Best looking Japanese car

[Mustangfan2003]

No they may not make a lot of money with sporty cars but IMO they help introduce younger buyers to the brand.  However, that new sports car they were working with Subaru on, forgot the name of it, looks pretty good.

[Onslaught]

Was that parts and labor or just parts?  If I can rebuild a 4.2 L Jaguar engine I think I can do the timing belt on a Miata (I hope anyway).

I've never had to pay for stuff like that so I don't know how much it cost. I had a friend at the Mazda dealer who did all that stuff for free and I got all the parts for free too. Now that place is gone and I'll have to actually buy stuff!!! WTF is that all about?

Anyway, I think changing the timing belt on a Miata is easy. I actually picked up a book that shows you how to take every part of an MX-5 apart. Some people got a hold of a new car when they first came out and disassembled it taking pictures of it all. I've never used the book yet but I think that one day it will come in handy.

This is the 1.8 book http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1901295389

[cawimmer430]

Not really.  Just a square boxy suv in fact it's pretty ugly if you want the truth.

I don't really care what other people think. Design is subjective. We had a '96 Pajero and we loved it. The design is gorgeous IMO.

This is a Philippine-spec Pajero, just like ours. Ours looked 100% liked this (same color, wheels, even tires) except for the roof racks, which we didn't have.  

[cawimmer430]

WHY WAS THIS NOT SOLD HERE!?

Why?

-No V6 or V8 engine options
-No 0-60 in under 6 seconds
-No 14 second (or lower) 1/4 mile times
-It doesn't get bad fuel economy


And the most damning of all, it's too small. They're a common sight in Germany. I rode in one of them before and it was tight inside. I'm 6'4" and I was suffering - and I wasn't even sitting in the back!

[the Teuton]

I think the Xedos 6 was exceptionally pretty.

[cawimmer430]

OMG, Wimmer posts Toyota's!  

The mid 1970s Celica's were gorgeous. Don't like the 1980s versions at all though.








Always had a thing for '79 Cressida. Maybe because it looks like a Plymouth Volare.  





Also cool, the Mitsubishi Celeste. 

[2o6]

I think the Xedos 6 was exceptionally pretty.

It's like a 626, but much, much better.


I always wondered why Mazda didn't launch Eunos/Efini in the US. I think it would have been more successful than Infiniti and Acura.

[2o6]

Why?

-No V6 or V8 engine options


And the most damning of all, it's too small. They're a common sight in Germany. I rode in one of them before and it was tight inside. I'm 6'4" and I was suffering - and I wasn't even sitting in the back!

We got the Protege, which was mechanically similar, (IIRC, the Lantis was bigger)


Also, you can get the 1.8L and 2.0L V6 in the Lantis.

[93JC]

They decided to go from making sporty, legendary cars to becoming a profit machine and the world's largest automaker.

Toyota has always been about becoming a profit machine and the world's largest carmaker. Toyota was never, ever an "enthusiast's" brand. I can count all the "legendary (in who's mind, Toyota's?) sporty" cars they've ever made with one hand: Sports 800, 2000GT, Celica, Supra, MR-2.

Toyota's purpose has always been to produce cars like the Corolla, Tercel, Starlet, Camry, etc. Boring A-to-B transportation appliances.

[93JC]

[/thread]

[Mustangfan2003]

OMG, Wimmer posts Toyota's!  

Always had a thing for '79 Cressida. Maybe because it looks like a Plymouth Volare.  

Holy crap you're right Wimmer. 

[Mustangfan2003]

Toyota has always been about becoming a profit machine and the world's largest carmaker. Toyota was never, ever an "enthusiast's" brand. I can count all the "legendary (in who's mind, Toyota's?) sporty" cars they've ever made with one hand: Sports 800, 2000GT, Celica, Supra, MR-2.

Toyota's purpose has always been to produce cars like the Corolla, Tercel, Starlet, Camry, etc. Boring A-to-B transportation appliances.

Honda is getting the same way now.  Had the NSX for many years, which was a great car, and never made any real changs to it.  Sales drop more and more each year and the car dies.  It's the samething with the S2000. 

[93JC]

Honda is even sadder, because they actually got their start making sports cars (S500, S600, S800). That company was about making quick, cool vehicles, and then they branched out into Kei cars and stuff like the Accord and Civic. But even that stuff was comparatively fun to drive.

Now they're just throwing out stuff like the Ridgeline, CR-Z and Crosstour and hoping people buy it. Cynical exercises in product development.

[Northlands]

Honda's lost it's soul. They remind me more of GM as the years pass, in the way they come out with new models. They're trying to be too many thing to too many people. That's going to water you down, no matter what.

[Raza]

I'll start with one, since there are so god damn many.

How is this even a thread?  Done.  Tie it off, lock it up, and a 1 day ban to everyone who said otherwise.

[ChrisV]

Honda's lost it's soul. They remind me more of GM as the years pass, in the way they come out with new models. They're trying to be too many thing to too many people. That's going to water you down, no matter what.

Sochiro is no longer heading it up and no one has the same maverick personality to make the company what it was.

Most really cool cars/car companies are the product of one or two guys with a vision and passion.

[cawimmer430]

Also, you can get the 1.8L and 2.0L V6 in the Lantis.

What? Who buys these things? My Honda lawnmower is faster to 60 mph and costs $ 35,000 less! 

[68_427]

What? Who buys these things? My Honda lawnmower is faster to 60 mph and costs $ 35,000 less! 

They sound so sweet.

[cawimmer430]

Holy crap you're right Wimmer.  

Maybe Toyota copied the Plymouth Volare? After all, it was during the 1970s when many Toyota's looked very American.

Still, I have a soft spot for that generation Toyota Cressida because my neighbor in the Philippines had one. Always felt it looked good.

[cawimmer430]

They sound so sweet.

The Honda lawnmowers?

[Vinsanity]

Still, I have a soft spot for that generation Toyota Cressida because my neighbor in the Philippines had one. Always felt it looked good.

Was the Cressida like one of the most aspire-to-own cars back there, or something? I remember my dad wanting one back in the day, but when it got replaced by the Avalon, he was like, "meh."

[cawimmer430]

Was the Cressida like one of the most aspire-to-own cars back there, or something? I remember my dad wanting one back in the day, but when it got replaced by the Avalon, he was like, "meh."

The Cressida and Crown were the top Toyota's back then in the Philippine market. The Crown was basically a luxury car in that market whereas the Cressida was a sort of in-between car between the mainstream Corolla and the luxury Crown. It was certainly a car to aspire to in those days if you wanted a certain comfort.

My family had a '79 Mitsubishi Galant and early 1980s Ford Telstar (the same as the one I posted in the Australian car thread) during those days though.

[cawimmer430]

JDM Mazda Savanna (RX-7) with those distinctive hood mirrors also looked good. 

[Onslaught]

Never a fan of that mirrors on the fenders thing on the RX

[ChrisV]

Never a fan of that mirrors on the fenders thing on the RX

They were a Japanese market requirement for many years. Both rearview mirrors had to be visible throught the wiper-swpt area of the windsheild. Thank goodness that changed.

[Speed_Racer]

Datsun 2000 anyone?

[Onslaught]

How did I forget that Datsun?

[Vinsanity]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it would be a cool idea for Nissan to do a RWD Miata-sized Fairlady roadster inspired by that '67 style model posted above. Dare I say a retro design might actually look cool?

[omicron]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it would be a cool idea for Nissan to do a RWD Miata-sized Fairlady roadster inspired by that '67 style model posted above. Dare I say a retro design might actually look cool?

I like this idea very much.

[2o6]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it would be a cool idea for Nissan to do a RWD Miata-sized Fairlady roadster inspired by that '67 style model posted above. Dare I say a retro design might actually look cool?

Retro sucks.