General Opinions on a few cars...

[.:O4AGTZ:.]

Hey guys,

Just really a general query about a couple of random 2L turbo cars and peoples experiences with fuel economy, driveability etc. time to get in the market for a new toy soon. Interested in a few cars as below but there isnt one of them that have havent heard good and bad things about so realy am just after general opinions and experiences.

ST205 Celica GT4

V4-6 WRX STI

S14 Silvia Turbo (f or pf)

Off of what I know initially the Celica is probably preferable (I know toyotas a lot better than Subarus and Nissans) plus i suppose it is a little bit different than the other two.

Anyway, just after opinions before i get in the market. Graduated and moved into a good career so it is time living up.

Cheers Guys

[B_giB]

All good cars at the end of the day, and all with their own problems to, My preference of the lot would be the Subaru V6, followed by pre-facelift S14.

Thats my 2c anyway.

[FANGIN]

V6 STI Type R = Factory 12 second 1/4 mile, DCCD, Dif lock, 206KW. Pretty good gas milage off boost, like all Subarus, gearbox can get weak if you thrash it hard. A mate owns the white one you see on the NAC advertisements in NZPC (is a V5 Type R), runs a 12.2 & all it has is adjusties, exhaust & a boost tap.

IMO, you will not get better bang for your buck, just don't try drifiting it, coz you will end up in a tree like he did (fixed now)

Oh, and the Variable centre diff lock will start to play up if you do too many standstills in it.

[.:O4AGTZ:.]

Cheers guys thats the kind of stuff im looking for.

Yeah I have always like the Type Rs. Being a coupe must make them a bit more rigid as well. I have always owned coupes and am 50/50 whether I want to shy away from them or not.

[FANGIN]

As long as you get a tidy one that's been well serviced I think you will be happy with it.
Cody's ran a big end, but that "mysteriously" happened while it was in the impound for drifting...

[.:O4AGTZ:.]

Yup i think you are spot on.

Haha yeah see that example would probably be one that if I was a buyer over trade me or something I would stay away from. No knowledge of the owner except that the car was drifted and ran a big end at one stage.

[FANGIN]

Actually, Now would be the time to buy it (if he was selling)

He has just rebuild the engine, gearbox, put in a new DCCD. Tree incident cost him a new front light & Guard.

My advice is to go to a dealer & get a mechanical warranty with whatever car you get.

[.:O4AGTZ:.]

Actually, Now would be the time to buy it (if he was selling)

He has just rebuild the engine, gearbox, put in a new DCCD. Tree incident cost him a new front light & Guard.

My advice is to go to a dealer & get a mechanical warranty with whatever car you get.

Thats another thing...when you look at a car on trademe for example STIs, GTIRs, EVOs...when they have had rebuilt engines do you see that as a sign that they have been thrashed (and continued to do so after the rebuild) or that it is a good investment due to it having been rebuilt?

[FANGIN]

Yea, but a nana driven car may not last you as long as one that's been thrashed & rebuilt. Could go both ways really.

[.:O4AGTZ:.]

I suppose in general either way it is always a risk.

Any opinions on ST 205 GT4s? How do you think they compare performance wise to the other two?

[sergei]

I suppose in general either way it is always a risk.

Any opinions on ST 205 GT4s? How do you think they compare performance wise to the other two?

STI faster, silvia slower (obvious reasons).

[.:O4AGTZ:.]

I suppose in general either way it is always a risk.

Any opinions on ST 205 GT4s? How do you think they compare performance wise to the other two?

STI faster, silvia slower (obvious reasons).

Hmm true.

All the GT4s I see on Trade Me are starting to get up in the Ks as well. Most of them seem to be around the 190 mark. Is that of much concern?

[Mr Revhead]

Faster in figures does not always mean alot....
the ST205 is an awesome point to ponit car.
Is imo definitely a nicer place to spend a few hours on a trip.
Go drive a couple and see what you think.

[.:O4AGTZ:.]

Faster in figures does not always mean alot....
the ST205 is an awesome point to ponit car.
Is imo definitely a nicer place to spend a few hours on a trip.
Go drive a couple and see what you think.

Sounds like a good idea. Have been passenger in a lot of STIs and Silvias but that is totally different to driving. I think in general I am leaning more towards the GT4 purely on the "less common: factor. They seem to be doing good in all categories

[Lurkin]

perhaps price up likely replacement maintenance parts...
add insurance to that as well... sometimes its surprising what the premium differences are for cars that could be perceived to be in the same category

[Adamal]

Silvia's are actually quite boaty in stock form. A couple of suspension mods such as nolathane bushes here and there, can make a lot of difference though.

[offensive]

perhaps price up likely replacement maintenance parts...
add insurance to that as well... sometimes its surprising what the premium differences are for cars that could be perceived to be in the same category

on the insurance topic of these cars..... Cost of insurance between celica vs Subaru wrx, or anything subaru. That could be a decision maker. spend a bunch to get the car and in a few years u might of spent that again for just owning it.

[Leon]

My preference would be the Nissan. But that's just because I've had an Sti and didn't like it to the point where I sold it after a couple of months. It was a V3 so had very peaky power deliver. B1 has a V4 that is a *lot* nicer to drive.

I don't do any ski stuff or anything, so I've no need for a 4wd.

Plus of course if you're beating crap out of a car autocrossing, 2wd means less stuff to break than 4wd on launching

[Mr Revhead]

But that's just because I've had an Sti and didn't like it to the point where I sold it after a couple of months.

BS!!! The real reason is you have a compulsive disorder that makes you buy and sell cars and a ludicris rate!

[sergei]

I personally dislikes silvias, they are on par with pulsar interior wise, and I don't like how they handle from factory.

ST205 is much nicer on NZ roads, it is perfectly suited for long drives on winding roads.
In fact most of my 65k+ that I done in my ST205 were put on random roads all over NZ. I drove all over the place from cape Reigna, west, central, east of both islands to as far as Milford sound. Being 4WD it helps on gravel and beach.

STI I assume would also be nice, but I haven't sat in one for prolonged hours to judge.