R33 Newbie Help

[Guest pj_oz]

Hi Lads,

Just about to go purchase an R33 after migrating from the

200sx clan. (Yes I will get flack from both sides).

If I could pick your brains for things I should look for before I put my hard earned dollars down.

I will be getting an inspection done but dont want to be inspecting potential lemons before I get to the good ones.

Anything inherently/commonly wrong with these vehicles?

(Sydney only) Any places I should be looking to buy from that dont have the mark up like certain shops on Parramatta Rd..

Is travelling to QLD/Melb a good option as they appear to be alot cheaper than Sydney prices?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

PJ.

[Timmy G]

Just a word to the wise.. an NRMA inspection on an R33 GTSt (and probably GTS and DEFINITELY a GT-R) is a lot more expensive than a regular inspection. I think it's like just over $200..

I bought my car from North Shore Prestige in Manly Vale. They were pretty good, a few hiccups, but no problems with the car (simple stuff like the passenger door not triggering the cabin light, head unit not working). They weren't that prompt in fixing these things, but at least it was finally sorted out.

Inherently wrong.. the obvious point is that it's not a car for your gramps, so it would have probably been driven hard by previous owners. The flipside is the cars are supposed to be driven hard.

A question you will run into is "what is the difference between a series 1 and series 2". That has been spoken about a lot in old threads - maybe someone can point him to a past thread cos I couldn't find it in the search.

- Tim

[CanberraR33]

I don't reckon NRMA inspections are worth the $ they cost. I'd just get a good mechanic to look over it and maybe even get a preasure check done.

Main thing I guess as with any import is that a lot have had their odometers wound back, which means you'll have no idea as to when things like cam belts have to be done. Check interior wear and if the stearing wheel gear knob and drivers seat are worn to bugger and the clock shows 50,000kms think hmmm!

Cambelts on Skylines should be done every 100,000kms. Check the sticker on the fan cover (i think that's whre it is) that is in Jap and it says 100,000kms somewhere on it. There is a spot to mark the kms the cam belt was changed. It cost me about $500 from memory to get mine done.

I was fortunate to by mine from a dealer and I was able to negotiate a 3 yr unlimmited KM warranty into the price which gives me peace of mind.

Good Luck!

James.

[CanberraR33]

BTW, NRMA inspections, in my experience, seem to care more about interior and stuff like that then mechanical. I can check lights and stereos and interior condition, I just wanna know that everythings in good order under the hood!