Nissan 200sx vs Toyota Corolla ~ Battle of the Old Skoo Hatches ~

[sicj]

No shiet this is a Nissan forum but I just have to poll this.

I am completely stumped as to why the popularity for the Nissan s12 aka 200sx (years '84-'88) has not blown up and been embraced by the import community. It's funny that a majority of 240sx/Nissan owners in general know more about the Hachi than a car that came from their own bloodline.I am truly at a loss for words when many people think the Cressida is a worthy drift/any kind of performance platform, that the aftermarket actually caters too!!! wow. People go through tons of work to make them into manual etc...while the lonley s12 with its RWD, independent rear suspension, all wheel disc brakes, came with a manual tranmission in every engine choice (4 cyl, 4 cyl turbo, and even a beastly V6 we all know as the VG)It's crazy to me how this car has been overlooked still to this day as people try to find the next "cool" chassis to drive/drift.

Yes I am biased towards the s12, I've owned two and currently building up one. I think the Corolla looks like shiet, but that's no surprise.

So this poll is which car do you find more appealing? Now these pics were taken at a local drift event. I'm not asking which of the cars has less flaws (the Corolla takes the win there, it was damn near perfect) but which chassis is more appealing to you. My buddys s12 is far from perfect but it was the most jocked car out there in the sea of 240's.

Some comments were..."Whoa, an SR20 in a AE?""Nice Hachi"and my favorite..."What kind of car is this?"and someone even thought it was a Pulsar. How do you know about Pulsars but not the 200sx?

anyways choose your poison.

[93coupe]

I love both but like the Nissan a little better only because it looks a hair longer and lower.

[horubeets]

I like the Hachi because of personal experience. I've never driven a s12 and all the ones I've seen didn't look nearly as nice as the one in the picture.

[ScrapMetal]

I am completely stumped as to why the popularity for the Nissan s12 aka 200sx (years '84-'88) has not blown up and been embraced by the import community. It's funny that a majority of 240sx/Nissan owners in general know more about the Hachi than a car that came from their own bloodline.

This is why.

[SeVa-S13]

S12 looks better. It's not as popular because it wasn't the basis of a fanboi show.

Not all S12's had IRS.

I personally like mine CA-powered.

[sicj]

'84 was the only rear is was SRA. Yeah I know Intial D played a part but damn, without the 200sx the 240 wouldn't be here, har har!

[ScrapMetal]

Yeah I know Intial D played a part but damn, without the 200sx the 240 wouldn't be here, har har!

S110>S12

[Shift_Alabama]

S12 looks better. It's not as popular because it wasn't the basis of a fanboi show.

S12s just look sexy!

[glitched]

someday when I'm able to have a stable of cars, I'd like to have a nice one...

[SeVa-S13]

LOL, totally forgot to give much props on that S12 if it's yours. Makes meh jealous.

[skydragoness]

I'd rather the ignorance of the S12 and S11 chassis continue than for it to blow up. Makes it all the better that people don't know them too well so that real enthusiasts can pick up some good bargains. So SHHHH!!

[hsckris]

Let me get this straight...

You are saying that you WANT to pay drift tax on a S12?

[DJ Raijin]

I'd rather the ignorance of the S12 and S11 chassis continue than for it to blow up. Makes it all the better that people don't know them too well so that real enthusiasts can pick up some good bargains. So SHHHH!!

completely agreed. who cares about a $5k Corolla when you can pick an equal platform for like maybe $1k?

they both look a lot alike. Wonder what it would be like with a VH45 in an S12...

[r34 gtr]

200sx FT-dub!

[Solar_Runner]

Although similar in shape, the S12 just did it better! Longer, leaner, lower.

[krash]

I've always loved the S12. I thought of it as Nissan's way of pwning the AE86 fanbois, yes, they thought ahead that far into the future. I actually almost bought a black 5spd ca18 s12 back in the day....

[hachiroku781]

I personally like the corolla better. Ive been around them since i was a young one. I remember two of my neighbors having two coupes with louvers(god i love louvers). Anyways i love the nature of the high revving 4 cyl. Not only that but the car looks pretty nice. The chassis was race proven as well. N2 was awesome. Despite the lack of high HP/torque the car accelerated pretty well. To sum up i would rather own the AE86 rather than the s12. Personally i dislike the front end on the S12.

[Mr1der]

I much prefer the S12.

I wish we got the good motors here though...that's what crippled it's appeal to enthusiasts.

the Aussies love them.

biggest downfall is the semi trailing arm suspension and an unbraced chassis.

[Dittoz7]

Didn't Know They Were That Long.

I Dig It!

[Nali]

The S12 wins in my book by a huge gap.

Im not sad there isnt a bandwagon for it. Im actually happy, it means i dont have to pay drift tax when i get mine.

Cant wait till i find a decent one.And those pics you posted are the perfect way to show just how good the S12 actually looks compared to the Hachi

[Otto.]

I like em both but I think I have to go with thy toyota.

[nsrZ32]

S12's are sweet cars and get my vote

[sicj]

I agree and then I disagree.

Yes it AWESOME that no one puts time into these cars and makes them the "next best thing" but on the same token I wish it did blow up and the after market would support the car.

But yes, I love that no one knows about it and the are basically blown away when they see one that's setup very nice, like my friends.

[skydragoness]

Come to think of it, what is available for it in the aftermarket? Does it share enough with the Z31 to borrow stuff from (although their aftermarket is poop too).

[Mr1der]

Megan makes coilovers for it

a lot of S13 stuff will fit with minor fab work.

you can actually frankenstein S13 front coil overs on with a few S14 parts used too.

motor wise, anything that drops in an S13 will work.

it has an R200 diff, so it's tough.

a few people have mounted the rear IRS from the S13 on the cars as well.

(shut up Sky, this one's informative)

I wanna get another one at some point...

when I have more money to do a motor swap (I need one with an FJ)

[sicj]

the leap for Megan to do coilovers was BIG but they failed at it. You can't even tuck 17's with their design . LAME.

but yep, everything Mr1der said is what we can do. The biggest s*** is the seat rails and bucket seats = major fabbing to get it to work.

I wish we could get stuff like carbon fiber parts, over fenders, whole kits etc...

[hbpignosePA]

I am truly at a loss for words when many people think the Cressida is a worthy drift/any kind of performance platform, that the aftermarket actually caters too!!! wow.

you do any research on that buddy?

the cressida doesnt have much aftermarket support; just a bunch of crazy people who make custom crap for it.

you cant even get bushings for it (i cant find arms state side either)

honestly if done right i like the S12 like the above

but corollas are sweet too

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Even though the corolla's roots are based in the 1970's...gotta give it props for being one of the most balanced rwd chassis out there, much more so than the 200sx. Stupid cheap to modify as well. Only places to dock points from are the weak factory brakes, weak stock engine(ITBed VVL 20v's make happy noises), and weak front subframe. All you people placing votes have driven and worked on both cars I'm assuming. I mean...who on earth would judge something they have no experience with? And did you ever stop to think WHY that supposedly crappy car was chosen as the main character for a T.V. show?

Rolla' : Better proportions, lighter, better handling, more aftermarket support, cheaper to modify, easier to modify.

Silvia : Better brakes, more powerful engine options, stronger frame components.

That's eleventy billion to three b****faces.
Modified by ScorchedNX2K at 10:22 PM 4/8/2009

[MastaYu]

s12 looks nice

[pancho y onions]

I had a turbo S12 before. The car was actually all right to drive but they are some pretty heavy cars compared to the AE. I gotta admit though that s12 on the pics is one of the few beter looking ones out there.