15 year old GTR sceptics

[Godzillr]

As for those who are sceptical and even negative about people who purchase 15 year old GTR’s, I wish to express my first hand experience with my 1989 GTR.

I purchase a slightly modified 1989 GTR and imported it in February. As some of you may be aware, I experienced serious problems with my car as it basically failed while driving it home from Sydney to Canberra. It was confirmed by Skyline Performance Imports that the problems were because I was unknowingly driving the car a full boost (close to 30psi) and not at all because of the condition or age of the car. A very expensive lesson to have to learn.

The owner of Skyline Performance Imports said that the car was in better condition than a lot of his friends 92-94 GTR’s which are obviously considerably newer… He was so impressed with the car that he has actually offered to buy it off of me for more than I paid for it with a healthy engine.

I also know of 3 other people who are driving 1989 GTR’s around without any problems at all.

I find it hard to believe that people out there have a negative perception about an 89 GTR. These people should be fully aware of the pedigree of the GTR as I have on many occasions heard how they are built with a bullet proof engine and drive chain. If my parent’s piece of shit 1987 Saab turbo is still going strong with well over 400000Km’s on the clock, I would expect that a GTR should be able to travel similar distances.

It is obvious that a lot of the people out there that feel badly about 15 year old GTR’s are more concerned about the personal position i.e. they are GTR owners who are about to loose a lot of money because as more GTR’s are imported into Australia, supply of GTR’s to the market increases and thus prices decrease to match the demand, simple economics.

My advice to anyone considering a GTR is to buy yourself a nice clean 1989 GTR before it is too late because you will not get a better car for the money.

[Elithrar]

Unfortunately, a lot of people see a cheap ($16000 + compliance, rego etc.) GT-R and buy it straight away, without consideration of the cars actual physical condition or whether they can afford to repair it and/or keep it running.

[Amaru]

These people should be fully aware of the pedigree of the GTR as I have on many occasions heard how they are built with a bullet proof engine and drive chain.  If my parent’s piece of shit 1987 Saab turbo is still going strong with well over 400000Km’s on the clock, I would expect that a GTR should be able to travel similar distances.

GTR's and their engines are not bulletproof. If you want bulletproof you should have bought a Supra. The RB engines have their weaknesses like any other engine, and these are usually very quick to show themselves due to the nature of the car. You dont buy a GTR to put around in, you buy a GTR because you want a quick car. Things like oil surging problems, crankshaft journal problems, valve guides snapping problems will ensure these engines only have a limited lifetime. Your GTR will be put under alot more load than the Saab (look at the amounts of power they make from the factory) and to expect it to last 400000kms is wishful thinking.

When I picked my car up, it was mint. 160psi compression across all cylinders, sounded healthy, ran fine. Within 2 weeks it was off the road for 3 months undergoing an engine rebuild because one of the above mentioned weaknesses showed itself (and no I hadnt belted the crap out of it, id only driven it twice). You cant expect much more from what was originally penned as a race car and the only reason it was released to the public was for homologation reasons.

But thats my $0.02 worth and its not having a dig at you And sorry to hear about your engine, it sux when it happens. I would reccomend talking to Greg from Pro Engines (www.proengines.com.au), he's rebuilt my engine, another high power GTR and a high powered GTiR engines and does a damn good job. Definately worth checking out.

[DaiOni]

89 GTRs sold at auction are, more often than not, far from pristine vehicles. I see more GTRs than, I guess, at least 90% of the people on this forum (location obviously being the reason), and I can say that there are some sad examples out there (even more in the early 3rd gen rx7 ranks and they didn't start until very late 91). Fact: it's dangerous buying. Fact: they are wonderful cars when everything is going well.

Fact: you get what you pay for.

That's not to say there aren't great, cheap cars out there - because there sure are. If looking for a cheap buy, I'd actually look for a 89 km with higher (realistic) kms - as it's likely the kms are bringing down the price tag, not the condition. Of course, this is all problematic when you can't see the car you are buying - hardly ideal circumstances.

I'm not a disgruntled GTR owner, I don't intend on buying one, and I don't have a vested interest (and I take comments from those with a vested interest with a pinch of salt). Just honest perspective from someone who actually sees these cars everyday - before they get shipped off to parts unknown, or resold locally in japan.

[red17]

I thought you only had to produce 500 examples to get your car homolagated for touring car purposes back then. If so, why make the many thousands more?

Or in Holdens case, you dont have to produce a single car to win a production car category.

As for Amaru's comments about Supra's being bulletproof, ive seen plenty of them break too

[Amaru]

Haha ok, the first run 400/500 ive heard had N1 blocks etc, then I guess they just kept pumping them out. Theres mixed stories I guess you go with what you believe, but I believe the R32 GTR started its life was what was built and designed to be a race car.

As I said its just my opinion, and its also my opinion that the 2JZ is alot stronger a motor than the RB series (stock from the factory not after rebuilds). But yes, they do break as well

[EnricoPalazzo]

amuru, i would love to know whos ur source with this info, cos i think its all wrong.

[jlnewton]

I don't want to buy a 32 GTR, nor do I care about the 15yr rule. But during my quest for a 33 GTR I found it difficult to find an example which I considered "good". As stated before GTR's were not built to pickup a newspaper around the corner so most have been driven quite hard. I am sure there are some good, "bargain" cars out there but I fail to see this being the norm. I would approach purchase with extreme caution and make sure you have money set aside just in case you car turns out to need some attention. But if you are lucky enough to find a good 89 GTR, well, you will find no other car like it for the money, would be the best buy you could ever make in relation to a car purchase. Good Luck.

[Amaru]

amuru, i would love to know whos ur source with this info, cos i think its all wrong.

As to which part? The part as to why R32 GTR's were built is open to personal opinion, you cant be "wrong" for having an opinion.

As for engine strength and durability, ive encountered alot of these issues myself, and seen alot of other gtr owners who have encountered these issues as well. Theyre great engines, but theyre hardly "bulletproof" which I guess was my main point... you cant call them bulletproof because they can go bang pretty easily.

Or if it was about the 2JZ being a better opinion, once again, open to personal opinion. I believe the 2JZ is a better strength engine and can cope alot longer with alot more power. Toyota are renowned for their durability, you cant argue that point.

But either way, was just my opinion, and your opinion is im all wrong... *shrug* so be it I try not to involve myself in "your wrong" arguments on forums as its pretty pointless, but im just quoting what I have personally experianced or seen first hand (not "heard from so and so on this forum").

[BryanB]

yeah its a serious opportunity to get a godzilla dirt cheap, but i think it will devalue 32's to the level of silvia's......

thats why i got a soarer completely different class

[T0nyGTSt]

thats why i got a soarer completely different class

I doubt that someone after a GT-R is the same guy who's after Soarer.

One thing that surprised me on this forum and one this that differentiates this forum from others is just how serious people here take their driving.

A simple point is this - ask how many people here will accept an automatic box over a manual.

I imagine there are people here who would foam at the mouth at the thought of owning any automatic car.

I fully understand the need to own a GT-R - it's already got the cred and for many, there's nothing else.

I don't see the snob value in making only the rich enjoy high performance cars.

If they get to the point that the average joe can buy one, good for everyone.

I notice that S13's are devalued to the point where every kid working nightfill at Coles wants one. That doesn't make the car any less fun to drive.

T.

[BryanB]

i wouldn't mind doing a study though, of people who own GTRS and are in serious relationships.... would be interesting

[EVO83]

Im so going to find a 1989 GTR at Auction and post the auction sheet. I think a lot of you guys will be amazed. I saw one last week that only had 1 panel that hadnt been in an accident.

[predator]

I think a lot of you guys will be amazed. I saw one last week that only had 1 panel  

that hadnt been in an accident.

Hey just think, all new panels! come on, you have to look hard to find a car like that

i wouldn't mind doing a study though, of people who own GTRS and are in serious relationships.... would be interesting

What the car or do you mean a woman?

Overall though, ba.. little bored of this debate to be honest. Its like saying people should only drive Japanese cars or people should only buy aussie cars. Buy what you feel like, do what you like, but just go in with a level head at all times.

Godzillr:

Looking back there at your other post, looks like you had a bad experience and unfortunate that you need a rebuild, but you're right it was an unfortunately one off maybe. But this also re-inforces a couple of concerns that worry me about the 1989 GTR's:

1. Owning a skyline (or most older turbo cars) does require a bit of basic engine and car knowledge on the basics of an engine, what is what, what noises you need to listen to, what problems are minor and what are major. Its the simple things like making sure you're not running 30psi of boost that anybody who has owned a turbo car will know. Going from maybe driving an old corolla or your parents car to owning a GTR could almost be the biggest step a young "new to driving" person can do. Sure, over a few years everybody gets to know that (for those that want to know), but at first everbody is a bit of a n00b to the ins and outs of cars. And a GTR is a 4WD, twin turbo, etc etc car - nothing like the tehnology you're going to get in an old Holden. Maybe in your situation this is true also, but I don't know you so I won't comment on it.

2. GTR are fast serious cars and it seems like the majority that are buying these cars are p-platers or with only 1 or so years experience. If even one young person loses their life because the GTR is the first "real" performance car they've had and its cheap, thats too many. It will happen, I'm sorry.

3. The people who are buying these cars, *generally don't* have that extra $10k in the bank (or a means to get access to it) to fix a car like that *if* something seriously goes wrong. Sure if they are working fine, no probs. What happens if it blows up? Where does the money come from at that age for the "average" younger driver? Your parents (maybe, if they are nice)? The bank manager - hmm, they just gave a 20 year old a 15k loan on low income, and now he/she wants another loan to repair an engine? Its not as if most people I know have access to another $5k or so readily on hand to pay for an unforceen occurance.

I don't think anybody can say that definitively these cars will be "good" or "bad" deals until about 6-12 months of a number of different people out there owning one. You can't go on one or two cars for the overall condition, or even what with 2-3 weeks of ownership? If, in 12 months its still running great awesome - you got a great car.

Its the same with any car, for those first 6 months its often when the stuff that will go wrong, does go wrong. Or it doesn't and you get years of good ownership out of it.

I just know that personally I'd prefer an extra $10k in the bank over what I purchased the car to know that I would be fully prepared if the engine packed it in. Even my R33 gts-t if it blew the engine (not thats its going to though) would cost me a hell of a lot of money, and the cost of a rebuild or replace on any RB series engine is not cheap. The further you go back in years the greater the risk is, its the same with any car -- its just than a new RB26DETT is much more than say replacing the V8 on your average 1989 VN Commodore.

[fatz]

this is gold!

keep it up

[Mr GTS4]

well i saw an R32 GTR for sale for 16g's complienced and rego's pretty much straight to you door. i think if you can afford a gtr for that price you should have at least a few grand to get it checked and if needed to rebuild it. i don't like hearing people say oh my gtr if stuffed because they got it for a really cheap price and now don't have the money to fix it. i really don't want to come across as a bastard but i love R32's any of them that are turbo'd ( GTS i really don't like.. sorry ). if it were me i would be thinking if a 89 R32 gtr is 16 - 18g's i would like to have atleast 7 - 10g's to rebuild it just to make sure that everything is brand new and you start from scatch. but since i don't earn the most amount of money YET! i would love to be able to actually own a GTR ( GTS-4 is close but not close enough ) and actually keep it running on the road. sorry if i sounded like a bastard but thats my 2 cents guys.

[lwells]

yeah its a serious opportunity to get a godzilla dirt cheap, but i think it will devalue 32's to the level of silvia's......

thats why i got a soarer completely different class

There is no such thing as a "dirt cheap" R32 GT-R. Anything that is "dirt cheap" is dirt. There are good bargains, but by and large you do get what you pay for.

After looking around the local market and not finding anything suitable in my price range, I currently looking for a R32 GT-R in Japan. However, unlike some people I have set myself a nice healthy budget for the initial purchase, and have very healthy cash reserves if need be. Those trying to get a car here and on the road for 15 or 16K are ultimately going to loose out IMHO.

What I am saying is, don't just look at the lowest prices people are paying and assume that's the going rate for a good GT-R. Budget closer to $18-20k and you can get something nice and clean. The few thousand you pay extra at the time of purchase will more than likely pay for itself in the future.

And yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but they are just that: exceptions.

LW.

[lwells]

Im so going to find a 1989 GTR at Auction and post the auction sheet. I think a lot of you guys will be amazed. I saw one last week that only had 1 panel that hadnt been in an accident.

I agree with predator -- you have to look hard to find a car that bad, and I know since I am on the auction lists ATM.

What you do see is a lot of grade 3-ish cars, with C interiors, about 80,000km but very worn handbrakes, steering wheels, and so forth. The good thing is that most often all of these details are actually noted on the auction sheet (look for a question mark next to the km reading in particular), so buyers should know what they are getting in to.

LW.

[predator]

Exactly.. whole reason for the auction sheet!

While there are a few sharks out there, I think most will not go and bid on a car for a buyer unless the buyer is fully aware of the possible problems with that particular car.. or bid on a shitty car without stressing this to the buyer. In the end its their business reputation that suffers.

[R32-GTR-89]

Before i go and buy a 1989 GT-R i would personally check it out myself at the auction...

i would :

Check EVERYTHING possible on the car from brake pads to dints to ciggerete burns...

if the Car seems to be clean id buy it.. sometimes you get lucky and get a bargain ... sometimes you just get ript off...

all i have to say.. there is nothing wrong witn buying a good and clean R32 GTR 89.