Car buffs love going the retro route these days, from muscle cars to old luxury vehicles. Lately, focus is shifting towards other models, especially JDMs. Keeping an eye on this and other trends is YouTube Channel Everyday Driver which pegged the affordable and powerful Nissan 300ZX, the highly-desirable Mazda RX-7, and the speedy Toyota Supra as the top three Japanese cars from yesteryear to review. Whittling through all the criteria and testing, on Thursday, the channel unveiled its favorite from this select trio.
Nissan Is A Monster, Mazda Handles Well
First taking the 1991 Nissan 300 ZX for a spin, the pundits dug the power from the twin-Turbo V6 that, with a chip, can deliver up to 360 horsepower. "This car is a monster," said one driver. "It just wants to go."
That said, the drivers didn't like the slowness of the gearbox and steering rack, even though the automaker included a HICAS rear-wheel steering system designed for slalom-style driving. Neither driver found the device particularly useful, noting that owners of this Nissan model often disconnected the system before taking it on the road.
The Mazda RX-7 provided the drivers with the same power, but because of its rotary engine, the feel they normally receive from a conventional internal combustion engine wasn't the same. In terms of handling, however, both drivers applauded Mazda for putting a great deal of technology into the handling of the model. One of them even called it "the best driver's car Mazda ever made."
Supra Awesome But Not A Favorite
Toyota created the Supra to be a vehicle providing the amenities of a car able to hit the drag strip and a conventional track, an element the drivers picked up on the moment they put it in gear. Shifting through all six gears turned out to be a breeze on the road. But the real draw is the speedy performance, which made this car prominent in the Fast and Furious series.
In the end, the Toyota didn't wind up as the top choice for either driver. One selected the Nissan because it matched the excitement of a similar model he owned years ago. The other dug the Mazda for its ability to grow on a driver the longer he remains in the vehicle. Interesting response, but we'll let it slide.
Old Cars Are Great When Maintained
Even though the Everyday Driver staff seemed picky about which cars to test, they fell short of which older vehicles are best for consumers these days.
"If a car is good to drive, if it's fun, and you like it, it doesn't matter when it was built," said one driver. "All that matters is the car community's willingness to maintain it and keep them running."
Source: Everyday Driver