COMPARISON: The cars that put Japan on the map.

[12sec. Civic]

These cars are all some of the first cars that put Japan on the map as a serious contender in the sports car market. After the wild success of the 240Z and then the overwhelming reaction the Porsche 924 received in the early 80's. These cars quickly filled the niche and made a name for themselves and their companies.

The cars are:


--Nissan Z cars: 240Z, 280ZX, Z31 300ZX's and the potent 300ZX Twin Turbo of the 90's.


--Toyota Supra: The late 70's Celica-Supra and the mid 80's NA Supras. To the late 80's 232hp Turbo Supra and the lethal Supra Twin Turbo of the 90's.

---Mazda RX-7: The nimble '79 RX-7, the Turbo RX-7's in the late 80's and the Infamous RX-7 Twin Turbo .

 

[HRT_Maloo]

Z.
Its the only current one of those 3. And it was the best selling sports car of the 70s

 

[Solid Fro]

Defeintly the Z.

Even my mom knew what the Datsun 240Z was.

 

[driessie]

I'd say the Toyota 2000GT was the first real Japanese sportscar.
It's from 1967 and is a cooperation between Yamaha and Toyota.
Yamaha first asked Nissan to help them make the car, but after a while Nissan pulled the plug out of the project and they went to Toyota.
That's why the 2000GT and the 240Z look so similar.

I guess you all know which one is the Toyota.

 

[Pupik]

The 240Z; Datsun brought the first serious sports-car to the rest of the world. Although the 2000GT was a neat car, it was produced in comparatively limited quantities, and was more expensive. The Z was fairly powerful in its day, and was practical. And it looked like little else on the road.

The Supra was relatiely unknown until the the early 80's, about 12 years after the Z. The RX-7 didn't necessarily put Japan on the sports-car map, but I think it was a brave move by Mazda, and it showed the rest of the world a daring combination of design, technology, and sportiness.

 

[milefile]

Nissan Z. I saw a detailed history of the Z car on the history channel a month ago or so. You won't be seeing a program dedicated to Supras or RX-7's. They rode in on the Z's coat tails.

I love how they called it a Fairlady at first.

 

[12sec. Civic]

I didnt include the 2000GT. Even though it was a pretty amazing car. it cost more than the Porsche of the time. It was considered expensive by everyone. In fact, Toyota LOST money on each one they sold, and thats a fact! They wanted to get a client base with the 2000GT, but noone bought them.

The original Japanese GT's were cheap, and thats why they stood out. But then of course they all became inflated techno sleds with a sticker price that the general public just wasn't willing to pay for a Japanese car.

"Never lose sight of what originally got you famous"

 

[MazKid]

Erm, there's been several programs on the RX-7. On the History Channel several months ago, they had a show about the rotary engine, and they essentially gave the RX-7's history and showed the RX-8.

I would select the RX-7, though I personnally think that the Civic should take it. It set a new level in fuel effinciency and value. Though now I can't help but seeing the Civic as kid's project cars that they totally crap up.

 

[milefile]

"Erm" is like the new thing now, huh?

Sorry I didn't see that. But the Z car was here way before any RX-7.

But then what else could you choose?

 

[MazKid]

Well, if you go from the Mazda Cosmo Sport...

...I'd go with the rotary cars. Cosmo, Familia Rotary Coupe, RX-2, RX-3, RX-4, RX-5/Cosmo, RX-7, Eunos Cosmo, 787B, RX-8, and the others(RX-Evolv, ect.) for showing that a new engine design can work.

Though the US wasn't able to reproduce them. Says a lot about Mazda, NSU, and Mr. Wankel...

 

[askia47]

mazdas of course for mazkid

 

[1X83Z]

My vote goes to the Z. Unlike the Supra and RX-7, the Z is plainly iconic.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by MazKid
Says a lot about Mazda, NSU, and Mr. Wankel...

Certainly - too bad NSU sucks at marketing. I guess Mazda just keeps the engine around for the icon nowadays.

 

[askia47]

i would pick the z and the supra as they are both icons, yet the Z is bigger than the supra.

 

[Joey D]

the Z rods, the other ones just don't compare

 

[1X83Z]

To be honest, if I were to pick from an unlimited number of cars based on the title of this thread, there's no way I'd pick a vehicle that was originally produced my a company that no longer exists. When you think of cars that put Japanese companies on the map in this country, you don't look to the GT's, but instead to the sedans - Corolla, Accord, Camry, Civic... not only did they establish a reputation, but they established a focal point for the direction of automobiles over the next twenty years from all competition. Those vehicles made Japan what it is today.

 

[advanR]

very true. japanese cars where put on the map by being reliable, cheap, fuel efficient alternatives to american cars.

was that one movie about japanese car companies putting detroit factory workers c out of work called "gung ho" ?

 

[Hooligan]

At different times, different cars moved Japan up the ladder of prominence. Probably the first really well-known (and desired) car was the "Datsun" 240Z. I say "Datsun" because it was it's arrival in the US that made the sales figures explode. Mazda and Toyota had their share, but weren't as well known, certainly not stateside. After the 70's fuel crisis, Honda's Civic became another landmark, for obvious reasons.

In the early 80's Honda's Accord and Mazda's RX-7 were quite a big deal. Heck, even I remember James Garner speeding along in an RX-7, and I totally wasn't into cars back then. The late 80's and early 90's snuck in the later RX-7, Nissan 300ZX (and 240SX, the big-selling Silvia elsewhere), and the Honda/Acura NSX -- proof that Japan made f'n cool cars. The Integra also came of age in the 90's, with the ITR being probably the most emulated (as in, fake-badged-copies) car ever.

Sneaking through all this (in Europe, but mostly in Japan) are the AWD turbo beasts: Nissan Skyline (from waaay back in '70), Lancer EVO, and Subaru Impreza Turbo. They were highly respected, but practically unknown in America until Gran Turismo. First car to arrive at this stage of evolution? The WRX (the, uh, 2002 landmark car).

These cars are for sales and desirability. The technical landmarks are older and more obscure. Didn't think you're interested in those....

 

[vat_man]

I voted for the 240Z - but only for the first two models - the others were bloated, underdamped horrors.

The original 240Z was a classic - guy I knew had a restored one, great car.

 

[12sec. Civic]

I know a guy who sunk more than $10k into a 1983 RX-7. It had everything from NOS to Recaro seats and full body kit and a $4,000 paint job. He was lucky to sell it for $3,500 after it had been listed for just under 1 year!

 

[milefile]

Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
I know a guy who sunk more than $10k into a 1983 RX-7. It had everything from NOS to Recaro seats and full body kit and a $4,000 paint job. He was lucky to sell it for $3,500 after it had been listed for just under 1 year!

what a dumbass!

 

[askia47]

so stupid!

 

[MazKid]

That's what that RX-7 owner shoulda gotten. He ruined a perfectly fine car. Plus, nitrous is one of the worst things you can do to a rotary.

 

[supra229]

i voted for the supra as it is not too expensive and is easily upgradeable and fun to drive

 

[[ssg]sam]

I like the rx-7 because my friend sparxxx has worse it drift transistor very well me I have one worse civic I cannot drifting because it is a front traction but But still i like my civic Anway's

 

[12sec. Civic]

Man, I can drift in the snow better than I can in GT3.

I use the hand brake on my Civic. I can maintain about 50km/h around a 90 degree turn on a residential road. But I cant do it everytime.


I know you get the crazy slippery snow in Montreal like we do in Calgary.

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
Man, I can drift in the snow better than I can in GT3.

I use the hand brake on my Civic. I can maintain about 50km/h around a 90 degree turn on a residential road. But I cant do it everytime.

I've been messing with the store van in the snow. Chevy Astro, RWD, V6...it all leads to power oversteer on demand. It's so adjustable, too: begin turn, heavy gas (van rotates), ease off & countersteer. Works every damned time. Made warming up the vans in the morning way fun in the parking lot. Works okay in the rain (cold or not), but you need more speed. I'm not about to risk flipping the thing with a quarter million in someone else's equipment inside.

 

[Gil]

I'm partial to the 240Z, The inimitable 510, and last but not least, the ORIGINAL Toyota Celica from the mid 70's.
Oh yea, the Datsun 1.6l and 2.0l convertibles from the late 60's - Early '70's were pretty cool too.

Jumping countries, I also think the Opel GT did a lot for the acceptance of foriegn sports/gt cars in the US.

 

[Xleezardx]

Heres the Bottom Line ladies and gentlemen

If you guys didnt know, Honda is Acura as Toyota is Lexus.

Japanese cars are way better advanced in technolgy than american cars. Japanese engines push out more horses plus save more gas, and more reliable for its small size. 240 horse non-turbo, none- supercharge out of a 4 cylinder 2.0 liter engine, thats smart. what american car can compare to that?

When you compare cars, you must compare them to specific class, exmaple, Engine size: You cant compare a 5.0 engine to a 2.0.
American cars are powerful muscle cars, but they have to have Big engines that waste alot of gas. We only have 90 years of Fuel on the planet. Time to be smart, why you think Ford Bought the idea of Hybrid cars from Honda?

Japanese cars might be a lil less in power but their Idea and concept of their cars is far smarter. Japanese are Taxed higher for bigger engines do to its a small country.
Imagine if japan was as big as america, Thier cars would be diffent. Their Hondas are ecomony cars, in a small country you must be smart and go ecomony cars.

 

[HRT_Maloo]

Originally posted by Xleezardx
We only have 90 years of Fuel on the planet.

Thats good, Ill be gone before it runs out.

I read there was 40 years left. Hopefully you are right