Purchasing an R33- bris/gold coast.

[Konrad]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie to the forums and I'm looking to purchase an R33 in the next few weeks, i've already taken a few for a tesdrive.

Ideally my budget is $20000, so for this price range i'm looking at a low km 94/95 model.

I recently checked out Motovation Imports (41 Egerton st Southport), their cars seem to be very clean, and low mileage. Yesterday i drove a 95 model that the gearbox felt very notchy and wouldn't change easily into first and second, the dealer said its 'normal' for an R33?? As i understood the skyline box is supposed to be one of the better ones around.

Motovation also said that the series 2 R33 skylines have more power and torque due to them having variable valve timing, whereas the series 1 R33's didn't....i have never heard of this before, could anyone shed some light on this??? (yes i searched the net and this forums).

Has anyone here bought their car from Motovation?? Can you recommend them?

Finally, does anyone know a good mechanic on the gold coast i could take the car to to have them inspect it to make sure i'm not buying a lemon?? (i live in brisbane but only moved here a couple of months ago)...

Cheers.

[strutto]

Firstly welcome to the forums...

Most of the import shops on Ferry Road (and probably anywhere else) will tell you anything you want to hear to get a sale... In saying that, I bought my skyline from a dealer on Ferry Road but you really need to go there armed with your own knowledge so you can make your own decisions...

I also wouldnt be paying $20K for a stock series 1 R33 GTS25t either when there are modified ones out there for below $17K and stockers for less again...

Regarding the manual gearbox - they are a strong gearbox but they do tend to get noisy and notchy with age... I certainly wouldn't consider hard changes into first and second "normal" though... Sounds like either a clutch problem or synchros getting tired...

The series 2 engine has no power difference to the series 1... The NEO engine (from the R34) has more power... The series 1 and 2 RB25DET both have variable cam timing...

If your looking for the BEST Skyline mechanic on the Gold Coast, you need to see Gavin Woods... Have a look HERE for contact details and experiences...

I'm sure others will have more to add... Good luck with the search...

[Konrad]

WOW! Quick reply, thanx.

Where would i find a good series 1 (or even a series 2) for $20K then? Average for low km S1 from a dealer is 20, S2 is 22K.

If someone could point me in the direction of a better deal to check out it'd be appreciated. (not being a local i can only go by what dealers come up in carpoint.com searches....).

[strutto]

Yeah I have no life lol...

Honestly, I'd be looking privately on these forums... If you want to go with a dealer, I understand, but be aware that you are immediately overcapitalising... (IE it will lose LOTS of value the minute you buy it...) Better off letting someone else take that hit in my opinion...

I sold my series 1 sedan (auto) with heaps of mods for 15K only a few weeks ago... I know of another friend who sold his series 1.5 coupe (auto) reasonably stock for 15K around the same time... Smoothline sold his series 1 (manual) with plenty of mods for somewhere around 16K just recently... There are also plenty of others for sale interstate... If you buy from here, you're generally buying from an enthusiast, not someone trying to make a living...

If you have to buy from a dealer, then just keep on looking till you find the car that you want and be aware that the dealer DOES have room to move on the price... Keep reading these forums and learn the things that you should be looking at before you buy... There is heaps of info here...

[Mud]

you can have mine for 18K

[smicknissan20]

my mate is sellin his 1996 seris 2 R33 gts-t for 20 grand here is a pic pm me if u are interested.

[predator]

that's ben's (twoquik) one..

[Silver'sR33]

I definitely would buy one privately...you'll get twice the car privately as you would at a dealer for the same price. For 20 grand privately you should be looking at a decent fairly stock Series II or a nice modded Series 1. And remember - dealers are just as likely to lie to you about the car as a private seller (probably more likely actually), just as likely to sell you a lemon (warranties don't mean crap usually)...find a good private one, negotiate the price and then get an RACQ Mastercheck which will tell you if it's got mechanical troubles etc, right down to which panels have had damage, and even pedantic stuff like how well the wipers work.

[Stephen22]

I have one for $15000

[Konrad]

PM sent..

[Konrad]

I was looking at something like this:

http://motovationimports.carpoint.ninemsn....vationimportsau

I testdrove this one last weekend, the gearbox felt notchy and it was hard to get into 1st and second, plus I suspect its been accident repaired in the rear quarter (even tho these cars 'allegibly' cannot be complied)...

http://motovationimports.carpoint.ninemsn....vationimportsau

[Silver'sR33]

I was looking at something like this:

http://motovationimports.carpoint.ninemsn....vationimportsau

I testdrove this one last weekend, the gearbox felt notchy and it was hard to get into 1st and second, plus I suspect its been accident repaired in the rear quarter (even tho these cars 'allegibly' cannot be complied)...

http://motovationimports.carpoint.ninemsn....vationimportsau

Dude no offence but that one doesn't look so hot. For 20k that'd want to be PERFECT not notchy trans and formerly damaged.

I looked on Carsales for you and as far as I could see 33NIZ (who posts on this forum) had the best deal on there for this: http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsales/!c...9&cs_trans_id=2

It's a Series II in good condition with a bunch of really sweet mods. Frankly it kicks arse compared to the one above.

[twoquik]

or you can check out mine.

http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/csauth/!cs_...icle_id=2188835

cya mate

[NA_R33]

or borrow some more money and buy my gtr!!

Ben: Price drop to 40g's if ur interested i may be able to do a little better for you...

[SmoothLine]

Yeah as strutto said...

I sold mine which was very clean and nice to look at for around $16k... Which is market price for a lightly modded (kits, suspension, wheel, exhaust ect ect) these days...

Dont pay any higher than $17k...

Skylines were selling for $19-20k in 2002-2003, its 2005 and they simply arent worth that much any more...

[SmoothLine]

I was looking at something like this:

http://motovationimports.carpoint.ninemsn....vationimportsau

I testdrove this one last weekend, the gearbox felt notchy and it was hard to get into 1st and second, plus I suspect its been accident repaired in the rear quarter (even tho these cars 'allegibly' cannot be complied)...

http://motovationimports.carpoint.ninemsn....vationimportsau

I bought my skyline from Bruce at Motivation nearly three years ago... I had thrashed the balls off it nearly everyday since buying it, and with the right maintainence it still ran very very well...

You have to realise these cars are now between 10-12 years old.

As for Motivation I would vouch for their cars any day, they will not touch accident damaged cars at all. My girlfriend bought her stagea off them 3 months ago and its immaculate.

[twoquik]

still out of my price league john good luck though mate.

[NA_R33]

no worries matey, cheers

[T400 Skyline]

pm send!!

[Oz]

Hey Konrad if your not to keen on the idea of buying a car private,

Go to "TUFF TOYS" these guys are a club sponcer & will look after you if you tell them your from Skylines Australia.

They don't have a yards at the moment (moving to a bigger lot) so give em a call (07)3899 6011

But again as most of the guys said.

You will get a better deal out of buying private, check out both muds & twoquiks cars they are worth it.