A few Stagea questions for everyone... (SydneyKid, maybe?)

[GoldZilla]

Hey guys (and girls!?!?!?), I've got a few questions for you all.

Firstly, does anyone know where I can see a Stagea in the flesh :boinkcar: here in Sydney? I'm sure I'm not the only one who's more comfortable after I've had a chance to have a look over one before stepping up to the plate and making a purchase... Apparently there's quite a few in Qld, but, ummm, I'm not in Qld.

According to the Red Book website, Edward Lee's have one for sale there, so I'll be making a call to confirm this, but I'd like to have a look at a few if possible. SydneyKid, you ordered your car direct rather than pick up from yard stock, correct?

Secondly, IIRC, I read that there's a manual Stagea available (the RS FOUR S, as opposed to the more common RS FOUR V). As much as I'd love to step into a 260RS, I couldn't afford it, but I really do want to stay with a manual. Soooooo, can anyone give a pointer as to the likely price premium for a manual (assuming one can be found), and would they be eligible under RAWS/SEVS. I'd assume that having a manual box wouldn't be an issue with DOTARS, but I'd like some confirmation, if anyone can give it.

Thanks in advance,

Nick T.

[Guest]

E and M have them in stock, manuals are about $6-8000 more due to only around 10% fitted with this option, dosent make any difference with compliance, cheaper to convert over here using GTR parts from wreckers, couple of bits from Nissan Japan and manual ECU instead of auto.

http://www.autowholesale.com.au/ have them starting form $19,999 it is $5,000 cheaper over here and freight to Sydney is about $840 from momory.

The most expencive one is $29,999 with 18's body kit and low klm's.

Some cars arent worth bringing over your self.

[Sydneykid]

Soooooo, can anyone give a pointer as to the likely price premium for a manual (assuming one can be found)

Hi Nick, I purchased ours direct, there were ~18 Stageas that week, all autos, not a single manual. Ours was a Grade 3 1997 model and cost 490,000 Yen (~$6,500 at the exchange rate on the day) I looked for around 6 weeks and only saw one manual and ~90 autos. That 1997 manual, Grade 4, went for 1,450,000 Yen (~$19,000) and the bidding was pretty fierce. All up mine cost $17K, the manual would have been ~$32K. It was a later chassis number, had travelled a few less k's and Grade 4 (compared to Grade 3) but the price is pretty comparable.

So I strongly suggest you do a bit of research before making a final decision.

Hope that helps

[Jay95R33]

I contacted E and M when I was ready to buy a Stagea. Told them what I wanted and said I had the cash ready to buy. Said they would get back to me in 3 days. I still haven't heard from them...

There should be a few down Parramatta road I'd say. Grab the yellow pages and give a few places a ring.

Driving an auto is fine. You just need to get used to not having 100% control over the gears. But if your that keen on a manual, I think the cheaper option would be to convert it over when you get it. But you never know, you might learn to like the auto

I picked mine up for $21,000 through a private sale. It's a RS Four V, with the full leather interior, electric seats, dual sunroofs, CD player and TV etc... Had 54,000km on the clock and came with 11 months rego. When I got it and the auction sheets said it was a grade 4 which sounds about right cause it's spotless inside and out.

Pretty happy with it, but with almost every second hand car you buy there's a few things I'd like to get looked at.

The only downside to these cars is that they are very thristy. ~1600kg with the RB25det and an auto means not so good fuel usage.

J

[mad wagon]

try gary bloggs on parra rd, i got the leather int. as well and just had aftermarket steering wheel put on today. If anyone is thinking of doing the wheel, you'll need a Z32/ r33 airbag bosskit. Next some nice sport seats, ohhhh, and that frigen rear lip that every other stagey has, except mine, i'm not asking for much son of rajab, please show me the way to someone who can get one for me, apart from the 7million ppl i've already called....

man. conversion is about $5,000 for r33 gtr box coz the firewall needs to be cut and holed to fit the clutch booster, also r32 gtr fuel pump fits straight in.

[mad wagon]

try gary bloggs on parra rd, i got the leather int. as well and just had aftermarket steering wheel put on today. If anyone is thinking of doing the wheel, you'll need a Z32/ r33 airbag bosskit. Next some nice sport seats, ohhhh, and that frigen rear lip that every other stagey has, except mine, i'm not asking for much son of rajab, please show me the way to someone who can get one for me, apart from the 7million ppl i've already called....

man. conversion is about $5,000 for r33 gtr box coz the firewall needs to be cut and holed to fit the clutch booster, also r32 gtr fuel pump fits straight in.

[Duncan]

Edward Lees also has 2 in stock if you want to have a look

but if you wanted to buy...pick one up thru a broker

[GoldZilla]

Thanks all

Edward Lees also has 2 in stock if you want to have a look

but if you wanted to buy...pick one up thru a broker

That's what I was planning on doing in the end, but I'd like to see one in the flesh to get an idea on size, space (interior, etc), features, seating position, etc. Just all the little things that can make or break the car ownership experience.

Like I said, my parent's Camry is a nice car to drive (apart from the lack of power due to being a 4cyl), but you feel like you sit on it instead of in it, if you know what I mean. My own car has grip (decently-wide tyres on a small car), but the Camry actually handles as well... These are the kinds of things I'll be looking at.

Hmmm, conversion to manual sounds nice, though, conversion to RB-26 even better!!! :wassup: Now, any clues as to where to dig up the extra $10-15k? :confused:

[GoldZilla]

Alright all,

went with my old man to Edward Lee's today and they had 4(!) in stock. E&M had none (they might be getting some in 3-4 weeks, apparently), and Jap-Link don't do them yet, as they have too much on their hands already at the moment. Didn't have time to go anywhere else today as I'd already made plans to meet friends, etc. Might try Gary Bloggs one day after work or something, although I haven't seen many Imports there for a while, so I'll call them first to see if they're still doing them. Their old website is no longer active, BTW.

I've decided I do like them A LOT, and now it's just a matter of researching a bit more on insurance, scraping a bit more money together, and then finding the right broker/dealer with the right car at the right price.

Yard prices are fairly high, though, so here's hoping I don't end up having a bad experience with a broker, which is my old man's main concern...

[Jay95R33]

Cool - another Stagea owner not too far away

I found insurance to be just a bit less than what the R33 GTS-t was.

I think I'm paying about $1400, but that's with only 40% NCB. So that should come down to around $1100 when it hits 60%.

J

[GoldZilla]

BTW, loved all the little detail things scattered around the car, like the levers to release and fold the rear seats from the boot, the torch-style light in the tailgate that can be moved to the D-pillar, etc.

[Jay95R33]

the torch-style light in the tailgate that can be moved to the D-pillar, etc.

I don't think mine has that

[mad wagon]

and the power socket in the boot, the fold out vinyl blanet under the spare wheel cover, reclinable rear seats etc.

loaded with features.....and bangggggg