Gone from WRX to GTR?

[pentae]

boostedrb26: how did you manage to blow your engine not once, but twice? what mods + boost are you running?

*concerned r32 gtr owner*

[wrxhoon]

I think you will find that gtr parts are cheaper than wrx .

labour is much more expensive on the gtr though .

I can buy a windscreen for an r33 for $200 same as for any car .

Engine parts like pistons for the gtr are under $100 each for an sti they are like $900 each , valves for sti are $200 each , everything is dearer for the wrx .

As for handling the rex will understeer when pushed hard , gtr is more neutral and when you try to find the limit it will oversteer .

I must say that stis are just as quick if not quicker in tight bends , hairpins ( smaller car ).

On fast corners gtr is a little quicker , normal rex ( not sti or aftermarket suspension) has heaps more body roll than gtr but still fairly quick around bends .

[BoOsTeD_RB26]

pentae: I had a major service done and to put it simply, once they fitted the new timing belt, the harmonic balancer (crank pulley) was not tightened up correctly, and therefore the nose of the crank was flogged out, and the timing was retared heaps because of the huge movement in the assembly. The belt was stretched and it was basically near total destruction. Not a good thing to happen in anyones books.

Second time round I had excessive blow by problems due to an assembly error. That has just been fixed up as the motor has just undergone a full and thorough rebuild. All is well in the engine dept now. Thank god.

Be sure to check that the crank pulley is tight after having the timing belt changed (sometimes your mechanic might change it without removing the pulley, but just check just to be sure). I cannot emphasise it enough.

I'm currently considering selling the car basically because I am sick to death of piss farting around with it.

[AndyMac]

We'll there not really the cars fault are they ? I'd hope you'd only paid for the timing belt work and nothing more too.

On the WRX note. I'm in a similar position. Coming from a R33GTS-t to a R32GTR or MY01/02 WRX.

Sure the GTR has the arua, history and all that sort of stuff, but as everyones mentioned, their high on premium of owning one. Insurance, maintaince the whole deal. The WRX, althou mass produced more then the GTR, is still a legend.

I don't think (and I've just got over it) its a good move to buy a car because of street cred, and "potential" performance. The MY01/02 WRX's are hovering around 26-30k, and its only 3-4 years old.

And we all know that the twisty's is where all the fun is, sure RWD is fun, but don't be sucked in to the claim that there's less skill in driving a WRX fast..... A good driver will always make Full Use of the tools provided.

[bmxwrx]

actually, i got a quote for insurance for a gtr, and it was slightly cheaper than the premium for my rex, insured for the same price.

[pentae]

boosted: That sucks. The mechanic who changed the timing belt, was he the same guy who did the rebuild? Sounds like your going to an incompetent mechanic, as opposed to it being the cars fault.. only issue with that is a GTR is a lot more expensive to make an error on.

Surely the mechanic that screwed up the timing belt change was liable for the damage in some way?

Mental note: Take GTR to the best import mechanic in qld for timing belt change.....

[pentae]

Andymac: Theres a reason the GTR has street cred. And the absolute last reason I own a GTR is for lame 'street cred'.

If you want street cred in Australia, buy a HSV GTO, Monaro, FPV Typhoon.. those will get you WAY more street cred and pedestrians eyeing you off than a GTR will.

[siksII]

Mental note: Take GTR to the best import mechanic in qld for timing belt change.....

tightening the crank pulley would be the same on most cars, it was just a dodgy mechanic...u dont need to waste your money at an import specialist to change the timing belt

[pentae]

siksII: Yeah, fair enough..

It gets to the point where you just dont know who to trust these days.. for every good mechanic theres about 9 dodgy ones.

In my recent experience i'm getting to the point where i'd rather pay an extra $10-20 an hour on labour knowing the job is going to be done properly the first time.

[pentae]

Keithy George: The best thing to do is go to an import yard with you WRX that you know has a GTR. Drive right up into the lot so they can see what you are driving.

Walk straight up to a salesperson, dont bother looking at the cars.. introduce yourself professionally and say that you've read a few magazines and it seems like the GTR is a lot better than the WRX you are driving, and could he tell you more about the GTR.

Let the sales person waffle on about how great they are for a while and pretend as though you know about 50% less than you actually and sound impressed.

Let him take you for a test drive in one of the cars and see what you think.

Don't buy the car or let the sales person convince you to put down a deposit on the day.

An even better alternative to this would be to find someone on SAU with a GTR who lives near you who can take you for a spin in their car so you can feel the difference from the passenger seat.. probably not as good as being able to drive a GTR but a far less pressued environment

Once you've done this go to www.j-spec.com.au and www.prestigemotorsport.com.au and contact the import brokers about the costs of importing a similar car.

And hey presto you can work it out for yourself

I would never buy a car locally but thats just me.. i'd rather wait a few months to save a few grand. However there are certainly circumstances where buying a car locally (and paying a bit extra) is a much better alternative.

At this point probably the smartest thing you can do is buy a 94 model r32 GTR in Japan from auction while they are going relatively cheap compared to say, 89/90 models.. and just wait until next year when your allowed to bring them in under SEVS. It it will be a long wait but you will probably save about 10 grand

Good luck.

[BoOsTeD_RB26]

I understand what you are all saying in regards to people who are "inexperienced (even though they work in a "reputable workshop") working on cars such as these. I have since taken my car to another workshop.

The engine problems I was using purely as an example. I have had many suspension problems, problems with the clutch (clutch pedal box snapped the other day and left me stranded in a busy major intersection), rubber diaphram leak from the clutch booster which casued brake fluid vapours to get into the cabin (not good for your health obviously).

All people need to be aware of, as stated before, is that as long as you are prepared to cover the costs, as well as the problems encountered of maintaining such a vehicle (depending on spec of course), then go for it theyre a blast.

I love my car to bits, but phark sometimes I wonder why I bother....

[bmxwrx]

hmm, to me, it looks like the gtr would be an awesome car.

now that you guys have said what you think, reliability issues seem to confine them to the garage.

i think i'll only ever get one for a weekend car in a few years time, when i got somewhere to put such a beast.

thanks for the info guys

[fatz]

there are only reliability issued if you drive them like gino

8500 rpm every gear change slaming the gears ect

[Keithy George]

An even better alternative to this would be to find someone on SAU with a GTR who lives near you who can take you for a spin in their car so you can feel the difference from the passenger seat.. probably not as good as being able to drive a GTR but a far less pressued environment

Anyone, anyone????? You can do strip search before hand make sure I don't have five guns and three knives strapped to me!

Be glad to meet up with some of you when you next go out for a cruise or something like that.

I don't really look like my Avatar :evil:

[NXTIME]

*puts hand up*

But you might have to wait a while...

[Keithy George]

Why's that?

How long we talking?

You must be one frustrated (insert expletive).

[franks]

does the US 2.5L STi block drop into the GC8 wrx???

id do that.

[Keithy George]

does the US 2.5L STi block drop into the GC8 wrx???

id do that.

It does..............and I'm tempted

[franks]

It does..............and I'm tempted

yup. sold. winner.

add the cusco tarmac spec diffs (60/40 split) and a nice 6 sp gearbox and you are set!!!

[Leewah]

Try getting more than 400rwkw from a WRX and keep it streetable.