'72 Datsun 1200 Vs. '72 Toyota Corolla 1200

[mikeys toy[RL]]

ok i feel the need to give my opinion on the comparison between these cars

JAMIE DON'T HATE ME FOR LIKING DATSUN

imagine a datsun and a toyota dealer side by side. you want a little car so compare....

datsun copied mg with the engine design, i think it's the superior unit

i feel the datto trans is FAR superior to the yoder unit

toyota style i feel is far better

handling feels about the same

datsun gearing is better

interior in the toyota is far better

toyota's don't seem to corrode as bad

 

this is just my opinion based on owning well worn examples of both cars here in the u.s.

i'm curious to know what you guys think.......

[irokin]

interior in the toyota is far better

 

really? I recon the interior in my 1988 silvia is better than any 1988 toyota in the same market.

 

I like to whore around. Its been a nice change going to nissan/datsun. Lots of extra things you learn. I really feel that being a brand snob is just niaeve

[Super Jamie]

in all honesty, all the points you made are valid

 

K engines are shit compared to As. i've never driven a datto so i can't comment on transmission. how is the gearing "better"? i also think toyota has far better exterior styling, and datsuns rust like a bitch

[beerhead]

JDM and ADM cars are like chalk and cheese. My mates 1984 Nissan gazelle had a bloody button and a light to do everthing but pick your nose for you :unsure:

[demuire]

I agree on all points, don't know about the transmission though, the K box looks bigger than the one that came in the Datsun1200, but I don't know about strength. I think one BIG advantage to the Datsun is that Datsuns were very heavily involved in motorsport, so there's a lot more "know-how" and bolt on bits out there regarding datsuns, compared to Toyotas.

 

Apart from the few Corollas that did dirt rallying and the handful that did circuit racing, Corollas in general don't appear to have been used for much more apart from going to the shops.

[Clown]

a mate used to have a 1200 sedan, damn that car was nice! his did suffer a bit from rust, and his interiour was either sprayed/died or swapped for other stuff.

[Felix]

the A series 5 speeds are worth a fortune. most guys adapt a t50 box as it is a cheaper exercise.

 

styling wise, i prefer my '15 to a 1200 coupe, but would rate the 1200 coupe above a ke25.

 

yea datsuns are rust buckets, followed closely by mazdas.

 

one thing i have noticed is that 1200 owners are a very cluey bunch. there is no shortage of info, or nothing that hasn't been tried and documented.

[demuire]

KE3x-5x are also rust buckets. I think it was kinda a small cheap japanese car thing at the time...

[Felix]

they are better than datsuns.

 

the ke30 2 door sedans are the best of the ke3x/5x. they don't rust over the rear wheel arches like the others. seems to be the worst part to have to fix.

 

i used to have a mazda capella at one stage. the dash top/base of the windscreen rusted out bad. not easy to fix.

[Dan]

Its piss easy to get the A-Series 5 Spd 'boxes... Just buy a $100-$350 Sunny and get it out of that....

[mikeys toy[RL]]

wow, i thought i'd be crucified for posting this; thanks for bieng fair and objective

i agree with all of you, the trans issue is that i have NEVER had a problem with an a series datto trans, 4 or 5 speed

the one in the cricket came out of an '82 210 hatchback with 230,000 miles on it and has been noisy the whole time; it now has 298,000mi on it and is no worse

i've been through 4 k50, 51, 61 transmissions that all made noise then failed around 150,000mi.

the datto rears all seemed to have 3.90 gear ratio compared to toyota's 4.44,4.22 then 4.10.

Edited October 10, 2005 by mikeys toy

[mikeys toy[RL]]

my credentials;

DATSUN

'71 datto 1200 2dr sedan stock a12 4sp, '76 datto b210 hatch (sunny excellent) stock a14 4sp, '77 datto b210 hatch(sunny excellent) stock a14 4sp, '78 datto b210 2dr sedan "honey bee" (sunny) stock a14 4sp, '73 datto 1200 coupe stock a14 brt 4sp, '81 datto 210 2dr sedan stock a15 5sp (now in cricket), '74 datto b210 hatch (sunny excellent) stock a13 w/a14 head 4sp, '81 datto 210 4dr sedan stock a15 5sp a/c (parts for cricket)

TOYOTA

'70 ke15 sprinter fresh 3kc k40 all stock, '70 ke18 all stock 3kc k40, ran ONCE, '73 te27 E5(levin) (like jamies) stock tired 2tc t50 lsd factory flares army green, '71 carina 18rc 3sp auto '71 ke25 3kc k40 (like rob's) all stock ex. "14 wheels to offset the 4.22 gearing, '70 ke18 (daisy) 3kc k40 4.44 gears all stock in its 382,000mi greatness. '82 te72 (bubba) 3tc t50 a/c 3.58 gears

i ran and drove these cars for a while except those noted

[NoPsi]

You'll hear nothing bad about Datsun out of my mouth. I went with the datto 12oo sedan last time because as was stated earlier there is plenty of know how. Soooo mnay things can be put into them. Including corolla diffs. :unsure:

[Raven]

I had a Mazda 929L, still did 150km/h with a cracked head an block. Wasnt a bad car. Interior was rooted though.

 

Engine-wise, The Mazda 626 i had for a while (1980 rear wheel drive) the engine AND the diff shit itself.

 

With my KE55, i had no problems, cept when i snapped the headbolt and converted everything over to a 4A-C and T-50 and found taht engine had piston slap, yet it still drove.

 

Miss my corolla though. Will get another one at the end of the year, seeing as these fuel prices are a bit insane at the moment.

[st.nick]

Apart from the few Corollas that did dirt rallying and the handful that did circuit racing, Corollas in general don't appear to have been used for much more apart from going to the shops.

Back in the 70's when TTE was running TE20s and TE27s in the WRC, they were a tad lacking...

 

One did however win the 1000 lakes rally in Finland, but the rest were 3rd, 4th and 5th placings. The little Corolla was always behind the 8-ball, with an engine quite a bit smaller in capacity than its European rivals. However, the TTE mechanics worked 'miracles' with the engine by fuel injecting and added a 16v head. This bought the engine up to a 'reasonable' 185BHP.

 

Toyota started to homologate a 2L Corolla Levin, but decided to continue rallying using the Celica. Homologation required 400 road-going examples be built to make the car legal for rallying (imagine owning 1-of-400 Factory-built 200+BHP rally-bred TE37s!!!) :D ... Apparently, alot of the TTE staff wanted to keep the Corolla as the rally car, but Head Office in Japan decided the Celica was the 'sports car' of the range that they wanted to promote through Rallying.

 

Pity... Would have been nice to see a TE37 or RE37 WRC car hosing all the Escort BDAs!!! :thumbsup:

 

History Lesson over...