Nissan Pulsar GTiR

Bought my GTi-R in 2000 from a Japanese import auction in Durham. I have never owned a car for this long and rate it as the best all round car I have ever owned. I have competed in motorsport for many years and have used the GTi-R several times in speed hillclimbs and sprints to good effect, several class wins and even an outright class record. To help achieve these results I had the car modified by Norris Designs of Corsham who increased the power to 330bhp and added bags more torque. Always puts a big grin on my face every time I take it for a drive. Overall an incredible car for the money spent and mine even has the original umbrella!!

My son bought me my GTiR as a retirement present five or six years ago, as it was becoming increasingly difficult to find sufficient space to park my old Mercedes 6.9 at the local supermarket. At first I thought he must be mad as I had not owned a small hatchback since the 1980s when I bought one of the first Lancia Integrales.

A low mileage, early model, the car has been mildly tuned and develops about 310bhp on the rolling road with an impressive 280lb/ft of torque.

Having owned several high performance cars during a motoring career of fifty-five years, including TVR Griffith, Gordon-Keeble and Chevrolet Corvette, I would consider the Pulsar GTiR one of the most accelerative cars that I have had in the garage: I can think of nothing which offers such performance for the money, but it is well worth having the car tuned by an expert.

However, it is undeniably noisy with an aftermarket exhaust fitted, which can be quite wearing on longer journeys, and the fitment of a rear strut brace severely restricts boot space. I would consider the synchromesh weak if abused and the brakes inadequate unless upgraded. Fuel consumption is not at all bad (around 24mpg) during normal driving.

Although my own car has been slightly lowered and has uprated springs, the ride is not nearly as firm and uncomfortable as some BMWs that I've owned. Although I am quite tall and large, the driver's seat can be easily adjusted to fit my frame and the other seats accommodate largish passengers adequately.

Over 15,000 miles the car has required little but routine maintenance, but regular (every 3,000 miles) oil changes are a must.

Handling and traction are excellent by most standards, but the car reveals its age in these respects when compared with my son's Mitsubishi Evo X; it is not in the same class, although it will hold grimly on its tail.

Odd small bits and pieces do deteriorate, such as handbrake cables, but are easily replaced cheaply through the internet. The most irritating aspect of the car is the need to keep the battery permanently on trickle charge, but this is a small price to pay for such an exhilarating small car.

Despite the tales of doom and gloom about reliability and repair costs I took a punt on e-bay (2012) and purchased without viewing - £2400. One year/3000 miles into ownership of a 1994 Nissan GTiR (imported in 2003) I consider myself lucky. Driven moderately hard at 10psi boost with FMIC and uprated fuel pump I have had no major mechanical problems. Yes, first gear is a little difficult to select, engine is tappy, diffs whine a bit and everything rattles but it keeps on pulling; although I seldom launch it from stand still but tend to boot it only once in second gear. It always puts a smile on my face when driving it, acceleration is excellent when in the 3500+ rev band and handling is great if a little front heavy. Don't buy one as a cheap run around as it isn't. I am a second time round boy racer on 3000 mile Classic Issurance because I couldn't afford to drive it further each year. If I can avoid repair bills I will upgrate brakes from standard which is the best life insurance investment an owner can make.

Many people that own these cars love them and look after them so research to find the good guys and get one with all the upgrades done already - its much cheaper that way.

Would I buy another - Yes but knowing what they take to repair and how difficult they are to work on I would go and view it first.

One final point, I haven't seen another Nissan GTiR one on the road in the year since I brought it - and they let me out most days!

fantastic car to drive, very roomy, very aggressive hot hatch, looks menacing on the road, however, has a subtle look about it. Owned and loved mine for almost two years now. It is also extremely quick off the line and is a formidable monster. However, it is a front heavy car and prone to under steering has trouble stopping as well. brake upgrade and a excellent set of tires would fix this in my opinion (if I had the money). Mine has also been plagued with reliability issues, during my two years of ownership I have had two gearbox failures and a clutch failure. Would probably be more reliable with cruisier driving and with less modifications, but, you expect a sports car to be able to handle at least a bit of aggressive driving from time to time. It is also astronomically hard to work on and also hard to find a mechanic who can be bothered to work on one without grunting. However, small price to pay for such an awesome car.

Great car to own...Upgrade parts are available with a little research...very quick...

After being pilot in my cuz's 'nismo tuned' Pulsar, I waited until my 21st to locate a fresh standard import as these are low mileage and more reliable than some random blokes toy.

Although it came with a 5zigen exhaust, tein shocks and prodrive alloys it hadn't ever had the boost turned up... I have since fitted a few trick bits!

As far as reliabilty is concerned, every problem i encountered has coincided with my cousins, so I just put the problems down to the age of these cars rather than just being unreliable!!

The gtir is a rapid piece of mechano which if your age is right the insurance is as expected and fuel cost is purely down to the driver 100-220miles a tank!

The only thing I would suggest to future buyers is to investigate the clutch installed and speak to local mot centres and garages for fix costs as every owner will have to rebuild just about everything mechanical..

I had a choice: move out or keep the car- I kept the car! Nothing comes close!

I am wanting to buy a pulsar because of the looks and performance im 21 and have 4 years ncb, are these cars 2 quick? the fastest car i have had is a golf gti turbo (220bhp) i dont want to kill myself thats all? PULSARS ARE THE FASTEST POCKET ROCKET EVER ! ! ! !

ive had my Nissan Pulsar GTiRs for a couple of years now and they are all going strong. ive got one stock and one slightly modded and the third is modded for drag racing now there is some idiot on here saying that pulsars look dumb if ur over 19 ive been a mechanic for 10 years and would like to inform everyone that my stock pulsar would beat his gto hands down on the track and in a quarter mile i have that much faith in my knowledge of cars that i would bet pinks in a race. they are one of the best cars ever made and that is a fact ever since they came out i wanted one and now thanks to my hard saving i have 3 they sound lush they handle like a dream and have you seen them they are one of the best looking cars ever

i own a nissan pulsar mr2 and after owning it for a year have finally came out of the closet and told my parents im homosexual. im not sure about the pulsar but with the mr2 i get heaps of sausage

great hot hatch mines over 300bhp as 17 inch wheels rubs sometimes when driven hard.The Nissan Pulsar GTiR is not cheap to run but can now get classic insurance cars group 20 .will go up in price if kept as many are broken for parts ,fastest car i have driven tends to be hairy over 100mph and all cars rattle small price to pay for such a fun car, i liked them so much i have had two and rate them for looks,power and what car can you buy that is as fast for the money.