Thinking about purchasing an R33

[uneekwahn]

I'm in the market for a new car and am thinking about purchasing a 1996 R33 Skyline.

Can anyone tell me what I should look out for with a Skyline, the pros and cons etc?

I would be having one imported for me from Japan.

Regards,

Jason.

[rev210]

mate if your in perth the only people who can import now are cannington auto wholesale. They are the only ones to have RAWS certification. I'm not sure if the R33 has ben certified yet nationally as well.

Any car brought in under the new program must be 'totally stock', no exhaust no filter nothing.

[uneekwahn]

So you're telling me that no one else in Perth can import them? Geoff Risby would probably beg to differ and he didn't say anything last night that would imply he couldn't import them.

Where did you find this out?

[rev210]

Geoff can import them for sure, I check his stock out daily.

He has to get a RAWS certified and quality assured workshop to pass the compliance however. The only one in W.A is Cannington Auto Wholesale.

So basically as I understand it none of the RAWs certified dealers are interested in certification of 'outside' dealers, since the certification is so expensive and legalistic. Perhaps you can get something done in the eastern states then have the car brought over?

Why don't you give Geoff an email about the situation and see what the deal is?

I think there will be a wait till you can say 'yes' to importing this kind of vehicle through a 3rd party. Other than that a wait till 2004 for 89' vehicles.

At the end of the day make sure you can verify with the RAWS certified workshop that the deal is ok before going ahead. Geoff seems like a top bloke and I'm sure he'll look after you.

[rev210]

oh and the skyline has to be 'dead stock'. Absolutely no mods are permitted at all.

[uneekwahn]

Ok, I understand what you're saying now, unfortunately after a 14 hour work day, my brain doesn't work too well

I'm also aware of the "has to be stock" ruling and I will be addressing this issue once I get the car here

Thanks for your assistance,

Jason.

[Cake]

Geoff Risbey can import them but you need to find a RAWS workshop that can do the compliance work to the car and supply the compliance plate. I'm not sure whether there are any other RAWS compliancers in Perth for R33's yet, ask Geoff he will know.

As for things to look out for, Geoff does his best to give an honest description of the car. The only thing to be wary of with all imports no matter who you buy it from is dodgy odometer readings, if the condition of the interior looks pretty worn and the odometer says 45,000 then u know its dodgy. my mate bought a 95 r33 with 100,000km on the clock and the interior was immaculate, no wearing on the steering wheel, drivers seat bolster or handbrake leather... these are common interior parts that show obvious wear. i'd go by the condition of the car anyway first, instead of just by the odo reading. there isn't much else you can really look for yourself since u are importing it and cant inspect the car in person. if its stock standard and has been well maintained and serviced then there isn't much to worry about.

Accident repair vehicles are cheaper of course than grade 4 cars etc, but some repairs can be very bad, and some u would never know it was in an accident. Basically you get what you pay for, if you want an immaculate car u are gonna pay a fair bit. i have imported 2 r33s through geoff and can personally highly recommend him.

use the search feature on the forums to find out more info, because a lot of these types of questions are asked many times. if you type in 'geoff risbey' or 'prestige motorsport' u should find a fair amount of useful info.

Chris.

:burnout:

[R32-GTS]

Bentley Garage also has passed the RAWS scheme.

[Guest Robo's]

I just bought a 93 model which got imported this year. It has 89,000 ks, which i feel is pretty genuine. Yes it has wear in the handbrake and gearstick boots and a slight tear on the drivers seat as you brush past when you get in. But as far as underneath etc, its still very clean. Thats how i go by mileage.

[NO_RSPECT]

jason what are you up to bothering these nice SAU people with questions

Hey everyone meet Jason, he is a nice guy with lots of access to porn, make friends now.

nah just kidding

Oh yeah he will also pay good money to have a drive in your car, so send your fees and charges to him via email.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

I also believe that Danny from Global is about to be green lighted for RAWS. It's taken many months and alot of money for these companies and hopefully soon we'll see some new stock start to dribble into WA:D

[Guest Nobel Soul]

Rev210, i am trying to work all this out because i am in a bit of the same situation.

If it is modified they wont let it in the country? or must you take all the modified stuff of before you take it over the pits or at the RAWS workshop?

I have seen this real R33 in japan, its very quick, according to the dealer it puts out 850hp, so it has some serious work done to it. I was a bit too late to get in time for the old system, and really want to bring it over. Any wise ideas?

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Nobel.

It will be allowed in the country, but in order to be complied the RAWS workshop must revert the car back to stock, and show that the aftermarket parts are destroyed (there are ways around this).

If you speak to the RAWS workshop then they may be able to removed the parts giving it the 850hp, make it stock to comply, then add the bits back on, but this will increase the cost of the car due to the extra labour involved.

[EVL R33]

I was speaking to a complier on monday and he told me that only Cannington Auto Wholesale has RAWS approval but only for RX7's. He is nearly through on R33 Skylines and said no one else in perth has got the ok yet for them. Also the latest HPI shows that the only perth place is Cannington AWS and only for RX7's. Maybe the others that have been mentioned have gone through in the last week or so. And there will be checks done by the feds on workshops to make sure that the cars are stock... Also I'm told that the pits have been notified about the new system and getting a non stock car registered under RAWS will be next to impossible. Still, nothing stopping the shop 'selling' you the go fast bits to put on the car once it is registered.

Brett

[Nate]

Originally posted by GTS-t VSPEC

Nobel.

It will be allowed in the country, but in order to be complied the RAWS workshop must revert the car back to stock, and show that the aftermarket parts are destroyed (there are ways around this).

If you speak to the RAWS workshop then they may be able to removed the parts giving it the 850hp, make it stock to comply, then add the bits back on, but this will increase the cost of the car due to the extra labour involved.

So if it has aftermarket suspension and engine internals..

That sucks...

[RadiuM]

jason, your migrating to a skyline also.. NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo!!

hope you enjoy your car when you find one!

Shaun

[zanda]

anyone got any info on what happens in the case of aftermarket internals - i.e. how the hell would anyone know if there's aftermarket pistons/rods in there?

[rev210]

Originally posted by EVL R33

Also I'm told that the pits have been notified about the new system and getting a non stock car registered under RAWS will be next to impossible.  Still,  nothing stopping the shop 'selling' you the go fast bits to put on the car once it is registered.  

Brett

Spot on.

A mate of mine is part of the family that run Cannington auto wholesale, I've been catching up on the whole RAW's thing for a long time and so far there aren't many cars on the list at all. They all have to be passed.

The JZX100 chaser is being done as is the stagea, you would not believe how long it takes for each car to be certified. He's had the stagea for almost 2 years getting approved.

Each car has to pass a side impact (scratch one perfectly good car!) and emmissions etc. To get on the list. Even then (like the Rx7) the workshop may have to improve the factory system to pass emissions meaning that other workshops may not be able to import the same vehicle unless they develop the same system. This is why there was such an outcry.

My bet is no RAWS workshop is going to be interested in supplying 'customer picked' cars from japan given the extra scrutiny applied to each vehicle. If you think it's just a case of removing the mods then think again. I would be asking the RAWS workshop for an answer directly. The answer I've been given (and I'm a mate) is NO.

[rev210]

Originally posted by zanda

anyone got any info on what happens in the case of aftermarket internals - i.e. how the hell would anyone know if there's aftermarket pistons/rods in there?

Emissions tests. Although not the norm in WA compliancing it is planned already I believe.

Again thats why there was a big outcry. We are told we are the 'winners' because the standard of car coming in will be superior and there are more models to choose from. However, the cars will be more expensive and getting the funky new models requires a very long time to go by and hope that you local RAWS workshop even wants to bring the model you like in.

We are all losing on this one. Bastard local car manufacturers!

[GTS-t VSPEC]

If a car has forged pistons etc then it is unlikely it will get picked up by the pits inspectors, but things like lumpy cams will easily be noticed. They can make you go for an emissions test, at your expense ($2k) at Orbital to prove it meets the emissions for that car.

I believe that they are hoping to provide a cheaper emissions test soon, about $200.