Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)
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About this issue
180 available scans from Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition), in right-to-left reading order. Japanese OCR and English translation drafts are available throughout. Drafts have not received exhaustive image proofreading; unreadable source remains recorded in the archival data.
Page 113 — English draft translation
‘Because it is an unusual compact turbo four-wheel-drive car, the GTI-R remains popular. Early models (1990–91) cost ¥400,000–700,000; later models (1992 onward) are ¥600,000–1,000,000, so resale values remain strong. Demand surges before winter, and stock is extremely limited from August to October. Black is the most popular color. Be careful: an inexpensive late model may be in worse condition than a more expensive early one.’ (Car Point Shonan, 0466-43-9179)
Captions and page details
Mines is known for speed-limiter removal, fuel tuning, and ignition timing adjustment...
Intercooler kit
...all are possible. (C)
Super brake pads for sprint use
RF
It wears quickly, squeals, and brakes extremely well. This pad is for drivers chasing a single fast lap at a circuit. It prioritizes control and wear resistance, with front and rear compounds matched. ¥23,000. (possibly A)
VX-ROM
Unusually for this type, it uses a cross-flow intercooler with a core as large as a GT-R's. It cools well and does not require removing the air conditioner. Its large size and appearance are both selling points. ¥186,000. (A)
...included. (A)
Air-duct cover (coming soon)
Parts
Fukui Special
Intercooler kit
Catalog!
Moving the intercooler to the front makes the hood air duct unnecessary. This carbon cover prevents water from entering the engine bay through the opening and also looks good. ¥10,000 estimated. (A)
A two-row core is supplied with 60 mm inlet and 70 mm outlet piping.
It supports everything from stock to full tuning. (B)
Front bumper spoiler
Original Power FC
It includes programs for circuit use emphasizing midrange and quarter-mile use emphasizing high rpm. Throttle response is kept close to stock. ¥118,000. A separate ignition-cut ROM can improve quarter-mile launches; it is ¥80,000 including setup. (A)
Special heat-treated rotor
Slots are cut in the stock rotors, followed by special heat treatment, improving thermal stability and durability and making them compatible with high-temperature sprint pads. This addresses the GTI-R's weakness in braking. ¥30,300. (A)
This bumper spoiler is designed for a front-mounted intercooler. The license plate can be mounted on either the left or right. (B)
0468-57-3313
0776-67-2980. C, Mines Wave
043-228-6123. B, Garage Fukui Special
Parts inquiries: A, A'PEXi
The front lip uses the factory 180SX part.
Want a GTI-R?
Buyer's
guide
Fix the weak points that keep it from turning and stopping.
A fast cornering machine!
TBS built this GTI-R as a circuit car. The engine and turbo remain stock; instead, it thoroughly refines the suspension, often criticized for poor cornering and braking. The stock engine has good potential, and the compact car is surprisingly quick in a straight line. With the suspension properly sorted, it becomes an enjoyable car.
Slotted brake rotors are an original TBS part (0425-57-6885). The suspension is also by TBS: four-way-adjustable EP82 front struts with dual-rate 9 springs, and fixed AE111 rear units with dual-rate 8 springs.
Stardust, Shonan store
Sample RNN14
Early model: ¥400,000–700,000. Late model: ¥600,000–1,000,000. Condition rating: early ★★☆☆☆; late ★★★☆☆. Demand surges before winter—act quickly!
Market price
Availability
In short
Option
111