Oddball Driver's Cars On The Cheap: Japan Vs. USA

1: 1990-93 Isuzu Impulse RS

An odd but strong performer, 1990 Isuzu Impulse RS (pic from Craigslist/previous IG feature)

While this car resembles a Geo Storm, and indeed both share many parts, the Impulse RS (also known in Canada as the 1993 Asuna Sunfire) is no slouch and is a strong performer, with ties to legendary automaker Lotus and unusual but pleasant styling. The aftermarket may be small and it may be an orphan marque, but the Isuzu car fanbase and the number of parts shared with the Geo Storm and Lotus Elan M100 help keep it easy to maintain. A minor project like this car (presumably sold now) normally runs under $1000 USD, a very nice one can often be had for under $3000. As with any 90s Japanese car, reliability and engineering are good, but electrical problems can and do pop up at times, and "riced" examples are not unknown. Also, fit & finish were perhaps worse at Isuzu than any other Japanese marque at the time, and the Isuzu twincam four is known for blowing head gaskets, so those two issues are to be kept in mind.

2: 1989-99 Ford Taurus SHO

pic from Wikimedia Commons, 1989-91 model shown

Yes, it's a Taurus, the ubiquitous, bulgy, flimsy family sedan that Ford sold zillions of. But the difference in the SHO lies in its engine (Yamaha-Ford DOHC V6 in first and second generation, Yamaha-Cosworth DOHC V8 in third), brakes, suspension and virtually all other aspects that pertain to enthusiastic driving. This is not the same trashed $300 hooncar candidate seen all over your local Craigslist, it's possibly America's best attempt at a European-style sport sedan that wasn't made with a poached European design. Build quality and fit-and-finish issues are the same as with any other Taurus, that is, highly variable between great and horrible, deferred maintenance is something to watch for on all generations, automatic transmissions on 1992-99 cars are highly suspect as with the standard Taurus, and camshaft failure on 1996-99 cars is a common problem. Cost of entry is anywhere from $500 for a parts car/crapcan racer candidate to $4000 for a nice and well-sorted car.

Aluminum Intensive Vehicle: 1996 Panoz AIV Roadster Prototype Chassis #002

(all pictures from seller)

While the Panoz AIV lost quite a bit of its original beauty compared to its predecessor, the later AIV Roadster is still a very pure sports car and is as good or better a performer. 

The car featured here is the only Panoz ever painted Toreador Red, was custom-built for the parents of company founder Danny Panoz, was used in the factory promotional video "Drive and You Shall Fly" that was distributed to potential customers in 1996 and 1997, and was featured in the AIV debut at Chateau Elan Winery in September 1996, where the likes of Pete Brock, Adrian Reynard and Jack Roush drove it. It was then taken to Detroit to become the EPA certification car, then was parked in the back of a shop at the Panoz factory and rarely used. 

This car has 4,900 original miles, has Roush alloy wheels, is one of 4 prototype cars built in 1996, features a Panoz-designed 4-wheel independent suspension, a 305-horsepower, 4.2-liter, 32-valve aluminum-block Ford Mustang Cobra V8 and a Tremec T45 5-speed manual transmission, and is made of aluminum with fiberglass-composite fenders. 

Factory specifications follow:

   Panoz AIV Roadster specs:

• Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

• Engine 4600cc (Ford)DOHC V-8

• Power (bhp) 305 @ 5800 rpm

• Torque 300 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

• Redline: 6800 rpm

• Miles Per Gallon: 17/23 mpg

• Curb Weight: 2570 lbs

• Performance (0-60mph) 4.3sec

• Performance (0-100mph) 11.7 sec

• Top Speed (mph) 140

• Braking, 0-60 mph: 119 ft 

• Place Of Manufacture: Braselton, Georgia (USA)

Find it here for $32,900 USD at WireWheel, and enjoy this video of a production Panoz AIV:

Oddball On The Cheap: 1990 Isuzu Impulse RS Project

The second-generation Isuzu Impulse is an underrated sporty car and is a great driver's car for a front-wheel-drive design. Considering that many of its components were used in the M100 Lotus Elan and that the second-generation Impulse's suspension was engineered by Lotus, that is even more remarkable.

While its styling is polarizing and many people will confuse it for the much more common and related Geo Storm, these cars are still very much worthy of saving, and this is a very worthy project. The car needs a clutch and valve work, some very minor bodywork, removal of bumper stickers and a detail job, possibly backdating the stereo to a Geo Storm or Impulse stock head unit if you're a purist, but at $900 for a rare 5-speed Japanese sporty car that's an excellent alternative to a 240SX, MX-6, Prelude or Celica, plus a little bit of work done, you can't go wrong.

Find it here on Whidbey Island in Washington State for $900, or go here if ad disappears.