Looking At Buying A 2009 Gtr

[spidersGTR]

Hi Guys

I've been lurking around this forum for quite some time now as I am pretty keen on buying a 2009 GTR and this is my first post so please take it easy on me!!!!

I have a few questions I was hoping you guys could answer for me.

1. What is a good price for a low mileage one (less than 30,000kms)? I'm from WA.

2. Does the 2009 model have any well known problems/issues that I should be aware of?

3. Are parts/servicing expensive and are the servicing intervals yearly or half yearly?

4. What are the differences between a premium and a non-premium model?

5. How do you know if a GTR is a Japanese Import or Australian complianced and what are the differences in both? Will it cost more to maintain/service/insure a Japanese model?

Sorry if these questions have already been addressed before but I am very close to buying one and need to gather as much info as I can.

At the end of the day, I am tossing up between a brand new Mercedes A45 AMG and a 2009 GTR. The Mercedes will be brand spanking new but depreciation will chop the value of the car in half in about 2 years time. The GTR is 5 years old but the car will not depreciate as much anymore. However, I am very concern that a 5 year old car which is built to be thrashed will cause me lots of trouble down the road and will be extremely expensive to maintain/repair.

Your suggestions will be much appreciated (please feel free to add anything else you think I should need to know before making this purchase)

Thanks heaps guys..appreciate it!

Scott

Edited June 17, 2014 by spidersGTR

[Wardski]

1. You'll probably pick up a decent ADM 2009 GTR for around the $85-$95k mark. Anything with low kms is going to be in the higher bracket

2. The 2009, just like the 2010-2014 has the "potential" to have the following issues - Trans/drivetrain - solenoids, sensors, seals, circlips, bell housing, etc; Internal - Dash & Stereo LED's; External - Roof cover clip fails, stains inside headlights, split window seals, loads of dash rattles.

3. Servicing under warranty is every 6 months. General intermediate services are $450-600, major services (eg, when trans/diff oils done) can be in excess of $2k. Brakes and tyres seem to be the most expensive consumables - Stock Bridgestone RE070 or Dunlop SSP tyres are between $700-800 a corner depending on where you get them from. OEM brakes supplied by Nissan are $6k, but there are plenty of way cheaper options out there now.

4. I understand that all "non-premium" GTR's are imports. All ADM's are premium AFAIK

5. JDM has carwings, ADM has no carwings . Check the dash. If its in Japanese, you know JDM

6. Merc A45 is a good car, probably will have less issues, but then its not a GT-R. I had many different sports cars before the GT-R (Exige S, Subaru STi spec R, etc) and prefer the GT-R 2000% just for the way people look at the car, and the lady attention it grabs

7. My recommendation is to pick up a 2010 or 2011 if your budget permits. They're not that much more in the scheme of things, but the 2010 has USB, iPod support, and Satnav. The 2009 has none of these features stock.. I would steer clear of JDM's as a lot of Nissan dealerships will neg you on support of any kind.

Edited June 17, 2014 by Wardski

[IOWNU]

You can't compare the A45 AMG with a GTR.

They're completely different cars.

One is a proper advanced sports car.

The other is a hot hatch that mostly women buy...

That said if you're worried about maintenance and repairs- the GTR is not for you.

[RosieR34]

Didn't the pre '10 GTRs have that trans issue? But in the '10 they replaced it from breaking so much, made it a lot stronger? I've just ALWAYS known not to buy anything '09 and below due to the trans not being as strong. I could be wrong though!

[gtr jet]

I always thought the same too. As far as I was aware the 2010 had a lot less transmission issues.

[spidersGTR]

1. You'll probably pick up a decent ADM 2009 GTR for around the $85-$95k mark. Anything with low kms is going to be in the higher bracket

2. The 2009, just like the 2010-2014 has the "potential" to have the following issues - Trans/drivetrain - solenoids, sensors, seals, circlips, bell housing, etc; Internal - Dash & Stereo LED's; External - Roof cover clip fails, stains inside headlights, split window seals, loads of dash rattles.

3. Servicing under warranty is every 6 months. General intermediate services are $450-600, major services (eg, when trans/diff oils done) can be in excess of $2k. Brakes and tyres seem to be the most expensive consumables - Stock Bridgestone RE070 or Dunlop SSP tyres are between $700-800 a corner depending on where you get them from. OEM brakes supplied by Nissan are $6k, but there are plenty of way cheaper options out there now.

4. I understand that all "non-premium" GTR's are imports. All ADM's are premium AFAIK

5. JDM has carwings, ADM has no carwings . Check the dash. If its in Japanese, you know JDM

6. Merc A45 is a good car, probably will have less issues, but then its not a GT-R. I had many different sports cars before the GT-R (Exige S, Subaru STi spec R, etc) and prefer the GT-R 2000% just for the way people look at the car, and the lady attention it grabs

7. My recommendation is to pick up a 2010 or 2011 if your budget permits. They're not that much more in the scheme of things, but the 2010 has USB, iPod support, and Satnav. The 2009 has none of these features stock.. I would steer clear of JDM's as a lot of Nissan dealerships will neg you on support of any kind.

Thanks Wardski...your reply has been extremely helpful!

Based on what you (and others) have said, I think I will wait and save a bit more coin to get a 2010 instead.

I will be hanging around this forum to get as much info as I can

Thanks again guys...really appreciate it!

Scott

[g35me]

Trans issues are identical in all year R35's the gearboxes have not changed at all.

[RosieR34]

Trans issues are identical in all year R35's the gearboxes have not changed at all.

Stronger parts? I recall the 2010 had a stronger build given the whole "2 launch trans break" going around. Cbf googling.

[g35me]

No. They are the same. 2008 JDM models had a higher RPM launch control which may have caused issues but ADM models never had that LC program. Most R35's today have upgraded LC to LC5 anyway which is a more refined and controlled version of the software. The physical parts inside the trans are no different. I have not pulled apart a 2013 or 2014 model yet but I hardly think they would bother changing anything at the end of the model run.

[g35me]

The only difference between 09 and 10 is the following as Wardski said above

" They're not that much more in the scheme of things, but the 2010 has USB, iPod support, and Satnav. The 2009 has none of these features stock."

If the upgraded MFD tickles your fancy for the extra $ then go for it but if you think you are getting an upgraded gearbox for the extra $ then your misinformed.

[spidersGTR]

The only difference between 09 and 10 is the following as Wardski said above

" They're not that much more in the scheme of things, but the 2010 has USB, iPod support, and Satnav. The 2009 has none of these features stock."

If the upgraded MFD tickles your fancy for the extra $ then go for it but if you think you are getting an upgraded gearbox for the extra $ then your misinformed.

So I should just look for a 2009 now? No point in saving up for a 2010 then??

What do you guys think on the price of this one?

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Nissan-GT-R-2009/SSE-AD-2849870/?Cr=3&sdmvc=1

[BLISTC]

There are a few SLIGHT changes between transmissions i believe, as there was a TSB for replacing some circlips for earlier models.

That and a change of some sort of trans fluid hose. and revised LC softtware.