This forum has been a lot of fun, but it's time to sell the Saber and go for a new (still used) car. The tranny is starting to do the stutter step (a little) but Honda Japan says there is no problem/recall. Plus it's getting expensive to maintain. Here are the choices:

1. Accord Euro-R (the TSX, but with the K20A engine. 220 ps, 6MT, Recaro sport seats)

Inside: http://www.honda.co.jp/ACCORDEURO-R/interior/index.html

Outside: http://www.honda.co.jp/ACCORDEURO-R...-lib/index.html



2. Accord Type S (TSX body, but the K24A engine, 200 ps, 5AT w/manumatic,

Inside: http://www.honda.co.jp/ACCORD/interior/index.html

Outside: http://www.honda.co.jp/ACCORD/photo-lib/index.html



3. Subaru Legacy B4 (I do not know if they sell these things in the US. 4wd, 2.0L 260ps boxer engine, 5MT or 5AT)

Pictures: http://autos.yahoo.co.jp/ucar/searc...7656001&photo=0

(just click on the small pictures for big pics).....

I appreciate any constructive comments. Thanks.

 

I voted the Leggy... isn't it call the Legacy GT Spec B here? ...anyway, AWD>FWD

 

Over here, the Legacy has a few iterations, and the wagons (which I have considered) look pretty cool. They're not the dorked out mommie cruisers. The best Subbie here is the Blitzen model, then the "tuned by STI", then the spec-B.

I know AWD vs. 4wd, and I am balancing that and the look of the Honda (which I prefer, but 65 more HP is a good argument).

I'm also looking to see if anyone can comment on the aftermarket mods on a K20 or K24 engine. What can I do with those to make them a bit more responsive, but nothing crazy. Just a few more ponies. Is this possible? I saw the K20.org site, but I did not dig deep enough.

 

i voted for the subie....where in japan are you?? i'm moving to sasebo in 2 weeks

 

Legacy

 

btw, why is it everytime we have a member here from Japan, I think of Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift?

 

I'm down in Okinawa. Being at Sasebo, you'll be able to go to a track and exploit whatever you have. The best I can do is terrorize from stoplight to stoplight, and a 1/8th mile strip up north.

No F&F here....Really

 

+1 for legacy.

 

1. Legacy
2. Accord Euro-R

I would not get the Type-S just because I wouldn't want an automatic, but thats just me. I'm jealous because Japanese Legacys have push button start.

 

Yeah, the automatic thing is OK here, as I have to do a lot of stoplight driving. But if the 6 speed is the best people have used, hmmmmmmm......

I could get a 2005/6 Blitzen....Now if the wife will loosen the purse strings a bit.

 

+1

 

One last thing.....The Accord variant here in Japan is the TSX in the US. The USDM Accord is the Inspire. If this changes your vote, so be it.

 

Subie.

 

Legacy GT and then get this.... http://www.cobbtuning.com/products/?id=2436 and call it a day

 

legacy

 

Nissan Skyline

 

LGT ftw

 

Legacy GT.



:ibsomeonesuggestsBMW3series:

 

(like Lotustracker)

 

I think he would recommend the S5

 

Well, you know what I would recommend. It's the A.................yeah, nevermind.

 

Accord EuroR FTW!!!

 

the way the poll's going it doesn't like it's going to "W"

 

It looks like the vote is going the way of the Subaru. The funny thing, the reason I asked the question in the first place was because this is a difficult choice.

I like the body and style of the Euro-R, but 220 ponies at 6000+rpm is like having a S2000 (which is a nicer ride but I have to seat 5, not 2). The Type S is OK as well. They look a bit better than the TSX (unless the TSX has had a face lift with a small ground effects kit). But the Subaru looks good as well, and has AWD and 40 more HP than the Honda.

Look at this:



Recaro buckets:






Here's the Subie:





And the interior



The Stereo is a McIntosh setup. This is a factory option here.

This is why I have asked, as this is a tough choice for me.

 

Unless someone here will foot the extra $40,000, I'll stick with my choice

Now, money is no object....Hmmmmm

 

Sick...... I don't know if it would agree with the JDM ECU, and I don't think OBD II is on any J-car (it's not on my 99 Honda).

 

Today, I'll be going to a car dealer to look at a Legacy GT spec B. If it's a good fit, I'll pass along what I like. I'm not buying from a dealer because I've got a guy who does it through Japanese auctions. I'll get it quite cheap.

Here's a link for all of the JDM lovers out there. You can look at the auctions and even price quote something shipped to the US......

http://www.japaneseusedcars.com/

 

You are in Japan, I'm sure there are more tuners than one could need over there to add some power to the Subie.

 

There are more mod shops here than Starbucks in the US. No lie. Hell, I drive 1.5 miles from my house to work, and I pass 4 of them.

It's pouring rain here. I'll go look at the GT sometime during the next few days....

 

No I'm not doing this just to keep this thread alive. There's no sense in having a poll and not discussing the result.

I have decided to go with the Legacy GT. I may go spec B, but this hinges on how much money I want to spend. A 2006 spec B is in the $18 - 28K range. I really want to spend between $15 to 18K.

With road tax season ($150 / year per vehicle) and my JCI (Japanese Compulsory Inspection, or Shaken is the biannual tax on the car engine displacement/car weight/road worthiness) coming up on my cars, I am waiting for this to be done. It makes it a lot easier for me to sell a car if these are current (I can't keep the Saber and the Subbie, long story). On a new vehicle, you get a 3 year JCI. After that, most people get rid of their vehicle once it's 5 years old, with low Km's to boot. I digress.

I might go for the wagon, vice the sedan. The wagon only gains 20 Kg on the sedan, has more roof line for down force (I don't think it's a big deal, but a point none the less), and if everything is the same (options, model, year, engine, etc...), it is cheaper. Over here, the GT's produce 260 PS with an auto, and 280 PS with a 5 or 6 speed. So the tranny does make a difference.



I'll post a new thread once I get it......

 

 

i like the Legacy.

 

Accord Euro Type R

 

Legacy FTW

 

I'm a bit biased. I'd still get the EuroR.

 

did u move from us to japan?

 

mrmako.....great choice on the legacy GT.

someone posted earlier cobb tunning, they make and excelent accessport tuner, however their maps are not optimized for the car and also for future mods. i suggest looking up a company called TDC tuning, www.tdctuning.com. by downloading information to a laptop through the port and sending them a file they can optimize a tuning mapp for you and they will continue to tweak it. it is not as good as a dyno but far better then cobbs stock maps.

also they have many thing available for the legacy in the after market realm. also if you haven't i would sign up at legacygt.com. one of the best forums for the legacy's. i signed up there and learned alot about the legacy because i was in the market to buy one however i pulled out and months later purchased something else. but these cars can be very fast for relatively small amounts of money.

 

congrats on the subie....we leave for sasebo on the 29th, and we'll be car shopping soon thereafter

 

I last lived in the US in 1996. I moved to Japan from Germany in 2004. So 8 consecutive in Germany, and 10 1/2 out of 12 years in Europe.

 

Funny, if you're going to Sasebo, you're Navy or associated with them. I just had some guys from the USS Blue Ridge visit my workplace. Nice guys (and gal).

You'll be limited to 1 car per licensed driver. So the first thing is to get a family type car, and be sure the JCI is new. If not, then you'll have to spend about $400 - 800 to get one done. If the vehicle has a year left on one, that's OK, but longer is better. If you buy from one of the dealers by the bases, they will usually have a few month warranty thrown in.

For your ride, save some $$$; a Subaru like this one:






It's a 2002, and is about $4500 plus some different taxes. It has a 2.0L boxer, and has about 250 HP. Plenty fast and easily modified. This will save some money, but you'll have a cool car.

Or, to stay Honda, a car like mine is ~$5000 - $7500 depending on the condition, features, etc... Just get the family truckster first, then take your time and look.

Oh, you can have a motorcyclye, and that does not count as having a vehicle, so if you have a license, get one of those as a way to work before finding the right car.


Just my