Any R31's left in Australia?

[Guest Tienie]

Are there any R31's still going down under? Anything newer than the R31 is unknown in S.Africa as after 1992 only Maxima's were manufactured in this country. Are the later models (R32-onwards) rear wheel driven?

I am still using an '89 moddel R31 with RB30E engine for towing a large caravan (which it does beautifully) and would like to know if similar (good condition) cars are still available in Aus as we are thinking about a visit there and would like to do some long distance travelling by caravan. I would prefer to use a car that I am used to and which I know mechanically.

Any body, please?

Tienie

[Zahos]

There are sh1t loads of R31's down under (well I know there are in vic anyway). The RB30E was produced here from 86 to early 91. There are also R32's, R33's and R34's, but for towing, I'd suggest to just stick to an 4 door Aussie R31.

Do a search on http://www.trading-post.com.au/search.asp?...Name=Automotive with skyline as the key word, and a price b/w $1000 and $8000, and it should come up with a fair bit.

Zahos

[Southo]

If you are towing - and want to do it with a Skyline,

Then your best bet is an R31 Skyline Silhouette - comes with an LSD as standard as well as the trip computer and more comfortable seats.

The List goes

GX - (Base Model with Pwr steer std)

Executive - (Basically a GX with A/C and Auto std)

GXE - better cloth trim, A/C standard

Silhouette - "sports" model - alloys, better seats, LSD. Two tone Paint, trip computer, boot lid spoiler etc.

TI - Top line - loses the spoiler, two tone paint and LSD in favour of cruise control, power windows and velour trim.

[Zahos]

exactly!

My mate needed a car to tow a trailer, and went for the silhouette b/c of the LSD.

[SKY031]

HI Tienie

Which Australian models (if any) were available in South Africa?

We have one member (only 1) from South Africa in the R31 Skyline club, and he owns an SGLi, which until about a week ago, most of us had never seen.

It is fully optioned and has a leather interior, I don't know of any SGLi's in Australia But we have quite a few Japanese R31's here.

(I wonder why we have Japanese ones and no SA ones:confused: )

[SKY031]

P.S, In answer to your question, the 32 etc, are rear wheel drive, and the GTR & GTS 4 are 4 wheel drive

[Zahos]

Until I read this post, I didnt even know that any skylines were available in South Africa.....

I was just reassuring that the R31 with the RB30E supply is plentiful in OZ.

Do you have a link to any pics of the SGLi?

[SKY031]

oops, yes I do have a picture, but sorry, I was meant to be asking Tienie (I'm all embarrassed now!)

Here is a pic of the SGLi

[SKY031]

It has a series 3 front, with series 1/2 tail lights, a slightly different dash.....

Hango on and I'll make some more posts and get a couple more pics up

the dash.........

[SKY031]

back

[SKY031]

front

[Guest Tienie]

Thanks, guys, for all that info! I really appreciate it.

I do not know of any Aussie-made Nissans in S. Africa. GM products, yes. Your Commodore (spelling correct?) is being marketed here as a Chevrolet Lumina.

Yes, I do use a 3.0 SGLi and yes, it is a full house model including electric windows, leather, speed controll, autobox, etc. and it was made in S. Africa. Incidentally, the SA-made SGLi models (both 3.0 and 2.0), unlike the Aussie models, were fitted with an independant rear suspension with swing arms and cv-joints. Disc brakes were also used in the rear.

Mine, however, is a '89 model, which differs to the one in the pictures in that it has the previous front end. The "face lift" model in the pictures was only intoduced to S. Africa in '90. Will take a picture in the morning and try to post it.

Next question: What would be a reasonable price for a good condition R31, preferably auto transmission with aircon and electric windows. Speed controll would be a bonus.

Thanks again

Tienie.

[Guest Tienie]

OK, while you guys were still sleeping in Oz, I checked out http://www.trading-post.com.au as suggested by Zahos and found lots of R31's at prices from $3000 to $6000.

However, there are a few things I do not understand:

What does it mean if the add says: O reg? or 6 Reg? And what is LSD?

And if a car is bought from a private person, what would be the procedure to get it registered in your name, especially if you are a foreigner?

Thanks again.

Tienie

[Guest Tienie]

Hi Guys

OK, I'm back again, and with a photo of my old R31 SGLi, taken this morning.

I also have a few other pictures, taken some time ago, which might be of interest, but I do not have a personal website yet. So I will post them one by one in this thread.

Greetings to all

Tienie

[Guest Tienie]

My SGLi

[Guest Tienie]

Towing in Namaqualand

[Guest Tienie]

The R31 suspension must be good because it survived an extensive caravanning trip through Central Africa. This was taken in Zambia. Note the condition of the road:

[Guest Tienie]

Both the car and the caravan (and us!) had a close encounter with an elephant in Zimbabwe when the guy pushed over a tree too close for me to be comfortable. The SGLi can be seen right under the elephant's head. Sorry about the bad focus; I was trembling!

[Pva_Glue]

Originally posted by Tienie

However, there are a few things I do not understand:

What does it mean if the add says: O reg?  or 6 Reg?

Tienie

Means Registration of the car which you have to pay like CAR TAX you can pay them 6 monthly or yearly if said no registered then there is no registeration so you have to re-register it!

Originally posted by Tienie

However, there are a few things I do not understand:

And what is LSD?

Tienie

Means the car is equipped with Limited Slip Diferential... LSD.. I can t describe how it actually works but do search on LSD then you wil find the answer!

also that's great you having great time of life travelling around!

cheers

Joe

[Guest Tienie]

Thanks Joe!

OK, so it means a limited slip diff. I should have been able to figure that out, stupid me. I know exactly what it is and also how it works. Thanks again for the info.

Now about the registering: Does that mean that if I buy a car with, for argument's sake, six months left, that I do not need to register the car at all? Do I have to transfer the car to my name? And if so, does that mean that it has to pass some or other road worthy test first?

Thanks again

Tienie