Thinking Of Importing V35 Coupe

[NissanFan]

I remember seeing the 1st V series skyline when I was still driving my 180sx Type X. I disregarded it as a family car and just never invested any interest in them at all.

Which is very ironic as I am now considering one. I am actually wanting to buy a 350z but that has become a challenge as people dont usually want to part with them.

So I have a few quick questions about the V35 coupe:

1) what is its QM time? (I am guessing high 14s?)

2) how much would one set me back to import with 55,000KM or less with all the options.

3) How about with a Turbo kit?

Thanks.

[rs73]

Mate, nothing wrong with change of taste. you get older, you grow up, and the 350GT styling makes much more sense now than the boy racer style of mid-90s Nissan.

1) unsure, find out what 350Z QM time is and just estimate it'll be 0.5s slower or something. 350GT is a more 'grown-up' car and slightly heavier with more luxury stuffed into it.

2) Sedan or coupe? Expect coupe to pick up almost $10k dearer than sedans. That's a very big variable but a poverty pack coupe (no leather) can start around $25k to a manual premium with leather and bose for up to $35k depending on year and mileage. Best is to shop around and get a feel of the prices. What you see advertised locally is not far off importing yourself considering you'll be able to view the car in flesh and no hidden fees associating with unexpected expenses when you import your own car (ie. wharf storage, uncompliable aftermarket accessories that needs to be swapped/removed).

3) Forget it, and I mean forget it unless you have lots of cash. Think of $5k-7k for parts only, excl fitting labour and tuning. As a comparison a WIWO (walk in walk out) APS 500ps twin turbo kit that passed ADR, emission and RWC will set you back $17k, plus extra cost of transmission restrengthening if you have the 5sp Auto. This V35 was meant to be an N/A, most people will find it's enjoyable that way. But if horsepower is your fetish then there's plenty of choice out there, getting it to fit and tuned is a different story as not many garages specialised in turbocharging a VQ35 at this point of time, but there'll be more and more tuning specialist in the future. Mind the servicing though as any forced induction mods can make servicing more costly or complex, ie with supercharger belts etc, and your insurance premium may shoot through the roof.

[rs73]

PS: if you do intend to TT it, it'll be best to get one already fitted locally, or import a stock one then add the TT later. Buying a TT fitted car from Japan is a big, big gamble as it's just gonna be a lot more hassle and more expensive to comply them, as no cars can be with such engine mods.

Remember stock parts for V35 is still not as abundant as silvia/R3x series skyline, so you'll be in for a part hunt while having to comply your car within specified time set by DOTARS.

[NissanFan]

Thanks, what are the models -8 and CPV35?

Edit: TT is out then.

Is it common for these cars to be wound back?

Edited July 9, 2008 by NissanFan

[NISMO]

Actually I'm finding that used TT kits in the US are starting to pop up a fair bit, and if my coupe doesn't sell it's something I'm considering.

As an example used single turbo kits can be around $2500 and a TT around $4000 or so, and both of these were with new turbo's.

I'm actually also considering getting a quote here to a kit custom made. By biggest concern and therefore i think price will be the manifold. Everything else such as fuel gear, ecu, piping etc can be done locally no probs.

As for importing, the only advise i can give you is that people don't give good cars away for nothing in Japan, and people don't buy them to sit in the garage. I say this because a cheap car is cheap for a reason, and a low k's car that's a few years old, without logs you can assume has been wound back.

Personally aim for middle price range at least. I've seen 2003 coupes with ridiculously low k's sell very very cheap, yet a 40000km car will sell for $10000 more. Why? Cause you can bet your ar$e that there is something wrong with the cheap one.

I've seen one coupe which was graded a 5A and when it got here had decent under carriage damage which was not on the report, so just be careful.

[rs73]

GT-8 you mean? CPV35 stands for Coupe, all sedans you'll find the model designated as HV35

Coupe comes in 350GT only, either 5sp auto (tiptronic) or 6sp manual

Sedan comes in 250GT, 300GT (won't bother these two, lower power output 2.5 & 3.0Ltr engines), and 350GT.

Comes in 5sp Auto, 6sp manual, or the 350GT-8 comes with Continuous Variable Transmission 8sp auto.

CVT eliminates jolts when changing gears in auto transmission as there's no need for separate gears in the gearbox.

It may sounds great but just be careful buying a GT-8 make sure it has full service history as the CVT trans is different to what Nissan sells in local Murano & Maxima, and therefore no one will be able to service it here if it goes bang. Last I heard a guy in NZ can supply parts $13k unfitted, or

you send your broken CVT transmission there for repair. Expensive shipping to someone you don't know.

All 5sp AT-x & 6sp manual are no worries, they're similar to what's available in the local 350Z.

I'm happy with my 5sp AT-x (tiptronic), easy to drive in daily traffic and yet still quite responsive and better than the autos in older Nissans.

[NissanFan]

K thanks, I wouldnt want an auto anyway.

I just noticed they dont come stock with Cruise control

I noticed it reading Bobby's ad.

Edited July 9, 2008 by NissanFan

[rs73]

IF you're in QLD/NSW talk to Chris Rogers, he's developed a cruise using locally developed unit AND a factory/oem cruise buttons available on the higher spec 350GT auto sedans or the USA's G35 Infiniti option.

I'm planning to get one. Price $POA - the best is ask him once you have bought yourself a car. Yeah, you gotta spend extra for cruise but even without it, it's quite good to drive. I have a 2007 RAV4 with factory cruise, I actually found it not much chance to use it even on freeway, particularly with other driver's bad habit of cutting in front of you too closely, that's just render cruise control useless anywhere within 50km radius of the city streets/highways.

Some ppl just dunno how to drive.

[NISMO]

Yeah agreed Rianto,

cruise is great and i have used a bit on long trips, but also done a bit of freeway driving without even turning it on.

I like mine cause you can program speed warnings on it. 3 seperate settings. 100km/h for 60 zones, 140km/h for 80 zones, and 180km/h for everywhere else. :-)

just jokes, you can program it though

[rs73]

I have Destinator on my PDA that will yell "You are over the speed limit" at whatever it thinks the limit should be... sometimes even over 50km/h in a 60 zone will trigger it...

[NissanFan]

Yea when you use cruise control you come across drivers who obviously never have used cruise control.

Your V35 is very tempting Bobby but I am going to give the 350z some more time to show up.

[NISMO]

Yea when you use cruise control you come across drivers who obviously never have used cruise control.

Your V35 is very tempting Bobby but I am going to give the 350z some more time to show up.

Thanks mate. I'm in no rush and really really leaning towards taking it off the market.

Been looking at a Top Secret front bar and maybe a turbo kit, which has got me having massive second thoughts.

[CHO50N]

Guys hate to say this but V35 prices are going to drop Very soon. Premium cars have been coming up at auction in Japan and even been passed in at only 1.1m - 1.3m. This is getting cheap!!!! Base models even grade 4's are easily had for under 800,000 with decent km..

If you are thinking of selling now DO IT NOW.

If you are wanting to buy HOLD on a few months if possible.

There are so many V35's coming up that they are just not selling. These are an awesome car but just not as popular as other imports.

We have had a few V35's and have paid big money for them. My mum has had one over a year and paid over 2m for hers and i just sold mine which I paid 1.7 for. Now looking as selling hers and buying another one because of the huge drop in prices. The cars are comming up to their 5 year rego renewal in japan and alot are being sold.

Edited July 10, 2008 by CHO50N

[pudogg]

CHO50N, i know what you mean about the falling prices. the strength of the dollar only adds to it (the aussie dollar took a severe pounding at the start of the year). i've bought mine at the start of the year and paid a premium for it coz i wanted the car for the long haul. it's still being complied and to see the prices fall and dollar rise after the purchase and before delivery is quite distressing - plus the loan for the car keeps going on and on.

having said that, my only real concern is if we get flooded with cheap v35s and the car becomes the weapon of choice for ppl who attracts the attention of the cops. i just don't want to be stopped by cops for no good reason like how the R33s and the sylvias are in some areas because of the way they're driven by some of the ppl who own them.

[rs73]

I think regarding cheap v35s driven by moronic hoons are just the same as falcodores.

there's hundreds of falcodores out there, some are driven by your local mom & dads going to the shop/dropping off kids @ soccer game, but there are hoonish falcodore drivers at the same time too.

I've seen police stopped people regardless what they're driving, be it falcodore, camries, bikeys, fancy mercs or bmw, jdm imports, etc, and I believe if you're not driving like an idiot on the street, and your mods are not ridiculously loud or shouting out loud 'hey look at my chromies come and book me officer', then I believe any reasonable driver would not be hassled regardless what they drive.

[CHO50N]

Honestly believe the V35 to be the new Soarer. When they were new to the market they pulled good $$$$$$ now they getting common prices will just keep dropping till people can sell them. Its very hard to sell a good one at a premium price when surrounded by so much crap on the market. I believe the biggest problem is most poeople really dont know what to look for when buying and could not even tell a good car from a lemon anyway.

[NISMO]

I think you also need to add, that the main buyers are Skyline lovers who tend to be younger in age.

From what I've seen, it also means that they can only really look at the cheaper cars (not always, but most of the time).

In all the cars i've bought, my theory is that if you can only afford the cheapest of a certain model, then that car is out of your range.

Even if I was buying a corolla, i would set my price limit to get me a middle range car at least.

[Frank350GT]

I think you also need to add, that the main buyers are Skyline lovers who tend to be younger in age.

From what I've seen, it also means that they can only really look at the cheaper cars (not always, but most of the time).

In all the cars i've bought, my theory is that if you can only afford the cheapest of a certain model, then that car is out of your range.

Even if I was buying a corolla, i would set my price limit to get me a middle range car at least.

Good point

[CHO50N]

To be honest im not sure if the buyers are that young, on average.

Yes im only 21 but to be honest i didnt really like the car at all. It to me just had no feel, no excitement.

On the other hand my mum is 50 and she loves the V35 and my uncle is 56 and He loves his V35. I honestly think alot of the younger people that buy these will only have them for a short time. Ill admit I only bought mine because it was different I drove it for around 5 weeks and didnt really like it, a really good offer came so I sold it.

Yes i spent a bit on it (full respray and 20 inch rims) but i knew if I didnt not sell now i would never have gotten my money back.

Edited July 10, 2008 by CHO50N

[Stephen Thorpe]

When you see someone in their late 20's or early 30's owning a R32, 33 or 34 Turbo they probably bought it because it was good and was something different. There were only a few around and they paid good money to get into one. The choices a few years ago were WRX's, SS Boringdores, XR8 Barges or a GTS-T of some descriptions. Sometimes people could afford a GTR.

Then the market fell out the bottom for those sorts of Grey Imports, like any older car... the Soarer went first, then the Skyline and then the Supra followed.

So, the Skyline owner does a few mods to maintain a sense of difference and that feeling of it being a bit special, all the time driving the wheels off it and having some fun.

Then they notice that there is hundreds of them, some being driven by someone who looks like he is still in High School and on P-Plates. All types and all sorts are everywhere and the original feeling is lost. Must meen they were good but it dulls the senses and you hunger for something a bit more.

That is where the V35 comes in, only a few years old and a whole lot of car, but no Turbo... You are now older and that kick in the pants may not be that important anymore. I suppose if you still need a power hit you might be able to justify paying another 25% more for a R34 GTR. Which is now at least 7 years old but one hell of a car.

This is me... and now I need to find the right car... a M35 might even suit the dog too... unfortunately, even they are not available in a similar age as a V35.

Wish me luck!

Now, what to go and see, a Dealer or a Broker...