JDM suggestions please

[rene7]

Hope you guys can make some suggestions for my new ride, after 10 yrs or so the Legacy sport wagon, is showing its age. The wife recntly bought a JDM Blademaster 'G' [read the 'Wesley' thread in Toyota section,] which I really like too shame they don't make a 4WD version would be such a great car!!
Originally I was planning on another Legacy wagon [would be my 4th], but if you lot can suggest an alternative that would be good too
New ride must have:>
4WD - Hatch or Estate body - N/A Petrol engine 3000cc+
Would like it to have> Sunroof & Leather
I don't want any kind of Van or SUV - or any engine which has a turbo.
Hope it's easy for you JDM specialists to make a suggestion - so that I can surprise the wife, like she surprised me when she bought 'Wesley'
TA
Rene

[Lazermilk]

Mitsubishi Legnum
Mitsubishi Evo Estate
Nissan Stagea
Forester STI

ETA - Missed the NA requirement

[magpie215]

I know you said no vans....but

A 4x4 3.5l Nissan Elgrand tick 90% of what your asking for.

Also the VQ engine is a superb almost unbreakable powerplant.

[Zerosumgame]

If you could stomach a saloon have a look at the Honda Legend or the Nissan Fuga... both AWD and NA....but it you are going down that route you may as well have a look at the V8 Toyota Crown that they made in AWD

[Axeboy]

No Vans and no turbos makes most options redundant, however, a few choices:

Legacy Outback 3.6 (you'll be aware of this) - rare but they do come up
Toyota Crown Estate - 4wd available with the 1jz non turbo
Toyota Harrier (not a van?) - 4wd and can have the 3.5 v6
Nissan Stagea - can come with various options in the newer shape, the M35, for example the 3.5 V6 and 4wd
Nissan Murano - 3.5v6 semi 4x4 thing

Big fan of the Legnum mentioned above, but the decent ones (Vr4) are turbo and getting on a bit imo.

[Axeboy]

Zerosumgame said:

have a look at the V8 Toyota Crown that they made in AWD

Yep, that was the Crown Majesta, available in 4wd on the smaller 4.3 but not the 4.6

The Lexus LS (pretty much the same) did come in various 4x4 trims with the 4.6 and others

[Zerosumgame]

Ok the answer is the Toyota Altezza Gita AS300
(wagon) - chassis code JCE15W

[rene7]

Thanks for suggestions - I've been looking at them:-
>
Toyota altezza/crown - looks like a 3 box saloon[with a sloping boot]
Toyota Harrier/nissan murano both look like suv's to me -no thanks
Nissan stagea looks OK but getting a bit old now 2007 were the last made, which is a shame But a low miler would certainly be OK - Thanks for that suggestion
Nissan elgrand is definitely a van- no thanks. [It'll fall over with me driving it ]
I'm surprised there's no other JDM 4wd hatches
Legacy Outback 3.6 looks possible if I can find one - really like subaru's too, they have proved very reliable, and awesome in snow which is why I need 4wd.
Thanks for the suggestions so far - I'm still hopeful though
Rene

[magpie215]

Toyota Caldina zt 4wd

[Axeboy]

magpie215 said:

Toyota Caldina zt 4wd

He wants non turbo, and a larger engine

[rene7]

Magpie
Toy caldina - Looks OK but it has a small TURBO engine which I don't want
TA
Rene

[Axeboy]

rene7 said:

Thanks for suggestions - I've been looking at them:-
>
Toyota altezza/crown - looks like a 3 box saloon[with a sloping boot]
Toyota Harrier/nissan murano both look like suv's to me -no thanks
Nissan stagea looks OK but getting a bit old now 2007 were the last made, which is a shame But a low miler would certainly be OK - Thanks for that suggestion
Nissan elgrand is definitely a van- no thanks. [It'll fall over with me driving it ]
I'm surprised there's no other JDM 4wd hatches
Legacy Outback 3.6 looks possible if I can find one - really like subaru's too, they have proved very reliable, and awesome in snow which is why I need 4wd.
Thanks for the suggestions so far - I'm still hopeful though
Rene

The issue you might have is you dont want old at 2007 but you dont really want to import something newer than 10 years, so it limits options to only a short time unfortunately.

The Crown Estate isnt a sloping boot, the Altezza is. The Crown is older though, quite boxy JSZ171W is the chassis (iirc)

There are many others around like the Mark X Zio, but dont have the higher power engines. Likewise, some Honda estates available but most are 2.0 or 2.2

The Subaru would likely fit as although rare, most other parts are readily available in the UK. Windscreens always tend to put me off buying something too rare. Its not likely to be an issue but if you need a new windscreen for rarer imports you might be out of a car for some time.

A grade 4 Outback 3.6 from 2011 would be around £6k to £7k I expect

Edited by Axeboy on Saturday 25th September 13:40

[rene7]

Axeboy
Yep I think it's gonna be another Legacy wagon - like you say not much choice in the 4wd Estate/hatch section. but I'm well pleased with the Legacy, was just hoping against hope there may be an alterrnative available - to surprise the wife
The Nissan stagea although ticking most boxes were V pricy £10K + for a 120-150K miler, which to me is a clapped out old banger maybe it's their connection to GTR's?
The Outback 3.6 would be great at the price you mentioned, I've had a trawl online & can't find anything, who would you suggest might have one?
Another plus is that most people who buy JDM machines want a Big winged, screaming Turbo hatch type thingy, Old geezers like me want anything except that so I guess N/A big engined Legacies are undesirable
TA
Rene

Edited by rene7 on Saturday 25th September 14:52

[Axeboy]

The M35 Stagea's are normally cheap, probably just inflated here for a quick profit, they are around £5k imported for a decent 350, they dont sell for much. As its the NA version and auto, they dont command the higher prices.

The Legacy 3.6, I would suggest just import one yourself or get someone to do it for you like Torque. They dont go for that much in Japan either.

Edited by Axeboy on Saturday 25th September 15:50

[TommoAE86]

I don't think anything exists that fully hits all of your requirements;

Stagea 350RX Four - 4WD, 3.5L (chassis code: PNM35)


Mitsubishi Diamante Wagon - 2WD, 3L (chassis code: F36W) - I know nothing about these :lol:


Mazda Atenza Sport Wagon 25S - 4WD, 2.5L (chassis code: GH5AW)

[S100HP]

Outback 3.6 is most logical next step. They do go through the Japanese auctions on a semi regular basis if you'd consider importing one?

[MDMA .]

Why no turbo? Curious. I have a NA and a turbo Legacy. The JDM turbo one is by far the more superior car.

[rene7]

mdma
Simply personal prefernce -Just like I didn't want my wife to have blonde hair and BIG tits
Rene

[InitialDave]

Does it have to be JDM?

I think a B7 Audi RS4 hits all your metrics.

[MDMA .]

rene7 said:

mdma
Simply personal prefernce -Just like I didn't want my wife to have blonde hair and BIG tits
Rene

So you like plain, sensible, middle of the road stuff you're missing out on a whole lot of fun.