Looking at new car.

[Luke Orreal]

Hi everyone.

I know that this post is not model related but I know there is a wealth of knowledge here so I thought this would be a good place to start.

I am looking at buying a new car and I can get a 1994 R33 for a decent price. I don't really know much about these cars. Has anyone had anything to do with them. I have always said that I would never own a Skyline but their Bang-For-Your_Buck factor just cannot be ignored.

Anything I should watch out for?

Thanks.

[V8SS]

Originally posted by Luke Orreal

Anything I should watch out for?



Speed cameras:D

[Luke Orreal]

LOL. Thanks for that.

Nothing better then starting the day off with a laugh!!

[Andrew]

I presume you are looking at an R33 GTS-t or equivalent?

The main thing I think to keep an eye out for is servicing history (where possible), and low-ish kilometres. Get a trsuted mecahnic, preferably with Skyline experience (which there are more and more of) to give it a GOOD look over. All parts will be imported if you need to buy them, and despite a decent network building up in Australia, you are still dealing with an imported car that was never sold new in Australia.

I would also check out:
http://www.skylinesdownunder.com/

You should be able to find some very good useful and practical information about what to look for, as well as ownership issues.

Also consider that an imported turbo vehicle can demand a hefty insurance premium.

Keep all of this in consideration.

[Luke Orreal]

Thanks heaps for your reply. It has helped heaps.

Ill let you know what ends up happening.

[Andrew]

Originally posted by Luke Orreal
Thanks heaps for your reply. It has helped heaps.

Ill let you know what ends up happening.

One more thing, check out their forum. Do a search and see what you can find there. There is some very useful information at the skylinesdownunder forum (it is out of New Zealand).

Also check out:
http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/

Again, the forums are the best bet.

Good luck!

[a9x]

don't forget to factor in insurance.
being a grey import it's probably gonna cost heaps

[wayno]

Must agree with all of the above. Look at your servicing and what you will use the car for. Remember that grey imports can be pretty hard to get parts for once you tend to stray away from the city.

[a9x]

found this on carpoint it may be of help

AUSTRALIAN DELIVERY OR GREY IMPORT?

Buying a grey import can be a great way to pick up unique wheels, but it's best to know the advantages -- and pitfalls -- of what you're doing. It's also important to know what you're giving up over Australian Delivery vehicles.

AUSTRALIAN DELIVERY

Cars that are officially built and complianced for the Australian market by the manufacturer and sold through an official factory dealer network are often described as Australian or local delivery.

Because overseas manufacturers build cars to different pricing structures and sometimes lower safety standards for other markets, official Australian deliveries can be safer and drive better under Australian conditions with bigger cooling systems, better suspension, extra safety features, engines better calibrated for local fuel and upgraded air-conditioning. Colour and trim options can also be different to counter high local UV levels.

The factory distributor is more likely to maintain a parts supply, a trained service network and long term warranties to maintain owner loyalty and protect their long term investment. In most cases, prestige manufacturers keep records of locally delivered cars and can help verify the authenticity of a particular example if in doubt.

GREY IMPORTS

Enforced obsolescence of near-new right-hand-drive cars in Japan generates a supply chain of cheap imports outside the factory distributors, hence the term "grey import". Some are more grey than others and can contain traps for the unwary. As more prestige European cars are sold in Japan, grey imports are no longer restricted to Japanese makes.

Legitimate importers of these vehicles can provide extra choice and value not found in local deliveries. These legitimate operators should tell you exactly what you are buying and their cars should be complianced to the applicable Australian standards with an engineer's report.

These cars can be good buying providing parts are readily available and the car checks out. The growth in popularity of certain models is now supporting legitimate service and parts specialists who source parts direct from Japan.

Tough new laws have now closed many of the loopholes exploited by shady operators but not before thousands reached Australian roads. These cars are often moved across state borders making it harder for their true history to be traced.

Because local compliance can cost up to $5000 per car, there were several scams that trapped unwary buyers who may now be unloading their problems on the used market. One scam was to fit the required upgrades for Australian registration then remove them so they could be installed in the next example to be presented.

Another scam was to import the car as a parts wreck or a number of wrecks, spreading the parts over a number of containers then combining them into one car after customs clearance. These cars are often severely damaged in Japan then poorly repaired here to maximize profit.

By giving these repaired wrecks the identity of a written-off local delivery, it becomes much easier to bypass local safety rules and other requirements if it appears that a genuine local delivery is being presented for registration.

A Subaru WRX involved in a highly-publicised fatality was found later to be an imported parts wreck carrying the identity of a locally-delivered Subaru that was not only a different model but had been written-off several years earlier.

This scam is more prevalent amongst those grey imports where similar models were sold new in Australia. Checking the identification numbers against factory records is a start but a good knowledge of what the genuine article should look like can be your only defence against these impostors.

In all cases, a reputable dealer is the best place to start then check whether your insurance company will cover a grey import.


Article by Joe Kenwright and CarPoint.com.au

[BAM1]

We had an appentice a while back that bought some sort of a 4wd Skyline (think it was something like the "Godzilla" ones that raced a Bathurst a number of years ago)

Get this though - he paid somewhere in the mid 20 grand range for it, but for his insurance cost he could have bought another in about 3 years time. It was something like 7 or 8 grand each year for insurance. :eek: More money than sence if ya ask me :rolleyes:

Mind you the thing did GO O O OOoo o !!!!!

In the end I heard he smashed it up not long after he left us
And yes he was a P plater


NSW has new laws comming in soon also - a ban on young P-platers from driving high-powered cars - V8, turbo or souped up engies etc
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/NRMA-slams-Pplate-restrictions/2005/06/07/1117910274905.html

[Road Runner 72]

I just got myself a new car, I test drove a few skyline GTR's, great bang for the buck I admit, would of been great to find a R32 GTR aussie one, but nothing turned up.
Yes as others have said Insurance can be the killer, tho I still got myself a Insurance killer but a home grown SS.

Cheers

[Senator1]

Grey Imports
I was an insurance investigator & numerous events that have arisen oven recent years suggest do NOT touch anything that is a one off type import, Kilometres shown are genearlly not accurate, mechanical parts right down to the air conditioning differ on one off imports, compared to those which were sold new thru Australian dealers
For example try getting parts for the Toyota Surf, the car yards to you same as 4Runner, but they're not

[Footy]

As Senator stated, parts can differ,I have mates in various auto trades and they can all lay testament to that,some of their customers cars have sat idle for periods of time as they try to source the correct item.

[Luke Orreal]

Thanks everyone for your information. It has helped me heaps.

I'm not sure what I would like now! I was looking at a N/A Skyline. I really liked that high rev ceiling and those sweet gearchanges.

Can anyone point me in the direction of something similar. I am really unsure of waht to so now.....

[Andrew]

Originally posted by Luke Orreal
Thanks everyone for your information. It has helped me heaps.

I'm not sure what I would like now! I was looking at a N/A Skyline. I really liked that high rev ceiling and those sweet gearchanges.

Can anyone point me in the direction of something similar. I am really unsure of waht to so now.....

If a Skyline is your thing, then all we are saying is be aware of the potential pitfalls of ownership. You will have a car that is unique, but with that comes extra costs and things to be aware of. It's whether you think that trade-off is worth it.

As my signature shows, I love Skyline GT-R's, and have had a little experience around them. They are enormously powerful, fast and competent cars, but they also bring tremendous financial responsibilities. That is why I would not jump in at the first one I saw.

Like any performance car, you have to do your homework, research it, get it mechanically inspected, check out insurance, parts availability, cost to run... This does not just apply to the R33 Skyline you are considering. Looking at an N/A car rather than a turbo will certainly have an impact on the insurance premium, but the added issue of being an import still remains. Don't be put off just on what we have cautioned against - there ARE clean examples to be had. You might pay a slight premium to get one, but in the long run it will be worth it. Not all grey imports are bad, dodgy etc. Preparation and knowledge is everything.

Make the decison with your head and your wallet, and not necessarily your heart.

Best of luck!