In full transparency I actually have a nice 95 80 and been thinking about getting another, hence the reason for asking. I see a lot of post about folks going Gaga for diesels so just enough intrigue to make me ask. I have even considered a 100 as I have yet to own one of them
A lot depends on personal preferences.
Diesel will cost a bomb at entry. But resale will be high too.
In USA, you'll have a hard time finding specialists to work on the diesel.
With new exhaust, upgraded turbo, intercooler, and fresh injectors, and fuel pump tune up and can add 30-50% power increase. Spend a bit more, and double the power output.
Driving a tuned up turbo diesel is vastly different to a stock one, and can rival a V8, particularly in terms of torque. Tuned, they are anything but slow. It's chalk and cheese compared to the 1fz-fe 80s.
Ultimately, I'd want . . .
a 5 speed trans, not auto.
Lockers (but if you need them, aftermarket has good optics)
Lose the funky JDM brush bar and the goofy side mirror.
That one looks pretty clean inside, under the hood, under the floor. Shame about the cracked dash.
Hard to see how much lift it has, but it's been done on the cheap. No caster correction, no extended links on sway bars, no name shocks? I'd guess no extended brake lines.
Could be a pretty good starting point for a build
bringatrailer.com
