What is it about FTOs?

[FtoSam]

Righto...

A mate at work just saw the pic of 20 odd FTOs from the QLD cruise...

His comment: "Fto's have quite a following dont they.."

Then proceeded to ask what is it about FTOs that make us almost fanatics...

I didnt quite know how to answer that...


I just said a bit of everything... Pretty Quick... Pretty rare... Pretty good looking car... Nice and light... Handles well... 4 seats.. Good standard equipment (climate control.. electric everything)... pretty cheap car... etc..


So what does it for you?? Why did you buy an FTO and register an interest in the club??

[Bennoz]

I didn't go looking for an FTO... just something to replace my CB Lancer. Ran into my importer mate - "See anything you like?" "Yeah that red one looks cool" and the rest is history. Managed to avoid this forum for 2 years, then was silent reader for 1, the joined in the beginning of 05 cause I busted something & needed advice.

[Bennoz]

Oh, and my next car will not be an S15, R33 or Evo. I hate the jap car scene

[bushido]

I wanted a decent good looking light, good handling car, that wasn;t turbo ( P's). So it was down to FTO, non turbo 300zx, or Supra. 300ZX had too high mileage and a good supra was too much. Glad I chose the FTO, loving the mivec and nimbleness.

[robsta]

I've wanted one ever since I saw it on Gran Turismo when I was 12 years old, I don't know why but I instantly fell in love with it. Its got everything I want - Air con, those mad folding mirrors , comfortable and looks awesome.
I joined the club as soon as I bought my 1st FTO cause I saw 'ULIKE' in Hot 4s and it mentioned the club so I joined. That's pretty much it for me.

[TCGPX]

Driving to work everyday, there was a guy who owned one and musta left for work same time I did.
Would pop out in front of me once or twice a week in traffic.

I'd always think to myself "Damn that's such a nice car", then I'd laugh and tell myself "Bah, you'll never own one, don't get worked up over it"...

2 years later, I split with the ex, realised that with the money I was payin for her I could buy a pretty nice car.

Was shoppin around, went to a yard to check out another car and there at the front gate was an FTO, polished up and all ready for a test drive...

Fate.

The other car paled in comparison, so I was drooling over the FTO when the salesman came over to see me.
It was outta my budget, but I talked him down 4.5k and suddenly it was within my reach.
A quick test drive and I couldn't have anything else.

I've always noticed that there's a certain feel you get when a car's right for you.

This car felt right.

Went home and spent 5 hours searching the net for info on FTO's and realised just how good they really are: performance, handling, looks, reliable, standard equipment, etc, etc, etc.

Bought it 2 days later.

Loved it ever since...

[bushido]

. That brought a tear to my eye. I completely understand what you mean though. Although I don't have a lot of the power options, (central locking, windows etc), shes all about the ride for me.

[boarsai]

They're just sexual.

Was looking at getting a car for work so did a walk down the magic mile in bris. The FTO was the only type of car that seemed to perk my interest apart from the preludes (which I was looking at mostly).

The only thing I didn't like was the wing and the FTO branded on the arse of her. I took some photos then went home to search carsales.

Luck would have it, a nice debadged, dekeyed shiny silver one was for sale. It had a horrible horrible baby blue interior in the photos though. Still, I told myself, don't be put off by an interior, if it's a nice car, you can deal with it! I couldn't seem to find another FTO on carsales at the time that I wanted to look at. As such next weekend I found myself going to take a peek.

Fell in love with it when I rocked up for the test drive. She just looked amazing to me. (: Hell the interior didn't look like arse in the flesh either... which was a very pleasant surprise. Didn't take me long to part with my money

Personally I like them because they're a bit different, they've got a really nice shape and I didn't know anyone that owned one at the time. Mivec sounds pretty delicious in tunnels too

[manofwood]

I used to use the castrol FTO and 900hp GTO in the 1st Gran Turismo as well, i loved everything about them back then, but soon forgot about them after i stopped playing.

Then about 3 years ago i was living in Albury on the border of NSW and VIC, and was out one night.

A jet black FTO with a Ducuatro kit came tearing down the main drag at full howl, and it was the first FTO i'd ever noticed on the streets. It sounded unreal, i'd never heard anything like that before, just how responsive it sounded, i had to have one one day. I forgot about them again after that, didn't have the money.

6 months ago, i had the money, but i was about to but a 75 series Landcruiser with a Hummer engine in it! I had a think about what i was about to do, and decided to have a look on carsales and ebay at cars in my price range, and there was my girl, in all her glory. awww

[maggsy]

i am pretty big on the Jap spec car scene and as long as i can remember i wanted to build a show car.

was looking at silvia's and 180's and i thought to myself, they're way too common.

i wanted something different that not many people would think about modifying.

came accross an FTO and loved it, it was what i wanted to get from that day on, i kept on looking around until i found the one that was right for me.

[oodLes]

Didn't want a damn commonwhore of falcon, or anything that you could see everyday, I wanted something different. There is one (I think, may have been passing through) other FTO in my town of 40,000, so I'm happy with it. I sure haven't seen anyone else with one thats for sure.

Handles well, very different looks, great engine note.

[RallyMad]

Yeah it was Gran Turismo for me to begin with as well. Since I turned 18 I went from wanting one to not being sure to finally deciding I needed to have one. After 4 years of searching I found one I loved and could afford and won't be selling it, just love the coupe look, the handling and the sound of a v6, can't stand the buzzy sound vtecs make.

[aza013]

I was looking for a suppra or GTO when I seen the FTO and just had to have it

[Richy]

i was looking for a 2nd car. initially thinking of a small hatch or something....but then thought...hey this is going to be mainly for my use only, why dont i get 2 door coupe...

then started looking at Soarer....(always liked it)...but it was either too expensive or the cheap ones are in bad condition. also the fact that i had to travel from sydeny to wollongong to work every day, so i need something with good fuel economy...so all the big engine ones were out of consideration....then finally decided to go between the FTO and Levin AE111. Test driven both, found the Levin needed flooring the pedal to accelerate otherwise it just didn't move....and finally saw a GPX FTO in Carringbah Nogoya Motor, tried it, had a good feeling about it, and just loved it.

at time of buying the fto, never had any intention of modding the car.....(and knew nothing about modifying anyway)....somehow....donno how it started...with audio....then EL dials....rings....seats...and other interior bits......now also on performance stuff.....damn...its getting worse....

its a nice thread to see everyones' story of getting their FTO

[FtoSam]

Spose i better put in my story as well...

I saw a pic of a Yellow Vielside FTO when i was in grade 10.. I thought oh my god that is porn!!!

I saved the pic as my background on my phone and thought i may be able to afford it when i was 50...

After having a few shitters, i thought i'd bite the bullet and get a loan for a car...

I looked at a Eunos... But quickly decided no... saw a few FTOs for around the $17-20k mark... but i only wanted to borrow $10k... and it was out of my reach...

But wait... Whats that right at the end of the carsales listings??? An FTO for $14k... But had no pics...

Wait.. ONO??? All right... One phone call at 9pm to the owner established that she had to sell it to pay for her course... she had 3 days left...

After getting her down to $10.5k I was on the 2am Train to Sydney to pick up my baby...

Having never seen an FTO in real life before i had no idea what to expect...

It was smaller than i thought it'd be... But it was smexy...

Paid for the car.. then took it to the highway... coming down the off ramp in 2nd gear... The tacho needle said a quick hello to the redline and i was doing 120km/h...

I quickly pulled over and cleaned my pants...


Was in love from there... Joined up on here straight away... Silent member for almost a year then when i needed a new engine (and looked at a 6a13tt conversion) I started posting away... After Breza left to Tazzie I was approached for the QLD Co-Ordinator Position after i organised a quick cruise... I accepted and havent looked back....

[I8A4RE]

Similar story to TCGPX, I had pulsar GTI-"R" in new zealand brought g/f over here and with her spending couldnt afford a nice car......... We split yah and now it was time to back to my first love.... Jap cars. My main goal was something that there werent many of so counted out any commodore, skylines, wrx, lancers, 180, 200 etc. One day my 89 honda civic blew its head gasket whilst driving past a dealer that had two FTO's sitting there (this must be a sign). Long story short towed honda bach to my house and replaced head gasket drove the next day back to car yard and brought my baby.......

But why...... its the SEXIEST looking car (IMO) for under 100k and thats why i have no problem spending 100k on her........(runs down to garage for a quick kiss and cuddle)

[rock_it]

I had never seen an FTO until my neighbour bought one in about 2001. He was on his L's, and I was his licenced driver ... Spent a lot of time in the car (to and from work, weekends) and loved the lines of the car... It was a tiptronic, so that was really the only thing about it that I was not too impressed with ... Or maybe it was just how he tuned it through is Mivec controller...

Anywho, long story short, I always wanted one after that... His was a 96, and I only wanted a 97 or up ... When the time came round to get another daily driver, (1 the women could drive, and I would not feel like I was driving a chicks car) the FTO was a great fit ... I was going to get a tip, but have managed to con her into learning manual ... lol ...

So the price is great for what you get, and instead of just getting a basic mirage, I have climate, abs, full electronics, and folding mirrors...

[khunjeng]

my wife wanted a sports car that was auto....my friend had one going at a good price.

See thought it was the best looking car that was small...so she decided it was it.

hate to say it but its the best chicks car...chicks look pretty cool in a nice looking FTO.

[Delvance]

For me...it started with reading about them in HPI magazine. I had 15k to spend and wanted something 0-100 in 7s or so. Was a tossup between buying an ae101 corolla and doing an 3s-ge conversion and sussy etc or the fto which also did the 100 in 7s manny or auto...

Oh and i love the look of 'em...concept car straight into production, quite unheard of! The first fto i ever looked at (way before i was a member here) was Aspenmai's old limitied ed. fto through carsales but funds fell through...then a year or two later i picked meself up a facelifted manny mivec.

After buying it, i loved the go so much (coming from a 62kw atw corolla) and the handling was quite nice, but the corolla pipped it slightly with a full setup from pedders.

Anyways, did some mods for go, stop and turns and it's been the best car i've driven yet. I loved the sleeper factor of it (hey, i shrugged off older v8s and light tune turbos often with mine), the looks, handling and somewhat rarity of them. Oh, and the mivec sound with an intake sounds unreal...

Only gripe i have with the fto is the somewhat doubtable mitsu build quality for such an expensive car (when they were new in jap) and the heavy v6 iron lump in the front that reduced handling in sharp corners.

[boarsai]

can't stand the buzzy sound vtecs make.

I love that noise, I come from zing zing motorbikes so I've learnt a fair appreciation for the higher pitched noises and zings.

A decent zorst also makes a car sound nice.