Published on July 28th, 2012 | by BajaBusta
61987 Nissan 200SX V6 Test Drive
The Eighties, for me were a magnificent era. I started them as a child, and ended them as a teen. For me, cars, and anything related ruled my childhood, from a auto mechanic father, obligatory exotic car posters, plastic model kits, and intoxicating testers glue tubes, to the discovery of my parentals peers, monthly disposal of auto magazines, and me swooping in for the scavenge! More importantly, i discovered that these automotive magazines had more than just pictures, but they had words too. Hooking me instantly into the lingo that was and is ‘auto-dom’.
The Nissan 200SX was an interesting car for me. Despite my fathers domestic nurturing, I secretly found this car quite attractive, although in 1985 I probably thought it was rad. Eventually owning a 1985 nothchback twin plug naturally aspirated model shortly out of high school. Despite the lack of power and knowledge that a turbo, and even this V6 model existed, I went through with the purchase in defiance of my pop’s attempt at persuading me otherwise. Should have listened. With the engines minimal capability, relative adept handling, this was my first foray into front engine rear drive. Some adoring memories encompassed what I thought was a technological marvel. You know, the 80s Datsun/Nissan dash voice. Telling me ‘the parking brake was set”, or “right door is open” to name a couple. And the idiotic idiot lights adorning the passenger dash top.
That was where the fun ended. After multiple issues un-afforded by a teenage grocery bagger, including replacement of the fuel injectors, rear disc brakes that froze clamped in cold weather, to a power antenna that would choose its own time to retract and extend, to mischief induced repairs, my time with this unappreciated coupe was short lived. That’s my story with this little Nissan, now lets have a look at it as a brand new car!
The rear end of these 200SX’s reminds me of the Dodge Daytona. I had a chance to drive a Daytona turbo back in the mid-90s when my cousin had one. even though I’ve always been a gear-head for as long as I can remember, that was my first foray behind the wheel of a turbo-anything and boy, was I hooked from then on. Maybe that was an influence into my purchase of my first car, a 1992 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo, years later, come to think of it.
i had to look up 92 starlet! we never got that car here:( looks cool!
Yeah, the Starlet Turbo was never officially sold here in Barbados either, it was an import, it was quite popular little hot hatch for a while here too. I’ve seen instances of people in the U.S. swapping in the Starlet Turbo’s 4E-FTE engine into their Tercels, which had a similar chassis to the standard Starlet.
I certainly like this version better then the ’89 model on up.
agree, but only because i had one!
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