Astina vs. Protege5

[KrayzieFox]

I'm trying to gather some info from this forum in hopes of discovering something I haven't already encountered on the "yank" forums (that'd be my home country) and I'm not quite sure what my car is even called in Australia. My car's a BJ chassis, 3rd gen, 2003 Mazda Protege5 (hatchback/sport wagon) with a 2.0L FS-DE engine. What's that translate into down under? Thanks fellas..

[KrayzieFox]

Nevermind, I think I found my answer.
http://www.astinagt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1704

[Rupewrecht]

or this thread

http://www.astinagt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4215

[KrayzieFox]

Ahhh .. even better. Sweetness. Thanks dude (or do I say mate on this board?)

[Rupewrecht]

Haha, dude is fine. ;)

If you're going to say 'Mate', you need a cold beer in your hand :p

[KrayzieFox]

Speaking of beer .. what's some good Australian beer anyway? The only one I know of is Fosters, and it's not too bad. My taste is with Heineken forever, but I'm down for some experimenting when I come down.

[Rupewrecht]

I dont know of anyone that drinks it!

Maybe that's why we export it ;)

James Squire, Cascade, Hahn are all decent beers

I drink Coronas myself though

[chipa]

I've become quite happy with Crown lager

[LordWorm]

Coopers for the win....

i can't overly stand many of the local beers, but coopers pale hits the spot.

if just for the sake of drinking beer, a 30 pack can of carlton middies doesn't go astray :)

[KittyKatSmack]

Fosters is possibly the worst beer in Australia.
I honestly believe they flog it overseas because no one here will drink the stuff.

All I can suggest, is when you get to the pub/bar, start on the first tap and work your way to the other end. When you get through that lot, start on the fridges ;)

I'm sure you will find many to enjoy!!

Cheers

[Ripper323]

Speaking of beer .. what's some good Australian beer anyway? The only one I know of is Fosters, and it's not too bad. My taste is with Heineken forever, but I'm down for some experimenting when I come down.
Toohey's Extra Dry FTW!!

[KrayzieFox]

Haha, I foresee many dizzy nights in Australia!

[arden]

VB is the WORST BEER

[KrayzieFox]

VB is the WORST BEER
Is that what it's called .. VB? Never heard of it, but I'll take your advice and stay away ;)

[KrayzieFox]

But anyway, kinda back on topic here .. are the BJ Astina's AWD Turbo like in Japan or no?

[arden]

Is that what it's called .. VB? Never heard of it, but I'll take your advice and stay away ;)

VB = Victoria Bitter
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/VB-stubbie.jpg/150px-VB-stubbie.jpg

Well some ppl love it, some ppl hate it.

[arden]

yeh we new saw the AWD version nor the MSP.

[KrayzieFox]

So not even a FWD Turbo model? Wow, you guys got shafted harder than we did..

[Ripper323]

Yeah we sure did. No turbo. We haven't had a turbo 323 (not imported) here I think since the 323/Ford TX-3 models, in the late '80s.
One of which I was lucky enough to own for a while.

[Rupewrecht]

There was no turbo BJ in Japan...apart from a turbo-diesel. Only the US got the MSP

[KrayzieFox]

I thought Japan had a FS-ZE Turbo AWD model of the Sport20 Familia S-Wagon. Or was it just AWD without the turbo?

[arden]

one thing u will definitely notice when u hit our shores is the friggin number of r33 skylines on the roads!!!!!!!Theyre everywhere!!!!

[KrayzieFox]

one thing u will definitely notice when u hit our shores is the friggin number of r33 skylines on the roads!!!!!!!Theyre everywhere!!!!
Really? Well that's interesting .. I've never seen a Skyline on the road before. Been to a couple car shows and such, but never seen one just cruising along. How about GT Four Celicas? Any of those around? I used to be all about those cars before getting the Protege5, but we unfortunately never got them. I'm pretty sure you guys had a good stock of them (they're the 6th gen, round headlight Celicas from 94-99 I think).

[chicaboo]

We've got GT4s, but they are not as common as Skyrines...

Gav.

[Rupewrecht]

I thought Japan had a FS-ZE Turbo AWD model of the Sport20 Familia S-Wagon. Or was it just AWD without the turbo?

Just AWD, no turbo.

We get a handful of the round-headlight GT4s, and a couple of hundred of the previous shape, but that's it.

[Tarmac Ninja]

Just had a quick look at carsales for celica GT4's .. in the round headlight model there is 3, two for around $20K and one for $35k (AU of course). Actually not bad considering alternative to the same sameness of WRX's and Skyrines.

yay for celicas!!!

[Bear]

yeah ... you'll normally find the full spread of GT4s for sale on different forums and classifieds ... a lot of the original ones (ST162?) were imported for rallying, then the 1990 release of the GT4 was the model most people are used to ... following that was the Group A Rallye (most changes were just cosmetic ... change of bonnet scoop shape and bumper) ... after that came the round headlight model ... they were all a pretty good, but underrated car

prices are currently around the 6, 12, and 28 thousand mark respectively ...



and when it comes to beers, i strongly recommend Kitty's approach ... you might not survive the first night, but you will learn is that beer is a very subjective drink ... one man's poison and all that