I've only driven one of the group (a modified TII RX-7) Looks wise, I personally like the looks of the Starquest cars over the others, foillowed by the Supra, and the FC. The TII I drove had a ton of mods and crazy amount of torque (V-8 esque)!!! Modified I like the Supra and possibly the only one who likes the Targa Top option. 300z's I had a friend that was in high school a couple years behind me, and his first car was '86 Turbo Z. Keep in mind a Racing Beat Exhaust adds 59hp ( I think that's what I remember). My word of advice is as previously mentioned drive one of each and experience each ones quirks, and which one suits you the best.
Did Dodge Mitsubishi make a 2.6 Multiport FI Head that would bolt on to get rid of the troublesome TBI?
From my non-scientific observations, it seems that the 300zx is, by far, the worst of the group when it comes to rust.
I can't remember seeing rust on a Supra or StarQuest.
Leaves collect in the bottoms of the FC front fenders and cause them to rust from the inside out, and they also can get a Honda-esque rear quarter rust spot.
300ZXs seem to rust everywhere, and in weird places that don't seem to be affected on other cars.
This is just what I have observed in the St.Louis area over many years of paying attention.
If it counts, a celica all-trac aka gt four. If all you care about is speed they can be made to really deliver.
Full disclosure: I dont know the differnce between a muscle car and a pony car. I guess I will have to research that. If this does not apply my apologies,
Did Dodge Mitsubishi make a 2.6 Multiport FI Head that would bolt on to get rid of the troublesome TBI?
Use aftermarket engine management or buy a setup from one off the links I posted. Either resolve it's problems.
People are making reliable power from TBI now it's not like it used to be for these cars. People seem really successful with extra injectors and maf-t. These:
injector setup like this http://www.racetep.com/starfi.htm
http://www.maftpro.com/
The bigger problem with the cars is the heads and the recirculating ball steering. Everything else with the car is no worse than any of these other cars. And yes a Starion is more reliable than a FC. The only reliable FC is a FC with a V8. If a Starion head cracks you put a jdm or built head on and you never have to worry about it again.
I have never seen a MKIII Supra with rust
I havn't seen one in anything less than a supurb, for it's age, condition in quite a while. The only problem I have with the supra is that it's the easiest to maintain most comfortable car on the list. It's also the least fun. It's pretty much a straight line mullet car but I guess that fits the muscle car mantra so it's perfect in that regard.
rotard wrote:
FC more fragile than a starquest???? Easily the FC out of this group. I really prefer the FB, though.
How is it not more fragile? FC is a car that is a nightmare of reliability and engine rebuilds.
A starquest is fairly solid aside from the head and TBI both of which are easily resolved.
I just think Mazda rotary people just accept their cars destroy themselves as part of the package so they forget how unreliable they are.
TBH the best cars mentioned are probably the Supra and the 300zx because they are the most common and have the most support and has no self-destructive traits that can't be easily fixed with whats already on the car. With the Starion it's probably more like the 300zx except with better suspension. Just deal with the resolvable reliability issues are you are fine.
I wouldn't consider a Supra to be an 80s car. a MK2 supra yes but a MK3 is more like a modern or a 90s car. Heavy, solid, good interior, etc. Even the design doesn't seem 80s to me. 300zx and Starion are the most "80s" cars of the bunch mentioned.
In reply to kanaric:
There are many 1st and 2nd generation RX-7s running around with over 200k on the original engines.
I've seen them all rusty as E36 M3.
It does seem that the vast majority of MKiii Supras i see on the road these days are pretty damn nice, though.
They're also by FAR the most common out of the four that i see.
The Celica AllTrac is an interesting idea, but... also harder to work on than any of the four mentioned. It DOES have the capability for ludicrous speed, and will/can handle at least as good as any of the other options with a little work.
Also, don't mistake the Supra as a straight line only/mullet car. They're big, they're heavy, and they have a suspension designed by Lotus. They WILL handle. Incredibly and deceptively so.
Swank Force One wrote:
Also, don't mistake the Supra as a straight line only/mullet car. They're big, they're heavy, and they have a suspension designed by Lotus. They WILL handle. Incredibly and deceptively so.
Yes. I think ever one sees the weight of the Supra and assumes it can't handle but it handles pretty damn well certainly better the Z31 and maybe as well FC (no idea on the Starquest).
93EXCivic wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
Also, don't mistake the Supra as a straight line only/mullet car. They're big, they're heavy, and they have a suspension designed by Lotus. They WILL handle. Incredibly and deceptively so.
Yes. I think ever one sees the weight of the Supra and assumes it can't handle but it handles pretty damn well certainly better the Z31 and maybe as well FC (no idea on the Starquest).
I owned an '04 GTO so pretty much anything is a lightweight car to me. I'm seeing about 3400lbs for the Supra, so that's still a good 400lbs lighter than the Goat.
The TBI setup in the conquest isn't really my cup of tea for a DD, a 4G63 sounds like it would be a nice swap to add some better reliability and performance to the car.
t25torx wrote:
93EXCivic wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
Also, don't mistake the Supra as a straight line only/mullet car. They're big, they're heavy, and they have a suspension designed by Lotus. They WILL handle. Incredibly and deceptively so.
Yes. I think ever one sees the weight of the Supra and assumes it can't handle but it handles pretty damn well certainly better the Z31 and maybe as well FC (no idea on the Starquest).
I owned an '04 GTO so pretty much anything is a lightweight car to me. I'm seeing about 3400lbs for the Supra, so that's still a good 400lbs lighter than the Goat.
The TBI setup in the conquest isn't really my cup of tea for a DD, a 4G63 sounds like it would be a nice swap to add some better reliability and performance to the car.
There's a 2.5 litre BMW i6 powered Starion that shows up on Craigslist around here periodically.
It's turbo'd. 
I want it.
I don't even know where i'd find them.... there's pics in an old thread on here from about 2 years back, but don't remember if they were CL hosted or not. I'd probably have to wait for it to pop up again.
The last 3 times it was listed, it was challenge friendly. Clean looking car, too.
In reply to Swank Force One:
Tease.
93EXCivic wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
Also, don't mistake the Supra as a straight line only/mullet car. They're big, they're heavy, and they have a suspension designed by Lotus. They WILL handle. Incredibly and deceptively so.
Yes. I think ever one sees the weight of the Supra and assumes it can't handle but it handles pretty damn well certainly better the Z31 and maybe as well FC (no idea on the Starquest).
The Supra will handle well despite it's weight. They aren't very flingable, but are planted and feel solid--- up until 135mph or so and then the front end starts to get very light!
Also--- keep in mind while the targa is nice on sunny days, it turns the car into a wet noodle when the top is off. These cars are seriously flexy with the targa top off. With it on, they are fine, and I'd imagine the solid roof cars are pretty rigid.
Stock-- the Turbo Supra is quicker and faster than the Starion, or RX-7, although a Turbo 300zx may give it a run. IIRC late Turbo Supras (with the revised front end and rear spoiler) ran 0-60 in 6.3, and 14.4 through the 1/4 mile. They also had a top end of about 145 or so. They were forgotten when the TT Supra arrived, but the 3rd gen turbos are not slow cars.
kanaric wrote:
I just think Mazda rotary people just accept their cars destroy themselves as part of the package so they forget how unreliable they are.
I have to take vigorous exception to this statement. My Turbo II has a little over 100k on the original engine and driveline. Over the last several years and few thousand miles, it's life has consisted mostly of WOT redline runs at near 20 PSI. Granted, it's running a sufficiently rich fuel map, but it has been beat upon mercilessly and refuses to die.
1988RedT2 wrote:
Granted, it's running a sufficiently rich fuel map, but it has been beat upon mercilessly and refuses to die.
I feel that this is how you keep a rotary alive. Lots of fuel and whip its ass daily.
Joe Gearin wrote:
93EXCivic wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
Also, don't mistake the Supra as a straight line only/mullet car. They're big, they're heavy, and they have a suspension designed by Lotus. They WILL handle. Incredibly and deceptively so.
Yes. I think ever one sees the weight of the Supra and assumes it can't handle but it handles pretty damn well certainly better the Z31 and maybe as well FC (no idea on the Starquest).
The Supra will handle well despite it's weight. They aren't very flingable, but are planted and feel solid--- up until 135mph or so and then the front end starts to get very light!
Also--- keep in mind while the targa is nice on sunny days, it turns the car into a wet noodle when the top is off. These cars are seriously flexy with the targa top off. With it on, they are fine, and I'd imagine the solid roof cars are pretty rigid.
Stock-- the Turbo Supra is quicker and faster than the Starion, or RX-7, although a Turbo 300zx may give it a run. IIRC late Turbo Supras (with the revised front end and rear spoiler) ran 0-60 in 6.3, and 14.4 through the 1/4 mile. They also had a top end of about 145 or so. They were forgotten when the TT Supra arrived, but the 3rd gen turbos are not slow cars.
And you can play with all kinds of old cool stuff if you desire!
Yeah I think it's going to come down to just finding the best example I can find of any of them and getting it. The Supra I think is pulling ahead just on ease of maintenance and track record with reliability, once the head gasket stuff is fixed.
Aspen
New Reader
6/6/13 11:01 a.m.
In reply to t25torx:
There is a nice Supra for sale in Tilsonburg, ON. no winters, white, manual, original, $7,500. See autotrader.ca. I am not connected to this car is any way.
There are 2 somewhat close to me. One is nearby in Jersey, but an automatic (only 86k miles) and the other is out in PA (also low, only 109k miles). Both look decent enough in photos and for a decent price. No affiliation to them...
PA Car
NJ Car
Rotaries are reliable. It is the owners who are not.
You MUST do preventative maintenance.
I think it is the 3rd gen that gives rotaries a bad name. Even they are not un-reliable. The problem is the heat management with the 3rd gens. They produce a huge amount of heat that eats vacuum lines, wireing harnesses, etc.
My Turbo II has over a 140,000 miles and doesn't miss a beat. I have been ripping on it for the last 6 or 7 years with no problems.
Rob R.
P.S. I am surprised at how little torque the car has every time I drive it.
dansxr2 wrote:
Looks wise, I personally like the looks of the Starquest cars over the others, foillowed by the Supra, and the FC.
The Conquest looks even better when cut apart and deftly added to a Corolla......
I'v been running searchtempest to death looking at these cars. I managed to find a slicktop Z31, it was an auto/non turbo, but that would be an easy sway to the turbo drive train. Couple of decent Supras, though I feel I'm going to have to end up painting or doing an interior swap to get the metallic burgundy/grey interior color combo I want. Lots of blue and maroon interiored cars out there.
Vigo
UltraDork
6/6/13 3:18 p.m.
The Conquest looks even better when cut apart and deftly added to a Chevrolet Citation......
Which would look about the same and make about as much sense. 
