1988 Mazda 626 GT Turbo 4WS

"Party-vi" (party-vi) 01/20/2014 at 09:05 • Filed to: None

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We should talk about this. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with about 115,000 miles.

Why should we talk about this? Because it has a manual transmission and the coolest buttons ever found in an old Mazda.

Yep. Automatic-adjusting suspension in a Mazda 626. This 1988 model also had four-wheel steering and that turbo engine made 145hp and 190lb-ft of torque .

707Miata > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 10:54

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Talk about sleeper! It's probably ridiculously light too. :D

Dolemite > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:09

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Seems a bit pricey for a 1988 car. I could see it for maybe 2-3k.

nataku83 > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:09

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Don't forget the oscillating center vents.

Chairman Kaga > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:10

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Don't forget oscillating AC vents in the center stack.

DailyTurismo > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:13

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To get to comment on this post, I feel like I just watched Inception.

Level 1: On the front pag e Matt Shared a post by Raph.

Level 2: Somewhere there is a Found on CL tag with introduction by Raph of Raph ...

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Level 3: Original oppo post by Party-VI .

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Level 4: Not clicking on the CL ad because once you go that deep I'm not sure it is possible to ever get back to level one.

Am I dreaming? Or is the new kinjatroductions confusing?

Kate's Dirty Sister > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:13

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1990 Passat Synchro Turbo wagon is more interesting.

Raphael Orlove > 707Miata 01/20/2014 at 12:13

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I'm having trouble finding the listed weight, but this reasonably reliable source puts it at 2641 lbs.

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1988/16375…

Party-vi > Kate's Dirty Sister 01/20/2014 at 12:17

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But can I buy it from a shady dealer in DC for $5K?

Party-vi > DailyTurismo 01/20/2014 at 12:19

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How did this happen I don't even underst.....

Party-vi > nataku83 01/20/2014 at 12:19

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Very cool.

Compasteedee > Chairman Kaga 01/20/2014 at 12:20

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Indeed! Important feature. My wife's car is a 1998 that is, admittedly, less cool than this but it does have the oscillating center vents. When she bought it from her grandmother (an indication of just how cool off a car it really is) she told her this was the best feature. It is. Like I said, this is much cooler than a '98 626...

Hoccy > Kate's Dirty Sister 01/20/2014 at 12:20

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Not a turbo, but a G-Lader (G60). Very cool though, and some of them have been converted to turbos as well.

inefficient > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:20

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I'd be all over this if it were closer.

I really miss my 626.

Party-vi > Dolemite 01/20/2014 at 12:21

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It does have quite few miles for a 1988 car as well. I'd put the $5k price tag because of the "low miles" and Turbo-Factor, a well-known Craiglist phenomenon that dictates "any time a car says 'turbo' you can increase the asking price".

Kate's Dirty Sister > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:22

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Whoever owns a car like this is a shady individual for sure !

DailyTurismo > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:22

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Party-vi > DailyTurismo 01/20/2014 at 12:23

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I chuckled at this.

alan > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:23

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when people say japanese cars are better than american cars, its these cars from the 80s and early 90s is what i think about to agree with them. not a 2014 camry or a 2014 corolla. these japanese cars from the 80s had so much interesting stuff in them its amazing. a touch screen is not as amazing as turbo engines, adjustable suspension, and 4ws. not many car companies have those today

Iamopenlyjudgingyou > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:24

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The numbers for that engine are considered conservative. As for the weight, yup. Very light and a decent amount of room. Would I pay 5 for it? Nope. However, I do like these cars.

Kate's Dirty Sister > Hoccy 01/20/2014 at 12:24

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Thanks for the precision

fintail > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:29

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Cool car, these fastbacks are becoming uncommon. I've only seen turbo on 2 door 626 - is this stock? And 4WS? I've only seen that on same era Prelude. Does this car have it? Ad doesn't mention it (unless my reading abilities fail).

Maxaxle > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:31

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Is this what I think it is?

Party-vi > fintail 01/20/2014 at 12:33

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Yep. In 1988 Mazda released 4WS on the 626 hatchback, and this is a GT Turbo model. The ad doesn't mention the 4WS because the seller probably doesn't know, or it's been disabled (common as parts would fail and no one was willing to fix them).

mcjin1 > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:35

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I had one of these! It was my first car - love it! The faster you went, the more stable it felt! Lost the car to someone coming out of a parking lot and ramming into the B-pillar, but amazingly the car still drove afterwards! I sorely miss the car and no one makes a car like this nowadays!

Booligan > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:36

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I think my 1990 (pretty sure it was a '90) cost me $1100. Lower miles, turbo, but it was a few years after they discontinued the 4WS. The car was an absolute blast to drive though. Decent manual transmission, plenty of pep from the turbo 4, hilariously awful motorized seatbelts, electrically oscillating center vents, and a power sunroof. Very awesome little hatch.

Party-vi > Maxaxle 01/20/2014 at 12:37

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A vent control slide? Probs. But I was told that this model had an oscillating vent in the center stack.

Party-vi > Booligan 01/20/2014 at 12:38

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That is quite a cool car.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:40

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If this were $1000 less I'd consider checking it out. I still can't justify spending nice Supra turbo money, 80s muscle car money, or nice E36 328is money on an 80s Camry competitor. Still a very cool car and a great conversation starter all the same.

Iamopenlyjudgingyou > Iamopenlyjudgingyou 01/20/2014 at 12:41

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after looking at the ad, seeing the dent, rust and mixture issue I'd offer 2 grand. 2500 tops.

Party-vi > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/20/2014 at 12:46

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"80s muscle car"

LULZ YA KILLIN' ME JayZAyEighty!

I get the feeling this is more suited to someone that like quirky cars.

ArlingtonMazda > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:47

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They just don't make them like they used too. Its very true these options on an old Mazda were truly pioneering engineering in the industry. However it was to costly for repairs. Our current mazda6 doesn't have the functions, because customers will buy a Porsche if they really want a car with adjustable suspension and rear wheel steering.

Bueller > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:48

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I'll just leave this here...

rosslitman > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:53

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A friend in college had a '96 626 with this function. This whole time I thought that when you pushed it, it would gather everyone in the neighborhood together for a wife-swapping party in the back seat. Damn was I wrong.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:54

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Haha I read that upon posting the comment and thought, "Did I really just type that?" Anyways, it's still an incredibly neat car—that's what I meant by conversation starter. Who knows? One day this could even be considerably collectible. You don't see normal 626s of this generation regularly, let alone this crazy and innovative one.

Desu-San-Desu > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:54

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That's getting awfully close to used 3000GT VR4 money, man.

CP.

kis_ev > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 12:55

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My first car was 1989 Mazda 626 non-turbo 5-speed. I always dreamed about dropping a turbo in, but never got around to it. I started modifying the suspension with the GT and 3rd gen components. We donated the car in 2005, but ran like a champ. Didn't have much horsepower, but the torque and the taller gearing helped.

Party-vi > Bueller 01/20/2014 at 12:55

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Hatchback? Check (fuck-you Audi it's not a damn coupe!)

4WS? No check

Manual trans? No check

Adjustable suspension? No check

Seems to fall a bit short :P

Party-vi > rosslitman 01/20/2014 at 12:56

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lulz

Party-vi > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/20/2014 at 12:59

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A small part of me wants to find a nice 929 and buy it, because it's a really nice car with RWD surprisingly.

Party-vi > Desu-San-Desu 01/20/2014 at 13:01

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I've never had much love for the 3000GT, probably because of all the bastardized examples I've seen driving around here.

and001 > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 13:02

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Granpa?

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 13:02

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Same here. Those J-series V6s were brilliant, and mated to a 5 speed manual sending power to the rear wheels makes the 929 a really cool car. Besides that, there's the fact that the 929 is the closest Mazda came to the Amati brand; it's kind of like how the Cressida is the precursor to the LS400 (even though the Amati brand never took shape) making it all the cooler.

Desu-San-Desu > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 13:04

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The 3000GT was incredibly underappreciated down this way, so most of the versions I've seen are very stock. However, finding the VR4 version is incredibly hard.

osunick > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 13:04

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Let's not forget the oscillating vents. Genius idea that hasn't been repeated, even in Mazda's own products.

Party-vi > osunick 01/20/2014 at 13:05

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Not going to lie; seeing oscillating vents in a car today would have me drown it in holy water and set it on fire.

Party-vi > Desu-San-Desu 01/20/2014 at 13:06

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I recall one owned by a young-ish gas station attendant while I was in college. I was in awe when I saw the VR4 badging, but that's been the only time.

dogisbadob > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 13:10

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I like how new sedans have the same hatchback shape, short trunk thing yet have no liftback or rear wiper. WTF?

All that 626 needs is a sunroof and it becomes the most awesome family sedan ever.

dogisbadob > Kate's Dirty Sister 01/20/2014 at 13:11

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Yeah but VW sucks in terms of reliability though.

cyanmauve > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 13:12

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Huh...

Just bought a 1989 Ford Probe that was the two door version of this car. Same woefully underrated 2.2L turbo engine, same adjustable shocks, minus the four wheel steering.

The 626, Probe, and MX-6 were all built on the same platform and were essentially the same car with different sheet metal. They really are fun cars - relatively light and small, and easily modifiable. There is still an active Probe community on the internet, and basically anything there applies to the 626 as well.

The Probe is great - got it for ~2500 with about 115K miles and great bodywork.

cyanmauve > cyanmauve 01/20/2014 at 13:14

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Forgot to mention - the Probe (and I expect the 626) had an optional trip computer with seperate display built in - great for fuel economy, time til empty, time til destination, etc.

Kate's Dirty Sister > dogisbadob 01/20/2014 at 13:14

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At least they don't disintegrate from rust issues.

This is a 2006 Msp6 sub frame :

dogisbadob > Kate's Dirty Sister 01/20/2014 at 13:16

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what, they get nibbled? :p

Turbo-Brick > Desu-San-Desu 01/20/2014 at 13:19

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Sold my VR-4 last winter to a guy who worked at the dealership where I bought my STI.

I still miss it...........and should have asked for more.

.....but yes, most of the other 3000GT's I saw/see driving around were the non-turbo versions, and even those were fairly unusual.

fintail > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 13:44

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Interesting to know. I remember a friend of mine in high school (mid 90s) had an 88 626 sedan, and it had the same wheels as this car - they were even body color (white). I wonder if it was a turbo too - I have no other memory of the car.

HJTravels > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 14:23

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I thought they only came in white?

Party-vi > HJTravels 01/20/2014 at 14:24

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I suppose not.

axiomatik > Kate's Dirty Sister 01/20/2014 at 14:29

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uhh, no it isn't. I just reverse image searched that pic, and it was posted as a picture of a 1974 "something". The poster didn't say what it was, just that it was a pic of the '1974'.

Kate's Dirty Sister > axiomatik 01/20/2014 at 14:42

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Go see by yourself

http://forum.mazda6club.com/mazdaspeed6/23…

Sixtimestodaysofar > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 15:01

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Five grand?

I bought one for my wife, identical to the one pictured, including color and interior, brand new.

I won't tell you how many times it went in for brake service. Otherwise a nice lady car.

axiomatik > Kate's Dirty Sister 01/20/2014 at 15:15

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Yes, I did see for myself. That was the exact thread I was talking about. There are three pictures of the Mazda6 subframe in the first post, and then the OP later posts the picture you uploaded and says "Now the 1974's jack points are allowed to look like this ;-):"

That picture is obviously of another vehicle from 1974.

Jonathan Hill > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 15:19

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Once the front end quits dancing about under more than 1/2 throttle its WAY faster than it has any right to be....torque steer is VICIOUS!! Make a right from a dead stop and give it more than a 1/3 throttle in 1st and you'll think the car is on fire until you lift......stupid fun though!!!

chuckjaeger > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 15:34

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I remember going with my parents to pick up a brand new 626 2.o litre non-turbo estate back in 1988. Many happy memories in that car, almost as many as I had in the old 929 we had a few years before.

ranwhenparked > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 16:04

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Yep, this was the era when Japanese automakers were all about embracing technology and trying new ideas for the sake of trying new ideas, not because the market dictated it. This was also when they didn't feel the need to completely water down all their most interesting stuff for the American market.

HB > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 17:28

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I bought an '86 626GT 5 speed 4 door new. Put 190,000 miles on it. Routinely got 35 Miles Per gallon. It was a turbo- 2.0 liter. Mazda replaced an ignition switch at 75,000 miles free!

I did Oil change every 2500 miles Castrol 20-50 . 1 timing belt and water pump replaced.

2 Alternators were expensive as I remember. Great car The vents worked well.

stigshift > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 18:57

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I had an MX-6 GT, no 4 wheel steering but everything else. Wonderful car at 245K miles when I sold it, for a profit no less. I miss it.

Planktron > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 19:17

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Oscillating vents are the coolest thing I've ever seen.

I always wondered how those 80's adjustable suspensions worked though. I remember seeing a Supra with it and I don't know what kind of tech they used back then.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 19:31

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Are you sure that button doesn't make your wife more frisky?

dave.iuliano > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 19:48

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I had a '91 MX6 GT - 5-speed, turbo, and the adjustable suspension. It was my third from the 626 family, and I loved it. Through the Haynes manual, I learned about this one... and have always wanted one. I'd buy it now if I had the cash.

takeittothebank > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 19:53

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I'm sad I can't buy a new one of these. Didn't even know it existed until now, what a fantastic seeming car.

FlimFlamMan > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 20:47

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A friend of mine had one of these back in '89 and I remember being amazed at how quick it was.

Mariuszfc20b > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 20:49

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My first car was an 88 626 turbo and god dam what an awesome car it was!
Electric everything and the oscillating vents where fantastic!
Did the usual mods to it exhaust,T28 turbo upgrade w external gate, fuel system and fmic.. Beating GC8s almost every time put a massive smile on my face :D

William Robinson > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 20:49

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I owned an 88, 626 gt. Sedan with trunk. Mine was champagne with maroon cloth guts. My seats where not power but adjusted every possible position. Also the seat backs where different but I can't say how exactly. Mine also had a manual boost controller but with an auto meter boost gauge, mine just flat out worked well and would run off 5.0 stangs and camaros with ease which was quite a gas when coming to the next light and wounded if they would want to try again. The only complaint I had was the off the line wheel hop which felt like the dash was going to end up in pieces. Also DIGITAL DASH..

William Robinson > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 20:58

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Mine had the ossilating centre vents(it was an 88gt sedan) just push the button between the vents and voillia.

Clauss Von Sacher-Masoch > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 22:35

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Ahem.

JLsAuto > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 22:41

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Ok but does the center dash vent continuously sweep left to right to distribute air.

Will701 > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 22:50

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This was my first car! No joke! Bought it as a senior in high school in Madison, Wisconsin in 1998. Was a fantastic little car, quick, I loved driving it. Only had 80k miles on it when I sold it.

ChrisVette > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 23:17

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Don't forget the 300zx TT. It has 4ws, but nobody likes the system.

Zotz > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 23:29

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Don't knock it. Cars on the Mazda GD platform were a blast to drive. I owned the 626's domestic platform cousin, a first-year 1989 Ford Probe GT in black. With factory adjustable suspension, full turbo-back HKS exhaust, ST sway bars, and BBS RZ wheels with meaty Dunlop D40's, it was a seriously fun machine. It was also a comfortable and roomy hatchback that would swallow loads of computer gear in my earliest IT job. One of the popular car magazines once prepped a Nissan 240SX for racing after it had been condemned by regulations, but despite its great RWD chassis, they found themselves forever "behind an impossibly fast MX-6 GT". :-)

Octav Chelaru > Party-vi 01/20/2014 at 23:48

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1991 Toyota Soarer UZZ32 with Active Suspension, 4WS, LCD Touch-screen, Navi, Color rear camera and many other goodies. JDM Only. What do you think?

GMart > cyanmauve 01/20/2014 at 23:49

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Probetalk is what you use the internet fo'

EhBrah > Desu-San-Desu 01/21/2014 at 00:57

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These two aren't even similar cars by any stretch of the imagination.

CecilTurtle > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 01:16

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A 1986 Mazda 626 GT Turbo was my first car when I turned 16. I still miss it, I've even dreamed about it. At the time nobody told me how awesome a car it was... maybe nobody knew. Wasn't the 4ws version though. It was definitely quick.

John Bulzacchelli > osunick 01/21/2014 at 02:08

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Didn't Infiniti try something similar recently? I don't think the vents move, but the fan pulses on and off so that you stay comfortable or something.

http://www.southinfiniti.com/blog_infiniti_…

Taz1829 > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 02:47

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My dad went through a stage of owning these a few years ago, 7 years or something. Had a GT, standard and an auto. Only ever seen one outside the ones my dad owned, yet they are more appealing that the later models!

Desu-San-Desu > EhBrah 01/21/2014 at 06:08

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Japanese, turbo, 4WS, manual transmission, for around $5k? I'm going with the one with a rear diff, lol.

greenagain > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 09:32

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I always thought that engine was more powerful than advertised. Way back then I found that a Probe GT Turbo could walk a 5.0 Mustang with 225 hp.

Party-vi > greenagain 01/21/2014 at 09:42

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There was another commenter on here that stated the Gt Turbo was underrated when it came out. I'd believe it.

Party-vi > Octav Chelaru 01/21/2014 at 09:46

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I love it. I'd love a Cosmo even better :D

Party-vi > JLsAuto 01/21/2014 at 09:48

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Yep. It's pretty awesome.

Party-vi > Clauss Von Sacher-Masoch 01/21/2014 at 09:49

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It's missing the 1980's cool factor.

Party-vi > Planktron 01/21/2014 at 09:52

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Could have been air pressure or actuators.

Planktron > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 10:03

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That's what I was kinda thinking. Maybe remote actuators on top of the struts to turn a "knob" or something.

BeetleCamry > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 12:33

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My 87 Pathfinder has this as well. Suspension modes for "comfort" and "sport".

JeffSMIF > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 18:23

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When I served in the USAF, a fellow airman had one similar to this & I thought it was so neat! Then she traded in for a 2000 Grand Am b/c it was newer. Looking back now, I'm sure that was a bad mistake since that era of Pontiac has such a great reliability record & all! Even then I thought it was a bad move on her part!

Maxaxle > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 20:14

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Hate to burst your bubble, but I was talking about the handling-modification buttons.

gruiz8 > Party-vi 01/21/2014 at 21:42

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Well the Mazda is in Baltimore not DC. Still equidistant from me though. Might have to go find it...

gruiz8 > DailyTurismo 01/21/2014 at 21:44

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Yes they are. Plus this whole being gray everywhere I go thing is annoying.

Party-vi > Maxaxle 01/22/2014 at 07:15

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Oh. Yep. Adjustable suspension.

EhBrah > Desu-San-Desu 01/22/2014 at 14:56

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Well that's easy for you when you probably really have no one else to consider (3k are basically two seaters) but yourself judging by your lack of understanding why this might be a good car for others. While I don't personally want it I certainly don't want 3K GT either, it has its own problems and serious drawbacks, I could buy either one on a whim if I really wanted one.

Desu-San-Desu > EhBrah 01/22/2014 at 16:43

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And I could afford neither. It's not a lack of understanding, it's a lack of actual potential investment. I just don't care enough to consider the issue of seating. Being single and unburdened by kids, it's not an issue for me anyway.