Because I am a millennial with limited time and limited funds and therefore there’s a ceiling on how creative I can afford to get with my vacation destinations, I’m going to Japan next month. As part of this trip, I’m going on a one-day driving tour with Drivers Lounge, a company that takes car enthusiasts on guided tours through rural Japan in a smorgasbord of JDM icons.
For 108,000 yen (about $735 at today’s exchange rates), I’ll be driving up the famous Hakone Turnpike, along the shores of Lake Ashi, and down Tsubaki Line, ending the day with a visit to the iconic Daikoku PA to drop in on a car meet. And full disclosure, I’m not going as a journalist trading seat time for publicity but as a tourist, paying my own way.
But I’ve found myself in a bit of a pickle I hope you all can help me out with. Because I’ll only be going with my partner (who enjoys a cool car but not enough to drop half the price of a small Chanel wallet to drive one for a day), I’m limited to two cars. Which ones should I pick?
In the order they appear on DL’s website, here’s what’s on the menu:
- Nissan GT-R R35 (Front end styling says it’s a “first facelift” car from 2011 to 2016. Mods include HKS coilovers and an HKS exhaust.)
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 (Tein coilovers, Fujitsubo exhaust, and unavailable until late October, so that’s out.)
- Mazda RX-7 FD3S (The engine is “freshly rebuilt” and uses a GReddy V-mount radiator for better cooling. Mods include AutoExe coilovers and an RE Amemiya exhaust.)
- Toyota GR Supra (Likely a first model year example, given it’s listed with 340 PS and the automatic. This one rides on Blitz coilovers.)
- Honda S660 (A “Spoon Complete Car” built entirely by the tuner running a Hondata ECU. One of three in the entire world, apparently.)
- Toyota GR Yaris (HKS coilovers. 5Zigen exhaust.)
- Suzuki Alto Works (A kei car turned up to 11 by Monster Sport, a tuner founded by legendary Japanese hillclimb racer Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima.)
- Honda Integra Type R DC5 (Ohlins coilovers, GP Sport exhaust, stripped out interior with roll cage.)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI (Blitz coilovers. 5Zigen exhaust.)
Alright, here’s what I’m thinking. We can skip the Supra, Yaris, and R35 because if I want to drive a GR Supra, I can always email Toyota Canada and book a presser. If I want to drive the Yaris, I can email Toyota Canada, book a GR Corolla, and imagine it is smaller. And while it’d be nice to finally have a go in the R35 right as it’s finally going out of production, it isn’t nearly as legendary as some of the other names on here and may also be a bit too much car for tight Hakone backroads.
That Spoon S660 is mighty interesting and mighty enticing, but as someone who already owns an S2000, picking this feels a bit like flying all the way to Japan only to eat Wagyu hamburgers half the time. No, it’s not the same thing, and I’m sure it’s amazing, but it feels very much “we have shades of this at home.” Maybe next year. In a similar vein, I’m sure the DC5 Integra is an absolute riot, but Acura RSXs were a pretty common sight back in the day, so it isn’t inherently as exotic.
I would’ve absolutely gone for the R32 if it were still on the table, but it’s not, so this leaves the RX-7, the Suzuki, and the Evo.
Which ones would you pick?
Top graphic images: Drivers Lounge
Postpone your trip until the R32 is available.
This- they have been restoring this from the ground up
Monster Suzuki.
And roll the dice between the Evo or Rx7.
Unless you can drive the Suzuki twice.
I’d go for the RX-7 for one choice. Yes, they sold them in the States, but I don’t know how many are still on the road since there aren’t a lot of mechanics who will work on rotaries.
Agree with this take. I see more R34’s than FD’s these days.
I vote for:
-Honda S660 “Spoon”
–Suzuki Alto Works
Like others said, I’d pick cars which I couldn’t easily drive at home. If the R32 was on the table, it’d be #1, so since it’s not I vote Alto Works and Evo. I was supposed to go to Japan last October and had 2 nights booked in Hakone but I unfortunately had to cancel due to kidney stones 🙁
I’m a pretty regular schlub who daily drives a 10 year old Mazda, but I have some similar experience. Back in ’19 I went to Germany and was fortunate to rent a race prepped Suzuki Swift on the Nurburging. Not much power, but lightweight with grippy tires, good brakes, and a racing seat to hold you in is a lot of fun!
Then just a few days ago a friend of mine who has done very well for himself asked for help to move some of his cars from his house to his newly purchased warehouse 20 minutes across town. I show up and he has his R34 Skyline GT-R, manual Ferrari 360, Porsche 911 GT2, and Ferrari 296 GTB out in the driveway and asked which ones I wanted to drive. I was stunned but honored he trusted me that much! I opted for the Skyline and the 296 GTB. I figured they’re kinda opposites, plus I had driven some newer Porsches earlier this year for the first time already. Good thing I had already driven a RHD manual trans car before, but it was an MG Metro, so pretty different! Both the Skyline and 296 were quite the experience, although my LTD is faster than the Nissan 🙂
Echoing what seems to be the majority vote.
Nab that gorgeous FD RX-7 and the Monster Zuk. They’re easily the most exciting cars on the roster, doubt you’ll be forgetting your seat time in either of them any time soon.
…So, you counted out the GTR right off the bat, but I don’t think you should be that hasty about it. You won’t be able to stretch its legs, but it has proper exotic car vibes, and I think it would be an amazing way to experience Hakone.
Besides that I’m basically seeing two flavors of car: the hardcore, super-fast shitbox style (affectionate, I promise!) in the Integra, FD and Evo, and the casual, quirky nu-JDM style in the Alto and S660.
Kei is always the answer.
Alto and RX7.
Backup choices are the Evo and S660.
I’ve done a similar experience in Japan (called Fun2Drive). My priority was driving something we never got in the US, so I opted for an R34 that was available at the time.
With this list of cars, I’d go RX-7. Even though we got it here, we never got the last facelift and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to drive one that’s been relatively looked after in North America.
On the same trip I also rented an R35 (free roam, not part of a tour) and drove down the Izu Skyline at 5AM. Not a soul on the road, sweeping views of Fuji, and the car was an absolute weapon. If you get the chance, I’d highly recommend that road.
S660 (MID ENGINE SPORTS CAR!) if no luggage, RX-7 (BEEES!) if luggage.
The RX-7, and the Suzuki
From your top 3 the EVO VI.
This is the Autopian, shouldn’t you drive some weird kei car or leftover WW2 plane that was converted into a car?
I vote kei-plane!
Why not drive a microcar made by a WW2 plane manufacturer in Germany:
The Messerschmitt KR200
The KR200 SUX.
TG500 FTW!!! IT HAS DOUBLE THE POWAH!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FMR_Tg500
They actually have a very nice Vellfire that we thoroughly enjoyed
The ones I would pick are the ones not at all like anything we get in North America.
So that means my top picks are the Suzuki Alto and the Honda S660.
And my 2nd tier pick is the R32 Skyline GTR
My 3rd tier picks would be everything else EXCEPT the GR Supra
To me, the GR Supra is in last place because it had too much BMW in it and why get that instead of just buying a new or used locally available Supra? It’s just not special enough to bother with in my view.
I’d go for the Alto and the s660. My reasoning is you’re probably not going to be able to stretch the legs of the RX-7 or the Evo on public roads, and from what I’ve read you really need to hammer your right foot to get the most out of them. In contrast, the little Kei cars will feel like they’re going a million miles an hour at the speed limit.
The Suzuki seems right and stands out, a self picker.
RX-7, Integra Type-R
I love R32s, but they’re not exactly rare over here. R35s can be test driven at buy-here-pay-here lots at this point. GR Yaris is essentially a GR Corolla, and you can test drive a new one at a Toyota dealer right now. Same for the Supra.
Alto works is interesting, but not more than my choices.
The ones you can’t get here, or close to where you are. The R32 would be excellent, and I agree with the @Abdominal Snoman that you should delay your trip until it’s available. If that’s not an option, I’d vote for the 660 and the Suzuki.
Postpone your trip to October and drive the R32. It’s one of the few times I met my hero and walked away impressed. As a second choice it’s between the RX7, Suzuki, and S660, and I think I’d choose the Suzuki as I’ve driven many miles in an RX7 already and the Honda seems too “normal” compared to the Suzuki.
Agreed. I drove an R34 on one of these experiences and I thought it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype. The car is really, really good.
I don’t think it’s $200k good like the latest BaT auctions suggest (you’re ultimately sitting in a 1990s Nissan interior, that stings for $200k), but I was seriously impressed.
Suzuki since kei car and the Mazda since fresh Spicy Doritos.
First off, eternally jealous until I can afford to do this myself.
Secondly, Evo and Mazda would be my picks. We just had a convo in the discord about Evos and the VI was a favorite, and the RX-7 because brappy dorito boi, and its going to be a fresh engine, so no worries about normal rotary issues.
Suzuki and Evo would be my choice
Zuk and Evo.
When are you ever going to even see another of those Suzukis?
Evos seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate. I used to see them all the time, but I can remember when I saw one last. Drive it before they’re all gone
Evo VI and the Alto Works or the S660. Don’t see any point in doing so for cars that were more or less sold here anyway.