1989 Nissan 200SX S13 review from UK and Ireland

Head gasket & big-end bearings failed immediately after I got the car; turned out the aluminium head was porous.

Used Japanese import engine fitted as replacement; head gasket failed on this engine after 500 miles.

Head gasket replaced under warranty; turbo failed 200 miles later.

Rubber portion of turbo return oil feed split, causing rapid oil loss (and probably caused the turbo bearings to fail later; see above).

Rear subframe bushes needed replaced (banging noise from rear during full-throttle acceleration).

170 bhp as standard, 0-100 in well under 20 seconds. Lethargic when off-boost and off-cam, then very rapid when turbo spools-up and 16v head comes on-cam.

Rear-wheel drive. Will power-oversteer in the dry, very easy to slide in the wet. Catching slides with opposite-lock is straightforward.

Build-quality good. Lots of electric toys. Roomy inside for a coupe, large boot.

Steering is over-assisted and almost entirely devoid of feel.

Very easy to increase power by increasing boost with an uprated wastegate actuator, fuel-cut defencer chip and bleed-valve/boost controller. 200 bhp+ is easy, 300bhp+ possible with intercooler, injector and engine upgrades.