Best Sub $10k Performance Nissan?

[esky_mad]

majority of nissans are uncomfortable when in the back, including the likes of the most unpractable sedan ever...cefiro.

dont get some obsure import as if you get in a bingle you will have major headaches sourcing parts. get something simple with a large parts base.

R33 would be the standout for what it sounds like your after, theres plenty around which also means theres plenty of parts!!!! plus the RB25 should provide you with all the hours of motoring joy your after.

you dont want your first import ownership experience to be a nightmare so start simple.

[nisskid]

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

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

yeh but that backseat room is taken from the boot space, so the r33 boots are smaller than the rear. personally id rather plenty of boot space than rear seat room, couldnt give a shit about the guys in the back tbh lol

[SkyHi_33]

personal top picks:

200sx, useless you want passenger comfort. If you're just gonna drive your missus around than its fine otherwise no go.

r32, less of these in good condition around, imo they look tougher than r33's but are getting old now

r33, more torque and power achievable than r32, bit heavier but also more comfortable, most room out of all cars however as nisskid said, if you're planing on carrying a lot of stuff in the boot... not really gonna happen.

I went for an r33, simple because its a newer car and its more versatile, it will cruise along like a family car yet if you feel like it it has the power too. Only downside is its the most common import, but if you think about it that cant be a bad thing (well unless you want to really stand out). Although lately I've started to notice r34's flooding the market and the r33's are having the same fate as r32's now... keep seeing less of em.

[proengines]

Look at WRX's, there are good cars around for a 10k. Keep an eye on the trading post/carsales etc.. we bought an MY98 WRX for 10 grand, 160,000km, all dealer services, 6 months rego etc.. It's a really nice little car, has a few little carpark dings to fix but that's it.

Plus they go and handle better than most other 4 cylinder imports do standard and do about 9l/100.

[djr81]

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

Just so you understand.

An R33 GTS-T is to the world of imports what a Kenny Gee album is to the world of music.

[tricky_dan]

Just so you understand.

An R33 GTS-T is to the world of imports what a Kenny Gee album is to the world of music.

meaning they're nice but everyones got one?

ive had a CA18DET silvia, R32 GTS-t and an SR20DET Sil80

i think with my cars its all about the experiences u have with it (and with the people inside) which makes you love it, but as an outright car:

the Silvia was a good starting off turbo car, could fit passengers in the back a bit, and went great on 14psi! then i spun a big end bearing.... get a rebuilt ca if ur going cheap.... ><

the R32 was a beaut cruiser! (compared to my s13), felt really solid on the road, but i only had a 3" cat back and a bit of boost and the thing was absolutely gutless below 4000 revs! not sure if it was cause of the lack of mods or because of the 'rb20 is torqueless' syndrome.. but that car (and the silvia) reallly loved to rev! which was fun! just everyday driving in the r32 was kinda annoying, those corners u can go around lazily in 3rd and keep going you'd have to always shift back to 2nd... but could carry [5] people better which was great! and was quiet/smooth for the gf

the Sil80 was basically a drift weapon with coils/screamer etc. loud. low. luschiously quick! even less headroom in the back compared to the silvia (from my understanding its got the least amount of backseat room compared to most other post 1989 nissan sports car..), LOVEd the torque in it!!

fuel consumption was about the same for all 3 cars, less in the silvia i guess, but going to uni and back i babied those cars a fair bit

R33: although ive never owned (or even driven) one of these im almost thinking of going to the dark side and getting a 33 next for

-even more torque

-better gearbox

-smooth cruising

-back seat space for ppl (i dont carry anything in the boot)

-commonness (cheaper to buy than 32s/more parts)

-newness (less prone to rust, newer all round suspension wise, engine, interior seats etc)

they seem great bang for your buck if u can live with the looks and commonness! and the above seem like good reasons to get one while in uni cause i dont care about looks so much, just dont want the engine dying on me

EDIT: that was quite the rant!

Edited March 27, 2009 by tricky_dan

[zZzDanzZz]

have you considered a turbo R31 skyline? not very common, have 2 or 4 doors (can carry 5 in comfort and big boot), plus they have plenty of spare parts, and you can swap parts from newer skylines and silvias in if you wanted to

[Gts-t]

I just bought a 93 sss pulsar, cost be 300 plus 450 in parts to fix. Id say thats the best value nissan below 10k

[R 2 THE J]

Dude..honestly, choose about 3 cars from the ones mentioned. Nothing more, having a large variety muddles your mind and makes you doubt too many things. You may see one car and go "YEH"...but then in the back of your head you have these other 10 or so cars runnin around with these so called specs that make them look/sound better. In the end, it's the driver that brings out the full potential out of ANY car.

Go to a dealership and test drive them yourself, stock form if possible. Pretty much we can tell you what we think but in the end it's gonna be YOUR car.

You'd wanna be happy with it, spesh after 10 grand. May not seem that much in a car, but if i had 10 grand in my hand it'll be worth more than you think.

Just drive, what you feel is better to your perspective will be better when modded in YOUR perspective alone.

Cheers.

RJ

[funkymonkey]

cheapest best bang for buck is gonna be an SR20 S13 Silvia.

Cheap to fix

Cheap parts

Cheap panels

can fit lotsa skyline parts and newer silvia parts for better performance. plus you won't be haggling against guys wanting 180sx's to put strawberry kits on to make into another show pony / weekend drifter. S13's a cheap and nasty, and they may give you Hep C, but goddamn that burn is worth the ride. buy it, beat it, fix it, beat it some more.

[sneakey pete]

How much would you be looking at for a Imported r31 skyline with the turbo, that isn't about to fall to bits?

[zZzDanzZz]

try www.r31skylineclub.com in the for sale section, there are a few import R31s for sale on there, in both coupe and pillarless 4 door models

but importing them should be similar to importing an S13 from japan or an R32, but would be a bit cheaper cause its getting on 20+ years now

[Silvia GTR]

S13 SR20 Silvia!!! Cheap to mod, drive & its light.

You can pick up a Z32 TT 300zx pretty Cheap these days . Although your not going to have much room but the power is there if you don't want to f**k around modding

[rev210]

I think if you have only got $10k then real performance is beyond your budget, no matter what the starting price of the car is.

[mooseman]

I think if you have only got $10k then real performance is beyond your budget, no matter what the starting price of the car is.

Thats a matter of opinion. I can get an R1 for under $10,000. I think that is performance. I can also get a heap of older cars with big engines that offer awesome straight line performance.

[E-Z]

y31 cima i picked mine up for 3k spent about 2k tidying it up, nice ones can be had for 10k and under easy, 3ltr VG30 with single turbo, heaps of torque, BIG boot, back seats, mega luxuries, for the day and more then most ausie cars come with now. motor has lots of torque and can be really nice cars. but parts can be hard to come by,

[pipster11]

ummm

only problem with an rb s13 is that its not designed to have a cast block up front and you get some major understeer

to he honest best combo would be an rb25 r32 as they have a much better suspension setup than the s13 (double wishbone instead of single)

i've had a sil and i loved the torque and now own a r32

the 32 handles way better and just feels more solid on the road

it just feels more confident at high speeds and in corners

but i miss the torque

[rev210]

Thats a matter of opinion. I can get an R1 for under $10,000. I think that is performance. I can also get a heap of older cars with big engines that offer awesome straight line performance.

R1's a bike isn't it?

You can get a $10k straight line older car. And like I said, if the money is tight then you will be selling the same car in a broken state not long after buying it once you start using the 'go' often.

[some_cs_student]

As above, if your very young, and don't have a full-time job that pays decently, I'd be avoiding a sports car.

What are you aiming for? Straight line, buy a VL turbo!

Corners? There's plenty of choice but going fast around corners costs more $$$.

I think you need a goal first, do you want a car that looks fast? That you can afford to take to the track?

To the drag strip?

A dyno queen (not at 10K anyway ).

Or do you want to spent 10K, get a decent Skyline, not have enough $$$ to maintain it, and sell it in a years time?

Cash flow is as important as purchase price...