Lifestyles is best when there are extra four-cylinder, entrance engine, rear-wheel force Eastern sports activities vehicles to choose between. Toyota remembered methods to construct amusing vehicles once more with the GT86 a decade in the past, which has since been adopted up by way of the superb GR86, and Mazda has been dedicated to the method for over 30 years with the MX-5.

What about Nissan, then? There’s been some type of front-engine, rear-wheel force Z on sale in the United Kingdom for many years. That used to be till Nissan determined to stay the brand new Z and Z NISMO fashions out of Europe owing to emission regulations, following on from the GT-R being culled within the continent a 12 months in the past for a similar explanation why. And if I had been to play by way of my very own regulations, all have six cylinders, no longer 4. A snappy look thru Nissan’s present line-up serves as a staggering reminder that the corporate – one among Japan’s all-time nice efficiency automotive makers – doesn’t have a unmarried fanatic automotive on its books. No GT-R, no Z, no longer even a Juke NISMO.

Appears like you have to do with an inexpensive, four-cylinder, FR sports activities automotive to stay alongside of the Joneses, Nissan. And it’s no longer such as you’d be dipping into unfamiliar territory, both, as confirmed by way of this S14a 200SX. If the rest, a brand new fashion according to the rules of the S14 would no less than be offering one thing somewhat other to the GR86s and MX-5s of the arena. Not like the ones two, the 200SX has a turbocharger strapped to its 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine. That’s just right for 200hp however, extra importantly, 195lb toes of torque, which is marginally greater than what the trendy, naturally aspirated vehicles are placing out. Granted, you’ll want to head just a little upper up the rev vary for height energy and torque, however a hearty dose of spice up is a sure-fire technique to get the rear swaying.

Naturally, this has made them extremely well-liked by the drifting group. Actually, you’ve most likely observed extra 200SXs with broad frame kits evenly sanded down by way of widespread touch with the street floor, than one in utterly inventory situation. And I don’t blame other folks for having a crack at tuning the sort of, as they a) weren’t in particular fast initially (0-62mph within the seven 2d area) and b) there’s an abundance of o.e.m portions in the market – particularly from high-end Eastern producers – that may upload massive quantities of energy with out mucking the whole lot up. To many, the 200SX used to be merely a clean canvas.

However we now reside in an international the place electrical MG hatchbacks can out drag Lamborghinis. Velocity isn’t the whole lot the rest, after all, and there are few joys more than blameless little skids at cheap speeds. So leisure confident that the one amendment made to this case is a brand new Sony stereo device with Bluetooth connectivity, even if the unique head unit is incorporated within the sale. Instead of that, it’s as much as you on whether or not to make use of it as the foundation of a challenge or stay it as inventory and indulge in its inherent goodness.

The latter might be really useful in the end, as a result of inventory ‘90s Eastern efficiency vehicles are a rarity nowadays and the marketplace is responding as such. This 1997 Traveling is indexed at £16,995, marking a steep upward push in S14 values over the last couple of years. That mentioned, it does include two folders’ price of carrier historical past and has lately had its gasoline, oil and air filters changed, in addition to new spark plugs and ‘overhauled’ brakes all spherical. Anyway, it doesn’t seem like Nissan is making plans a Silvia go back any time quickly, so that is the nearest factor we need to a GR86 rival – and it is from 1997.

SPECIFICATION | NISSAN 200SX S14a

Engine: 1,998cc four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: five-speed guide, rear-wheel force
Energy (hp): 200@6,400rpm
Torque (lb toes): 195@4,800rpm
MPG: 27
CO2: 227g/km
12 months registered: 1997
Recorded mileage: 58,800
Value new: £25,000
Yours for: £16,995