New Car Advice (All Turbo): Familia, Starlet or Pulsar???

[cazza]

Hi all.

I have sold my Astina.......sorry, lol :p

Anyway, I just wanted to ask everyone's advice on the three cars above which are the ones i am looking at getting.

I love the Familias the most (RE: Mazda) but they are rare therefore $$ for a tidy one.

Pro's and Con's of the three above. Speed, relabilty, parts, resell value ?? and any personal opinions or experiances?

Thanks, Jonny

[mussing]

How new are you going? And what's your budget?

[cazza]

6000 - 9000 1990

[rodhog]

If you can get one a N14 with a SR20DET - ****s on all 3 models

whole reason - its been done so many times - many models came out factroy with a 4WD SR20DET or even stock De - local delivery car. Parts are plenty and available off the shelf aftermarket gear and performance stuff is there.

So it makes it alot easier.
There gearbox issues are like BPT's yet they have options already available.

If it wasn't the whole issue with so many in sydney having been done - and I've been assosiated with many owners and the whole image in sydney of a SSS pulsar I might own one. but The whole image - lets see I think the local tafe in bankstown has about 200 of them.

[marcs_sp20]

Agreed with rodhog on this one, go a turbo'd SSS pulsar :D

[Rupewrecht]

Agreed with rodhog on this one, go a turbo'd SSS pulsar :D

...if you want to torque steer two lanes across when boost kicks in. I've driven a couple of converted SSS and they're bloody terrible for that.

I'd go Starlet, as it's ridiculously easy to get 12s out of.

[cazza]

yer the only thing with the starlet is its front wheel drive the, GT'S that is.

Not so many SSS's over here (SA) but im from Newcastle originally and i know exactly what you mean in Syd.

Its Skyline & Pulsar Heaven.

and every second car has a muffler and rims!!

If i get one, how do they go converting to a front mount and getting rid of the Cheese grator bonnet on the GTIR's nissans

[hks_kansei]

Thought about Laser TX3?

http://www.carcyclewholesale.com/IMAGES/lasertx3.jpg

[cazza]

I have thought of the tx3's and the galant turbos, but they dont grab me, style wise,

I would love a familia but parts would be hell, as they are limited to like 3000 in AUS, as i have read (correct me if im wrong).

Something like this:
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/NISSAN/PULSAR/details.aspx?__Ntk=CarAll&__D=GTIR&__Dx=mode%20matchany&State=All%20States&R=6307475&state_id=0&keywords=GTIR&distance=25&Cr=5&__N=4294963846%200%201216%20834%20285%20257%204294 963786&seot=0&__Ns=pCar_Price_Decimal|0||pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag _Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1&__Ntt=GTIR&trecs=62&__Nne=20&__Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&silo=1003&__sid=11D4810B7E53&__No=20&Model=PULSAR&sort_type=2&Make=NISSAN


or


http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/MAZDA/FAMILIA/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1| |pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_Da teTime|1&__Nne=20&seot=0&distance=25&silo=1003&Cr=1&Model=FAMILIA&State=South%20Australia&__N=4294965340%2085%204294960552%201216%20834%2028 5%20257&__sid=11D4810B7E53&state_id=85&Make=MAZDA&R=6036928&trecs=4

[cazza]

Sorry bout the thread's. still dont know how to hyperlink em

[Rupewrecht]

Parts aren't going to that hard for the Familia - a lot of the maintenance parts are shared with either the BG sedan or KF/KH Laser. And even anything harder will just be a matter of ordering it thru Mazda

No harder than parts for the Pullstart.

[rodhog]

...if you want to torque steer two lanes across when boost kicks in. I've driven a couple of converted SSS and they're bloody terrible for that.

I'd go Starlet, as it's ridiculously easy to get 12s out of.

You havne't driven a Stock Mx-6 turbo then LOL.
they darted across even with automatics and did it with out the revs.

A well setup SSS won't dart that hard.

Startlets are good. But I haven't seen a good one for a long time.


Front mounting a SR20 is easy - don't even use a GTI-R motor - use a SSS bluebird or similar. Tha'ts what we did.
even one N15 owner I read just used his stock SR20 - added the manifold and turbo and ECU injectors etc stock internals. That's what we did back in the day. Mainly because most of the stuff was stolen but that's different issue.

I personally would go a GT-4 celica if I could find one. Any of the models and keep it clean. Mild mods and that's it.

but overall I think you have to think about what it is you want first and for most

Daily driver - will it do daily work
week end warrior
project
etc
budget is only the begining.
Every car I've boguht or traded I've looked at all angle of potential.
Except for the 626 wagon as its was passionate one. I didn't use my head. My head and Penis told me to go Buy a an Aristo but when them too agree I don't listen.

[89sp1.8]

id say bang for buck to go pretty hard stock,would be the turbo pulsar.
not really big fan of the starlets..smaller engine..not really to impressive stock....each to there own though.:)

if u can get ur hands on nice clean familia id say go for it..yeah they are rare,but not that hard to find..and yeah parts arent that scarce;)
plus always good to have something diffrent compared to every tom,dick n harry. just food for thought.let us know how u go:)

[DavoAust]

i'd go with the familia, cool little cars. there was a clean looking example for sale on here recently.

i'm not a big fan of the turbo pulsars. way too many tools behind the wheel of those.

starlets don't exactly make me sit up and take notice, still they're quick

[Batty]

+1 for the familia, they are sweet

[hks_kansei]

Starlet.

they are fast, and a good sleeper.

[cazza]

well im lloking at a blck famila on wednesday.

about 8k its well looked after and is quite clean wich is what i want I think im going for the famila,

[SuperMazdaKart]

How'd it go?

Like has been said, replacement parts aren't too bad to source since Familias share a lot of them with the Laser TX3 4WD. & things like body panels should be able to get through Adelaide Jap Parts, but I havn't been there yet myself to make sure.

Theres a few Familia enthusiasts here in Adelaide that can be asked on to help with parts etc.

[cazza]

Finally got my dream (realistically speaking) car the other week 1993/94 Mazda Familia GT-R minimal engine mods, clean body.

I looked at about 4 or 5 familias in SA and have finally settled on one.

I payed 10k, Plated as 94, Genuine GTR, 150,000 km's (bit to much but i really wanted one) engine is stock except for cat back exhaust 2.5".
Manual boost controller in cabin, running 10psi atm. 10mm leads. koni suspention set up.

I dont know whats gone on with the AFM but it has been moded/tampered with in some kinda way... maybe some one might know?

The sale of the astina fell through, but im going to use it as a daily.

Plans are... aftermarket front mount cooler, Turbo dump pipes, pod and cold air box, i have been looking at the modified AFM's on fordlaser. As my knowledge grows more for these cars ill have a better understanding of what to do. so all suggestions are 110% welcome.

My overal plan is to clean the body really nicely and mod the engine enough to give rex's and SS's 'a run for there money'.

Ill put up some pics asap.

Cheers, Jonny

[89sp1.8]

nice post pics asap. you should be giving rex's n ss's the run allready..if the afm has been modified it could be possibly cause the ecu may has been chipped? as i know when u chip an ecu u usually have to modify the afm to accomadate

[rodhog]

Only Idiots who don't know how to remapped a stock ECU - play with the AFM - not even the jap workshops are that bad.
It's more like they have repostitioned the fuel cut to higher area or removed it. Not always a good sign

[cazza]

basically they have taken out the top plastic seal and it has then been placed back in. Botchy as though.

The AFM feels like it starvs the engin of air or something from 2300 - 2500 and then it just kicks itself out of it and runs fine up until around 3500 - 4000 when it starts to boost. Its weird between the 2300 and 2500 mark it is real sluggish. and if you plant it it kicks out and runs fine again.

Also what are your thoughts on these in comparison to a full ECU $1500 install?

http://www.fordlaser.com/viewtopic.php?highlight=meter+flow+air&t=70944

Im going to polish it up n upload some half decent pics.

[Dogo]

A new ECU will always be the better choice when it comes to performance. The hot wire AFM lets you trick the standard computer a bit, but not much. $1500 for a full aftermarket ecu is a bit cheap. It probably doesn't include any ( or much ) tuning.

The main advantage of the hot wire is to open up the air restriction of the standard Vane ( flap type ) meter.

[cazza]

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6868/3familialg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

More tomorrow,

[rodhog]

Depending on how far you want to go

IMO honest opinion - I've had turbo cars with hot -wire and VAF's

in fact my Mx-6 still has it in place - (yes it's not quite functional.
I eventually ran it into a position of full perment open.
You how much more it make on the the Dyno ?

because if you know - can you tell me where it is.


depending on where you want to go.

replace the AFm with new one /2nd hand one will do the job.
ECU options - are a plenty, It depends on how far you will go.
Ontop of that.
I know that if your going to only play a little - a simple piggyback ECU like a 2nd hand unichip - say off a WRX it's normally the type A version. can be found for around $200off some WRx's and I know for a fact with mild modifications - when setup right - There is NO gain when it's the same stuff going to a full aftermarket ECU.
Even on a old model Denso unit. you might find the odd 1 or 2Kw's in the mid range throguh slighty better timing etc.
but a well tuned unichip set up right can allow you to have the best of stock setup - I mean like everything works and it's hidden everything look stock - and it does allow to get best out of minor thigns liek exhuast and intake.
I'll admit on some engines at most a Hi-flow is as far as it will help out. But it also depends how wel lthey set it up.
it allows for enough changes in the ECU and fuel curves.
my personal favourtie thing is perfect factroy cold start up
A/C -P/S idle controls factory perfect.
And it removes majority of over fuel and timming retard from the engine.

but I have to say it's clean example
I always liked them, I always liked the shape myself.
I guess we missed out IMO because it's nice shape 3 door.

[cazza]

The Pics are taken from my phone so they arnt the best quality.

I see were your comming from, my knowledge of ecu's and mapping etc isnt very good and that helps out heaps, if i do find one that will piggy back my existing one from a WRX or something, does anyone have a model number or something i can go out looking for. as you were saying its a unichip do any other comanys make them? whos better?
I am hoping to have this chip tuned with front mount, dump pipes, pod.

What is the best way of doing this, am i better of putting everything in first and then take the chip and the car and have it tuned as the last thing.
Or doesnt this matter?

Thanks for the above post man, good stuff.

Jonny

[SuperMazdaKart]

lets see photoes of this GTR :)

[cazza]

ok heres my new love!

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/7302/54532231xs5.jpg

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/4889/25463092bg6.jpg

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/8952/18100033pd9.jpg

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/330/12266470ry9.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3816/98313432vm9.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9200/74355154ct4.jpg

So what do you's think?

[gtarone]

I love them to bits, i would drop everything i had to get one of these, but i can't find any in this state or in good condition! Incredible cars for their size.

[SuperMazdaKart]

looks pretty good, whered you find it? i don't think i ever saw it on carsales..

i'll give ya a foglight flash if i ever see ya, pretty hard to miss seeing a GTR this part of the world :D

[cazza]

i just saw it for sale at trade school, out in the car park.

i looked at all the ones on car sales, and almost bought that gtx with gold rims.

yer wasnt on car sales. yer man im always on the look out lol

[zappy65]

There is one FS in Greenbank with 120,XXX for $10,000 unsure of GTX or GTR origin though...its still in mint condition