Advice Please On The Following R32 Gtr

[Braddock]

Hi guys,

I'm Paul, I've only just registered here. I was hoping to get some thoughts on the following GTR (carsales ad pasted below)

I went and had a look at it today, and it's pretty much everything I'm after, looks very clean and straight, almost stock. The one thing that bothers me is an out of place weld on the drivers side door sill, I just cant make any sense of it, I'll attach a photo I took with my iphone. I'm assuming its a remaining scar from some sort of accident repair, but how significant I dont know. All panel gaps are good, doors close perfectly, there are no signs of the car being bent in any way, so if any of you have any theories, I'd love to hear them!

Also, the current owner is a retired guy in his 60's, has a bunch of cars, an old jag, a few GT cortinas etc, he loves is cars, and I believe he's looked after this one, the repair in question happened before he bought it. Given that most of these cars probably have wound back odometers, what are the things you can check to make sure you're not buying a lemon?

Cheers for any help.

Paul.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/privat...&__Qpb=true

Edited August 7, 2010 by Braddock

[Braddock]

Ok, I've just found the "I'm buying a skyline... what should I look out for thread" so I'll read through that, but still, keen to hear any thoughts on the weld photo!

Thanks again.

[Hybrid905]

Looks really real nice Paul good find with the weld though I am thinking that the metal may have been torn though not sure how in such a small area it's an interesting one as it's in quite an odd place not usually where u expect to find a repair weld. But just my 2c

Good luck

Edited August 7, 2010 by Hybrid905

[Game]

It might be rust.... that car is overpriced anyway, you can pick up a good example for around $17,000

EDIT: I don't get why a 60 year old would treat their car better? A 20 year old (as most skyline owners are in their 20s) would be able to maintain the car as the 60 year old does...

Edited August 7, 2010 by Game

[Ten Four]

^R32 GTRs....

I'd pay 21k if it was a mint stockie. (In this case, it isn't -weld)

R32GTRs are just so price variable...

[GTR-N1]

Hiya Paul & welcome to SAU!

That patch may simply be a rust-repair. I've seen rust there on the driver's side of 2x R32s before.

Values and prices of R32 GT-Rs which have low kms (as best you can determine), have no rust, well maintained and TLC'd can still attract that sort of moolah. Check out everything and leave no stone unturned - despite the guy's age.

After all your checks have been done, take along someone just as old as he is, to haggle on your behalf. We old dudes are called 'grey-power' LOL.

Q Why do people become impressed with old guys' cars?

A When we were kids, we used to space our stamps (in our philately collections) exactly a quarter inch apart (with a ruler) - lol

And we still can't understand why you young'uns play electronic games and try and find cheats/shortcuts - lol

Back to the GT-R, check for rust whilst on a hoist; or better still, pay one of the workshops around town to inspect everything (& I mean everything) for you = $100 well spent!

And if you buy it, your car wants to come to the party below !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maclarenf1]

It might be rust.... that car is overpriced anyway, you can pick up a good example for around $17,000

EDIT: I don't get why a 60 year old would treat their car better? A 20 year old (as most skyline owners are in their 20s) would be able to maintain the car as the 60 year old does...

+1

so many nice R32 for sale in For Sale section and maintained by Skyline enthusiast's

they might not be 60 year olds though

but you can get nice one for 15-16K

remember, the simple truth is there are way to many for sale than there are buyers, so just because a Car is worth 21K, does not mean you have to Pay 21K ... it is buyers Market with GTR's

everyone becomes somewhat deperate at some point with these kind of special Cars as there are not many people interested with them...

Look around and you shall find !!!

[LotusGTR]

I have that same 'weld' on my sill. I had my car thoroughly inspected before purchase and I believe it to be a very clean straight car that has not been crashed. I'm not so sure it's that unusual. Could be normal. I'll try and post up a pic of mine.

[Braddock]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the great replies, good to see this is an active forum.

In regards to the guys age, all it means for me is that he's not interested in big HP or racing people at the lights, but its more that he's a car enthusiast and used to working on and maintaining much older, lower horsepower vehicles. Of course a passionate 20 year old enthusiast can maintain the car just as well, but will also generally drive it a bit harder.

It's the almost stock nature of this car that appeals to me, I'm not interested in modding, the standard output is enough for me, I just want a good reliable, untouched r32 that's enjoyable to drive in its original order, I've had a hard time finding one, including those in the classifieds here that don't at least have pod filters.

You all seem to agree the car is overpriced which is a great bit of feedback, I'm not attached to the car, so I could offer him $17,500 and happily walk away if he's not interested, as you say, its a buyers market, and he's even said he's only had one other phonecall!

In regards to the sill, I need to have a more thorough look for rust, but my first inspection didn't reveal any, not to say there isn't some hiding somewhere though.

I think the best thing to do is organise an inspection via state roads and go from there.

LotusGTR, I'd be very keen to see a pic of that sill!

Also, a few people have mentioned owning an r32 GTR can be expensive... can anyone tell me what a major service might cost?

Thanks everyone.

[LotusGTR]

Here are the pics of the sills on both my R32 GTRs. My GTRs are immaculate. Hope this helps. Full pic of the red one for the sake of judging condition.

[Braddock]

Thanks mate, that's really interesting, the weld is obviously suposed to be there, but yours are cleaner and less bumpy than the one I looked at, so not sure what that means exactly, but I'm a little less suspicious of it now.

Cheers for that.

Here are the pics of the sills on both my R32 GTRs. My GTRs are immaculate. Hope this helps. Full pic of the red one for the sake of judging condition.

[jiffo]

Put her up on the hoist to check out that sill.

The Sikaflex is not quite as it should be, and the weld (although very neat) hasn't been sanded flush like in other photos.

Rear sills are a great rust spot on 32's, so many holes for the skirts.

The Skyline entry trim is dead easy to pop out and with a light, you'll see into the sill through the trim mounting holes.

[mxfly]

Also this may not be a big issue but you can see the dash is bubbled which is a very common thing with such an old car. Besides that, the car looks great.

[our12]

Hi.

I think i may know trhe owner of this car. Seeing that you have met him you may know his full name. If you have and know this the first letters on the number plate will confirm it is who i am sure it is. The car i have some familiarity with is dark blue. Dont be concered he has some toys and i assume you inspected it at an industrial complex. If this is the case you would be buying a very good car. My car has never been accident damaged and has the same seam sealer. If you are interested and see him again tell him " Terry the Lotus Cortina man passes on his regards"

[DLOOOK]

Take it to a tyre shop /mechanic so that you can look at it on a hoist. Going by your picture, the plastic sill trim is not sitting flush. Could be a cut and shut job.

[Braddock]

Thanks Jiffo, and cheers for your PM btw, I can't reply yet as I haven't made enough posts.

Put her up on the hoist to check out that sill.

The Sikaflex is not quite as it should be, and the weld (although very neat) hasn't been sanded flush like in other photos.

Rear sills are a great rust spot on 32's, so many holes for the skirts.

The Skyline entry trim is dead easy to pop out and with a light, you'll see into the sill through the trim mounting holes.

[Braddock]

Yep, that's the first thing I noticed, and have since seen it in quite a few others as well. Must be a common thing with the R32

Also this may not be a big issue but you can see the dash is bubbled which is a very common thing with such an old car. Besides that, the car looks great.

[Braddock]

Hi Terry, yes his name is Garry and yes the car is dark blue / gun metal grey

I'm sure Garry is genuine, its the cars history before he owned it that concerns me, as would be the case with all imports. The car has no log books etc.

That weld seam still has me worried, it's definitely been re-welded at some point as the finish doesn't look like others I've seen.

I made him an offer of $17,500 pending a satisfactory inspection, which is well below what he's asking, and he's declined, so I have to think about it some more.

Cheers,

Paul.

Hi.

I think i may know trhe owner of this car. Seeing that you have met him you may know his full name. If you have and know this the first letters on the number plate will confirm it is who i am sure it is. The car i have some familiarity with is dark blue. Dont be concered he has some toys and i assume you inspected it at an industrial complex. If this is the case you would be buying a very good car. My car has never been accident damaged and has the same seam sealer. If you are interested and see him again tell him " Terry the Lotus Cortina man passes on his regards"

[Deano 1]

mate that thing is mint!!

[Braddock]

Well, apart from the suspect sill weld and dashboard bubble, that was my impression when seeing it, the car presents very well and looks awesome in person.

mate that thing is mint!!