Torques

Hi Terry, Yes .. indeed Winter is not pleasant. So it's even better that the car stays inside, at least for another 6 weeks. It wouldn't be of much use in the rainy and possible icy conditions. As for the insurance, same here .. 1. I have a no claims record of 9 years 2. Am 'mature' (as can be despite buying an import) 3. Have a garage 4. And won't use the Skyline on a daily basis Otherwise the insurance would be much more expensive. Well to be honest, I had no feel for the car when I drove it, so there was not much joy in it (more muted excitement). I pushed the throttle a bit at 3000rpm, and the car accelerated quickly without any hesitation, then I had to brake since there was traffic. I wouldn't want to crash the car on my testdrive, so I took it easy. The guys from the Toyota dealership just handed me the keys and let me drive alone. In fact they did not even come with me to the car so I could familiarize myself with the Skyline's condition without any pressure (I hate it when pesky sales people breathe down my neck ..) I'm quite looking forward to next January when I will pickup the car. In addition I will get all the documents next week. The Skyline has been imported 2/2008 and there is just one registered owner (who apparently bought a smaller Toyota from the dealership) I have a good feeling about the transaction Cheers and goodnight, Andrew

Another newsflash from London! After much searching I found a reasonably priced insurance for the car. It's still a bit expensive, but who said driving exotic cars comes cheap? I now got a comprehensive coverage, for AUD 1300 (per year). The initial quote I got was AUD 5000. I don't know about insurance in Oz ... ?! How high are your rates ? As for my Skyline (I can call it finally mine) I have paid the full amount and the car is ready for pickup. However I have asked the dealer to store the Skyline in a dry and warm place, till the beginning of January. So the car will have it warm and cozy while the bad weather stays outside. Cheers, Andrew

Of course ... since I'm entering the land of the unknown I already talked to http://www.abbeymotorsport.co.uk and they have been quite forthcoming. I'll pay them a visit on my virgin drive home .... As for insurance I have called quite a few and it was a bit frustrating. I had to convince them that I'm neither 18, nor a drift kid. But in the end I've got a good deal .. Cheers and good night, Andrew

Good morning, yep ... I stayed away and am about to drive the R33 home soon Cheers and good night from London, Andrew

And here is (if you're interested) the Soarer I had a look at. It was a third of the price of the Skyline, but a rust bucket underneath. The engine seemed to be sound and pulled like a train. However the interior was a bit worn and smelly due to humidity. In addition there was peeling of paint on various parts of the car. It would have been a lot of work to fix the car, and I wanted a sound and solid bases. http://www.strangelanding.com/skyline/soor/soarer.html Cheers, Andrew

Good morning to Oz! I had a BMW 328 before that, but I sold it a year ago since I was abroad working (Singapore) The Skyline I am buying is around AUD 8500. (GBP 3700) For the condition the Skyline is in, it's a good price. (Though prices are coming down thanks to the bad economic situation) I was looking at a Soarer TT as well, but it was in a bad condition. But I still think the Soarer is a great luxury car with a brilliant engine. The thing is that I wanted a quick car apart from the ordinary. A BMW you'll find at every corner ... however they offer a superior build quality. I'd like to keep the Skyline as genuine/understated as possible. The GTR was too expensive for me, and I thought I might get the GTS-T up to 280-300HP without too much investment. I guess I can't go much wrong with the buy, since it's the best example I've seen so far. In addition I have the $$$ to keep the car in a good condition Right now I'm checking out insurances for a quote. Unfortunately the premium doesn't come that cheap and insurers are reluctant insuring imports. It's not easy being different it seems Cheers, Andreas

Hi guys, Thanks again fro the moral support I have to admit that my decision was a shaky one, since for a few $$ more I could have bought a boring but reliable BMW 330i. I have a few more pictures of the Skyline: http://www.strangelanding.com/skyline/gtst/r33.html Unfortunately it was a rainy day, but I guess you get the 'picture' As you can see, the glass in front of the headlights is crystal clear. As for the engine, all belts looked neither torn or worn. The car comes with ABS which I like as well. Of course I will send you pictures from MI6 Cheers, Andrew

Hi Tez, I'm going to ask about the petrol What's the price of fuel in Oz? You have Vegemite? LOL As for the Skyline, I guess I just have to bite the bullet now. I'm quite a good mechanic, but have no experience with Skylines. What is the situation on the parts side? How easy is it to get brake pads, a new thermostat, or suspension parts? Does Nissan still supply spare parts for the R33? Cheers, Andrew

Hi Tez, Yes, the paperwork seems to be in order. The odometer looks genuine, but of course you never know. As I said the seller is a huge Lexus/Toyota dealer, and I had a very good overall impression. (It's not like some dodgy backyard import business) The car comes with a warranty (though I don't know what exactly it covers) The engine was sound, the gearbox as well. The brake pads are 90%, the brake disks look almost 90% as well (no grooves/wear). I hope I can get a decent exhaust system, since I want to drive the car on the street, Cheers, Andrew

Hello there ... and thanks a bunch for the interest in my quest It's been a while since my last post and I had a look at the Skylines. The red one (auto) was already gone. However the manual (silver) was available, and I made a payment to secure the car. I had a short testdrive and it seemed alright. The car is from a large Toyota/Lexus dealership, and they were quite professional and trustworthy. (they handed me the keys and let me have a look/drive as long as I wanted without pestering me or being pushy) They even will check the car/brakes/fluids etc. before handing it over. The year of the car is 11/97 and it comes with a sunroof (which I like) The Odometer says 57.000km and according to the wear and tear it could be the right reading. (It might not be as well, but all looked pretty new) The only thing that I really didn't like about the car was the loud exhaust. (APEX) In addition I was under the impression that the wide open exhaust system caused the engine to run not nicely at lower revs. Might be due to the missing back pressure? So the exhaust is something I will definitely change. Ok .. to make a long story short: I have taken a few pictures and I'd like to have your opinion on what you see. (Before I finally close the deal, or walk away) The car comes with a turbo timer, and the seats are all in good condition. Same applies to the mats, seatbelts etc. Even the headlight glass looks as good as new. (no chips whatsoever) In addition all tires are at least 80%. http://www.strangelanding.com/skyline/r33/r33.html Your input is highly appreciated Cheers from London, Andrew

Hi! Well I think a car like a Skyline or Soarer you have to buy with your heart. Buying an import which is around 14 years of age can not be a decision of the head What I have learned is that you always get what you pay for .. and that's why I'm wary of low mileage cars that come cheap. However I think those 2 Skylines come with a mileage certificate from Japan .. You pointed out that the Soarer is made from galvanized metal, isn't that the case with the Skyline as well? I'll keep you posted! Cheers, Andrew

Hi Tez! Thanks a lot for the information. Very helpful! By race from the traffic light I meant 'spirited acceleration' till the legal speed limit is reached... The mileage for the red (1994) Skyline is 40,000km the mileage for 1997 Skyline is 50,000 km. You're right about the resale value of a manual Skyline, those are usually 20%-25% more expensive compared to auto. Judging from the pictures both cars seem to be in a good condition. And I was primarily looking for an unmolested car. The silver one has and aftermarket exhaust and a turbo-timer fitted, apart from this there are no modifications. The red one seems to be 100% genuine, which is a good sign as well. Just a few more questions: Looking at the steering wheel of the red Skyline, does it have an airbag? Can you tell from the pictures whether the mirrors are electrical? Is rust an issue with Skylines (and where should I look for rust)? When does HIACS become a problem? Cheers from London, Andrew

Hello from London, I'd like to buy a Skyline for not too much money, but of course I need something reliable. I'm not a drift-kid or a racer, but enjoy driving a fast car or a race at the traffic light So I'm thinking about a Skyline or Soarer .. I have found 2 R33s, one is auto trans (red) and the other is manual (silver) Both cars have the same mileage, but the red one is build 1994 vs. 1997 for the silver one. The silver one come at around AUS$ 11,000.00 The red one costs around AUS$ 6,800.00 The silver skyline also comes with HIACS (is that good or bad?) So here are the pictures: http://www.strangelanding.com/sky/b/33_M.html http://www.strangelanding.com/sky/a/R33A1.html Both seems to be in good shape for their age. The red Skyline needs a bit of a brush up on the corroded engine parts, otherwise it looks good to me. (Maybe it has been imported from Sapporo ?) Many thanks for the input .. Cheers, Andrew

Hello, I was wondering how the auto transmission compares to the manual? Is it sluggish or quite swift with the gear changes? I'm asking because I could buy a decent R33 (GTS-T) for a good price, but it has auto. Cheers from London!

Hi! Thanks for the input, much appreciated. I was referring to buying a R33 Single Turbo with Auto Gearbox but was unsure about the nature of the Automatic Transmission vs. manual transmission. How well does it shift, and is it any sluggish? I heard that the R33s with Automatic have reduced power? Cheers!

Hello! I need help regarding the choice of gearbox for an R33. Initially I would have never considered the Auto-Gearbox, however I got a good offer for an R33 Auto-Gear. So the question is: Is the automatic transmission any good, or should one avoid it? As for me: I never owned a Skyline before and I'm not one of those drift guys but I certainly like going fast. Thanks for the help and cheers from London!

Yes, That's what I was refering to. The variable valve timing. Thanks for the answer! Cheers ...

I was wondering if all R33 (DET) have NVCS?? Thanks for the input ... Cheers from London!

Wow, that's an interesting statement in a Skyline forum But I agree the Soarer has good looks too, and I quite like the retro dashboard. How do the engines compare? Cheers ..

Thanks again for all the helpful replies, much appreciated. I think the Soarer is good value for the money, but it is larger and heavier. But then it has a strong engine, and once it gets going it goes quite fast. The Skyline I like for the looks and the agility. As for performance, I could imagine that the Soarer is a bit faster than a GTS-T. (going straight) It all boils down to a longer testdrive Geez ... I should buy both cars A good Soarer Example ..

Hey, Thanks for the reply. I agree, I should drive both cars, and I will. But someone who owned both cars has of course much better insights. How did you feel about the engines? On paper the Soarer has more power, but then it's heavier. Cheers ...

Hello, I am looking for a car that is fun to drive and still has some practical value for every day use. I did some research and came across the Skyline R33 (GTS-T) and the Toyota Soarer (Twin Turbo). The Soarer can be bought much cheaper in the UK. Skyline's are roughly 30- 40% more expensive. (given same year and milage) I had a testdrive with the Skyline, and I liked the looks, engine, and the suspension. Later I was in the passenger seat of a Soarer, and I am under the impression that this is a very fast car. I also liked the extend of room you have compared to a Skyline. Has anyone here had both cars, or maybe driven both? What are the advantages/disadvantages of a Soarer compared to a Skyline? Cheers!

Good morning from the UK! Wow ... I woke up this morning and was wondering whether there is any reply at all. Thank you so much for all the information, this is just great! I knew from the start that the car didn't feel like a 95 model, but the seller was asking the 1995 price for it. He stressed many times that this is a 95 model... As for the airbag I read in a wiki that all 96 models have the airbag as standard. I think with the VIN number I really can nail the seller down on the year. (Unless he argues that this has been replaced as well) Cheers!

Thanks, I agree ... the seat belt could be made in advance ... but 2 years? So much harder evidence seems to be the spoiler / airbag / coils. What does S1 mean? And when came the 'new' spoiler exactly? Can I do any research regarding the number on the firewall? If you look at this one, it seems to be a true 95 model and I'd pay the price for it. True 95

No, it represents the upper limit for such a car in the UK and I'd only pay the amount for a 95 in mint condition. As for the milage you should consider if such a low milage is realistic for an 11 year old car. The car in the link (true 95) below is at 13,000 AUD and also at the top range of prices. Besides note that this is not a GTR! GTRs is what people want, so the price is higher. Cheers