kw, 274nm, 1150kg

s14 = 162kw, 274nm, 1220kg

the r32 makes more power than the s13 by 6w, but 9nm less torque, and weigh 170kg more. r33 weighs 50kg more than the r32 but makes an extra 27kw more power and has a better power to weight ratio.

r33's are generally cheaper than r32's (well there is plenty of good cheap r33's around but not many r32's) and they have more power and are faster.

i have owned both a r33 and a sr20 powered 180sx, and driven a ca powered 180sx and a r32. r32 was least favourite of the lot. r33 and s13 were on par. i like different things about the different cars. for an everyday driver though i think the r33 is better. more low down power and slightly better ride (comfort wise).

s13 has the advantage that you can run 15psi all day everyday and the turbo won't blow up like a skyline turbo that is pushed to it's limit. and you can easilly upgrade to a ball bearing s15 unit cheaply as well.

[mooseman]

WRX - Over my budget for a clean one.

Lancer GSR - Again pushing my budget and im not a huge fan of the looks

Familia GTX - whats that?

Celica GT4 (if you're queer) - im no queer!

Galant VR4 - Possibly but again don't like the looks too much

Soarer TT - Would be good but finding a decent cheap one is more difficult

MA70 Supra (if 7mgte engine, get the TYPE A, or get one with a 1jz) - Too old looking for me

FC RX7 series 4 or 5 (expensive on fuel and expect repairs) - Too small and expensive to maintain and run.

I could settle for an R33 but there are just so many of them around my area. Easily as common as XR8s and SS's. Im located in the Northern Suburbs of melbourne. I always thought the R32s were quicker then the 33s or is that just a myth?

I honestly don't know what im looking for in a nissan really. So if you guys come across some that looks the goods can you post it here for my benefit?

[gotRICE?]

WRX - Over my budget for a clean one.

Lancer GSR - Again pushing my budget and im not a huge fan of the looks

Familia GTX - whats that?

Celica GT4 (if you're queer) - im no queer!

Galant VR4 - Possibly but again don't like the looks too much

Soarer TT - Would be good but finding a decent cheap one is more difficult

MA70 Supra (if 7mgte engine, get the TYPE A, or get one with a 1jz) - Too old looking for me

FC RX7 series 4 or 5 (expensive on fuel and expect repairs) - Too small and expensive to maintain and run.

I could settle for an R33 but there are just so many of them around my area. Easily as common as XR8s and SS's. Im located in the Northern Suburbs of melbourne. I always thought the R32s were quicker then the 33s or is that just a myth?

I honestly don't know what im looking for in a nissan really. So if you guys come across some that looks the goods can you post it here for my benefit?

Its a Myth. Drive a 32, and then a 33. Then go laugh at the person that told you.

2/4 door Integra Type R Quicker than a 32, s13 and s14 (if they are stock )

Cheap to run, pretty quick for an 1800 too. And they are coming down in price alot too.

[TTT]

Just a correction.

Aus Delivered S14 is 147kw.. not 162kw.

another nissan to think about is a Pulsar GTiR

almost same power as R33

toughest SR20 ever.

biggest stock T28 turbo on an SR20.

weighs 1220kg

4wd hatch (more room in the back and plenty of traction)

they can be had for $10K ish. (seen some as low as $8K but mainly around $10K - $11K)

downside might be the look.. personal choice..

Familia GTX?? - essentially a combo of Ford Laser and Mazda 323

http://www.turboclub.com/turbocars/mazda/M...milia_GTX_1.jpg

there is also a GTR version of the Familia.

if you can handle FWD, an EP82 Starlet is a good base.

about $5K from stock has them running 12's.

http://pics.hoobly.com/full/P56YQUMOTVEO9ODMCO.jpg

[djr81]

Gday Guys,

Im looking at buying my first Jap import for some fun until I get a new company car beginning of 2010.

I just want something thats fairly quick (easy sub 15 quarter) reliable and comfortable. Ability to seat 4 adults is a bonus but not required. I was looking at most of the imports like soarers, RX7s, skylines, 200s, etc

I don't want to spend more then $10,000

That would be an import R31 - a GTS-X.

[TTT]

sure.. get an R31 if you want something that has the weight of an R33 with less power than an R32.

and worse suspension etc.

[mad082]

unless you are talking gtr's then the 33 is the slowest. but in the gts-t's the 32 is the slowest of the lot by nearly half a second over the 1/4 mile, if i remember correctly. and the s13's (sr20 powered) are almost identical to the r33.

and i was able to beat a mates stock rb20 powered cefiro at willowbank by over half a second in a v6 magna (he ran a 15.4 and i ran 14.8)

and my mates r32 i drove had a pfc, bigger turbo and injectors, aftermarket plenum, and made 6hp more than my stock turbo'd, stock ecu r33, except i had full boost by about 2800rpm and he didn't have it until closer to 6000rpm (stupidly big turbo). then they put a smaller turbo on and made a bit less peak power but gained a heap of mid power because he was getting full boost by about 4000rpm.

the r32 may feel faster due to the power delivery though. the r33 basically has the power there all the time so it doesn't feel as quick. i know my 180sx felt much quicker than the 33, despite the fact that it was about 100hp down on power, but because boost came in higher in the rev range you got a bit more of a hit, where as the 33 was pretty much on boost whenever you put your foot down so you weren't really off boost. but then my SSS pulsar (natro sr20) felt, and was, much quicker than the 180 out of slower corners when the 180 wasn't on boost. in fact the missus was driving the pulsar and i was following in the 180 going from her place to mine and out of certain intersections where it was low rpm second gear corners she would pull away 20 or 30m before i came on boost and caught up again, and she wasn't reving up that high before changing gears.

[mad082]

Just a correction.

Aus Delivered S14 is 147kw.. not 162kw.

i did have that mentioned in my post but then changed it and forgot to put it back in

another nissan to think about is a Pulsar GTiR

almost same power as R33

toughest SR20 ever.

biggest stock T28 turbo on an SR20.

weighs 1220kg

4wd hatch (more room in the back and plenty of traction)

they can be had for $10K ish. (seen some as low as $8K but mainly around $10K - $11K)

downside might be the look.. personal choice..

hard to find one that doesn't have gearbox/drivetrain issues, or isn't far off having gearbox issues. most have generally had a hard life.

might be the biggest turbo, but is only bush bearing. but they do have quad throttle bodies. they are just a chunkier redtop motor (have a few internal upgrades).

as for more room in the back, the 180sx actually has more room in the back/boot.

i don't mind the look.

[djr81]

sure.. get an R31 if you want something that has the weight of an R33 with less power than an R32.

and worse suspension etc.

Imported R31's, model for model weigh very close to the 32's. Certainly not the 33's. The red top RB20 in them is, again, similar to the silver top version in the 32's.

There is nothing particularly wrong with their suspension - it was a vast improvement over the R30's. The imports have IRS, albeit not quite as good as the 32's.

As for a 33 - well yet another 33 GTS-T will really stand out, wont it.

Personally I wouldn't go near an Australian built R31 unless maybe it was an SVD version. Even then it would only be for its oddball nature. But the 2 door imports can look good if done properly. They share much or their parts with the later models. Plus every man & his dog won't have one just like it.

[KezR33]

Get an S13. SR20 is ideal, but don't under estimate the CA18 either.

Plus, I reckon they still look bloody good.

[TTT]

another thing out left field...

U13 Bluebird SSS Attessa.

kind of a slower, heavier GTiR with more room and comfort.

[S13Deviat]

S13 all the way! Light, awesome chassis and the SR20 is a little doer!!

Not that i'm biased.......

I have minor mods pushing over 200rwkw in something that weights just over 1100kg's... recipe for fun!

[mooseman]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Im leaning towards a R33 or some sort of silvia. Keep an eye out for me!

[Mr. Oizo]

Australia's best value performance car:

http://autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&A=1853

f**k nissan