Is Your Stagea Your Last Car?

[GTR91]

I've owned a few cars over the years. Holdens, Fords, a Mazda, a Valiant, a 300ZX even a R33 GTS-t.

The year was 1991 and whilst watching Bathurst I seen the car of my dreams - R32 GTR. That for me was the pinnacle of motoring greatness. If only I could have one of those, as I day dreamed ...

Years later, MANY years later I finally got to own one. That not being enough, I quickly went to work on it turning it into the car of my dreams. It was everything I thought it would be and more.

I honestly thought, after everything I've owned and driven over the years, that the R32 GTR would be my only and last car I'd ever own. Dont get me wrong, I LOVE the R32GTR, but

Times change, driving changes, things change I guess.

Whilst still owning the R32 I bought a RS4 - why? I needed something with more space, a daily ride that would suit my needs. Just over a week later someone asked me if I'd sell it to them, and I did. In less than a week driving the RS4 around I quickly came to the conclusion if this thing had a RB26 under the hood WOW! what a vehicle it would be.

I didn't even know about the 260RS ...

Searching Japan for a new RS4 and I happened to stumble apon the 260RS. It was like 1991 again

After some more searching I found what I was looking for and commited to purchase. So then I owned a R32GTR and a 260RS.

The R32GTR is no longer mine - sold! now thats saying something. If I was rich enough to keep both would I ? Sure would. But I had to choose between the two and I chose the 260RS OVER a R32GTR.

Why? Well I guess MANY would be scratching their head about now thinking WTF? And if someone had of wrote this post and I was reading it I would also be thinking WTF?

But its a testament to just how damn sweet the Stagea really is. There is no such thing as a perfect car. Every vehicle ever made has its faults (with exception to the Bughatti Veyron)

But wet dreams aside, no car is perfect. Even a R32 GTR. Even a Stagea. But when wieghing up the pro's and con's I chose the 260RS. And I do not regret it one little bit.

I'm going to make a bold statement - My Stagea IS going to be my last car. (OK I'll confess, if the Bughatti Veyron slips in value to the $50K mark I'll buy one) but in all seriousness, I think I've found driving nirvana.

So wet dreams aside, Ferraris, Porsches and Veyrons, is your Stagea IT for you?

I'm not talking about mods, sheeesh I'm gonna be fugging about with mine for the next ....however many years I can find stuff to do to it. But I aint looking for anything else. I think I've found my LAST car.

[JAV360]

I totally agree.

Nothing can compare in my books, especially for bang for buck.

I'm looking to get another stagea as mine got tangled in an unfortunate accident (not my fault) and I'm not even considering buying any other car.

Stagea all the way.

[infiltrator]

my Stagea will not be my last car... iv only owned 2 cars in my life (Bluebird) and the stagea... i have put it down as a 10 year car, if it still runs great and i can still get parts and so forth then ill keep her, but otherwise, i think in 10 years the GTR will have come down in price but i will NEVER EVER get an electric or Hybrid car...NEVER!!!

[_Ryan_]

6 in 12months.... i had a high turnover, so lets see how this one goes haha

[GoldZilla]

I won't say it's my last car, but I've had it for just over 3 years now, still love it as much as the day I first picked it up (if not even more as I've slowly made changes to my taste and requirements), and I will probably keep it for quite some time longer.

I'd love to own a manual JZX100 Chaser, but I can't justify (and probably won't be able to afford) owning two cars and don't want to sell the Stagea any time soon!

[SHIZNT]

Won't be my last car as i'm on 20 and i'm already on my 4th car ... But i think the Stagea is one car i'd keep as a project if i brought a daily driver in the near future.. how many show quality Stagea's do you see? or Stagea's with the potential to do 10's?.. Id like to do something different.. pull the RB25 out and sell it to make way for a 30/26 or pick up a cheap Supra or Aristo half cut and do a 2JZ-GTE conversion (puts flame suit on)..

[iamhe77]

I don't think that it will be my last car, but I won't be looking for something else for a very, VERY long time.

When all cars have to be switched to hydrogen and there is no conversion kit, then I will probably have to get something else.

btw, what is wrong with doing a 2JZ conversion to an RS? Faaaarrrrrr superior engine to the RB25.

[RubyRS4]

I love my Stagea, but I've always moved from car to car, depending on my needs and wants at the time.

I have however, been eyeing this off ...

I have two Stageas, so I'll have one for some time yet

[CL11QE]

I must say my Stagea is great, however it wont be my last car. I really do miss my old car, LOTS of fun....gonna start building a new toy soon though....

[BensDR30]

I'll pretend I didn't see the Torry (even if it does look nice)...

I bought our '96 RSFV at the end of 2004 (September I think). I knew of this 'GT-R wagon' thing (i.e. 260RS), and then saw the RSF review in Zoom & did some more digging on the topic. I was also looking to retire the DR30 from daily use (the attempted break-in at work helped that motivation...), and started looking for C34's for sale. I looked at one that had only 20,000km but had taken damage in transit from Japan (it also had twin roofs & a few other optional extras), and another that had more km but was pretty much spotless - complete with genuine floor mats. A week later it was mine, and since then has carried all sorts of crap It's now done nearly 120,000km and is the family wagon that my wife drives more often than I.

It will hopefully get new front doors this year due to the OEM-fitted rust behind the mirrors, and some upgraded sway bars. But I can see us owning the car for a long time to come. It's proving to be a well built and reliable workhorse/sportswagon, so much so that we've even considered selling my wife's uber-reliable MY97 Impreza GX and getting an M35 as well as the C34...

It probably won't be our last car - I expect we'll eventually wear it out. My 240Z was my first car & that's not going anywhere - it will get a fuel conversion if gasoline isn't available! But the C34 will be a hard thing to replace when the time comes.

[Tangles]

depends how old you are......

wont be my last car far from it, however I did say upon purchase nearly 4yrs ago now that it would be a 10yr ownership car.

now i say it'll still be mine for another 11yrs yet.... making it a 15yr ownership car then letting the kids do their learning in it.

"worked" stagea = driving Nirvana; I totally agree.

wouldnt swap my rs4 for a rs260 as by the time Im done with the modifications she'll out-surpass a rs260 anyways

[_Ryan_]

6 in 12months.... i had a high turnover, so lets see how this one goes haha

Won't be my last car as i'm on 20 and i'm already on my 4th car ... But i think the Stagea is one car i'd keep as a project if i brought a daily driver in the near future.. how many show quality Stagea's do you see? or Stagea's with the potential to do 10's?.. Id like to do something different.. pull the RB25 out and sell it to make way for a 30/26 or pick up a cheap Supra or Aristo half cut and do a 2JZ-GTE conversion (puts flame suit on)..

my 6th and i'm 20

i need another small lightweight RWD car, but maybe not another datto(age/headf**ks)... but if/when i can afford to do it and keep the stag=bonus

[KiwiRS4T]

I sold my n/a Stagea to buy an RS4T and having written that off have just bought another RS4T. The car suits me - the convenience of a wagon and good performance (working on better and better) - has good looks without looking like a boy racer (I'm too old for that and don't want the attention of the cops) and in NZ parts (both stock and performance) are easy to come by. If my financial position improves dramatically I would get a RIPS RB30 or RB32 engine and the upgraded running gear put in it. I do plan to keep it indefinitely but plan to also to find a small car to convert to an electric car (not a hybrid) when battery technology improves in a few years for a low cost (low emission) shopping car etc.

[StageaTypeS]

I love my Stagea, there is something special about them and I am sure everyone who owns one knows exactly what I mean. I can't say I will own it forever but if I have the cash I would eventually like to retire it from everyday use and build a one of a kind grand tourer. What better car to travel around OZ in.

Also (I don't want to offend anyone else here) I have come to the conclusion that alot of people who drive some of the 'Other' performance cars out there are tossers especially the Evo and WRX drivers (I have a few mates that fall into this category ha ha ha)

They all reckon they are the worlds best drivers (Nothing to do with the car) and trying to drag anything that looks remotely fast off at every other set of traffic lights. What point does this have other than increasing your chances of losing your licence?????? I dunno.

Most Stagea owners in my view are typically a bit more educated and don't have a point to prove on the roads. I mean unless you are in the know who would go out with the intention of buying a Stagea? I have met a couple of Stagea drivers on the road and a couteous wave or a thumbs up is all that is required not a drag at the lights.

Funnily enough though I did have one instance recently (Makes me smile even now thinking back) where I was travelling up the Nepean highway it was the middle of the day and I was heading to the city. A WRX Clubspec with exhaust and boost gauge (You know the ones) on the dash pulls up beside me and the spotty faced driver with the baseball cap winds down his window. "Hey Mate what sort of car is that?" A Nissan Stagea I reply. "Is it any good? wanna have a race?" driver says. At the same time his 2 mates in the car are like "Come on man, bet its slow its a wagon and such." Now I am not really a racer I value my licence too much and also I have nothing to prove, but on this occasion I thought what the heck the roads were quiet and I had recently had my car tuned and the boost wound up and wanted to see what it would do. (203awkw in a manual type s)

So anyway here we are at the lights and this guy in the Subie starts revving the crap out of it, I give it a bit of gas maybe 4000 but I wasn't about to break my car to prove a point. The lights change and the subie is all noise doesn't go very far though, he is about half a car in front of me in first. Then change to 2nd and see you later, whilst he is changing to 3rd I blow past him to 90k then into 3rd up to about 130 before backing off, he is a good 2 car lengths at least behind me at this stage. That was the last I saw of them as they turned off the highway not far after this. I would have loved to see their faces it still cracks me up even now.

That is why if nothing else the Stagea is a keeper what other car can bring these evo and wrx drivers down to earth whilst at the same time helping you move house or towing the caravan to take the family away for a long weekend.

[Tangles]

my Stagea is the best motor vehicle Ive owned

and that's after having a supremely worked cbr900rr fireblade.........

said it a few times now in chats etc, best vehicle Ive owned.

says a lot, really, considering for 10yrs weekend in/out Id do say 3-400kms, fast faster fastererer, thru the adelaide hills. the stag can keep me smiling while I attempt the same corners

[66yostagea]

"better to be an old fart than a young dickhead" Saw that message on an SS ute.

Being the old fart, it may well be my last car, unless I outlast her. I've had nineteen cars so far, although one was a single spinner ute. The last new car I bought for myself was an RMR30. It lasted 22 years and 600 ks. About 27ks a year. The Stag has done 44ks in 3 years. I think the S1 will see me off.

[bubba]

I got my Stag about a month ago now (with some work already done to it) as I was looking for something a bit more practical than my 32.

I love the Stag, it's roomy, comfy, practical and hauls ass for a wagoon BUT, it will never replace my 32.

I am all about smallish, rwd, manual cars that go sideways and as such, my 3L R32 GTSt is my toy

It's really horses for courses.. the 32 comes out once or twice a week to make a trip to work but it's mostly just track/skidpan days and cruises. The Stag is the daily hauler and for long trips down south etc.

[lachlanw]

never mind last car . my rsfour s is my first car .and for a very good reason too . it is like 90% perfect for me in all aspects. i will prolly keep it untill i can afford another rs4 ........ but not from nissan ....

309 kw

six speed .

awd wagon

lacking turbos tho , might have to change that

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

damn so much to read.

im 23, first car till now.,

84 MR30 Nissan Skyline.

95 5spd Vr holden.

Suzuki Ignis (daily) - wanting to sell to get a r32 gts-t stock for daily.

00 Stagea Rs4 (parked up) thats my fun car, but with a busted auto, not so much fun, good dust collector in the garrage though

my last car's ? nah . really want to get on the track with a r34 GTR, other crap keeps coming out so its never ending, nothing euro though,

[WGNC-34]

Have had my 99 RS4 S for about 6 months now,chose it over an r32 GTR (i decided against giving the cops an invitation to take my licence) now ive got it i will never go back ,now i just have to patient until a 260RS track car appears