Planning My Next Skyline Purchase (daily Car)

[R33_Dude]

Well, time has come for me to get my ass back into a skyline.Things have changed a bit since my last one. R34's have become affordable all of a sudden, R32's have finally lost a lot of value and R33's are hitting bargain basement prices. The same applies to the appropriate GTR's.

So I told my partner gee I want another skyline. The Minister for War and Finance said get one but it has to last you at least five years (unlike every car I have had for the last two years or so...). I said (probably foolishly...) deal.

Then I ran into a problem - what skyline to buy? So I started searching based on a number of criteria (this quickly turned into a buyers guide for a daily driver skyline):

- Reliability

- Comfort

- Comparable Performance

- Price

Reliability: This may anger some of the GTR owners out there but nope not going down that path. Consensus is they are a high maintenance car with plenty that goes wrong plus I would only really buy a R34 and they are (despite dropping considerably in price) well out of my budget. In terms of GTS-T/GT-T's R32's are great - from personal experience I couldn't break mine and I fair tried - very strong engine. Downside being that they are older and most likely to be belted. R33's are the most whored skylines and no doubt I would have to pay a premium to find a good one but there are nice unmodded examples out there. Owned a N/A one and was most impressed with the quality of the car. Could have been I got a good one. R34's on the other hand cost a bit extra but are FAR more modern, have that b-e-a-utiful NEO RB, and are a comfortable undated place top be. Haven't owned one though so my experience is limited 

Score from ten (personal opinion only not quantifiable in anyway):

R32: 6/10 (strong but old)

R33: 6/10 (most likely thrashed)

R34: 8/10 (best but expensive)

Comfort: having sat in/owned all of them helps me a bit. The '32 was a touch small for me if I am honest (6'4"...). Inside looks like a VN aka s-expletive-t. The '33 was good but missing a few modern conveniences, digital air conditioning controls were impossible to read with sunnies on and hard to quickly adjust when driving. The '34 has everything I could possibly want. Extra comfy seats too.

Score:

R32: 3/10 (didn't fit, ugly commodore interior)

R33: 6/10 (pretty good missing a few things, air con annoyed me)  

R34: 9/10 (excellent all in all.)

Comparable Performance: Well stock for stock theres a bit of a difference between the three (approx 0-100 times R32: 7 seconds R33: 6 seconds  R34: 6 seconds) but thats not my point - who keeps their skyline stock forever? Ideally I would like comparable performance to a modern HSV Clubsport from 0-100 (5 seconds approx). Experience has taught me absolute power figures mean little, and throttle response, low down and mid range torque is where its at. So minus points to the R32 with its comparatively diminutive engine capacity. Plus points to the '33 and extra to the '34 - just checkout the article in HPI (can't remember the issue) for essentially bolt ons to 11 second R34's. Very impressive. So most likely I would like to modify to 250RWkW. Easiest to achieve on a R34 by far I believe. That said the RB20 is one tough little bugger and definitely can't be underestimated.

Score:

R32: 6/10 (strong engine but smaller capacity)

R33: 8/10 (bigger capacity, probably thrashed, might not be reliable to 250kW)

R34: 9/10 (Same as R33 but can easily support 240 - 250kW)

Price: This is under a realistic budget of $25,000. Preferably less of course and preferably with a fair whack of cash left to make any modifications I deem necessary. A quick search of evilbay and the for sale section here tells me the average R32 sells from $8000 ->$15,000. R33 from $7000 -> $15,000. R34 from $15,000 ->$25,000. Nice and easy to compare. Factoring value for money into it the '32 and '33 drop off a bit though and the R34 picks up a bit.

R32: 7/10

R33: 8/10

R33: 8/10

So that's the end of my little comparison. Lets take an average score.

R32: 5.5/10 average

R33: 7/10 average

R34: 8.5/10 average

So where do I go? Is the extra cash justified for a R34? Is a mint R33 worth a bit extra? Answers : yes and no. I think buying a R34 is worth that extra sacrifice now, mods can come later. Plus its better looking than both the '32 and '33.

Meh better go make space in the garage.

Feel free to try and change my mind I'm a picky bastard and it'll take weeks before I find the car I like. Likewise if there are things I have said that you don't think are right pipe up. It all adds into my decision processes – or not, if your just wrong.

Any R34 GT-T owners have opinions on long term ownership?

Thats about it I think.

EDIT: copypastaing removed my spaces.

Edited May 5, 2010 by R33_Dude

[Longz]

get a 34 at the end of the day when u see another 34 go pass you and your in a 33 feels a bit shattered ... LOL

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

You wrote a book to tell everyone that your basically looking to get an R34?

Yeah i plan to keep mine for more than 5 years.. Although mine isn't a daily and havent actually driven mine for 8 months LOL.. But yeah awesome car, can't go astray

[mad082]

you seem to have your mind set on a 34, so go that. if it was me i too would be deciding between the 33 and 34 and pretty much rule out the 32 from word go. for me though i would probably take a tidy 33 over a tidy 34 as i prefer the interior of the 33 ever so slightly over that of the 34. but that said i would have to drive the 34 first as i have started to like the exterior of the 34 a bit more (never used to like it much). but then for the price difference between the 2 i could easily bridge the performance gap between the 2.

[R33_Dude]

You wrote a book to tell everyone that your basically looking to get an R34?

Yeah i plan to keep mine for more than 5 years.. Although mine isn't a daily and havent actually driven mine for 8 months LOL.. But yeah awesome car, can't go astray

Well its not really the book its the justification. I didn't want to be another twat that jumps on and says "yerr I want a skyline whats cool?"

No my point is there are plus and minuses and this is how I worked it out in my head. By saying how I came to my conclusion it leaves people open to say well I think thats right and/or wrong.

So you would say the R34 has been pretty good then. Pretty much confirms what I already know.

EDIT: Well I honestly think theres not that much of a performance gap its more an improvement in technology and a newer overall car that results in a better platform.

Edited May 5, 2010 by R33_Dude

[alr33x]

Score from ten (personal opinion only not quantifiable in anyway):

R32: 6/10 (strong but old)

R33: 6/10 (most likely thrashed)

R34: 8/10 (best but expensive)

add that to all three if your going to be realistic with yourself.

otherwise cool story

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

i was just having a dig.. R33 or R34 would be my choices too.. R34 is newer, possible less thrashing and not as common..

Yeah i would recommend the R34 just depends on your style.. and budget

EDIT: where can i get a signed copy?

Edited May 5, 2010 by .:: GimpS-R34 ::.

[R33_Dude]

Score from ten (personal opinion only not quantifiable in anyway):

R32: 6/10 (strong but old)

R33: 6/10 (most likely thrashed)

R34: 8/10 (best but expensive)

add that to all three if your going to be realistic with yourself.

otherwise cool story

Thanks a lot for your useful input.

I realise skylines have the big three: Import. Turbo. RWD. Equals punished car.

There are ones out there that haven't been tortured as much as others. I should know I have done a lot of torturing myself.

It isn't that difficult to find a clean, well looked after R33 or 34. The point is what is really honestly better in my opinion. What is justifiably better. Answer: if in doubt get the newer model with less kilometers.

EDIT: signing is on moday come for the book get free fish and chips.

Edited May 5, 2010 by R33_Dude

[mad082]

also remember to not pay too much attention to how many kms the odometer says. so many imports have the odometer changed before they get here, so they aren't exactly reliable kms. go on which feels the best, and appears to be the best looked after.

[MSTRshenanigans]

I'd go the R34, basically because its newer (wingdings) and will hold its value for longer.

R33 GTST is a good solid car. I have had 0 problems with mine and there are plenty of parts out there thanks to idiots thrashing and crashing them. You should only have to pay 13k-16k for one. Max an insurer would pay for a mint R33 GTST is 16k, I know because mine was valued at that by assessor.

[The Bogan]

32=Cheap old small (you dont fit in it)= NO

33=Cheap bigger oldish, find one with rebuild or minor mods, look inside guards for rudder, service history, does it look stockish or cop bait= Maybe (this is what I got but using hindsight I should have got a R32 GTR)

34=Not so cheap but good bang for your buck=Personally I don't like the shape of the body as much as 32s or 33s= Sounds like this is what you want.

Remember if its just going to be a streeter do you want a 2 door or need a 4 door, My Coupes back seat didn't fit 3 kids, mainly the eldest she is 11 and hits the roof with her head.

Buy a R32 GTR, put in some low rails so you fit, treat it nice, service it regularly (this is what I should have done,LOL)

Just my 2 cents worth.

[iseekool]

Have you considered an R34 GTt sedan (4dr) - lots of space.

And the prices of the sedan are lower than the coupe - which will leave you with extra cash on mods or for a cleaner example.

The sedans are probably less likely to be thrashed - however expect higher KMs as they are family cars.....

Probably easier to pass by the missus

Or if you are into more of a luxury car maybe a V35 3L would be an option.

I personally think the R34 sedan is the best looking skyline sedan since the JDM DR30 and R31. (Not hating the R32 or R33)

The V35 is a much better car overall (I've driven a few) - but doesn't have the "cool" factor look or leave you much options for engine upgades - but makes up for everything else in refinement/smoothness.

[R33_Dude]

Have you considered an R34 GTt sedan (4dr) - lots of space.

And the prices of the sedan are lower than the coupe - which will leave you with extra cash on mods or for a cleaner example.

The sedans are probably less likely to be thrashed - however expect higher KMs as they are family cars.....

Probably easier to pass by the missus

Or if you are into more of a luxury car maybe a V35 3L would be an option.

I personally think the R34 sedan is the best looking skyline sedan since the JDM DR30 and R31. (Not hating the R32 or R33)

The V35 is a much better car overall (I've driven a few) - but doesn't have the "cool" factor look or leave you much options for engine upgades - but makes up for everything else in refinement/smoothness.

Getting a coupe passed by the partner is fine. Sedans tend to be cheaper though, which I guess suits me fine.

She got her '09 Accord last year, its a great car but it bores me to death and one car isn't enough for two people working four jobs.

I did consider a V35 but tat said the majority of them seem to have CVT, plus as you said they don't really mesh with the whole performance/tuning thing so well.

I'm definitely heading to a R34 its just that I keep tripping over relly nice R32/33's including GTR's well under my price bracket. I know of a mint R32 GTR with forged internals and full service history (including japan) for $16,000 I also know the owner and he would be too scared to drive it hard.

Crapped himself (not literally) in my track alfa which is sluggish at best.

Plenty of options, I just have to steer a straight course towards the R34 I guess but knowing how these things go instead of getting a R34 GT-T I'll end up in a R32 GTR.

[alr33x]

also remember to not pay too much attention to how many kms the odometer says. so many imports have the odometer changed before they get here, so they aren't exactly reliable kms. go on which feels the best, and appears to be the best looked after.

this is very good input.

take the odometer reading with a grain of salt check out other signs of use and hard life, apart from a r34 gtr i cant see the extra 7-10k needed to get into a relatively stock /mild at best r34 over an r32 or r33.

rather get a cheaper blank canvas and spend 10k modding it cleaning it up a bit if needed.