> I'm in the process of buying a new (used) car because my current one is trash. I've got a maximum of US$5000 to spend, and I'm looking into getting something fairly sporty (which tends to limit my options to 80s Asian cars). Right now I'm heavily considering the Nissan 300ZX in the 85-89 range... anyone have any thoughts?
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> I'm not a huge car guy myself (pretty clueless) but am slowly learning, so if anyone responds using a bunch of acronyms, be kind and spell them out :)
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> Stephen

Which part of the country are you in? Would you be OK with a 2 seater? If so, look into a 1988-1991 Honda CRX Si. They've got some of the best handling out there (I routinely irritate a guy in my neighborhood who drives a porsche because I can go through the twisties faster, and I don't even have the more powerful Si), an engine which is very receptive to modifications (As in, you can easilly get 200hp out of a 2,200 pound car - -translation, QUICK!), they have a TON of room inside -- - I can get two jumbo karate bags, a euphonium (half sized tuba), 2 suitcases, a camping backpack, an ice chest, and still have room left over, and that's without putting anything in the passenger seat. The Si's also have a sunroof. The 1988 version of the car is the most sporty- - - it has passive rear steering which results in a more responsive car, but some people feel it's too twitchy (mine's an 88 and I love the handling, so this is personal opinion). The 1989-1991 cars got a 3hp increase in the engine (from 105 to 108). The most sought after cars are the 1988-1990 yellow Si's and the 1991 Tahitian Green Si's (the TG cars are rare and hard to find nowadays). You can easilly pick one up in mint condition for $5000 or less.

Other cars to look at: 1989-1991 Civic Si - - -basically the CRX with a back seat and greater weight, so the handling is a bit more sloppy and it's slower.

1991-1996 Honda Prelude- - - one HECK of a quick car, especially if you get the VTEC version.

80's & early 90's Nissan Sentra SE-R. It looks slow. It looks like an econobox. It's one fast mother of a car. The ultimate sleeper car.

Nissan Maxima. Again, a slow looking car, but it's quick, and there are LOTS of mods out there from Stillen Motorsport to make it quicker yet. Bill Cosby drives an Infiniti Q45 modified by Stillen, and the Q45 is the luxo version of the Maxima.

An early Mazda Miata would be fun too - -convertible, 2 seat, the only car out there in the same class as a CRX that can actually challenge the CRX on the autocross circuit. And it's rear wheel drive, which makes it faster off the line than a front-drive car.

I'd avoid the 300ZX frankly. It's a great car, but the insurance companies know that and set their rates accordingly. Plus, if you want it to be quick you need the turbo version of the car, and used turbo cars are often a mechanical nightmare because the previous owner, as often as not, had no clue how to take care of a turbo and has screwed it up.



Of all these cars, my preference is the CRX Si. Drive one and I think you'll see what I mean ;)