Datsun 510 V.S BMW 2002 and Mazda RX-2

[CTSommers]

Datsun 510 V.S BMW 2002 and Mazda RX-2

I know this board will have a bias in favor of the 510 Datsun but what to you think are the advantages disadvantages of each car. In the future I am thinking of picking one of these cars up as a hobby. Decided to post thread in the Datsun section because I have had some experience with Nissan back when I had my 240sx. Plus I know the BWM guys would just look there noses down at the Japanese cars. Even though the 510 has a better track record than the 2002. Mazda Rx-2 there is no post for it on this web site.
They all seem to have similar in size, power and weight.

[SR240Z]

all 3 of these cars are beautiful. A buddy of mine has a red 2002 pretty nicely setup with bolt on flares, bbs wheels and a full cage. looks pretty mean

[CTSommers]

I grew up with 1600 roaders so i have a feeling of how the 510 datsun would drive. Same basic engin and so on

[Xander_42]

I would naturally suggest the 510, because I have one and I love them. Also, I don't really like the stock BMW 2002 look, even though it can look really good, I feel that it doesn't stock. Also the RX-2 is very nice car, but I personally prefer the RX-3, even though the two are very similar I think that the RX-3 is a much meaner looking car.
I would guess that the drawbacks of the RX-2 are that it was very early in Mazda's rotary experiments, so it may have problems there but I don't know, also I think that they are hard to find. The 510 is great car, but it has drawbacks as well, for example, they are relatively hard to get parts for, and it is hard to find a stock (or relatively stock one) that is very rusty, ny car is in good condition, and it has rust holes. I don't know much about the 2002.
The advantages of the 510 are that the L series motor is very reliable. There is a lot of support available for the 510, also, almost any motor swap you can dream up has been done, so you can find out how somewhere.

The opinions expressed here are strictly those of me and do not necessarily represent the opinions of...you?

[ThunderTank]

I would go towards the 510. I think they look sharp, plus you do not see many anymore. I owned one a few years back until it got wrecked. You can modify the hell out of them. mine had an 88 300ZX VG30 engine in it, 280ZX front breaks, and an LSD out of a WRX on the back. everything just boted right up except for the engine. was it fast? OH DEAR GOD YES!! I made 5L mustangs look stupid with it. if I did not wreck it, I would have turboed it. 510's were also called "Poor Man's BMW", if you are looking for one, and more info on what you can do, go to, www.dimequarterly.tierranet.com

that is a really god site to look at.

[CTSommers]

Thanks for the replies I’ve been keeping an eye out for a 510 in the Philadelphia area. It seem most of the 510’s are in southern CA or out west.

[ThunderTank]

Hey, I might know of some here on the east coast.

also call up information in the herndon (I think) VA area for Datsun Dynamics, or I can try to get their number for you. also every so often keep looking on dimequarterly in the classifieds and also put a WTB inthere too. there is also another site called Five n Dime I have to find it though.

here is a good resource

http://www.datsuns.com/links.htm

mazda rotary engines in them are really cool, I have seen a few swaps and they kicked ass. you get that car dialed in properly and it will handle like a go-kart...

[Xander_42]

I read in Sport Compact Car that that in Mexico they made the 510 for a lot longer than they did here, except that is wasn't the same car, it was 4 door, with a live rear axle and a heavy 1.5L iron motor. But that might be a good base car. Maybe no though, but it would probably be cheap and might no have the same rust problems because mexico is warm and relatively dry, but it would probably have the crap beat out of it.

[ThunderTank]

the two door and four door as far as I know, had the same rear end. I would go for the two door. you can also put fender flares on it too.

[Xander_42]

Yes, in the states they did, but that's not what I was saying, I was saying that the Mexican version had a different type or rear suspension, or so I've heard.

"... the 510 was a Mexican hit in its day... Nissan built them in Mexico, and kept making them long after the rest of the getting groovy with the frumpy 610. But the Mexican 510, which was called the Datsun 1500, wasn't the 510 we love- it was stripped of all its goodness. The 1.6-liter SOHC L16 engine that powered U.S. cars was replaced with a cast-iron 1.5 liter pushrod A15 engine better suited to a forklift. The two-door was never produced, and the four-door used leaf-sprung solid rear-axle of the wagon instead of the sophisticated (for 1970) semi-trailing arms of the U.S. 510."
-Sport Compact Car, January 2005

[Toyrolla]

Originally Posted by CTSommers

Datsun 510 V.S BMW 2002 and Mazda RX-2

I know this board will have a bias in favor of the 510 Datsun but what to you think are the advantages disadvantages of each car. In the future I am thinking of picking one of these cars up as a hobby. Decided to post thread in the Datsun section because I have had some experience with Nissan back when I had my 240sx. Plus I know the BWM guys would just look there noses down at the Japanese cars. Even though the 510 has a better track record than the 2002. Mazda Rx-2 there is no post for it on this web site.
They all seem to have similar in size, power and weight.

I happily own 2 510's, but will take all 3...

[feenix z]

id always wanted to bit the 510 and the 2002. I'm looking through my cache of old car and driver mags but i dont think they go back far enough.
I have no idea who would win stock, but with all the things that can be done to a 5 and dime, a modified battle would deffinitly be handed to the datsun. (unless you put the 13b-rew in the rx 3, which would be scary fast)

[datsunfreak]

Originally Posted by feenix z

I have no idea who would win stock, but with all the things that can be done to a 5 and dime, a modified battle would deffinitly be handed to the datsun.

Stock vs. stock? 2002 has the definite advantage over the other two.

Modified?

Early rotaries are getting very hard to find and parts even harder to find.

Early BMWs, you can get anything you need for it new, but it won't be cheap. Neither will the car.

510s? Just about anything is available, and can be had relatively cheap. The problem, as stated, is finding a good candidate to build. Most people that have them don't want to sell them. And values for them only seem to be going up every week.

Personally, I'd choose the 510. Well, actually I did choose it... 9 times so far...

[dimefury]

510 hands down!
it looks better than the other two
more support, bigger tuner community
cheaper, more available parts
lots of engine swaps have been done and are documented online (SR20det, KA24, VG30, 13b rotary, VQ35, i've even seen RB motors and V8's stuffed in)
larger displacement L-series motors are a drop in swap
subaru LSD diff's directly bolt on
long winning race history (blew the doors off the BMW 2002)
did i mention that it looks better than the other two?

of course i am biased, i've had 6 and loved every one.