thats a good point...

but i dont think it's as simple as that...

reason being the 1200 was built first and foremost as an economical car, not a sports car, which sets it apart from the cars in todays GT racing

so is there a modern day alternative which may fall under this?

maybe just maybe the suzuki ignis, especially with the ignis sport model available, suits the bill?

these are car built firstly as an economical, small, city car but also get raced (rally and maybe other?)

and more importantly i like em.... as contraversial as that is, i love the look and features of the sport model, and at a price of 12k for stock or 15k for sport they are damn cheap just like the 1200!

edit: i think they come in 1.2 aswell!, the sport is 1.5 though, hehe factory fitted a15 wouldnt that have been cool

Well first you must look at the cars we like now 1600 , 1200 , rx3 , r100.

All raced in gt in japan.

So that means thats that supras , GTRs , RX7s , wrxs , Evos well be big well thats just what I think.

Quote:

I'm with vex, the Barina's got a lot going for it.
Linky

I'm biased because i drive one, but it's great for what it's built for... a small reliable well designed car.

Pity its a FWD. And it's indicators are on the left side.

Other contenders are definitely the hyundai excel, or the toyota corolla.

there aren't enough sprinters left to make this possible.

GTRs
Wrx's
Corrolas

Maybe none...All cars may run on renewable energy!!!! And petrol will not be available.

Heres one for all the oldskoolers out there! When your silvias start braking down in 20 years time and you can't get the parts, just get all the parts you need from your sr/ca converted 1200 parked in your shed!

the closest match would be a jdm ae86 sprinter, having recently owned one, i can safely say they are datsun 1200's that go faster and handle better. only problem is they are toyota. or get a silvia / 180sx, who cares if theyre not like 1200s. they are the most fun, exciting car ive ever owned / driven.

yes, you could never thrash a 4cyl commodore could you... because they were always breaking down.


I see your point boof about parts availability on sti copupes etc howeveer they will becom classics of the future and its not like most of those cars dont have fiberglass replacement parts available already... as long as you have the moulds..... they can always be made.

why dont we all buy daewoo matiz and pray they go up in value..... they fulfill the criteria perfectly for a replacement 1200.. oh no the 1200 had more power and standard factory equipment.

2 words " Holden Starfire "

hmmmmmmmm. i think that this is a great post, and it makes you think about things that wouldn't normally enter your head. and honestly after scratching my head for a while and reading everyone elses posts, i dont think that there will ever be a car anything like the datsun 1200's, and 1000's. back in the day when the 1200's and 1000's were built, i think that the motor car designers had their heads screwed on, simple, affective, small, and best of all rear wheel drive. the best part about the datsuns i think were that they were family cars, people bought them because they were inexpensive and cheap to run, they were not sports car. and thats why i feel that they have lasted 30years, and they are still good ones about, with orig engins, diffs and gearboxes. maybe some people think that the silvia s13, and 14's, will take there place, but i honestly dont think that they will go the distance. the main purpose of these cars are sports, or sporty cars, and they are all hammed, i dont think that they will be able to last thirty years like the little datsuns. but hey this is just opinion, and you can agree or agree to disagree, but i feel strongly that the datsun 1200's, 100'0's, and 1600's, will never be able to be replaced, and i dont think that there is any car out there that would even come close to it.

unfam, a few of the cars you've listed i can see following into the classic/cult car such as the mr2, the sti coupe, r31 shiloette but for most of us the chance to own a couple you've listed (sti, wrx, evo) would be hard enough now, let alone in 20-30 years and parts ???? also wondered how long it'd take for you to reel out a handful
matbighat, think you're a little off track .... was trying to come up with a current/recent car, that over the next 20 years will develop a following as the 1200 has, with the same availability for upgrades, resale, all round likability. the 510/1600 can also fall into this easy enough as its current day following is still huge.
the barina/corsa, i think, could come close to being a car to keep an eye on. they've been around quite a while and as for upgrades and even base performance in their own range of models they have always been of a good standard, especially now with the strong european background.

i'm really luvin this thread, it's extreemly interesting reading others views on this as it's been something i've wondered alot about. and it also adds to the reason we luv our little dattos so much

keep 'em coming guys !!!!