Appealing

Hey Rob, I am after a front grill badge, if you have one. Of course if anyone else has one, I'll have a look at that instead.

Hey Dale..... your car is a 25TXfour, they don't come with tint at the back (or anywhere except the top tint screen). There is nothing unusual about it, it's just the way they came out of the factory, (unless it was optioned as tinted). The RS series has the dark tint glass. Yours isn't so common as most of the XG range doesn't have the turbo, and isn't allowed in Austraila. Unless it really bothers you, I'd leave it as is, it still is UV cutting, (actually tinting has nothing to do with UV filtering, hence most safety glasses still filter UV). It is fairly unique just to have the green glass. There shouldn't be anything to remove though, if you do want to have it tinted.

Hi anyone have a front grill badge (double headed unicorn) that they don't want. Mine doesn't have one, an I'm looking to fit one. Thanks

I agree, I think that you should front him and ask for the cost of the fuel to be deducted from the install. Or better how about the cost of hire for the night? Having the auto in P on a slope doesn't affect it at all. The trans has a dog lock on it. (To be honest I hardly ever use my park brake in and auto). Just make sure that you dont put it in P while the car is moving..... THAT doesn't do them any good (they usually survive though)!!! Oh and like Cy says Dont EVER go back.... EVER.... and don't forget to tell EVERYONE, of course you can always remind the DH that we ALL leave a reputation behind us, better to be a good one, me thinks.

Quoted from http://www.nissan-global.com/GCC/Japan/NEWS/News6Eng.html The 1996 official press release. (3) Outstanding wagon attributes resulting from the pursuit of spaciousness and ease of use The luggage compartment is covered entirely with a premium-quality carpet and measures 1,145 mm in length and 1,380 mm in width with a five-passenger seating configuration. When the rear seats are folded down flat, the length becomes 2,115 mm and the VDA capacity is an ample 1,475 liters, ranking among the largest in its class. The rear seats incorporate a remote-control folding mechanism that enables them to be folded down independently by operating a lever in the luggage compartment. A multipartition net, tonneau cover and a reversible polyvinyl chloride storage mat are included to facilitate many different uses of the luggage compartment. In addition, luggage hooks are provided in twelve locations along with a power supply socket and a variety of storage places in pursuit of superior wagon functionality and convenience for every imaginable lifestyle situation in which the Stagea might be used.

Sorry Darren, the Leather is real..... it is used along with an artificial leather in the sides and back of the seats. Supplale ® (a Jap interpretation of supple, I guess). An optional seating system combining genuine leather with SUPPLALE¨ for excellent cost performance is available on the X Series and RS FOUR V models. SUPPLALE¨ has greater moisture-absorbing capacity than ordinary artificial leather, is extraordinarily close to real leather in appearance and is also easy to maintain. (SUPPLALE¨ is a registered trademark of Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.) quoted from .... http://www.nissan-global.com/GCC/Japan/NEWS/News6Eng.html Mine has it, but I haven't sat in them yet .... car arrives 25th Jan incidentally if you get the leather option, then I beleive that the rear cargo blind is also leather (probably artificial).

Sorry to stay off topic, (maybe we need a new one) but, According to Autech's webpage they never made (took in) Stagea's other than in the list below. So that rules S2's out, (or any year other than '97 &'98). See below.

Hi Guys I have a Stagea on it's way, and if I can get the translation for the underbonnet stickers, I am going to redo them all in English. This will apply to all Skylilnes too, that's why I didn't post it in the Stagea section. Anyone that can help here with the translation? I own a sign company with a new digital printer, so once the artwork, (my speciality ) is done, the rest will be easy. All input welcome. Thanks John

So Rob..... what now, are you gonna get back on the bike (horse) (Unicorn)? I'm sure that you feel very stupid, but take it (for what it really is) like everything else in life..... a lesson. After all that's what we're here for..... to learn. So let us know your plans.... we are all interested. I know that right now your are in pain over your accident, and maybe feeling a little guilty. But just remember the only time that we learn is when we are in pain. being in "the comfort zone" teaches us NOTHING. Here is an old Japanese proverb,.... "Man who destroy Stagea, must have better things coming"

There is also another tool for this, it's called a ball joint splitter, (for obvious reasons). Should be available from Repco, or Coventry's. It has a fork that sits over the ball joint and a bolt that is positioned onto the top of the taper, you just keep doing it up until either the ball joint gives or the tool breaks! Tow hammers works really well, causes slight ovality to the hole that the taper sits in thereby popping it out. A combination of the above is sometimes required. I also have a fork type and find this a useful tool, (not just for ball joints). I should hope that by the time you get all this info you have done the job. haha

Yeah it kinda got that way, but I don't like being misquoted. So it's open to opinion, about the car.... what's yours?

Hey Lee, I've done the math, very carefully and many times. I didn't say that importing yourself it was the only way, I also didn't say that anyone got ripped. I am fully aware that you get all the positive points above. I certainly don't think that private importation is for everyone and fully understand anyone buying from a dealer or a private car that is here already. I have doubts in my mind about mine, of course. Also you are right in that photos dont tell you that much. As I keep stressing you have to have someone good in Japan. Hey Dale, when you say "The loss of a compliance plate is also a non issue - there have only been 100 Stagea's complied in WA in the last 3-4 years so 1 out of 100 is not a big deal." It obviously IS to them. You also don't seem to understand the compliance. The plates are on a roatating 100 plate issue, (and that is for all cars they comply). If they use 5 plates today, then on the same day next year they get those 5 plates back. If they comply at the same price as over east, ($3500), then if you take this off the cost of bringing a car in and complying for sale, they are loosing $6500 on each plate. I still stand by the $10000 profit, as this dealer complies his own stock, same as the other one in Perth. Therefore the compliance cost them little, (but they still have to get back the $8500 that they paid for compliance evidence). They'd want to do this asap, probably within the 1st five cars. Seeing as there are only 2 compliers in Perth I doubt that there have been 100 cars complied here. Much more likely that most of those cars got complied over east. By the way I was quoted $4500 in Perth by both shops. I pretty dispointed that DC had upped the cost $1000 over the eastern states cost. I know the costs of running a business, I own one. Someone has to pay for the workshop, evidence, staff and everything else. Where do think that the money comes from? Sorry if it offends anyone but a nice series one is worth about $3000 in Japan. That'd be about $11,000 landed on the road. (Take off the compliance cost for DC @ $3500 and you'll arrive at $7500)..... Which is why he can make $10,000. I totally agree with anyone buying from a dealer. There are alternatives that's all I am saying. You CAN get a very similar car, for a lot less money. Of course there is risk involved, otherwise everyone would do it. I also said that I would probably have bought a car from autowholesale too, if I was in more of a hurry, didn't have a good Japan connection, and thought that the warrenty was really going to be needed. Hopefully I won't be wrong and all my research will pay off..... time will tell.

Well sorry guys but I have to reply to this, No.1 I didn't say they fall apart, I said they may start showing faults. I also said that they are basically throw -away because the rebuild is about $2000, and a replacement box is a lot cheaper, especially if you are in Japan, and can pull one from any model, Of course we don't have that luxury. Also if you have a good guy in Japan, the speedos that are wound back are nearly always picked up on. Most Jap cars do about 10,000 per year, (private). So you should be expecting about 70 - 90,000 km now for a 99. I don't know why certain people on this site, insist that most speedo's have been clocked? Obviously you would want the lowest km's possible. Geniune low km cars sell for a good price over there. Ask to see the serivce history, this is the best telltale point, not the interior. Most cars though the auctions haven't had the paint touched or if they have (and you have a good guy in Japan), you will know. As for both the import company's in Perth, I have a different view and I spoke to them both. I didn't like Autowholesale because I didn't feel that they treated me well enough seeing as I was going to shell out over $20,000. Rude would be a good word. Also as for DC, they agreed that the market in Perth was monoplised. They led me to believe that they would be the guys to change all that. When it actually came to complying my car, they really didn't want to know. As they said they don't want to miss out on a retail sale and loose the use of a plate. You have to realise that they (compliance shops) only get 100 plates per year. Regan Whitby (DC) wanted $4500 for compliance and said it woudl take over 6 weeks! Dale he's only your best buddy cause he's trying to get a name and he made $10,000 from you. Most dealers need to make $5,000 - $10,000 from each sale. That is why some cars have sat around in Perth for nearly 9 months! But you guys can beleive what you want. One thing, I am not is gullable. I have done my research. Also Brad you honestly wouldn't buy a car for $20,000 with 300,0000 km on it, would you? They might last this long but by the time they get to that, they will be worth about $2000! ( and probably have cost heaps in repairs), And in Japan that's all a series one with high km's (150,000+) sells for! Anyway also liek I said it isn't a bad buy at all, if I didn't have the contacts, and didn't have the patience, I woudl probably have bought there too. But there is another way, and one with far more choice. And that is my 2cents worth!!

Sorry Dervish I just found your link, on your post. Hmm looks ok, at 133,000 km you need to realise that this is high km's as far an import is concerned. The auto's in the Stagea are really a throw awa item, as they are verey expensive to rebuild, and may strat showing faults at this km's. The car looks ok, BUT only you can make the decision about the buy. $21990, is ok for an S2. The power by the way is a fair bit more, but the same power can be acheived from an S1 easily. Economy can be very different. You could get a similar car for about $15,000 (or less) straight from the auctions (on road), you will probably get a better one actually as you would choose lower km cars. All the dealers are running a business, and need to make profit and cover warranty claims etc. I would look at it very carefully, maybe if you can trade a car on it or get it down a bit, it would be a good buy. I took 3 months to choose my car, $24,000 and another 2 months to get it here (not here yet). (see post "it's gonna be a Blue 2007). So I reckon the car you looked at is a good alternative. Dont forget to check out private cars for sale on this site . Ciao John

Hi Dervish Missing quite a bit of info there..... like which import place? Where are you? Photo's? How many km's on car? What colour is it? AND most important what price they asking? Answer these, we'll answer yours John

Oh yeah.... damn I forgot to mention those!!! Then of course apart from the factory spec cars you have others. With the Autech for instance it's all a matter of ordering what you want. I did see a blue Auctech, go for over 2 million..... is there anything rarer! Then of course there are always the dreded IPO's. These are INTERNAL PRODUCTION ORDERS..... they can usually be placed by any company official, who is high enough in the pecking order or maybe even for friends and relatives, (nice way to show off). This has resulted in unusual stuff, like cars with a motor that shoudln't be there, or an amount of options that werent' released to the general public. It was common in the USA. Not saying that Nissan would have such a thing but I bet if Mr Yamamoto San wanted a Stagea with a 260RS and only rear wheel drive but the interior of a Prime edition, in bayside blue with a silver roof, I bet he could get one. And it'd be factory backed and warrantied!! Now there's something to think about ..... good luck looking for it .... ha ha.

Bump, still for sale.......

Hey Lucky that I'm keeping the prices up then..... Mine is likely to run to $24,000 on road!!

Eh Glen, If you think that then you don't unsderstand Stagea's. There are 3 series in the range and 20 models. These are the RS series, The XG series, and the Type B series, and this is only for the series 2 cars!!! The ranges on the series 1's was similar, but I dont think that the Type B existed. If anyone wants a copy of the spreadsheet that shows every option for every model then email me and I'll send it on. Sure you can get an S2 cheap, but it wont be the same as a 25t RS Four V Prime Edition (unless you are really really lucky). The Japs aren't that stupid to give cars away. The 25t X Four is actually the base model of the 4wd's, then the RS Four is next up. The rest you need to work out from the spread sheet. It aint easy though!!

Hi Dale You have to realise that the basic rundown is basic, it doesn't show every model, (grade). You have a 25tX four, I have a spread sheet of series 2's that shows the same grades as the series ones. It shows what you get for each model as standard, but that doesn't mean that you coudln't get extras. cheers John

OK for those that keep asking,...... We paid 1,200,000 at auction in Japan, that converts to A$13250.00 By the time it's here with freight, compliance, import duties, lic, stamp duty etc, I am expecting it'll be about $24,000, on the road. I only wanted to spend $20,000 but how could I resist it!!!

Hmmm dunno Brad, mine was supplied at no extra cost 'cause it was missing from the car. that was really done as a "service to the buyer". I can ask though.

I also think that they are the same. mine (S2) didn't have one upon purchase, but I managed to get one before it was shipped oput from Japan, cost $100 over there. Just thought it might give you something to go on.

Hmmm I still rekon 28th Jan would be best. Part of the (Australia Day) Long weekend. I think that some of us will be ready for a cruise and have plenty to talk about. Especially me if my car arrives in time. I think Feb just seems too long away, (even though it's only a couple of weeks more).

Man, that thing in the background, (van) looks like he got on the wrong side of the runway at pilot training school!! THAT is even uglier than the Stagea (2door) .....