Is Bnr32 Ownership A Sensible Decision For Me ?

[pphhhfffttt]

I've always wanted a R32 GTR and now that i can afford one i would like input from past and present owners on what's it like to keep one running as a daily driver.
I'm very familiar with the quote associated with BNR32s, i paraphrase: "if you can't afford two you're better off not owning one"

I'm coming from a NA 4age which had minimal maintenance requirements and was fairly easy to work on and cheap to repair when things went wrong.

The question is, how big of a leap technically and financially is it to maintain a turbo AWD drive train ?

I plan to either find an example that has had the motor rebuilt already, drive it daily and continue to maintain it

eg.1 http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/444571-nissan-skyline-r32-gtr-1992-372-kw-forged/
eg.2 http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/443857-r32-gtr-for-sale-24000-neg-canberra/

OR

Find a nice clean example, drive it daily and continue to maintain it with the expectation it will require preventive maintenance.

eg.1 http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/442457-1990-r32-gtr-22000-act/

eg.2 http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/443525-1989-black-nissan-skyline-gtr-r32/

Which path would make more sense financially for a daily driven example with the occasional track day/drag day.
No plans for big power, the allure of owning a automotive icon is what attracted me since childhood.

TL:DR how big of a leap technically and financially is it to maintain a turbo AWD drive train over a naturally aspirated fwd 4 cylinder

Edited June 27, 2014 by pphhhfffttt

[r32-25t]

Buying rebuilt is probably the better option on a 32 these days. Provided it been done properly and they've replaced every water hose (they split all the time)

Also make sure they have all the receipts and if it was me I'd go for one with sensible mods (bolt on turbos with supporting mods) as a highly stressed engine can fail even after being rebuilt and driveline is under more stress and more likely to give issues.

Check to make sure the a/c works cause that can get expensive fast, as can interior parts if it's not to your liking.

I guess the big thing is get the best one you can find and check it, check it and check it again. before handing over your money!

[The Baron]

I was in the same boat as you a year ago - when I finally got permission to get my dream R32 GTR......

I allowed myself a budget of $40K for either a $20K car to put $20K into, or a clean $40K car.......

I went for the second option and sourced it through Iron Chef straight from Japan. I ended up with a grade 5A, VSpec2, with 17,000 genuine kilometres on it and couldn't be happier :-)

I allow a budget of $150 a month for maintenance and servicing (which accumulates and depletes but seems about right (excluding fuel naturally)

If you start with a good example and don't go too silly on it (I only took out the boost restrictor) then I can say I have had no problem as a 'not quite' daily driver. It gets serviced by a GTR specialist workshop (Racepace) religiously every 6 months and gets a lot of love and attention in terms of cleaning, trickle charger on the battery and car cover when parked (only in garage)

I love it dearly and I have no regrets.

However this journey is a bit of a trade off. I spent big up front and have no hassles now. I am unsure whether a cheaper car initially would offer the same return.

But if this indeed a dream car for you (as it was for me) - then go for it :-)

The other compromise ofcourse being a $30K modded 'fully sick' weekend GTR and $10K for some used Corolla-esque daily driver ;-)

Cheers and Good Luck

The Baron

[niZmO_Man]

TL:DR how big of a leap technically and financially is it to maintain a turbo AWD drive train over a naturally aspirated fwd 4 cylinder

A lot.

I dailed my GT-R for a while, it's not fun spending $100 per week on petrol. Mine's has essentially a cat back and suspension, so reliability wise it's been very good (only had issues with the AFM).

IMO look for one that's been well maintained, and as close to standard as possible. Basically don't worry about km as they're most likely wound back, only use it as an indicator to judge the rest of the car.

[sleptema]

I can't speak about a 32gtr, but I do have an opinion on dailying a skyline, especially with work done.

I had my first 34GTT when I was 18. Loved the car, always wanted one - freshly imported from Japan, stock as the day it came from the factory.

Maintenance wise - had absolutely no issues whatsoever as I regularly had it mechanically checked and serviced etc. But the problem was that after driving it every day, it got used to the power very fast, and the initial appreciation that I had for it wore off. I ended up modifying it because it got boring to drive and burning a massive hole in my pocket. Plus, being a quick car, it was hard to always stick to the limit when you know you have some oomph if you want it. Plus, once I put on some rims and suspension, it was a really rough ride, and if you have an exhaust, it is ALWAYS loud. I remember doing night shift and all I wanted to do was sleep but I had to clutch and had the exhaust drone all the way home.. Then it is never clean because it is always out...

Then I got rid of it, because [a] i didn't really care for it because of the whole dailying situation and i was a stupid teenager and thought money grew on trees.

I bought another r34 earlier this year, after getting my money situation in order and getting a reliable daily. So now I only really drive it on weekends, and the occasional day to work if it isn't going to rain. I keep it under a car cover so it stays clean all the time, and my shitty daily makes the power fun when you jump in it. That being said, when I bought it, I drove it every day for a fortnight, because turbo.

Obviously everyone is different, some people can live with dailying their cars, but I honestly love having a 'weekend car' that is good for a blat every now and then.

EDIT: Plus the cops. OMG the cops. So much unwanted attention when you are just trying to get to and from work.

tl:dr - weekend the bitch.

Edited June 28, 2014 by sleptema

[Sinista32]

Short answer: No, the BNR32 is not sensible for anyone as a daily in my opinion.

[Gareth]

^^^ this 110%

If you really want one, get one for a weekend car and have something else for a daily, If i was looking again i would go for one that has already had been rebuilt (my someone reputable, with proof). I got mine a year ago (not rebuilt) and i'm constantly worried it'll go bang! i have spent around 11k on it in the last 12 months getting it upto a standard i want and there is still a fair way to go..........also i'm too scared to track it until i can afford a rebuild. I used to have a r33 gts25t, was in much better condition, was just as fast (in the dry), and overall was much easier on the back pocket and the stress levels............i'm paranoid everywhere i park, it's going to get stolen/keyed/ GTR badge ripped off or something...........

[niZmO_Man]

^ +1. Unless you live in a posh area with zero vandals and thieves, you'll have a bad time.

Not saying it's not doable; it's up to whether you're willing to put up with the negatives.

Mine sleeps in the garage now, I have a run around Pulsar, which I leave at the train station with no stress.

[Truffles]

I did daily mine for a period of time but honestly I wouldn't daily an R32 GT-R unless you have a second car and then in that respect, why would you daily it when you DO have a second car?

I've had a few things wear out/break like the clutch, fuel pump, CV boots, dump pipe leak and I can thoroughly say it would be painful to only own one car or expect the GT-R to be a daily when things like this happen. If I had to send it into the workshop every time something little went wrong as I needed the car back ASAP, I'd be in the whole for even more than the car cost me.

Edited July 3, 2014 by Truffles

[Hadouken]

This is why you need to be handy with cars while owning a skyline. Otherwise it becomes a real pain to own one.

But if you like scratching up your knuckles, throwing a few spanners at a wall then go for it, daily it. But this is in general skyline ownership.

[NISMO]

Sorry folks, going to disagree with a few.

To me the only, and i really mean only, issue i would have using one as a daily would be worrying about it getting stolen/vandals. Thats it.

If you look after it, just like any other daily on the planet, you will simply be replacing wear and tear items, and aged items like any other car that old.

yes it uses abit more fuel than others, but hey, its a GTR:)

Skylines, and yes even GTR's, aren't some magical cars that self destruct when used for more than a few k's a week.

GTR's go bang, when abused, not when driven normally.

The biggest issue with GTR's, is that 99% of people that own them, think they're $15k R32 is the same car as Skaife's Winfield GTR.

So they abuse the fark out of it, redline launching at every set of lights, trying to pull more G's than a F1 around every corner, and then turn around say, WTF, GTR's go bang for no reason.

Drive it like what it is - a very fast MASS PRODUCTION NON RACE CAR, and it'll treat you fine.

On the flip side, if you wan't to abuse the sh!t out of it, you can do that to, just prepare the car the right way to handle that abuse

Constant limiter bashing, clutch dumping launches will effect any daily, GTR's aren't anything special with a set usage restriction.

[Sinista32]

and that ^ is why I wont use mine as daily and recommend others it's not suitable - "getting stolen/vandals"

I have comprehensive insurance and still don't risk it.

I will add for me that dents from others doors is a good enough reason to me by itself not to park mine in public car parks.

I have no issue with reliability nor maintenance.

R32 GTR's are not common, have a bit of mystique to the uninitiated and therefore a vehicle that draws unwanted attention.

Your safer parking an expensive BMW, Lexus etc.. than a 32 GTR

Edited July 3, 2014 by Sinista32

[Hadouken]

You mean that is NOT how you drive a skyline?

I used mine as a daily for a year when I first got. It was good but wear and tear takes a bigger piece from you when its your pride and joy.

Hence why pulsar zero f**ks are given

[Truffles]

If you look after it, just like any other daily on the planet, you will simply be replacing wear and tear items, and aged items like any other car that old.

yes it uses abit more fuel than others, but hey, its a GTR:)

This is very true, the problem with the GT-R is that the general age of the vehicles mean that a lot of wear and tear replacement is needed. For myself, I simply didn't have time to replace things as they were worn out. It would need to be left for a week or two until I could put time aside.

So I could in theory daily mine but when anything needed replacing, I'd need to use my other car until I found time to fix the GT-R.

They are a car that can be daily driven but they're not going to be the cheapest of easier car to daily and I think none of us are under the illusion they are.

[GTR-N1]

Your safer parking an expensive BMW, Lexus etc.. than a 32 GTR

And at the end of the day, you have to wipe off fingerprints.

[Trex]

It's like every other non mass'd aus, euro, import, rare etc car made in the late 80's early 90's when parts break down it may cost you more than another car of the same era, maybe not as the 32 share a lot of parts from other models. It's up to you to do your research and find out the exact parts and part numbers and what other company used the same parts etc... It's not some unicorn that is impossible to find parts for, it may take some more time in years to come to find the same parts, but for now it's fine. Genuine vs non-gen is what you should think about also.

They are often owned by people just like you who think the exact same way as you, so they would have been driven hard but also cared for and checked regularly. 'Fingers crossed'

You need to figure out exactly whats an acceptable level for a daily 32 that you would like to drive. Go from there.

[SiR_RB]

Like others have stated, if you can find a clean one with a rebuild (with receipts!) then I don't see them as been unreliable or money pits

If you buy one built someone else has already done all the hard work, just don't skimp on services and always use the best you can afford

Goodluck let us know how you go !

[pphhhfffttt]

Thanks for the input everyone, GTR ownership isn't suitable for what i want from the car (a reliable daily) and if i were to buy one i would always be scrounging around for the money to fix things when they go wrong.
Maybe some time down the line i'll be able to own one and financially be able to afford to keep it running.

[niZmO_Man]

Find a well looked after srock one. I daily'd mine for two years fine, just the 14L/100km fuel usage bites hard when you're using a tank a week (or more).

[minosum90]

Got a question for everyone if you buy a 32,33 Thats been modified through the guts how does one get a roadworthy for it? From what I've heard its near impossible as i see heaps of the gtrs nowadays rebuilt.