Used Car Face-Off: The Ultimate Japanese Supercoupes of the '90s

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 08/26/2016 at 21:05 • Filed to: Used Car Face-Off, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra Turbo, Mazda RX-7

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A few months ago !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! which, although excellent indicators of the prowess of Japanese engineering at the time that they were released, have not been quite so timeless in their consumer appeal. Today’s coupes, however, are three icons of the ‘90s which have made huge names for themselves in countless video game series and movies. Which is your favorite, though? I6 or rotary? AWD or RWD? 276 horsepower or 276 horsepower? You decide! Here are the options:

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The first of our three competitors is the venerable fourth generation Toyota Supra with its mighty 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo straight six producing 276 horsepower through a six-speed manual. This example of the A80 Supra is a JDM import and has seen several modifications which are relatively tasteful in my opinion (especially when you see some other Supras available on the market). Still, is $35K a nice price for this legend with 67K miles, or is the body kit just a bit too ricey?

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Moving back in time, this ‘93 RX-7 is propelled by Mazda’s famous (and infamous) 1.3L dual spinning triangle engine backed by twin turbos. This one has a five-speed to the Supra’s six speed with only 252 horsepower to the Supra’s 276 (wink wink). It has also been modified with several interesting changes, from tasteful ones like the wheels to awful ones like the smoked taillights. Still, is this this 10K mile example of Wankel’s legacy worth dropping $37K on?

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This Skyline, obviously another JDM import, is fully legal under the 25 year import law and seems to have been brought in by a reputed company so you don’t need to worry about this one being crushed! While it may have 276 horsepower (read: 310, with minimal tweaking) mated to its AWD 5-speed manual, is it worth the effort of overnighting parts from Japan should anything go wrong? Still, this is an excellent price for an excellent R32 and there’s no reason not to love this 44K mile Godzilla.

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My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:09

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None of the above Z Car or No car. But that's just me.

Dsscats > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:12

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Gah, at the shop I used to work for, we imported a JDM twin turbo, 6 speed Supra which was 100% stock when we got it. New owner modified the hell out of it :/

Spridget > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:13

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Those are all CPs IMO. The Skyline is way above what they’re going for, and I’d sooner buy a late ‘70's/Early’80's Celica Supra or FD RX-7 than either of those at that price. Given the choice between the three, I’d go Supra though.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:17

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Voted for the R32. I can’t wait until R33s come over, then I might really do something stupid. Really though 300zx TT plz! God my car is turning me into a Nissan fanboi isn’t it...

daender > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:17

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No R33, no vote.

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:17

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Skyline is just a track beast

Amoore100 > Spridget 08/26/2016 at 21:20

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Well if we’re talking what we’d rather buy I’d have one of these:

Of which all three are probably cheaper to buy and import. This Used Car Face-Off is simply looking at the cars which have been hailed by many as the pinnacle of Japanese automaking and so I figured I’d finally give them a look; doesn’t mean you have to choose any if you have a better idea at hand!

Amoore100 > daender 08/26/2016 at 21:23

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I prefer R33's also, but there were no nice ones available in this price bracket in ‘Murica.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:23

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The bodykit on the Supra is ugly but that’s probably easy to change and that’s basically perfect to me. Even the color. The RX7 is clean and dorito noise. and the skyline. Want.

Amoore100 > Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No 08/26/2016 at 21:23

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That’s how it became famous.

Amoore100 > Noah - Now with more boost. 08/26/2016 at 21:24

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Nothing beats a nice Cima like yours though! They’re so versatile—from elegant daily to VIP limo and everywhere in between...

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/26/2016 at 21:26

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True, the only thing about the Supra I dislike is the ‘ground-effects’ kit. The RX7 is meh, could be better if it was less blacked out, and yes, this is a gorgeous R32.

Amoore100 > Dsscats 08/26/2016 at 21:27

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Damn, tastefully at least? I hate how no one is keen on keeping things stock anymore; while I totally understand the allure of improving what you own, there’s always something nice about keeping the car the way the engineers designed it to be.

Amoore100 > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 08/26/2016 at 21:27

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http://oppositelock.kinja.com/used-car-face-…

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:34

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What do you want from me it's Friday there are thunderstorms and I'm drunk. I can't remember shit.

daender > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:41

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There shouldn’t be any available here unless they’re one of the rare MotoRex cars excused by the government. The first model year of R33s doesn’t turn 25 years-old until 2020.

Zohaibman72 > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 21:41

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I chose the R32. It’s financeable and it seems like the best option. The Supra looks beautiful but the R32 has 20k less miles, and is (in america) more rare. I have rarely ever seen any of these in Canada, R32 is the most common in canada by a longshot from my experience. I honestly am not a fan of the mods on the Rx7 and thin kit looks the worst out of the three ( don’t take that to heart, its still beautiful)

If they where all stock it’d be impossible for me to chose. I love almost all 90s japanese cars. Stock I’d maybe go with the Rx7.

RT > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 22:00

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I can’t really decide, but I’ll choose the RX-7 on this occasion since I have a soft spot for Mazdas and not enough people have voted for it yet.

As a piece of engineering though, the R32 is easily the best car here - it just isn’t the one I’d choose personally.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 22:03

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Aww thanks! She’s blushing. I really want coilovers before winter but I also want to finish my gaming PC before Oct 21 when Civ 6 and BF1 come out. First world problems lol. You’re right though... end goal:

VincentMalamute-Kim > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 22:04

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I like cars with straight lines. I prefer this generation Supra:

Invinciblejets > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 22:08

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Rx7 is best.

But 37k is too much. Unless it's bridgeported with a huge turbo or somthing.

InFierority Complex > Amoore100 08/26/2016 at 22:14

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4th option

91 Subaru alcyone svx

Just me? Okay.

Amoore100 > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 08/26/2016 at 22:35

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Haha, all is forgiven. Hope the weather clears up soon.

wafflesnfalafel > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 08/26/2016 at 23:53

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me too - the RX-7 is really cool, beautiful and fabulous to sit in, but that motor is a pain in the buttox. I’d take a z32 300zx turbo....

Amoore100 > daender 08/27/2016 at 00:10

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That’s right, for some stupid reason I got confused by this ‘ Cop Imports Skyline ’ article in which he has an R34 clip swapped onto an R32...

Amoore100 > VincentMalamute-Kim 08/27/2016 at 02:04

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Our neighbor has one of those, I hear the turbo I6 firing up every day. It seems like it’s getting on in the years but he maintains it pretty well and has a beige Camry as a backup car should the Supra’s throttle start acting finicky. I love having it in the neighborhood though, it’s such a unique 80's wedge-hatch which is sadly disappearing from the roads.

Amoore100 > RT 08/27/2016 at 02:08

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Ordinarily I would have said yes, but I’m personally afraid of the 1.3's reliability issues and don’t really like the ‘smoked’ look.

The Supra would have been great but RHD in the US when you could have stock LHD variants for 30K is a bit of a turn-off.

I guess that leaves me with the R32, then. It’s unique enough that I wouldn’t get too bothered having to explain RHD and this one is modified just to my taste. I personally think I prefer R33's though.

Many have said the R33 was the worst Skyline but what can I say? I love underdogs.

Amoore100 > Zohaibman72 08/27/2016 at 02:28

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True, the R32 is almost worth it just because of the collectibility and the knowledge that it’s probably at the bottom of its depreciation curve (at least before the R34's come; then you might get screwed over). I concur, I personally can’t stand the kits on both the RX7 and the Supra and wouldn’t be able to own either of them without some slight de-ricing.

It’s a shame that stock examples are so few and far between now. I found a few while searching but most stock Supras below 30K are non-turbos and any stock R32s are generally in ads with insufficient pictures or information. The RX-7 is nice but if I’m going unreliable I’m going all out with a Eunos Cosmo 3 rotor! ;)

Amoore100 > InFierority Complex 08/27/2016 at 02:29

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You and 27 others . Don’t worry, you’re not alone! ;)

Dsscats > Amoore100 08/27/2016 at 04:43

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Yes, very much so. Lots of suspension and chassis work

Flavien Vidal > Amoore100 08/27/2016 at 07:22

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Went with the Supra. Because comfortable, RWD and torque. Also in my market, 38k$ for a random stock FD is absolute insanity.

RT > Amoore100 08/27/2016 at 09:55

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To be honest I was just rooting for the underdog anyway. The R32 is a much better deal and a much better car, I just have a thing for rotaries.

I bet if everybody voted for the RX-7 I’d choose the R32 anyway. ;)

And from what I’ve heard, the R33 might be the fastest Skyline when tuned. It’s lighter than the R34 and has superior weight balancing to the R32. It’s also cheaper than both too.

While I’m a boring person who prefers the R32 and R34, I think the R33 is underrated far too much, and it’s probably the best option in the realistic world.

aquila121 > Amoore100 08/27/2016 at 12:14

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The empty license-plate bracket on the Mk IV Supra looks like it has a moustache. It’d be perfect for the Lyft driver who wants to give riders the Crazy Taxi experience.

Also, for the deciding factor on these three vehicles, I refer to one major element: reliability under further modification. If I were to spend 35K or more buying a wonderful example of a Japanese tuner icon car, it would not remain as-is, a pristine garage queen slightly appreciating in value over time. I’d say, “Damn that’s sweet. Now that I own something crazy and obscenely awesome, I want to go further.” I’d want to make it my own; and since that would involve more engine mods and tuning, the rotary’s out. The FD is too quirky and notorious for issues, even in stock form. The engine heats up a ton, you have that whole oil-pre-mix thing that serious Wankel-nuts go on about that I just don’t fully understand... just not for me.

Next, I’d consider the R32 Skyline. Even though I’d take it in a heartbeat over the much newer R35 (forbidden fruit factor, much more sporty curb weight, and three pedals good), I’d likely feel Nissan’s trick ATTESA all-wheel drive was doing a bunch of work for me to make me look more capable and competent than I actually am at a racetrack. And if you’re going to track one of these fantastic cars, I’d argue that with the wealth of support for modification of these platforms, it’d be tough to leave any of these three at their stock or near-stock power levels. Am I saying that I need 1,000 horsepower? Absolutely not. But if I want to bump it up (yasss) after attending more driving schools and getting more track experience (lots), then I’d be looking for reliability despite hard miles turning laps with more power on tap than these mills were engineered with from the factory. I refer to an article from car-mag staffers and the like who are infinitely more knowledgeable and experienced than I could ever hope to be (credit to MotoIQ.com and former contributor to the dearly-departed Sport Compact Car):

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/4263/PageID/10659/5-Performance-Car-Engines-That-Suck.aspx

Yeah, they’re citing some specific weaknesses of Nissan’s RB26 vs. the 2JZ in the Supra. And for equal money, similar lust factor, and a certainty that I’d say What does five hundred horsepower at the wheels feel like?, I think the Supra would hold up better. Of course, all this is moot, since I’ll never have that kind of money. And would stuff it into a tire wall. On its roof. While on fire. Screaming “That was half throttle—WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED.”

Amoore100 > aquila121 08/27/2016 at 13:32

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Haha, I love your analysis of everything and I must say it’s all completely valid. I’d personally take the R32 since I’m not a terribly good driver and in its current state is about as modified as I’d ever make it, but to someone with more skill and intent than myself the Supra would undoubtedly be a better option. And hey, we can always keep dreaming and maybe someday it’ll come true ;)

Amoore100 > RT 08/27/2016 at 13:35

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Haha, I love rotaries too but if I’m going ‘90s Mazda it’s Eunos Cosmo all the way!

I had not previously heard that the R33 has advantages in the technical field, I personally just like their pudgy, filled out appearance that makes it look like a fast koala bear. Less spare and simple than the R32 but thankfully not as square and angular as the R34.

Look at those fender flares!

RT > Amoore100 08/27/2016 at 16:16

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Yeah, I’m all for the Cosmo too (especially with the 20B engine), shame it’s an Auto-only cruiser though.

I agree with the Koala analogy, xD. Out of all the GT-Rs the R33 looks the sleekest, a good in-between.

InFierority Complex > Amoore100 08/27/2016 at 22:19

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Oops, should have read the link first. That’s what I get for trying to checking oppo during class.