Car bookmarks
I’m looking to replace my car (a 1989 4WD Mitsubishi Lancer SZ - very slow non-turbo diesel, C74A chassis, 4D65 engine) in the next few months. Trying to figure out now what sort of car I want to replace it with.
I like the look of the Toyota Levin, especially the 1996 BZ-G. However, the engine (the 165 HP 20 valve 4A-GE) has a weird feel to it … next to no power up to 3000 rpm, and it suddenly takes off (all the way up to 8000rpm!). That would make it nice for country driving, but I don’t know what it would be like around town. If I can find a 5-speed version, I guess I could get it to go well enough, but I doubt I’d have much luck with the auto ones that seem to be all I can find around Christchurch.
There’s also the GT-Z version, with a 16 valve supercharged 4A-GZE engine. It has about the same peak power as the 20V 4A-GE, but a much wider torque range. Not sure what my insurance company would think about a forced induction motor, though.
16 valve 4A-GE (old BZ-G) vs 20 valve 4A-GE (new BZ-G) (the new BZ-G has the 20V).
Bill Sherwood’s site - Toyota and Honda engine info.
20 valve 4A-GE (BZ-G) vs supercharged 16 valve 4A-GZE (GTZ).
Now, another interesting possibility is the 175 HP Mitsubishi Lancer MR, powered by the 4G92 1.6L MIVEC engine. Not as nice looking, with 4 doors, although they do seem to be very cheap - NZ$3000-4000 for a 1993 one.
Alternatively, from Honda, we have the Integra and the Prelude.
The fastest affortable Integra (NZ$6000 for a ‘93 version) is the Si VTEC version, with the B18C engine: 180 PS, 1140 kg (157.9 PS/ton). (The 2001 Type R uses the K20A engine and puts out 220 PS from 1180 kg - 186.4 PS/ton).
The fastest Prelude is the Si VTEC version, with the H22A engine: 200 PS, 1270 kg (157.5 PS/ton). (The 1998 version uses a quicker H22A - 220 PS from 1310 kg, 167.9 PS/ton).
Then there’s the Nissan Silvia and Skyline. I’m not sure if I want to go for them, because (at least in New Zealand) Nissan engines have a reputation for not lasting all that long. Let’s see …