1993 Japanese Sports Cars
- Thread starter MadMardigan
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Plus the:
Subaru WRX STI
Mazda Miata
Mitsubishi 3000GT
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
Nissan 300ZX
And some faster versions of the above. And later the S2000.
5 or so Japanese companies were making cool sports cars when I was a kid, usually more than one each.
Now I could afford something like that if salaries had kept up with car prices, but fleet fuel economy averages, bullshit safety regulations, and salary stagnation vs rising inflation has raised the cost and killed the demand and options for sports cars.
The only current production Japanese sports cars left are a rebadged BMW(Supra mk5), a Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 that's slower than a 20 year old Honda Civic Si, and a stupidly overpriced Nissan from a company which now has horrible reliability.
Subaru WRX STI
Mazda Miata
Mitsubishi 3000GT
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
Nissan 300ZX
And some faster versions of the above. And later the S2000.
5 or so Japanese companies were making cool sports cars when I was a kid, usually more than one each.
Now I could afford something like that if salaries had kept up with car prices, but fleet fuel economy averages, bullshit safety regulations, and salary stagnation vs rising inflation has raised the cost and killed the demand and options for sports cars.
The only current production Japanese sports cars left are a rebadged BMW(Supra mk5), a Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 that's slower than a 20 year old Honda Civic Si, and a stupidly overpriced Nissan from a company which now has horrible reliability.
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OP
I was 13 in 1993, and they really did have some great looking cars at the time. Might have been the peak of imports at the time.
Those 2 valve air cooled ducati motors are my favorites.
Went down with the wife to get her Rav4 serviced a couple weeks ago, and they had an awesome older Supra sitting in showroom. Not FS, just display.
Sparks Toyota in MB/Conway on 501.
Sparks Toyota in MB/Conway on 501.
That's where Dad always bought his Toyotas. Used to be Folger's I think.
What a difference a few years make!
This was my ‘91 Supra. I loved that car, it was perfect! The body style changed in late ‘93 but, I think the ‘86-‘92 body style was Peak Supra : )
I had a 1993 240sx. I used to do swaps on 240s and flip them while going through school. I used the profits to build my personal 240. Did the first RB26DETT (out of a R32 GTR) on this side of the pond back in 2003. I wanted to keep the twin turbos but the rear turbo hit the steering shaft. Had a bunch of stipped Silvia front clips laying around from doing the SR swaps so I cut an welded in the entire firewall and converted the car to RHD so that the twins would clear. Transmission was an RB25 rwd with a custom RB25 oilpan since the RB26 AWD trans has an integrated oilpan. I had it completely stripped out, weighing 2380lbs. Upgraded to HKS 2530s and an Apexi Power FC standalone. Put down 580whp. Never came across anything on the street that could beat it at the time. It was a high 9s street car, which was quite uncommon 20years ago.
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Exactly what I thought.
1993 Nissan 300ZX. Had the NA (non turbo) version in white like this. Absolutely beautiful and a real pleasure to drive fast. I remember a Car and Driver article saying when they drove it they "saw God" lol.
I may be biased but IMO it's also the best looking car in stock form of any in this thread. By far.
I may be biased but IMO it's also the best looking car in stock form of any in this thread. By far.
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BigWaylon
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I had a ‘90 2+2 w/ T-tops. Cherry (dark) red with black leather. Factory chromed wheels. Fantastic driving car.
Mine had the glass t tops. It's the only one I could fit in, headroom wise. My head was practically touching the glass, and boy did I know it when I hit a good bump.
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"Helllooo ladies...!" 😃
The Z32 (91-98?) is one of the best looking bodies ever, in my opinion.
BUT
Is it the best in this thread or for 93? Nah. Im going to go MR2 or FD
When I bought my first MR2 it was between that (red turbo, black leather) or a NA Z32 - black with tan/brown cloth.
I LOVE the way a Z32 looks, but the turbo won me over, even though I had been pining for a Z since the first day I ever drove (first night with a license I was let loose in a Z31 turbo).
BUT
Is it the best in this thread or for 93? Nah. Im going to go MR2 or FD
When I bought my first MR2 it was between that (red turbo, black leather) or a NA Z32 - black with tan/brown cloth.
I LOVE the way a Z32 looks, but the turbo won me over, even though I had been pining for a Z since the first day I ever drove (first night with a license I was let loose in a Z31 turbo).
1990 GTR & 2017 GTR
When I did my RB26 swap in the 240, we could not yet import the R32 GTR hence the swap. A friend and I tried to smuggle in one S13 Silvia and one R32 GTR but customs happened to flag that container, and crushed the cars losing all our money.
When the R32 became legal for import after 25yrs, my brother got himself this nice gunmetal grey 1990 R32 GTR. He has his relatively stock right now at about 400hp. I have moved on to R35 GTRs so we took a picture of the two GTRs, his 1990 and my 2017. Last year I traded in the 2017 for a rare (one of 26 made) 2020 GTRs (white again) that comes factory with the Nismo engine and turbos off the GT3 race car. I've been modifying it over the past year and its now at 850hp. I've always loved the R32 GTR though. It has an evergreen styling that will always look good. I'll get one for fun eventually.
When I did my RB26 swap in the 240, we could not yet import the R32 GTR hence the swap. A friend and I tried to smuggle in one S13 Silvia and one R32 GTR but customs happened to flag that container, and crushed the cars losing all our money.
When the R32 became legal for import after 25yrs, my brother got himself this nice gunmetal grey 1990 R32 GTR. He has his relatively stock right now at about 400hp. I have moved on to R35 GTRs so we took a picture of the two GTRs, his 1990 and my 2017. Last year I traded in the 2017 for a rare (one of 26 made) 2020 GTRs (white again) that comes factory with the Nismo engine and turbos off the GT3 race car. I've been modifying it over the past year and its now at 850hp. I've always loved the R32 GTR though. It has an evergreen styling that will always look good. I'll get one for fun eventually.
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BigWaylon
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Mine had the glass ones as well. Little covers that you could attach to block the sun.
Did some have a different kind?