Few Issues With R32 Gts-4, Should I Buy?

[esprit]

Hey all,

I test drove a 92' R32 GTS4 the other day, it has 143,000km and mods include: lowered on king springs, hybrid front mount installed, organic h/d clutch, running 13-14psi via one of those t-shape boost controllers, full 3.5" turbo back apexi system, apexi pod filter. It has had its major service apparently.

The problems the car has at the moment are;

1) Syncro's for 3rd, 4th and sometimes 5th are farked, it crunches hard into 3rd and 4th if you don't change into them ever so slowly (then it doesn't crunch if you REALLY baby it into gear).

and 2) The rear diff makes a whiny noise at about 80km/h-90km/h, then when you get up to 100km/h it appears to go away. Isn't overly loud, but is noticable.

3) The rear door locks dont function properly, the right rear door you cant open from inside or outside, and the left rear door you can only open from inside.

4) Front left brakes make a bit of noise sometimes (they've just been machined, the guy reckons all it needs is a $5 brake pad clamp to fix)

Aside from that, the car drives very nicely and is quick. The interior is awesome and is the updated stuff, MUCH nicer than the 1989's, the paint work is also awesome.

Are these problems indicative of any kind of serious misstreatment of a GTS4? I mean, it's probably been given a bit in its time like all Skylines, but if the compression is good on the motor is it still worthy of a buy? The seller says his mate who runs a performance workshop can supply a new GTS4 box and install for ~$550, and can supply a new rear diff for $125. I'm dubious about how much it will cost to fix the 2 rear doorlocks though. I can pickup the car for ~10,000.

Constructive opinions please

Edited December 20, 2005 by esprit

[esprit]

Come on guys need some knowledgable opinions here!

[djr81]

Come on guys need some knowledgable opinions here!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The car is 15 years old, has done close on 100,000 miles. So it will probably be tired - it certainly sounds it. For my ten cents it is probably better finding something that you don't have to spend 2 or 3 thousand on to get it up to scratch. There should be loads of R32 on the market presently.

[lordsnipe]

get it checked by a third party like an inspection service which specialises in used cars. they are under no obligation and will give you a straight answer to the things wrong with the car.

[esprit]

By my calculations:

1) New gearbox supplied and fitted - $550

2) New rear diff - $125 (self fitment)

3) Rear door locks - $100-$150

So its not going to cost me another $3k at all really.

It was compression tested today:

145, 145, 145, 145, 140, 139

[esprit]

The car is 15 years old, has done close on 100,000 miles.  So it will probably be tired - it certainly sounds it.  For my ten cents it is probably better finding something that you don't have to spend 2 or 3 thousand on to get it up to scratch.  There should be loads of R32 on the market presently.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A lot of the R32's on the market have sub 100,000km odo readings, which I really find hard to believe. It's obvious they have been wound back and have probably done 200,000+ (especially the 1989-1990 models).

There is a lot on the market, but most are 1989 models (which are horrible inside), and people are asking too much for them as well.

[funkymonkey]

Symptom 1 is a sign of a bad manual driver

the rest are just signs of age. Most of which are easily fixable. Any mechanic/auto elec should be able to sort out the door.

10k is not a bad price for a GTS4 that came in under the old CPA scheme, and isn't on the verge of a coronary like some of the 15 yr old ones that people pick up cheap to make money on.

What's the rest of the car like, interior, panels etc? rust? bends, dints, dents, scratches?

[esprit]

Interior is immaculate, panels are very straight and paint is one of the best i've seen on an R32. Very light surface rust in teh boot below the space saver, nothing major though.

[blind_elk]

My GTS4 is missing 2 doors then!

[(oo\__4Door__/oo)]

ok i got my 89 4door gts-t, wit 61 thou on it, its not wound back because u can tell if u throw it on the hoist, it has little dirt on the under body, i know it may be rare but its still achevable so dont rule out a 89, btw it snot much diff to the new 32's on the interior, so im guessing its a 4 door?

[MANWHOR3]

So little dirt under it? they probably washed it for that particular reason. to make people believe the ks.

When I first got my car, it looked spotless under it like it was a brand new car. 5000ks later, it now looks as dirty underneath it as my dad's car with 100000ks on it.