0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1985-1989 Impulse/Piazza JR Turbo (JR Turbo) 7.7 15.9@87 130 189 144 .86 27 .33 Engine: 140 HP^ 1.994liter I-4 SOHC Intercooled Turbocharged Price: $13,920-15,828 ^ The Piazza Turbo was rated at 145 HP. The addition of a $200 reboost kit raises the boost pressure, increases the horsepower to 175 HP and drops the JR Turbo's 0-60 time to 6.6 seconds, and 1/4 mile time drops into the 14's. 1981-1987 Impulse/Piazza JRNon-turbo (JR Non-turbo) 11.0 18.04@74.7 106* 192 157 .79 29 .36 Engine: 90 HP# 1.949 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $11,570 * The naturally aspirated Impulse is capable of speeds in excess of 110 mph and closer to 115 mph after the engine is broken in. # The Piazza Non-turbo in Japan was available with a 135 HP I-4 DOHC, two-valve-per-cylinder, engine as an option. 1987-1989 Impulse/Piazza JR Non-turbo No known testing was done on this vehicle. Engine: 110 HP 2.255 liter I-4 SOHC Price: NA
And what did the purchase of a JR include? The following is a
list of standard features for the JR:
Design
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1990 Acura Integra GS 9.4 16.8@82.1 123 204 132 .78 24 NA Engine: 140 HP 1.8 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $16, 520 Critique: The Integra matches the horse power and price of the JR Turbo, yet returns performance numbers more similar to the JR Non-turbo. Another Honda disappointment. 1991 Acura Integra LS 8.9 16.7@80.8 NA NA 141 .78 NA NA Engine: 130 HP 1.834 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $13,975 Critique: No match for the JR Turbo. 1992 Acura Integra GSR 8.0 16.1@88.0 141(est)NA 163 .84 26.5 NA Engine: 160 HP 1.678 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $18,774 Critique: Even with a twenty horse power handicap, the Integra GSR still can't keep up with the JR Turbo. Note The Type R does NOT meet the requirements for this comparison test because it is not a mass production automobile. It is a special edition automobile available in only 100 units per year. It is included here only because it is the only Honda product priced under $50,000 which matches the performance level of the JR Turbo. 1998 Acura Integra Type R 7.1 15.34@93 143 164 NA .88 22 NA Engine: 195 HP 1.797 liter I-4 DOHC VTEC Price: $28,000-34,000 Critique: It is important to firsst point out what the Type R doesn't have, and that is: no cruise control, no sunroof, no vanity mirror, no leather, no air conditioning, no rear wiper, no sound insulation, no spare tire cover, and no clock. No doubt the addition of any of these items that are standard on the JR Turbo would add enough weight to the Type R destroy its performance. With the Type R, you basically get a stripped down base vehicle with a tuned engine, at the price of an entry level BMW with full appointment, but the BMW still performs better. With the Integra Type R, Honda has finally managed to produce a car that out performs the JR Turbo, but Honda only needs a 55 HP handicap to do this. With almost two decades of technology advantage, all the DOHC VTEC and other developments that Honda could cram into the aesthetically challenged frigidair on wheels and a 300 pound weight advantage, and they only manage a .56 second quarter mile time over the JR Turbo, despite the extra 39% horse power that the Type R has. Given that the Type R owner pays twice what the JR owner paid, that is simply disgraceful. You could strap one JR turbo on each foot and still have money left over to buy a few performance goodies that would leave both JRs kicking the teeth in on every Type R that you could find. The Type R is nothing more than an over hyped embarasment from Honda. Honda will never match the performance-per-power- output that Isuzu produces in every car it builds. Honda will never match the performance-per- price of Isuzu automobiles.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1988 Sprint 1.7 8.3 NA 117.4 NA NA NA 33 NA Engine: 118 HP 1.712 liter I-4 Price: $12,600
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1986 Audi Quatro GT 9.1 16.5@81 NA NA NA NA 25 NA Engine: 110 HP 2.226 liter I-5 SOHC Price: $18,525 Critique: See 1990 Audi Quatro. 1990 Audi Quatro 10.1 17.3@82.1 135 185 139 .79 23 NA Engine: 164 HP I-5 2.309 liter DOHC Price: $31,500 Critique: The Quatro shares the same designer as the JR, but Audi never seemed to manage the performance level that Isuzu did.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1995 BMW 318 ti 7.8 16.1@84 116 175 NA NA 23 NA Engine: 138 HP 1.796 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $22,770 Critique: Almost to the performance level of the JR Turbo, but the 318 ti is also almost six-thousand dollars more expensive. 1990 BMW 318 is 8.8 16.5@84.0 122 NA 117 .87 22 NA Engine: NA Price: $21,500 Critique: Pay more, get less. 1994 BMW 318 is 10.1 17.5@80.5 128(est)NA 135 .85 27.5 NA Engine: 138 HP 1.796 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $27,065 Critique: Pay lots more, get even less. 1990 BMW 525 i 9.0 16.8@83.8 130 184 128 .80 17 NA Engine: 168 HP 2.494 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $37,475 Critique: Pay twice as much, still get less.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1989 Chevrolet Beretta GTU 9.6 17.0@82.8 114 200 144 .84 19 NA Engine: 130 HP 2.8 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $15,428 Critique: See 1990 Beretta GT 1990 Chevrolet Beretta GT 8.6 16.4@84.0 125 NA 164 .80 20 NA Engine: 135 HP 3.135 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $14,407 Critique: Despite two additional cylinders and a liter of extra displacement, the Beretta simply isn't the same calibre of automobile as the JR Turbo. Having been run-into by several of these in my short life, I would have to say that the stopping distance figures recorded by the automotive press are grossly under exaggerated and the road handling figures are grossly over exaggerated. 1990 Chevrolet Lumina Euro Sedan 10.5 17.4@78 117 218 139 .78 19 NA Engine: 135 HP 3.135 liter V-6 Price: $16,152 Critique: Two extra cylinders and over a full liter in additional displacement and the Lumina is more a match for the JR Non-turbo. 1994 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 7.7 16.0@87 120 189 NA .79 22 NA Engine: 210 HP 3.350 liter V-6 DOHC Price: $20,543 Critique: It only takes the Monte Carlo seventy extra horsepower to match the acceleration of the JR Turbo. Too bad the handling and top end are so poor.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1987 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z 8.05 16.08@86.7 NA NA 140 .83 21 NA Engine: I4 Turbocharged Price: NA Critique: See 1990 Daytona ES Ltd. 1990 Dodge Daytona ES Ltd. 8.9 16.9@82.8 125 NA 144 .82 19 NA Engine: 141 HP 2.972 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $15,159 Critique: Dodge's attempt at a Starion replacement fails miserably. 1995 Dodge Avenger ES 9.3 17.1@83.5 125(est)NA 149 .83 21 NA Engine: 155 HP 2.497 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $18,781 Critique: Dodge's newcomer has more power and two additional cylinders over the JR Turbo, yet still can't keep up to its performance. 1995 Dodge Neon Sport Coupe 8.5 16.4@87.3 118 NA 156 .79 27 NA Engine: 150 HP 1.996 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $14,894 Critique: Say "Hi" to a nice view of the JR Turbo's rear end, because the Neon will only get a short look at it as it pulls away from the Neon at a high velocity. The Neon has ten horse power on the JR Turbo, yet still can't keep up. Thankfully the top end is so low, or the poor handling of the Neon could be dangerous.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1990 Ford Escort GT 8.9 16.8 120 NA NA .81 28 NA Engine: 127 HP 1.796 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $11,697 Critique: See 1993 Escort GT. 1991 Ford Escort GT 9.0 16.8@80.2 NA NA 137 .76 NA NA Engine: 127 HP 1.839 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $12,704 Critique: See 1993 Escort GT. 1993 Ford Escort GT 8.4 16.5@84.5 110(est)NA 163 .77 28 NA Engine: 127 HP 1.840 liter I-4 DOHC Price: NA Critique: The Escort GT is clearly out matched when compared to the JR Turbo. 1988 Ford Probe GT 7.9 16.1@87.4 134 194 136 .81 24 NA Engine: 145 HP 2.184 liter I-4 Turbocharged Price: $16,276 Critique: See 1992 Probe GT. 1990 Ford Probe LX 8.2 16.2@86.5 130 NA 145 .79 21 NA Engine: 140 HP 2.986 liter V-6 Price: $15,493 Critique: See 1992 Probe GT. 1990 Ford Probe GT 8.0 15.89@87.88 131 NA 133 .79 21 NA Engine: 145 HP 2.184 liter I-4 Turbocharged Price: $15,426 Critique: See 1992 Probe GT. 1992 Ford Probe GT 7.9 16.0@87.5 141(est)NA 165 .87 22 NA Engine: 164 HP 2.497 liter V-6 DOHC Price: $19,911 Critique: The Probe proves again that when you buy a Ford, "it takes more to get less". The Probe has a ten percent larger displacement than the JR Turbo, yet manages to lag a hair behind the JR Turbo in performance while making a mere five more horse power. Off the line, the Probe is a close match for the JR Turbo, but the handling is not quite at the same level as the JR Turbo, possibly due to the Probes fwd chassis. Yet the Probe has poorer gas mileage. The Probe shows all of the disadvantages of fwd, with none of the advantages. 1991 Ford Taurus SHO 7.7 16.2@85.0 140(est)NA 139 .81 18 NA Engine: 220 HP 3.0 liter V-6 DOHC Price: $24,539 Critique: The SHO has an eighty horsepower, two cylinder, and sixteen valve advantage, but manages only to match the JR Turbo's 0-60 but the SHO driver gets a good long look at the tail lights of the JR Turbo as it pulls away from the SHO in the quarter mile, not to mention in the turns, where the SHO's poor handling leaves it again stairing at the tail of the JR Turbo.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1990 Geo Storm Hatchback 10.5 17.6@77.9 NA NA 124 .84 30 NA Engine: 102 HP 1.6 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $12,350 Critique: See 1993 Storm GSi. 1993 Geo Storm GSi 8.7 16.7@82.0 115(est)NA 139 .85 26 NA Engine: 140 HP 1.810 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $14,861 Critique: Geo's adopted Isuzu product, that is basically the JI Impulse/Piazza in lowest trim form. The misconception over performance and equipment level of this car, along with the lower price, contributed to the death of the JI Impulse/Piazza. Not a bad little car, but no match for the more serious competitors on the sporty, compact class.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1988 Honda CRX Si 8.9 16.7@83.0 121 176 141 .83 29 NA Engine: 108 HP 1.580 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $10,895 Critique: See 1991 CRX Si. 1990 Honda CRX Si 8.9 17.1 125 NA NA .81 31 NA Engine: 105 HP 1.580 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $12,503 Critique: See 1991 CRX Si. 1991 Honda CRX Si 9.0 16.9@80.4 NA NA 154 .79 NA NA Engine: 106 HP 1.590 liter I-4 SOHC 16V Price: $11,330 Critique: This represents the top-of-the-line CRX, and only proves that everything Honda has, simply isn't enough to keep up with the rest of the pack. The CRX performs only slightly better than the JR Non-Turbo, but this means comparing the top-of-the-line CRX to the bottom-of-the- line Impulse/Piazza, and is like comparing apples to oranges. Certainly the CRX represents a significant savings over the JR Turbo, but it must be remembered that the equipment level of the CRX is not unlike that of a go-cart, while the JR is a full grand touring automobile with power everything and all options included. Not to mention that the purchase of a second CRX is required to transport the same number of passengers which the JR seats comfortably. In light of this, over five-thousand dollars is saved with the JR Turbo. And you can actually drive the JR Turbo when you turn on the air conditioning (also standard on the JR). This can not be said of the CRX. The CRX is weighs one-third less, a full 900 pounds lighter than the JR Turbo, yet braking from 60-0 is higher than that of the JR Turbo. But, you only get what you pay for, and the nice thing is, while the JR Turbo out accelerates and out handles the CRX, you can have three friends ride with you and all laugh at the aesthetically challenged, diminutive Honda as it disappears onto the horizon behind you. 1992 Honda Civic del Sol Si 8.1 16.7@84 121 194 NA .78 29 NA Engine: 125 HP 1.590 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $16,700 Critique: No better an effort than the CRX at four-thousand dollars extra. Too slow, not aesthetically pleasing. 1994 Honda Civic del Sol VTEC 7.7 15.9@90.0 130(est)NA 159 NA 28 NA Engine: 160 HP 1.595 liter I-4 DOHC VTEC Price: $18,802 Critique: It takes the CRX's replacement twenty extra horse power and three-thousand extra dollars to match the performance of the JR Turbo. And it still takes two of them to accommodate as many passengers as the JR. Still not aesthetically pleasing. 1986 Honda Civic Si 10.6 17.8@78.7 NA NA 147 .78 33 NA Engine: 91 HP 1.488 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $8,699 Critique: See 1988 Civic LX Sedan. 1988 Honda Civic LX Sedan 10.7 18.1@76.6 NA NA 140 .77 33 NA Engine: 92 HP 1.493 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $10,375 Critique: The performance level of the Civic is only a fraction above that of the JR Non-turbo, mostly due to its dismally lacking equipment level and leaf-like weight. The Civic was designed as a grocery-getter and nothing else. King of high mileage, certainly, but a sports car it is not. Comparing it to the JR Turbo would be an insult to the JR. This just proves that you only get what you pay for. 1989 Honda Civic Si 8.5 16.5 110 183 NA .79 28 NA Engine: 108 HP 1.590 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $11,499 Critique: See 1996 Civic CoupeEX. 1992 Honda Civic EX 8.2 16.6@84 120 210 NA .75 30 NA Engine: 125 HP 1.590 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $15,200 Critique: See 1996 Civic Coupe EX. 1994 Honda Civic Sedan EX 8.9 NA NA NA 161 .80 30 NA Engine: 125 HP 1.6 liter I-4 SOHC Price: NA Critique: See 1996 Civic Coupe EX. 1996 Honda Civic Coupe EX 9.1 16.8@82.3 110 NA 163 NA 33 NA Engine: 127 HP 1.590 liter I-4 DOHC Price: NA Critique: Still having a distinct weight advantage, the under equipped Civic is still no match for the JR Turbo. 1988 Honda Accord LXi Coupe 10.0 17.6@79.4 NA NA 140 .82 25 NA Engine: 120 HP 1.955 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $14,395 Critique: See 1994 Accord EX Coupe. 1988 Honda Accord Aerodeck EXi 9.6 NA 116 NA NA NA 28.1 .34 Engine: 120 HP 1.995 liter I-4 Price: $16,590 Critique: See 1994 Accord EX Coupe. 1994 Honda Accord EX Coupe 9.3 17.1@83.0 130(est)NA 145 .77 28.1 NA Engine: 145 HP 2.156 liter I-4 SOHC VTEC Price: $21,736 Critique: Honda's attempt at a sporty compact car, with dismal results. The Accord is in the same price range as the JR Turbo, yet the Accord performs only marginally better than the econo-box Civic. As with the Civic, the Accord lacks the styling and sophistication of the Italian designed JR, and it's performance is equally lacking. 1994 Honda Accord LX V-6 8.8 17.0@84 128 182 128 .75 19 NA Engine: 170 HP 2.675 liter V-6 DOHC Price: $25,000 Critique: Even with a V-6 and 30 horse power over the JR Turbo, the Accord can't even come close to the level of performance in the Isuzu. 1986 Honda Prelude 2.0 Si 9.4 16.7@83.1 NA NA NA NA 24.5 NA Engine: 110 HP 1.955 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $13,608 Critique: See 1988 Prelude SI 4WS. 1988 Honda Prelude SI 4WS 9.1 17.1@81.9 122 202 148 .77 20 NA Engine: 135 HP 1.958 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $18,645 Critique: No one has ever accused Honda of designing and building handsome automobiles, and the Prelude is no exception. Honda's flags ship in the compact sports car class proves that Honda hasn't got what it takes to produce a genuine, affordable, sporty car. The Prelude sees a dramatic jump in price between 1986 and 1988, yet acceleration only improves marginally, while the quarter mile time actually increases and mileage falls. Honda's step from SOHC to DOHC raises horse power, but not performance. Certainly saddling the vehicle with a fwd chassis doesn't help matters any. The JR Turbo (Isuzu's flagship) outperforms the Prelude on all levels, at a lower price. Further embarrassment of Honda is not necessary.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1991 Hyundai Scoupe 11.6 18.2@75.3 NA NA 130 .84 26 NA Engine: 81 HP 1.468 liter I-4 SOHC Price: NA Critique: A car that a ten year old JR Non-turbo can easily whip. 1993 Hyundai Scoupe Turbo 8.3 16.3@85.5 105(est)NA 151 .78 28 NA Engine: 115 HP 1.495 liter I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $12,264 Critique: Even with the turbocharger, the Scoupe is not much of a competitor for the JR Turbo.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1988 I-Mark RS Turbo 8.9 16.8 NA NA NA .81 23 NA Engine: I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $10,559 Critique: The I-Mark RS Turbo offers snappy performance, above that of the JR Non-turbo, at a very reasonable price, but it falls a little short of the JR Turbo. 1990 Isuzu Impulse XS 9.3 16.9 120 NA NA .84 24 NA Engine: I-4 DOHC Price: $13,999 Critique: See 1991 Impulse RS. 1991 Isuzu Impulse RS 7.8 15.8@87.4 NA NA 116 .86 22 NA Engine: 160 HP I-4 DOHC Turbocharged Price: $16,250 Critique: Isuzu's replacement for the JR Turbo, the JI Turbo is smaller and lighter, with all the advantages of an extra decade of technology and four wheel drive, yet it fares a fraction lower in performance all the was around. A few more years of refinement would have had the JI Turbo besting the JR Turbo, but the model was killed too soon. 1991 Isuzu Stylus XS 9.6 17.0@81.0 NA NA 136 .84 25 NA Engine: I-4 DOHC Price: NA Critique: Isuzu's replacement for the I-Mark. Outperforms the JR Non-turbo, but not a match for the JR Turbo.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1983 Mazda RX-7 9.80 17.01@81.3 117.5 NA NA .80 21 .35 Engine: 100 HP 1.146 liter W-2 Price: $13,075 Critique: See 1989 Mazda RX-7 GTUs. 1989 Mazda RX-7 GTUs 8.6 16.7@84.5 130(est)NA 152 .81 19 NA Engine: 160 HP 1.308 liter W-2 Price: $20,708 Critique: The RX-7 GTUs out powers the JR Turbo by 20 HP and four-thousand dollars, but the rotary wonder just can't seem to keep up with the Isuzu. 1990 Mazda Miata MX-5 9.4 16.9@82.4 117 195 139 .88 25 NA Engine: 116 HP 1.597 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $15,740-19,000 Critique: See 1993 Miata MX-5 1993 Mazda Miata MX-5 8.8 16.6@83.0 121(est)NA 152 NA 24 NA Engine: 128 HP 1.839 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $19,430 Critique: Clearly, the Miata is not in the same class as the JR Turbo. The Miata lags far behind in all categories except handling. It's good that the Miata excels at something, too bad that it's price doesn't reflect it's dismal performance in all of the other categories. 1988 Mazda MX-6 GT 8.11 16.08@87.7 133 189 141 .80 20 NA Engine: 145 HP 2.184 liter I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $18,600 Critique: See 1990 MX-6 GT. 1990 Mazda MX-6 GT 8.0 15.8@90.0 NA NA 140 .83 21 NA Engine: 145 HP 2.184 liter I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $17,929 Critique: A valiant attempt by Mazda, but even with more power and displacement, the MX-6 falls short of the performance of the JR Turbo, while costing over two-thousand dollars more. 1990 Mazda 626 GT 7.8 15.8@89.1 130 179 140 .81 21 NA Engine: 145 HP 2.184 liter I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $16,399 Critique: Mazda takes the same engine as found in the MX-6, and throws it into the larger, heavier, 626, and it goes faster? Go figure. The 626 is still not quite up to par with the JR Turbo on 0-60, or on handling.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1983 Mitsubishi Starion 8.66 16.46@83.8 121.5 NA NA .80 24 .35 Engine: 145 HP 2.555 liter I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $13,940 Critique: See 1989 Starion ESI-R. 1989 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R 7.6 16.1@86.1 NA NA 140 .85 NA .35 Engine: 188 HP 2.555 liter I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $20,559 Critique: The Starion has always represented the muscle car of the Japanese import automobiles. Its dramatic, angular styling and raw power have been a benchmark among the economical sportscar class. It has been much maligned in the aftermarket for having a "truck engine" yet its performance matches most others, and they have been known to beat Mustang GTs in straight line performance. Yet, the Starion edges the JR Turbo by only a tenth of a second to 60 mph and is beaten by two-tenths of a second through the quarter mile. This despite over a half liter and 48 HP advantage that the Starion has. And the JR Turbo walks away from the Starion on top end and out handles it. Certainly the Starion is out matched at an almost five thousand dollar discount by the JR Turbo. 1988 Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo 9.24 16.98@82.2 NA NA 140 .75 NA NA Engine: 116 HP 1.795 liter SOHC I-4 Turbocharged Price: $13,579 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo 7.9 16.2@87.1 125 NA 140 .82 23 NA Engine: 135 HP 1.597 liter I-4 SOHC Turbocharged Price: $12,877 Critique: A Giugiaro hand-me-down design. The Mirage performs surprisingly well for its price range, but it lacks the equipment level and rear drive chassis of the JR Turbo. 1989 Mitsubishi Galant GS 10.43 17.64@79.4 117 187 138 .80 22 .35 Engine: 135 HP 1.977 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $18,039 Critique: See 1990 Galant VR-4. 1990 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 7.9 15.8 130 NA NA .77 21 NA Engine: NA Price: $21,000 Critique: The Galant just doesn't stack up to the JR Turbo. 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS 16V 12.3 19.0@74 NA NA 153 NA 29 NA Engine: 92 HP 1.8 liter DOHC I-4 Price: $13,809 Critique: Without the turbocharger, the Eclipse is an easy mark for the JR Non-turbo.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1983 Datsun 280 ZX 7.27 15.72@88.5 135.0 NA NA .77 21 .38 Engine: 180 HP 2.753 liter I-6 SOHC Price: $18,659 Critique: Datsun's classic sportscar out accelerates the JR Turbo, but the JR Turbo runs rings around the 280 ZX's poor handling characteristics. 1989 Nissan 300 ZX 7.33 16.01@87.12 143 171 124 .86 19 NA Engine: 222 HP 2.960 Liter V-6 DOHC Price: $27,560 Critique: At eleven-thousand dollars, 82 horsepower, two cylinders, and 12 valves over the JR Turbo, the 300 ZX is quicker to sixty, but slower through the quarter mile than the JR Turbo, and they are a dead match on handling. Quite obviously, the 300 ZX is not making the most of what it has. 1988 Nissan 200 SX SE 10.02 17.04@82.0 NA NA 147 .80 19 NA Engine: 165 HP 2.960 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $17,244 Critique: Nissan's attempt to copy the JR. Note the striking similarity, but the 200SX always lacked the classic styling and flowing lines of the JR. Nissan did, however, manage to shoe horn a V-6 in and up the ante on horse power. Unfortunately, the results were atrocious and they only succeeded in wasting a lot of gasoline to be left in the dust. Performance is only marginally better than the JR Non-turbo though the 200 SX SE has 75 HP and almost seven thousand dollars over it. Comparing it to the Turbo JR serves nothing but to rub salt in an open wound. The JR Turbo leaves the 200 SX SE over three seconds behind at 60 mph and over a second at the end of the quarter mile, the JR Turbo handles significantly better, and burns 8 mpg less. An added bonus is the one-and-a-half grand that the JR Turbo owner saved for the better performing car. 1988 Nissan Pulsar NX SE 9.3 17.0@81.8 NA NA 138 .85 23 NA Engine: I-4 Price: NA Critique: The Pulsar doesn't have what it takes to run with the JR Turbo. 1989 Nissan 240 SX SE 8.8 16.5@83 107 195 119 .82 20 NA Engine: 155 HP 2.4 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $16,108 Critique: See 1992 240 SX SE. 1992 Nissan 240 SX SE 8.4 16.3@85.5 130(est)NA 147 .85 22.0 NA Engine: 155 HP 2.389 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $20,300 Critique: The 240 SX SE showed so much promise as the last remaining affordable rear-wheel drive sporty car, but no one has ever been able to rationally explain why a vehicle with so much power and displacement is SO SLOW. Outperformed in every category by the JR Turbo, the 240 SX SE is a real disappointment. 1989 Nissan Maxima GXE 9.8 17.3@80.9 NA NA 145 .77 21 NA Engine: 160 HP 2.960 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $19,449 Critique: See 1989 Maxima SE 1989 Nissan Maxima SE 8.9 16.9@83.0 120(est)195 143 .78 20 NA Engine: 160 HP 2.960 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $18,399 Critique: The Maxima is too heavy and cumbersome to keep up with the JR Turbo. 1991 Nissan NX 2000 8.1 16.6 130 NA NA .88 30.0 NA Engine: I-4 DOHC Price: $14,000 Critique: Even the DOHC engine, of the smaller, lighter NX 2000, can't accelerate it as quickly as the JR Turbo. 1991 Nissan Sentra GXE 12.2 NA NA NA 152 .77 28 NA Engine: 110 HP 1.6 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $13,910 Critique: A twenty horse power handicap, yet an easy mark for the JR Non-turbo. 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R 8.3 16.3@83.4 NA NA 134 .75 NA NA Engine: 140 HP 1.996 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $13,465 Critique: Nissan uses DOHC technology to match the power of the JR Turbo, but just can't keep up in any of the performance categories. The "golden boy" of the automotive press pales when set side-by-side to the JR Turbo. 1995 Nissan 200 SX SER 8.0 16.1@83 109 182 NA .85 26 NA Engine: 140 HP 1.998 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $17,400 Critique: Another SER beaten hands down.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1989 Plymouth Laser RS 11.8 NA 120 NA 159 .84 25 .33 Engine: 135 HP 2.0 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $13,955 Critique: A match for the JR Non-turbo, but an easy mark for the JR Turbo. 1994 Plymouth Neon Sport 8.4 16.3@87.5 118 NA 142 .78 32 NA Engine: 132 HP 1.996 liter I-4 SOHC Price: $13,242 Critique: Only five horse power short of the JR Turbo, the Neon simply can't keep up in any category. Top speed and handling of the Neon are disappointing.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1988 Pontiac Grand Am SE 7.8 16.2 115 191 NA .81 25 NA Engine: NA Price: $14,636 Critique: See 1992 Grand Am GT. 1992 Pontiac Grand Am GT 8.2 16.5@86.0 125(est)NA 165 .82 22 NA Engine: 180 HP 2.260 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $16,635 Critique: With 40 horse power to spare, the Grand Am still can't keep up with the JR Turbo. 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 9.7 17.1@86.1 NA NA 135 .81 21.5 NA Engine: 160 HP 3.1 liter V-6 SOHC Price: $16,261 Critique: twenty extra horse power and two additional cylinders, and the Grand Prix SE still can't keep up with the JR Turbo.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1990 Saturn Coupe 8.6 16.6 124 NA NA .76 26.0 NA Engine: 124 HP 1.9 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $14,000 Critique: See 1991 SL2. 1991 Saturn SC 9.5 17.1@80.4 NA NA 139 .80 NA NA Engine: 124 HP 1.901 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $14,465 Critique: See 1991 SL2. 1991 Saturn SL2 8.6 16.5@84.9 NA NA 145 .78 24 NA Engine: 124 HP 1.901 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $12,890 Critique: The Saturn is no match for the JR Turbo.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1991 Subaru Legacy Sport Sedan 8.5 16.0@84.7 129 NA 123 .82 19 NA Engine: 130 HP 2.2 liter F-4 SOHC Price: $15,399 Critique: Not much competition for the JR Turbo. 1988 Subaru XT6 10.35 17.54@78.4 118 195 148 .76 18 NA Engine: 145 HP 2.672 F-6 SOHC Price: $18,346 Critique: Look! It's a door stop with wheels! Well, not quite, but the XT does have rather drastic styling that could be considered an acquired taste. The performance level of the XT is barely above that of the JR Non-turbo, yet it has 55 HP and seven thousand dollars on that vehicle. Comparing the XT to the JR Turbo (still 5 HP and two grand less) shows the XT to be slow off the line and extremely poor in handling. The XT simply pales when compared to the JR Turbo.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1988 Toyota Celica GT-S 10.02 17.11@81.7 122 190 134 .77 19 NA Engine: 135 HP 1.988 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $19.043 Critique: The Celica was the JR's biggest competitor in the sport compact category, but the numbers ask the question: "Why did such a poor performer out live the JR?". The Celica GT-S barely inches out the JR Non-turbo on performance, yet it has 45 HP and almost nine thousand dollars over the JR Non-turbo for only a second in acceleration and poorer handling. Comparing it to the JR Turbo, the Celica GT-S spends a great deal of time looking at the back of the JR Turbo. The Celica only excels at braking, and with handling as poor as .77 g, it needs good braking to keep it from hitting things everyone else is slaloming through. 1992 Toyota Celica GT-S 9.1 16.9@81 116 174 NA .84 21 NA Engine: 130 HP 2.164 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $23,033 Critique: Can anybody tell me why a car with the engine power of the Celica is SO SLOW? How has such a poorly performing vehicle remained so popular? 1994 Toyota Celica GT Coupe 8.7 16.4@84.5 125(est)NA 153 NA 26 NA Engine: 135 HP 2.164 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $24,288 Critique: At almost ten-thousand dollars more than the JR Turbo, the Celica GT Coupe still performs dismally poor when compared to the JR Turbo. 1988 Toyota MR2 9.2 17.1 118 168 NA .81 26 NA Engine: NA Price: $15,468 Critique: Barely edging out in front of the JR Non-turbo, the MR2 is clearly no match for the JR Turbo. 1989 Toyota MR2 Supercharged 7.84 15.77@87.4 NA NA 146 .86 25 .36 Engine: 145 HP 1.587 liter I-4 DOHC Supercharged Price: $20,382 Critique: More power and less weight than the JR Turbo, yet the MR2 Supercharged can't keep up. 1991 Toyota MR2 8.5 16.3@84.1 NA NA 136 NA 22 NA Engine: 130 HP 2.0 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $16,700 Critique: Not even Toyota's two seat MR2 can give the JR Turbo any competition. 1992 Toyota Paseo 9.2 17.0@80 113 199 NA .80 29 NA Engine: 100 HP 1.497 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $10,318 Critique: The Paseo finds itself out of its element, and out classed. 1983 Toyota Supra 9.16 16.99@82.1 117.0 NA NA .81 22 .35 Engine: 150 HP 2.759 liter I-6 SOHC Price: $15,991 Critique: The JR Turbo outperforms the 1983 Supra on all levels with less horsepower, displacement, and cylinders. It reaches 60 1.4 seconds quicker and passes the quarter mile almost a full second ahead of the Supra. And the JR Turbo walks away from the Supra on the top end where it goes a full 13 mph faster than the Supra. All this and the JR Turbo costs less. Why would anyone ever buy a Supra? 1988 Toyota Supra 7.9 16.0 NA NA 134 .86 19 NA Engine: 200 HP 3.0 liter I-6 DOHC Price: $23,112 Critique: The performance of the Supra is only a fraction behind that of the JR Turbo. What this doesn't say is that it took sixty more horse power, two more cylinders, sixteen more valves, and a full liter of displacement for Toyota to match the performance of the JR Turbo. And Toyota only charges an additional seven thousand dollars to fall short of the mark. Not to mention that the Supra looses eight mpg in fuel economy. Patrick Bedard was certainly correct when he wrote in Car and Driver "The...Impulse Turbo; Just when you thought it was safe to buy a Supra.". 1989 Toyota Supra Turbo 7.57 16.05@88.13 140(est)NA 146 .83 18.5 NA Engine: 232 HP 2.954 liter I-6 DOHC Turbocharged Price: $26,515 Critique: Even with a turbocharger, the performance of the Supra is disappointing. The performance level of the Supra Turbo is miles below what a vehicle with such power and displacement should be performing. Less than two-tenths of a second of acceleration for ten thousand dollars. The JR Turbo is even quicker in the quarter mile and handles better.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1991 Volkswagen GTI 16V 8.4 16.8 122 NA NA .81 25.0 NA Engine: I-4 DOHC Price: $14,960 Critique: Not a match for the performance of the JR Turbo. 1987 Volkswagen Scirocco 16V 7.7 16.1 NA NA NA .80 25.6 .38 Engine: 123 HP 1.786 liter I-4 DOHC Price: $13,565 Critique: See Corrada. 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco GTX 9.4 NA 116.7 NA NA NA 30.4 .38 Engine: 112 HP 1.781 liter I-4 Price: $16,647 Critique: See Corrada. 1991 Volkswagen Corrada 9.30 16.84@83.8 NA NA 128 .83 22 NA Engine: 158 HP 1.8 liter I-4 DOHC Supercharged Price: $19,860 Critique: The Scirocco started out in 1974 as a Giugiaro design, which, although primitive and unsophisticated in comparison to the design of the JR, was produced faithfully to Giugiaro's original design. Unfortunately, the redesign in 1979, which precluded the export to the USA, did away with most of Giugiaro's work, leaving only the husk, without the heart of the design. Lackluster performance brought about the use of the 16 valve engine as seen with the 1987 Scirocco above. The 1987 is only a heartbeat behind the JR Turbo with a few hundred dollars less in investment, although handling, fuel economy, and coefficient of drag are still lacking in the Scirocco. And the JR Turbo walks away from the Scirocco on top end. But the 1988 Scirocco sees a marked drop in performance, and the Scirocco's replacement, the Corrada, sees a further drop in performance, despite the addition of a G-ladder supercharger. The Corrada has all the ingredients to make a real asphalt burner, but the performance is below that of the vehicle it replaced. For the Corrada, you pay three thousand dollars over the JR Turbo, yet the JR Turbo out accelerates and handles the Corrada, while burning less fuel.
0-60mph 1/4 mile Top 70-0 60-0 Skid MPG CD 0-100 400 m Speed pad kph sec sec@mph mph ft ft g 1988 Volvo 480 S 9.9 NA 113.5 NA NA NA 27,2 .34 Engine: 107 HP 1.721 liter I-4 Price: $16,793 Critique: US natives should be looking at this and scratching their head. The first fwd small Volvo to hit the road over here was the 840, and that was only a few years ago. In Europe, however, they are quite used to seeing fwd Volvos by now. The 480 is another case of spending more than the JR Turbo to get the performance of the JR Non-turbo. And you couldn't really call the 480 a handsome automobile at any rate, anyway.