Nissan 200SX (1984)TKOIII, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nissan 200SX Turbo (S12)

1984 — Japan

Malaise Era (1975-1985)Sports CarJapaneseTurbo/Supercharged
Engine1,809 cc Inline-4 SOHC 8V Turbocharged
Power135 hp
Torque148 lb-ft
Transmission5-speed manual
DrivetrainRWD
Body StyleCoupe
0–60 mph8.2 sec
Top Speed124 mph

The US-market 200SX Turbo is affordable but has limited tuning potential with the SOHC CA18ET. The JDM Silvia RS with the twin-cam CA18DET is far more desirable but extremely rare outside Japan. Rust inspection is critical on any S12 due to age. Parts are harder to source than for S13+ models. The S12 is an underappreciated classic that offers a unique ownership experience, but it is not the easiest Silvia to maintain.