R34 GTR VSpec, looking to buy.

[Kris]

Hi All.

I'm looking at selling my current, and pretty much new Audi S3 , and looking to move to something a little different.

I've had my eye on a R34 GTR, not specfically the VSPEC but I think perferably.

Quick questions:

What sort of bling am I looking for?

How many kms roughly for that $?

Does the R34 have Nav & DVD? I have heard rumours they do?

Any Sydney members own one for me to check out?

General interior quality & build quality?

Any rattles or quirts I should know about?

Insurance for a 22yo, or is this just stupid?

Would appreicate serious comments only.

You can contact me via msn, [email protected]

Regards

Kris

[SS8_Gohan]

Bling? well look set to put down anywhere from say mid $70g's for what i reckon would be a pretty rough car, so more realistically mid $80K's to a full bling bling example for $100.

Km's?? well i reckon u could find some genuine low k's, specially for cars as good as these. 20-30K prob wouldn't be that unusual but prob looking more 40-50K.

R34 GTR does have a monitor which i THINK comes standard with a TV, BUT there are things have to be done so that it works in Oz, i believe they dont' come STANDARD with Nav and DVD, actually i'm pretty damn sure. But prob wouldn't be too hard to find one which has had it done, seems the monitor is already there.

www.carpoint.com.au has some GTR's sometimes, give that a burl. Also check out SAU's classifieds. Or u could import one urself. www.upimports.com.au, www.j-spec.com.au, www.prestigemotorsport.com.au, all good places to go. In fact, there is a R34 GTR VSpec up for sale here in Melb, but getting to u in Sydney shouldn't be a prob. PM a guy called 'vspecv', just find him on members list, give him a PM, he's got one for sale. Not sure if it's sold yet or not.

Interior/Build quality. Being a nissan, and a skyline, and a R34 GTR i don't think ur going to have too many probs in terms of quality. I think the R34's a pretty much bullet proof.

22yo?? Man, i want ur job whatever it is ... um, insurance will most def be a killer. maybe $3 - 3.5K conservatively? www.prosperion.com.au, if u wanna do a lease sorta thing. Insurance will work out REAL cheap, no matter what ur age or car.

Besides that, awesome car. Prob speak for majority of ppl on here saying it's our dream car... well it's definitely my dream car. Good luck with ur researching, i don't think u can really go wrong with a R34 GTR.

cheers.

[Kris]

Thanks for your reply.

Not looking seriously yet, just playing with ideas but the R34 seems to be the go. Mid 80's should be ok, however the km's seem rather high.

I do remember seeing a R34 Vspec with 7000kms for $80k advertised on some australian forum I believe... This would be perfect. 40-50k on the clock is far too much..I want to ensure I'm doing most of that running in

Ill look into the nav stuff.. Its pretty much a prereq for me, and as you said it seems to be dependant on how/who you import it from or who you've brought it from.. No biggie.

I'm yet to be sold on build quality coming from a Audi, but I will reserve my judgement for the test drive and inspection. Engine/Drive train wise, I'm sure there would be no dramas. You see these things @ 500hp on stock internals so.

$3000 would be ideal, its no more than I pay for the S3. It seems that finding insurance for a Skyline is easier than an S3! Prosperion won't work, my company doesnt do novated leases as yet, and I believe Prosperion require forms to be sent via your employer, unfortuntely thats too difficult for my employer so this will be off my own back, including finding private insurance.

Ill have to kick some tyres and see if its my cup of tea when Ive seen it in the flesh and taken it for a spin

Appreciate your informative and sensible post.

Regards

K

[DaiOni]

don't worry about the kms - they're never that high, these cars tend to be babied. There are plenty with 10k - 20k km - less if it's a later build

[SS8_Gohan]

yeah, both of ur are totally correct. I guess i've been checking for GT-T's too much, low km's 10 - 20k i think would be quite easy to find.

By the way K, what's the Audi S3 like? I'm looking at it along with the GT-T. Seems like a real nice car. Got all the trimming you could want, leather, subtle kit, nice rims, CD etc. Full boost at something crazy like 1500rmps What's she really like?? Don't seem to be many around at all, is it possible to get one for like 30-35K??

cheers.

[GTSR22]

hi i look up the auctions everyday the cheapest ones are going for about 70 grand that includes shipping.

i dont no if anyone has plates for them yet.after the new rule came in.

pm me for more info

[Kris]

Although Powerplay has a few and they are extremly overpriced, I'm going to check them out... Ill let you know how it goes.

the Audi? You MIGHT get a 99 model (old 154kw series ) for $47,000 - $50,000 with about 70,000kms. There is the 164kw and 154kw version, basically the interior is totally different, different suspesion, headlights, stereo. Mine is the new spec, so its got alcantara leather with nappa, Bose Symphony II which is like 6CD indash, 7 speaker, 250watt poweramp'd version, revised suspesion and of course the 165kw engine which only came out in Australia in March 2002 I believe.

You will get an Audi A3 1.8T with that money, but not a S3. I brought the S3 because its subtle, unique and fast. They hold value VERY well because there are not many in Sydney, they come with every option under the sun as standard, i think the only options are metallica paint, satellite nav, airbag pack and sunroof. std is bose sound, electric everything, heated door locks, electric recaro front seats, xenons, 17" wheels, abs/edl/esp,powersteering, climate control,quattro 4wd,leather interior and a few more that forget me. They can certainly move, with a chip upgrade and exhaust, they shoot out 210kw & 400NM and yes bull boost around 3800, comes on at 1500rpm. I have a mate that has an extremely quick one So if you see a black S3 with oettinger sticker on the back, beware because this thing has beaten many!

Does anyone have some websites with jap auctions that these r34s are featured on? That would be appreicated

[franks]

buy WARIO:

http://exvitermini.com/forsale.htm

http://exvitermini.com/pr34.htm

or SWOOP:

over 100k.

[GT-Rmgedon]

Is SWOOP still 4 sale?? Wow i thought some lucky bugger woulda snapped up this beauty! Black R34 GTR:drooling:

I personally haven't seen N E 34 GTR's below 85k (which was the lowest private sale). Dealers R charging some 10-15k above this price. I know in R33 guise there seem to be quite as many V-Spec's floating around as normal editions. Anyone know if this is the same 4 34's?

R34 GTR's come with optional TV or CD-based navigation systems for the centre screen display. So it really depends on the previous owner, if they ticked all the optional boxes. If they haven't, the centre screen display just does all the regular functions with electronic guages which can track boost, oil temp, Inlet & exhaust temp, injector readings, etc.

The interior is pretty swanky now. Leather steering wheel, dual airbags (optional side impact bags). The front seats have metallic painted racing harness inserts which look awesome. The dash has a metallic aluminium surround encasing the console and instrument panel replacing the carbon fibre look of the R33 GTR. Very Sweet.

I think from remembering a HPI article the GTR had better knee room in the rear seats than the GTT but head room was still an issue (oh well, compensates i guess). The trim on the seats looks very tasty, esp if the extra leather has been optioned and sport the embroidered GTR logos.

[rb25]

yeah - dont be too worried about km's, just the condition of the car. and for me to insure an R32 GT-R (I'm 25 and rating 1 for life for 3 years) it will cost $2800 so im guessing it would be over double for yourself, just do the research before you commit yourself to a car that cant be insured at a reasonable price....

[Kris]

Swoop is out of reach, I may even look for a R33 VSPEC but their interior is just shocking... hmmm. I'm sure Wario is at least $100k seems Mario is running out of cash!

[franks]

lol....mario out of cash? i dun think so latest i heard was that because noone bought it he was rebuilding the engine with forgies, etc etc. ... because he can

[SteveR33]

This maybe of interest!

http://www.r33skyline.com/r34.php

[Kris]

franks: why don't you think so?

[Kris]

$95k is $10k over budget, and silver isnt my color. Definately blue.

I wont look just yet until a) ive driven one B) ive done some more research

[usuckpoo]

Greetings Kris,

I'll be in the market for one as well towards the end of the year when i return to Sydney.

My personal opinion is, at 90-100k most of the R34 GTRS are still rather overpriced. (No offense to anyone here please!)

The premium seems to stem from the very fact that they are

1. An R34 and not an R33

2. Yes, they are a GTR

Yes, most importers are asking 110-130k for these, but i reckon its a rather big ripoff.

If you look at the going rate for late model 97/98 R33 GTRs, i've seen them going for 50k, to as high as 70 at some dealers for them.

While i do understand that the R34 should command a premium, 20k on top of a car that is only a year older (a 98 r33 gtr) is too much, esp when most of the r34 gtrs are 99 models, which are already almost 4 yrs old.

Fellow forumers have informed me that i might be able to find more reasonable deals in unique cars, however as i am not in the country i am unable to purchase these for verification. I have come across some rather good deals on them before though.

Common economic sense might mean i will only end up with a late model R33 GTR, unless i can find a 34 for reasonable money. (well i wont pay 100k for a 99 gtr even if i had the dough)

On another note, the nissans wont be able to match the build quality of ur audi. Yes, the interiors of the r34 are a marked improvement over the older generation, but still nothing much to brag abt, other than the fancy screen which i must admit i really love hehe.

Regardless, pple buy GTRs for other reasons besides build quality.

Im pretty sure a near stock or stock gtr will have your s3 for lunch.

Insurance will defintely me more on a GTR than on an S3, so be prepared for that.

Good Luck with your purchase!

Please do keep us updated on the progress!

[iNCOGNiTO]

Thought you may be interested in this. I was considering it, but have decieded to go the cheaper R33. It's in melbourne, they offered me $92k on the road within 30 minutes of me being there. Aparently it was some sort of demo car in Japan, thus the low k's.

R34 GTR - Gran Tourismo Autos LMCT 9291

Ph 03 9329 3335 Ask for Bill. 3 Year wrranty, road side assist, warranty sounded good up too. Haven't seen another in that colur either.

Only downer is that it's a 1999 model. So may well be worth a quick visit south for you.

Link didn't work - Carsales, Skylines, Melbourne Vic. 3rd down the list advertised for $105k... you'll se it

[Kris]

Ill take a squizz. All good points, I do honestly see the R34 as a rip off in the $100k price bracket, I think there is 'more of a car' available for that sort of money.

In any case, before I even look for A car, I will look at some cars to see if they are my cup of tea, driving wise and so on. The 34 certainly looks 'the business'!

Build quality & supercar performance are hard to find, sub porsche terrain...and my budget doesn't extend anywhere near even the 993 TT area

anyway, no major rush. The worst thing is to rush, and they are only getting cheaper!

ps: usuckpoo, nice handle!