Purchasing My First Skyline (Help Plz)

[Ash]

I am looking at buying my first Skyline, as per topic.

This will be the first car i have ever bought, however i have wanted a skyline since i was about 10 (9 years).

I wish to get a 1995 R33 GTS-T. I am getting a $20,000 loan from the bank and i have about $8000 saved up for insurance and to allow me to spend up to about $23000 for the car.

Having not hit that magical age where i become a good driver (25) My insurance will be through the roof, is there a way to decrease this? one of my friends suggested having my dad as a second owner of the car (even tho i paid for it in full) and this will allow me to inherit his 60% no claim? does this work? is there a better way to get cheaper insurance?

When looking at skylines, what should i look for? and what should i look out for? as this is a very very large expence for me i wish to get the best possible. i don't want to spend $22,000 on a car then find out a week later that the clutch is f***ed and there is no way i could afford to fix it so it would sit in my driveway for a month or two untill i can afford the repairs.

also i found this car is it good or not? opinions? i really want a coupe, in black white or blue.

http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/usedcars/r...45/vehicle.html

Im a good driver, i drive about 500Km a week etc... however i cant really drive a manual to save myself. My best friend is an incridible manual driver (can shift so fast doesn't even disengage the clutch amoung other things[i think he learnt this because he drove around for nealy a month with a broken clutch cable]) and he has offerd to teach me how to drive a manual, i have had about 1/2 an hour with him and i can do it alright, need a lot more practice! However i really really really want to be a good manual driver. so i should get the car in manual right? or do u think auto?

Thanks In Advance For your Help. im sorry there are so many questions, there is just so much i want to know and i value your opinions

[randymoss]

It looks like you really want to buy a skyline.

I was in the market for an r33 as well until I bought my r32

Thats another path if you want, buy an r32 and spend the rest on mods. They only have half a litre less capacity and their shape is not as dated as it may seem.

If youre looking for insurance do a search on the forums for

'famous classic car insurance'.

[d0p3y]

Originally posted by a5h

Having not hit that magical age where i become a good driver (25) My insurance will be through the roof, is there a way to decrease this? one of my friends suggested having my dad as a second owner of the car (even tho i paid for it in full) and this will allow me to inherit his 60% no claim? does this work? is there a better way to get cheaper insurance?

You could insure the car under your parent's name, however, there's one downside to this and that's that you won't be developing a no claim bonus for yourself, therefore it's not the best thing to do in the long run. As far as companies to insure you go, Famous Classic Car Insuance is probrably your best bet. Try searching the New South Wales forum for the Insurance threads, as there's more companies and things listed there. Insurance is always going to be high when you're young, and drive a turbo imported sports coupe.

When looking at skylines, what should i look for? and what should i look out for? as this is a very very large expence for me i wish to get the best possible. i don't want to spend $22,000 on a car then find out a week later that the clutch is f***ed and there is no way i could afford to fix it so it would sit in my driveway for a month or two untill i can afford the repairs.

Try using the Search feature on the forums to shed more light on this subject of what to look out for, there's been threads on this before and it so it could be of some help to you. Basically, look out for leaks around the engine block, noisy/smokey turbos, rough idle, blue smoke, and stuff like that as far as the engine goes. You should take it for a test drive of course, check the gearbox is alright and the clutch isn't slipping. As i said, use the search feature to find more information on what you should look for on R33's. Your best bet is probrably finding a near stock example; you're likely to have less problems with it as there's less chance of it being thrashed/used for racing/drifting etc. If you can find one with Japanese log books, this is great. Sure you can't read them, but it's reassurance that it's been looked after and serviced by previous owners.

also i found this car is it good or not? opinions? i really want a coupe, in black white or blue.

Looks promising, looks pretty neat too. 12 months rego - Bonus. Try haggle him down a lil ($500-750?) and you've got yourself a good deal IMO.

Im a good driver, i drive about 500Km a week etc... however i cant really drive a manual to save myself. My best friend is an incridible manual driver (can shift so fast doesn't even disengage the clutch amoung other things[i think he learnt this because he drove around for nealy a month with a broken clutch cable]) and he has offerd to teach me how to drive a manual, i have had about 1/2 an hour with him and i can do it alright, need a lot more practice! However i really really really want to be a good manual driver. so i should get the car in manual right? or do u think auto?

I think you'd have more fun with the Manual, however, if you're more comfortable with an Auto go ahead with it. Manual would be better though, especially if you intend on adding performance mods in the future. Manual lessons are good, you'll get the hang of it. Though, in the end, it's your money and your car - get what transmission you're comfortable with. You won't find an Auto as easily as you will Manual, as the Manual's are more common, though.

Hope that helps you a little.

[sven laptop]

A5h, firstly, let me wish you the best of luck with your first car purchase. We all know how you feel & how long you've waited for this important rite of passage.

But do remember that your first car is the one you're most likely to make most of your (costly) mistakes in.

You say if the clutch is buggered (for example) you'll have to keep the car off the road while you save for repairs. That's understandable, but it suggests that you should buy a car that's a bit cheaper & then leave yourself some kind of financial safety margin. There's nothing more annoying than paying off a loan on a car you can't drive! (Been there, done that).

I know you've been waiting for ever & you know which car you want, but a little bit of patience or restraint now could save you a lot of drama in the future.

This must all sound like a wet blanket to you. However it's a way of warning you about the very common pitfalls of car ownership.

And finally, if you're determined to buy a GTS-t (a high-powered car), the best thing you could do for yourself, your insurance premium & everyone else on the road is to do some driver training - particularly if you're looking to drive a manual for the first time.

Here endeth the lecture & best of luck with whatever you decide.

[hippy]

i agree with sven ... spend a bit cheaper ... i'm sure u can get a 95 for less than 22 easily ... just search around or import one from a broker ... cause u want to leave a bit of safety money if something should happen ... and also GET INSURANCE before u even get into the car if ur not experienced driver ... by that i mean manual and turbo cars ... i cannot stress that enough ... i know of so many stories of people who totally screw up their cars first time they drive ... happened to me ... good luck!!

[Ash]

Thankyou! all for your advice, I will check out that insurance and do the appropriate searches.

if i spend $22000 i still should have $6000 maybe $5000 to pay for insurance and repairs, will that be enough of a safety margin?

I will also be saving so if that happend in a coupple of months i should have more saved up

[benm]

I got my '95 GTS-T with light mods (air filter, cat back nismo exhaust, nismo suspension, lowered, strut bars, very nice jvc mp3 player, subs, yada yada) for $25.5k only 5mths ago.

My suggestion is to find the car you like first and worry about the price later.

A mate of mine (on here) bought a stock as a rock abbbbsolutely mint '96 for $23k.

But by the time a decent stereo was installed, tints etc it came to more than $25.5k anyway. Choose wisely.

I'm not saying my car is better than his but just look around at the options and certainly dont go for the cheapest car. Also don't go for the 1 with heaps of performance mods. You never know really what quality they are, who put them on and how badly they have been used. Best of spending the money yourself (when you can) and getting it done properly.

You gotta spend money to get quality and their are ALOT of dirty looking skylines around i know that for a fact.

I dunno about you but r32's do absolutely nothing for me, not only that but they are 10yrs old. Sometimes i think of my car being a '95 model and think farrrrk thats getting on now being 7-8yrs old but then i get into my parents vectra or mums 2002 proton and it has just as many options and a heaps better performing car.

Take HEAPS of time looking over the car and testing things. When purchasing my car (private sale) I spent more time taking pics of it with my camera then i did actually seriously looking at it. I just happened to really trust the previous owner and i had never driven something soooo smooth in my life so i was sold.

Spend atleast 30mins driving it and atleast 2-3hrs looking over it. Try steering clear of dealers and look for either private sales or 'importers'.

[sven laptop]

Also remember some golden rules of test driving a car...

1: Don't go to look at it at night (unless you've already seen it in sunlight).

2: Make sure you get to start/drive it from cold, rather than after someone has already got the engine up to running temp.

3: When you're driving it, turn the stereo OFF, so you can hear the squeaks, rattles & thuds that will give you the sh*#%ts within 2 weeks of paying for it. You can suss the sound system out when you're parked at Macca's.

4: Take it for a good long drive in a variety of conditions - ie: stop-start, freeway, steady cruising, good & bad roads, etc

5: Assume that everything the seller tells you (especially if it's from a car yard) is complete rubbish. He's trying to sell a car for maximum $$$, not do you any favours.

6: Listen to the car, not your dad/mum/mates/girlfriend sitting in the back

And finally, remember: THE WORLD IS FULL OF CARS, so if you don't get this one then another one just as good will come along.

Good luck!

[Lozza150]

Insurance is a Hassel, and will be believe me.... I'm 25 male and own a skyline and Quotes i got from different companies ranged from 3000-5000+ per year. With many little catches on the way....

I had not held insurance beore my skyline (hz Utes arn't worth insuring) so hence the high price as i had no "no claim Bonus"

What I'm going to do (and many people will cringe when i say this) is take out Third Party Property, and put the best security system that i can afford in it. I know this is not the safest of things to do, BUT, my work has a Private lock up parking area with survellience, and i lock it up at home in the Garage. If im out in the skyline....i'm in it. if i have to go somewhere for a while and am going to be away from the vehicle...I take my Wife's car....or we both go...

that way after a year or two of holding third party property, i have built up a "no claim Bonus" that will bring down the price.

Other things you can do is take a defensive driving course, some companies look favourably on that, install immobilisers etc... and have lock up garage facilities.

the advantage with third party is that someone else is covered if your unlucky/idiot and hit something/someone/many things. Sure it won't cover you, but if your sensible you should be ok....

I know accidents can happen, but you'll have to agree, 500 a year to 5000 a year is a little bit less on ye ol wallet.

This is simply a suggestion, from someone that has "been there done that"

on the buying front, a coulpe of small things.....

bodykits can sometime's hide damage, different front ends etc (look for New Paint)

dont believe the Odometer's (they are cracking down on it in Japan nowadays, but it was commen practise to "wind back" clocks before auctions... best way to tell is what the guy's have suggessted above...idle etc

Cheers

Loz

[benm]

Thought about leasing the car ? Insurance is cheaper and overall price is cheaper but you dont get to keep it at the end of the lease term. (By then you'll want to get an R34 GTT)

[Gester]

I got my 97 R33 for $18.5k through a broker has 70,000k's on it though. Although you'll find if you get it straight from an Auction place in Japan, Auto's are cheaper and Manual's are more expensive as there is more demand for Manuals.

Whereas in Australia Auto's are more expensive and Manuals are cheaper heh

[Ash]

OMG OMG OMG!!! Just spoke to the bank! I GOT THE LOAN!

Im speaking to a private importer in the Upcoming week, as well as insurance agencies and i could be on the road in anywhere from 2 Weeks if i find the car i like! Ill Keep you all Posted and ill post some pics etc...

[Guest neoGT-25]

good to hear

enjoy.

[xRHETTx]

The car that u posted the link to is ment to be a "2nd half Model''? Is that series 2? Coz it doesnt look like seires 2, it has a series 1 grille, or am i wrong? Didnt series 2 start in 96

[jmp]

95 is really a series 1.5, a few things changed.

[Guest Broadsword]

I have superb black 1995 GTST for sale.It's $25750 but is sensibly

upgraded ($8K worth). Wish my first car had been something like this !!!

[Ash]

can you plz email me some pics and specs etc??? my email is

iswim at bigpond dot net dot au

[Gerds]

i learnt manual on my r33, it takes less than a day to get the hang of it. Im also selling my series 2 97 model in a month or so if interested around $23k

[Ash]

check your pm's