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im sorta in the same boat, im considering buying an R32 GTR hopefully by the end of this year or early next year.

now ive read soo much about the costs/problems/service costs for them, and i am well aware of that....

if i do get one it wont be a daily driver, or a track thrasher, mainly weekend cruises. i'l just be looking for somthing with a straight body, clean interior (no gauges screwed in dash/vents etc) good even compression and a nice normal engine bay.

im not worried about services/parts etc because a good family friend has a workshop and knows these cars like the back of his hands (having both owned a GTR and R33 with rb26/30 conversions), so labour costs will be very little - if any

im still having a think about it, but for the type of use the car will be used for, a nice stock one should do....

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<br />Two things:<br /><br />1. I bought a GTST 6 years ago. In that time I have driven it 30,000 km's. Most of my driving is in a Charade. If anything this makes me like the car even more as it is special to get back into. I've just accepted the ongoing costs however if the costs will place you on the border of the poverty line then I would definitely reconsider.<br /><br />I also just purchased a Golf GTI MkV. Similarly I drive it rarely and it remains special and exciting.<br /><br />2. If your in WA try getting a quote from HBF. They were definitely the cheapest for me, by a long way.<br /><br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />Cheers<br />
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I am in melbourne. For your:

1st point: that is exactly what my plan is if i get one :thumbsup:. just for weekend or once in a while driving. i agree with you it makes the car special to drive like that ;)

2nd point: i will check whether they operate in melbourne. not really sure.

last point "hope this helps" ... yes it helps me. thanks very much smurf. appreciate it :P

<br />If you have about $25k you should be able to find a very nice example indeed. If you are overly worried about maintenance & running costs get a stock or near stock one.<br /><br />As for insurance well that is hugely dependant on your record/age/location etc etc. Can be anywhere from $250 (third party I got quoted) to $3000 for full cover if you live over east & are young etc.<br /><br />Other maintenance depends on your usage. They aren't inherently different from any other car. If you flog it on the roads you will be paying more in fines & court costs than maintenance - so don't bother. Most of what you need can be sourced either from Nissan, from SAU or the traders here.<br /><br />Best advice is take you time, find a nice one. Then look after it.<br />
<br /><br /><br />

that is what i want to find. just a near stock one. i don't want a heavily modified gtr. i am not much into speed. the reason i love r32 gt-r is just ... dunno i just like it :thumbsup:. there is something about the design that just catches my attention all the time. cant stop thinking of it ;).

i will look around. and like you said, when i find one, you can bet on it: i will definitely look after it! thanks djr81.

I am an R32 GTR fanatic and come feb next year am about to buy one. As I owned an R32 GTS4 for 2 yrs I have some idea of what to expect. Basically if all you wanted to do was go fast then you wouldnt buy an R32 GTR.You would only get it if you are a total GTR fanatic. Basically if you handed me the keys to a porsche or an R32 GTR , I would take the R32 GTR every time..Forget the numbers on the odometer...This is an old car, it has had a lifetime of flogging regardless of its condition.Maintenance in Japan is a gamble also.As my work/shopping everyday car is a corolla, The GTR will be the weekend playtoy.So if I have to rip the engine out then be it.Dont get me wrong..they are fantastic cars but wear and fatigue affects ANY car, and GTRs are not cheap to repair

hahaha i would exactly do the same thing ... really! i am a fanatic. but gotta find a clean or as clean as possible ;) ... if it causes me too much trouble later i am afraid i will have to sell it again :thumbsup: because like u said, they are not cheap to repair :P

5K will be fine if you get a good example to start with. DONT rush in and buy one, you may have to inspect 10+ before you find the right one, lots of them are owned by young guys who can barely afford the repayments let alone the maintenace. IMO I would buy one thats allready been built-up right & maintained well(i got one like this off an old guy & it was bullet-proof).

Minko, i will keep that in mind. cheers mate.

well after owned my GTS4 when I look for the GTR I would advise you to do as I do. Look for the most standard one available.I know its impossible, as they all at least got an exhaust fitted. The hassles I had when I had my GTS4 was that quite a lot was modified. Unfortunately most owners bought it modified and dont really know what was done to it. Which can be a bit of a pain when repairs need to happen. I knew I had a HKS turbo but the previous owner didnt know which model.It was only after having it rebuilt that I found out what it exactly was. For the amount of cash your willing to spend you should be able to get an immaculate one with low K's...Try Prestigemotorsport or a few other importers....As for servicing, learn to do oil changes yourself...save up cash for an oil filter relocation kit with oil cooler...It will make filter changes a breeze.They can be a little bit tough to change filters if ya got big beefy arms

I cannot believe the amount of times I had my GTR looked at by pros who could not comment on it being in better condition, but people simply don't buy. Probably due to choice in the market / dreamers who probably won't buy anyway or are just toying with the idea. In the end I happily kept my car after a long waste of time. :rofl:

Check it out, have it compression tested if you must (I didn't, you can tell good from woeful compression anyway). I think a lot of it is unfounded fear. I haven't had one single thing go wrong with my car, neither have some fellow owners. Sure there are lemons out there as there are with all performance cars, but there are a heck of a lot of good ones too. On the whole the GTR is a very reliable car, especially given its performance. :) And not as expensive to fix as people say either. Especially if you can do the minor stuff yourself. :(

Fellas, and this is not aimed at R32 owners... the car is old as a sack of potatoes; it's like 15 years old for god's sake... also, with a turbo, everyone man and his dog has trashed the living daylights out of it either on track or off it, so when you go and decide to buy a R32 GT-R or another other older car for that matter; face the music that the likelihood of spend a small fortune on fixing it is quite high.

R32 are nice cars no doubt, but with older cars you gotta be prepared for it to potentially cost you an arm and a leg. That's just how it is. Personally and I stressed this is totally personal, I would rather get a R33 by spending a bit more...

Fellas, and this is not aimed at R32 owners... the car is old as a sack of potatoes; it's like 15 years old for god's sake... also, with a turbo, everyone man and his dog has trashed the living daylights out of it either on track or off it, so when you go and decide to buy a R32 GT-R or another other older car for that matter; face the music that the likelihood of spend a small fortune on fixing it is quite high.

R32 are nice cars no doubt, but with older cars you gotta be prepared for it to potentially cost you an arm and a leg. That's just how it is. Personally and I stressed this is totally personal, I would rather get a R33 by spending a bit more...

if u take your time and wait for a good one youll be right.i have no problems with gtr and it is a 1990 model which besides a cat was stock.advice is wait and search for the best one u can find

if u take your time and wait for a good one youll be right.i have no problems with gtr and it is a 1990 model which besides a cat was stock.advice is wait and search for the best one u can find

That's a fair point.

Yeah, you gotta wait for the right one - make sure you check it carefully etc - they're rare, but doesn't mean all older GT-R's are old bombs... depends on previous owners. :domokun:

It does and on the whole, so long as they aren't completely abused or neglected, for the age and performance you are gonna be pretty right.

I think the thing is, the Skyline is a mainstream type car in this country, which attracts a greater audience or potential buyer who may not completely understand performance cars in the first instance - hence the additional fear - which is not necessarily founded on much.

For instance, magazines, Hot 4s and the like, talked about the GTR's additional maintenance required. But for the performance, it is not that much, compared to say a Porsche, or a Ferrari. But a fellow Japanese car, like Civic, it is a lot more expensive to own.

if u take your time and wait for a good one youll be right.i have no problems with gtr and it is a 1990 model which besides a cat was stock.advice is wait and search for the best one u can find

thanks. that gives me hope ;) . is yours 32 gt-r too?

i drove last sat on burwood hwy, in melbourne btw, saw 1 behind me. grey colour with large gold rim i think. what a beautiful car. :rofl:

It does and on the whole, so long as they aren't completely abused or neglected, for the age and performance you are gonna be pretty right.

I think the thing is, the Skyline is a mainstream type car in this country, which attracts a greater audience or potential buyer who may not completely understand performance cars in the first instance - hence the additional fear - which is not necessarily founded on much.

For instance, magazines, Hot 4s and the like, talked about the GTR's additional maintenance required. But for the performance, it is not that much, compared to say a Porsche, or a Ferrari. But a fellow Japanese car, like Civic, it is a lot more expensive to own.

I see. because everytime i asked ppl that's what they said. "don't.. better get r33", "the maintenance is too high and difficult", "for the amount of money you better get r33", and the likes .. i think it's true. they have valid points. some of my friends also own 33. but somehow my eyes are so glued to gtr 32 hehehe...

also what you mean civic is more expensive to own? :rofl:

I see. because everytime i asked ppl that's what they said. "don't.. better get r33", "the maintenance is too high and difficult", "for the amount of money you better get r33", and the likes .. i think it's true. they have valid points. some of my friends also own 33. but somehow my eyes are so glued to gtr 32 hehehe...

also what you mean civic is more expensive to own? :rofl:

Sorry it should have read 'compared to a Civic the GTR is expensive to own'. But I don't think GTRs should be considered expensive to own, given what they actually are I think they are relatively cheap, that is my opinion. It's been a very easy car for me to own (granted I have a very good condition low km R33 - but still there are plenty out there like mine).

I was set on a R32, always preferred them. But I bought the best GTR I could afford, which happened to be the car I have now and I don't regret it one bit.

I got a good example, and I recommend it. mines 1989 too..!!!

Buy any used car, and you have no idea about its history tbh.

I think they were specialist cars in Japan, and were, as a whole looked after well..... just like we do..!!

... and of course, there the wheel-spinner owners who kick them about when they know it is sold too... beware of them.

TBH, what can you expect, they are USED!!... buy new if it is a concern, but, as correctly re-itterated on here many times, take your time, but grab the one you want when it avails itself, and stick with it.

YEAP, you need maintenance, but don't all cars..!?!?

R32 is a legend, and quite rightly so, anything else is less.!!!, and still has to be equalled..!!

IMO..!!!, any questions or advice, this is the place.

BTW... I would not swap it for any car at the moment, its superb in all aspects, a true drivers car, and you dont have to cane it everywhere either, peeps kno what they are, so no need to affirm the "crown".

Yep, she has cost me some dough, but now I know what is good, and what is "iffy". Having done most of the work, I have a good idea of it's condition, and what is next on the TTD list.

There are some real sheds on the market, but my advice is try to get one that looks relatively standard, and no "salon sillies" in it. Performance.. I have managed amazing power, whilst keeping it looking standard. They are a very robust item if looked after.

My 2cents.

I was looking at 32GTRs and 33GTSTs, in the end I went the 33 for a few reasons;

1. Car will be daily driven in inner melbourne, 33 will be cheaper to run and a bit more comfy day to day.

2. The age of the car. When you get a 15+yo car perishable item will fail, no matter how well the car is looked after.

3. Insurance. Much cheaper in a 33gtst, 32 GTRs are easier and more desirable to steal.

4. Repair costs. If something terrible happens replacing (for example) and RB25 will cost much less than an RB26.

5. Value for money. For the 17k I spent i got a mint r33, with some great mods and a warranty. 32GTRS at this price were in shocking condition.

6. Fuel Econmy.....Who am I kidding? Both suck the juice.

So despite the GTR being much more desirable, for my purpose and budget the GTST was the better option.

I bought a 90 gtr and had to spend $2700 a month after buying it.....and still a few things that i need to replace.....basically put the car wasnt built to last 20 years and be in mint condition so there are many things that need replacing....

What had to be done? Maintenance or a failure of some sort?

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