That Suzuki Alto RS-X that took forever to get ready...

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
07/25/2017 at 05:41 • Filed to: None

It’s almost there :)

I still can’t drive it at full speed, as it needs a new timing belt and a new water pump, but these will be changed before the car ships out! It might end up in Atlanta area in a couple months :)

But to give you an idea, 550cc turbocharged engine, 5 speed, 9500rpm redline, fuel cutoff around 10500rpm... This thing is FAST. It was actually the faster keicar ever produced for a very long time. An absolute blast!

DISCUSSION (31)

Fl1ngstam > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 06:17

I love these cars. What’s it like on the expressway? Every time I imagine myself in a silly turbo kei car, I wonder how fast/stable they are at higher speeds.

Flavien Vidal > Fl1ngstam
07/25/2017 at 06:22

This one isn’t your random keicar... It’s much much faster... It will cruise at 70mph easily :)

Stable at speeds too but obviously don’t expect it to be like a 5-series... It’s still twitchier than normal cars, unlike regular keicars which have a steering stupid slow to make it stable on the freeway...

It will be sold for $5700 landed. Sadly, unlike other cars I sell, not a lot of room for negociation on this one. I sell it for a friend, through my work, but it’s not of the cars I’ve bought with Amagasaki Motor (my work)

Fl1ngstam > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 06:31

70mph is cool and all, but what about higher speeds? I mean, if I accidentally find myself on an autobahn and wish to cruise at 150km/h...

Fl1ngstam > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 06:34

btw, I’m currently daydreaming about the possibility of an opportunity to return for a stint working in Japan next year. Of course, the first thing I do in these circumstances is to investigate what car I’m going to HAVE TO buy qwhen I get there... Fun!

Flavien Vidal > Fl1ngstam
07/25/2017 at 06:35

You’d need to get a delimited ECU, all keicars are electronically limited to 140kph :)

It’s clearly not a car made for top speeds... It’s a bit like wondering why a group B really car can’t go over 180kph in spite of producing 600+HP....

Flavien Vidal > Fl1ngstam
07/25/2017 at 06:37

Where would you go??

random001 > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 06:41

Flavien, this thing is completely bonkers, and amazing.

Flavien Vidal > random001
07/25/2017 at 06:44

It is awesome! One of those greatest FWD ever produced :)

Fl1ngstam > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 06:45

My company’s HQ is in Atsugi-shi, Kanagawa-ken. About an hour by local express to central Tokyo. I worked out there for 2 years from 2002-2004, and bought a car which I shipped back to the UK. IF I go back, and IF I’m there long enough to justify purchasing a car, I’ll probably get something a bit more ridiculous. This car certainly fits the description. ;)

Fl1ngstam > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 06:46

I thought there would be a restriction of some kind. I may have accidentally hit a 180km/h speed limiter in another JDM vehicle...

random001 > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 07:03

I may have to go full on RHD some day in my life. My right shoulder is going to give up at some point, so the obvious answer is to switch rather than go automatic, right?

Cé hé sin > Fl1ngstam
07/25/2017 at 07:45

Indeed, and the speedos always stop at 180 as well just to make the point. I brought my FTO to an autobahn (sorry, an Autobahn...) years ago and it proved a bit of a nuisance as everybody in his diesel Golf was trundling past me!

Flavien Vidal > random001
07/25/2017 at 08:15

Obviously, it’s your only solution...

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 09:11

You are a true Jaloppo, Senna bless you.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > random001
07/25/2017 at 09:17

thats sound logic

Fl1ngstam > Cé hé sin
07/25/2017 at 09:20

I had a speedo converter fitted, so my car’s would read to 180mph!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 09:25

Hnnnnnnng

benjrblant > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 10:28

HNNNNNG!

Gib? Plz?

Ilike_cougars > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 14:39

Man I would love to have one of these in the US.. I learnt to drive in one of these.. although it was bone stock with a 800cc engine and 36hp.. (all that I needed at the time) Some of those controls look so welcoming and familiar..

Flavien Vidal > Ilike_cougars
07/25/2017 at 18:55

These are export regular versions... This one has to fit the keijidosha law of the time and therefore the engine is 550cc. It is making over 60hp though and the car is 100% stock...

Flavien Vidal > benjrblant
07/25/2017 at 18:57

I can trade it againt money :)

benjrblant > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 20:18

Tell that to the better half. See how she takes it.

Flavien Vidal > benjrblant
07/25/2017 at 20:25

Trade her for money, then trade money for Alto RS-X... Problem solved!

benjrblant > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 20:26

Gasp!

By the way, ever come across any JDM land cruiser stuff?

Flavien Vidal > benjrblant
07/25/2017 at 20:31

Almost bought a BJ80, manual turbo diesel a while back, but I ended up skipping on it... So yeah, I do, from time to time...

benjrblant > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 20:37

BJ80? I thought Japan only got the HDJ80. The more you know.

I might be interested if you come across any parts or such. I know a few locals here that might as well.

Flavien Vidal > benjrblant
07/25/2017 at 20:41

What is the difference? I’ve always called them BJ80, because they look like one lol... Maybe they’re not... Let’s just say “J80" then :)

And I don’t really do parts... it’s very time consuming.

benjrblant > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 20:47

Noted. I see how margin in parts could be quite slim and time consuming.

So the “J” is the model which stands for Land Cruiser, 80 is the series or generation, and the letters before the J indicate the engine. FJ80 got the 3FE engine, FZJ80 got the 1FZ-FE, HDJ80 got the 1HD-FT inline 6 turbo diesel. B would indicate the B series diesel which was a 4 cylinder, common in the 40 and 70 series as well as the Prado.

benjrblant > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 20:48

So when all the nerds meet up and say “Oh, Sweet HDJ80, Did you see that BJ73 over there?” they all know exactly what it is!

Flavien Vidal > benjrblant
07/25/2017 at 20:57

Ok ok ok, got it... Always called them BJ, most likely because it’s funny :)

benjrblant > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2017 at 20:58

I snickered for a while. Sometimes I still do.