Been thinking about buying something other than the boring old shit I seem to drive about in these past few years (other than the Cossie which is in mid-build!! ) and basically want something fast and reasonably cheap.

Also want something you don't see about that often too.

The other day I remembered I used to like the Sunny/Pulsar GTI-R's. I had a look on pistonheads and they don't seem to be going for stupid money.

Anyone on here had any experience with them?

Was thinking about getting a Mondeo ST220 but although I do really like them, I fancy something a bit more fun!!

 

Been looking into these myself recently. Seem to get good feedback from people about them, although they're meant to be unreliable. Mind you everyone has their own idea about what unreliable is I suppose? Like anything else if they're well maintained they'll never break down. I think they were well ahead of their time for an early 90's motor. Have a look on here if you haven't already mate

http://www.gtiroc.com/forums/forumdi...-R-s-For-Sale&

 

Just registered on there!!

Just thought I'd look at these as I don't seem to see many around.

Loads of folk say cossies are unreliable too but in my experience, if they're looked after and not pissed about with too much, they're very reliable!!

 

i have 1 good fun they are like every other turbo car it how you drive and look after them regular services help

 

Just buy one you pansie...

 

a friend had one and it was a little rocketship off the line - until the gearbox broke

 

known for bad brakes and weak gearbox's and need to be kept serviced or the bottom ends can let go due to oil clogs. There good cars and are true pocket rockets, comfortable and handle. Just dont do any hard launches or go over 1 bar on a standard car or the pistons will melt. Plus make sure its got a front mount and got rid of the interheater that sits on top. they arent undersealed either as the mainly imports so worth doing too

 

odd cars these tbh.i had one for a while. mine was a pulsar. awesome car but can be fragile. prone for gearboxes,pedalboxes,bottomends.oddly strong turbos for such a small one
mine was 290bhp so nothing mega silly,launched it loads and it was easily the fastest off the line of any car i had but lost its legs in 3rd etc,as with all these evos,scoobys,pulsars they were rallying cars for the road so are great out of the corners but didnt have the gearing and pull of the cossie from 3rd upward.

handling if set up right is awesome!!! mine had tein suspension all round and strut braced rear and the whiteline arb kit with lightweight sparco race alloys and it was the best car for handling ive owned too.gave massive confidence tbh.plus mine had stronger diffs in it too
interiors are bland but comfy and inoffensive(typical jap) but built well and everything worked.
brakes on mine were pretty good tbh but they were upgraded all round

an ugly car but looks aggressive and i like them.but wouldnt own another myself.

owned mine a long time ago now

 

You could always do what i have done. See below.

 

I wouldnt trust they have been looked after properly at the prices they now.

They were no worse than a cossie for reliability when I had one a few years ago.

 

Awesome cars i had a h plate in skyline purple and loved every minute in it but fuel bill killed me, but make sure of a good history and get a good front mount for it as the standard intercoolers are POO

 

My mate has got one for sale really tidy little thing low mies, new big wheels, massive front mount intercooler, 340 bhp, had a recon gearbox and transfer box fitted a couple of thousand miles ago, regulary serviced and all brakes just been done He's on here too his name is 'big hyndy' if your interested give him a mail sure he'd be more than happy to sen you pictures etc.

 

Gearbox failures are a real pain, but its more or less the only downside to them really.

The way they hook up and fuck off from a standing start is mental, they seems to grip for that first 20mph in a way that other 4wd cars just dont seem to, its SO addictive launching them (probably why so many gearboxes fail, lol)

 

P.S I did a head gasket on one a few months back and forgot what a twat they were to work on

 

Yeah its all about "compact" in there.

There was one sensor when I helped my mate with his engine rebuild that looked a total cunt, was round the back of the block, cant remember what it was now, but I can remember thinking that if you had to change just that sensor, it looked like a total nightmare of a job.

 

Cheers for the info people!

Won't be looking at anything until next year as I've got to save up some money to buy one in the first place (cossie's eating my money!).

It seems that anything made by Nissan is a total bastard to work on!

Worked on my mates R32 Skyline GTR a few times and I can't think of any job that's pleasurable to do on that fucker!!!

 

Don't you start!!!

 

I went in one a few years ago, though didn't drive it. I like it, felt very much like a hot hatch in many ways, just with a lot more grip.

I'd have one I think. What sort of money do they go for these days?

 

couple of grand for a tatty one, can actually spend several times that on a really good example though

 

I think the only thing putting me off, is that you could easily buy a Scooby for the same money. Obviously they're pretty similar, but I think I possibly prefer the Impreza, and parts might be a bit more common?

 

Very true, I think it would just be the novalty of owning one.

Purely on the fact that you don't see many on the road compared to Scoob's.

I'd say Scoob's would be more reliable, but I guess it all depends on whether they've been looked after or not.

Ben.

 

If offered one to drive and someone else was maintaining it I would take the pulsar over the scooby, but for gearbox reasons if I was buying one I would prefer the scooby, especially with the later 6 speed swap being straightforward too.

 

as been stated gearbox is a right fecker in these and what chip says about them being launched hard is probably a big cause of them failing, i should imagine there is some form of uprated gearbox available??

 

The gearboxes are very heavy and are bastards to do too. lol

 

out of the imports they are the cheapest to insure too, imprezas and evos are stoopid money now and gt4's are unispiring to drive

 

mine was fast for what it was good engine & box had uprated clutch such a shame the rest of the car was a flimsy piece of shit, felt like doors were goin to undo above 100 lol

 

Yeah it's a cunt of a job with the Y bracket still in place round the back! It was Big Al's pulsar as it goes.....though he's sold it today and is getting a Stagea now

 

Have a look here when you want one.
http://gti-r-us.co.uk/

My sig shows how fast they can be with abit of weight reduction.

 

Hmm............ Confused as to what to buy now!!

I wouldn't mind a blob eye scooby WRX STI but I wouldn't mind a Pulsar as they're a little more uncommon when compared to the scooby.

I've never really launched any of my cars hard from a standing start tbh so hopefully the gearbox wouldn't be an issue!

 

I had one a few years ago mate was a great car never had a bit of bother with and was driven very hard.Got it totally standard in 2007 fresh import.
only mods i done were whiteline springs induction kit, full fujitubu gieken stainless with de cat and consistently rolling roaded at around the 250bhp mark.

 

You don't know what you're missing then.

 

iv got one and its the fastest car i have had evan though its only about 330 bhp i have got 50 shot of nitrous to help it down the 1/4 mile at the top end

 

nearly bought one last year, chocolate gearbox put me off

 

Buy my Pulsar 340bhp more bits than i could list, reciepts for a new gearbox transfer box and clutch 3k ago, 62k on clocks and mot's to back this up. i was gonna keep this for a track day toy but im needing a kitchen to finish my house so i can punt the house and then buy more toys!

The car was serviced last week every oil in the car was changed, oils alone costing over £200

will come with a years ticket £2250

Or £2400 with 6 months tax






Ps. The photo is only to give you a rough idea what it looks like, it was laid up in the garage for weeks collecting dust. I can hook you up with pics for the weekend if your interested

 

Going through experience a Pulsars standard box only shit it if they arent driven correctly i.e doing full blown launchs at 6k and dumping the clutch, trust me they outrageously fast and will wheelspin for fun the first few times you do them but it wont last. they need to be fed throttle in as you ease the clutch out in accordance to how the launch is going to get the safest launch and as long as it has a good clutch its shouldnt be an issue.

Service it regularly and dont drive it like complete bellend and it wont give you grief! they are also good for between 350-380bhp on a standard box

 

so you want £150 for 6 months tax?

 

Do you know how much it is for 6mths tax like?
my mk2 FRS is 140 odd quid and im sure we could give or take a few quid!

CheeRS for the positive post though

 

had one in 2003/04 was a awesome car heated seats, aircon leccy folding mirrors etc was rapid and never missed abeat and i gave it some serious stick sideways everywhere and alot of hard launches.
i would have another right now much better than any scooby i have driven and alot more rare these days

my one

 

an old battered pulsar is £118 for 6 months tax.

new cars cant be compared as you get anally raped on CO2 levels

 

will come with a years ticket £2250

Or £2368 with 6 months tax

For those that know about anally raping???