Phatboy

Wait, does that then mean the only way to find out the engine number is on the engine itself? So you couldn't actually tell whether someone swapped an engine or not?

Oh right, I see. Thanks. Then what are the numbers on the VIN plate below the VIN number?

Hi I am planning to buy a R34 GTR private sale. The steel plate with the VIN/Engine number in the rear left engine bay is stamped/engraved. I read on this forum that if it is engraved then it might be stolen - factory plates have the details PRINTED, not engraved on them. The VIN matches what Vicroads tells me, but the engine number is not the same as that stamped on the plate. The guy told me not to pay any attention to that as that was the stamp in Japan, and the engine number would be different in Australia?!?!?! He is sure the engine hasn't been swapped. The compliance plate is a red/mauve printed plate on the left hand side of the engine bay, about halfway down. Just wondering what you guys think about this, is it dodgy? I was originally planning to buy it in the next few days. Cheers. Any advice would be greatly welcome.

Hi I am planning to buy a R34 GTR private sale. The plate with the VIN/Engine number in the rear left engine bay is stamped/engraved. I read on this forum that if it is engraved then it might be stolen - factory plates have the details PRINTED, not engraved on them. The VIN matches what Vicroads tells me, but the engine number is not the same as that stamped on the plate. The guy told me not to pay any attention to that as that was the stamp in Japan, and the engine number would be different in Australia?!?!?! He is sure the engine hasn't been swapped. The compliance plate is a red/mauve printed plate on the left hand side of the engine bay, about halfway down. Just wondering what you guys think about this, is it dodgy? I was originally planning to buy it in the next few days. Cheers. Any advice would be greatly welcome.

Hi just wondering how expensive it would be to replace a front passenger side interior panel on a R34 GTR. Sorry don't have photos, it's on a car I would like to buy. The panel touching the passenger's right leg (ie., on the left of the radio, etc) has some serious scratchmarks on it like the person who installed the radio was seriously drunk with a screwdriver. What would be my options? Is there a cheapo option of like covering all the panelling with carbon fibre lookalike sheets or something? Can anywhere restore the vinyl panel? Do I need to get it replaced or upholstered? I live in Melbourne. Thanks a lot.

Hey awesome Trent. I'd be very happy with that look indeed. In fact I am surprised not more people have them. How do you prove to the cops it's not defectable when they pull you over? Will they accept the "My spoiler has a rounded, larger than 15 mm thick endplate and does not protrude further than the extremities of the car" line? Is there any ADR allowance or something as R31Nismoid says? Cheers.

Right, I see about the mounting brackets. Does that mean if you want to go back from a GT wing to normal spoiler you will have extra holes left in your boot?

Oh ok cool. Are GT wings easy to replace back and forth with the stock spoiler? As in just removing some screws? If it is, I might get it. Seriously, I never thought about people rolling over my car and getting sliced up by the wing, and with a soft carbon wing I don't think it would do any more damage than the stock spoiler. I can't imagine how rolling people would fare over the spikes of the roof-mounted vortex generators on the Evo 9 then

What?!?! Which remote area are you talking about that you have to pay over $2/litre????? That's just nasty.

Haha, cool great to see all the votes and the majority vowing never to stop driving! Am I right in saying most of us have their skylines as daily drivers? Looks like people will stop driving their skylines for daily purposes, but will still keep at it for pleasure

Certain pockets in a suburb must really skew the results. I live in Willy, and apparently it's a hi-risk area with up to 4 thefts/week. But heaps of people park their nice cars out on the street overnight. I drive past a SLK230, Porsche 911 Turbo and many random BMWs parked overnight, every night on the street on my way to work each morning. I hardly see many dodgy people, and heaps of people leave their garage doors wide open during the day. Now try somewhere near the commission flats near the CBD, and even as a guy I would be wary walking alone there at night. There have been gangs around attacking people and stealing their stuff. Parking in the commission flat carparks, while free, will get any skyline cleaned out in a matter of seconds.

If the govt can decrease the 40% tax on petrol that would be great. But I guess they never will, as they want more people to use public transport.

Inflation is definitely high at just over 4%, out of keeping with wage increases. However, you cannot deny that the 150% increase in the price of crude oil at the supply stage over the last year hasn't had an impact beyond what can be attributed to the 4% inflation alone. There is no easy solution. Rising alternatives like biofuel have doubled the price of food in 3rd-world nations, which are currently facing a crisis. Electricity is not the answer as we have only limited amounts of coal left. Renewable energy at some stage will overtake fossil fuels as more economical. Instead of all the money spent on finding other source of energy, we should pour trillions of dollars into antimatter research. Once we find a way to produce or harvest antimatter from space, and safely harness the energy of anti-matter vs matter explosions, we have nothing to worry about. A sand-grain sized portion of anti-matter vs matter will be enough to power a city for months. We can use the antimatter to annihilate garbage and get limitless energy. Win/Win. Only issue is with the potential for terrorism.

I was planning to put a huge carbon GT-wing (as well as hood) on the back of a R34 GTR like this one from Jetspeed: Mainly for cosmetic reasons as I think the JGTC look >>> tame stock spoiler (I know many people may not agree with me - this is just my taste). Is it true it is defectable due to impairing rear vision?? Also heard of things like defected due to sharp edges eg., the sharp metal alloy ones and defected due to no replacement for the independent braking light on the spoiler itself (not an issue on the GTR). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Don't want to spend $$$ on a spoiler to have it go to waste. Cheers

Wanting to know what everyone's thoughts on this are. 1/3 of current motorists say they will stop driving once petrol reaches 1.80/litre which we will probably experience within a year or two. Only one year ago petrol cost $50US a barrel. Now it costs $120US a barrel. Skyline owners I think are much more resistant to change, but there has to be a point where petrol prices are just not worth it. Driving is very convenient from my house to work, taking only about 20-30 mins without much traffic. Public transport is unimaginably complicated for the same trip(involving train and tram for an hour), so I am basically willing to pay whatever the hell the petrol companies want to charge me up to probably $5/litre.

If you don't want to look into the special exemption thingy, how about not putting your P Plates up? It's a gamble. It will decrease the number of times you are pulled over (especially if your ride sounds/drives stock), but will increase the consequences if you get caught. You can always say you just forgot to put your plates up that day... if it's a nice cop (rare) he might let it slide with a warning but you will still be docked for the power issue.

Cool. I will look into it. Thanks

Yes, the exemption is under special circumstances, but I would argue that P-Platers who have just bought a $30,000 1.5 ton paperweight are in pretty unique circumstances.

Thanks for all the info. Can anyone recommend a good panel shop? The three listed on the workshops sticky have no websites: Police Road Panel Service 4 Police Rd Springvale Ph: 9558 5110 DT Panels 12 Lightwood Drive Springvale Gals Smash Repairs Tullamarine 9335 2599 Anyone actually use these people or can recommend a good one for inspections for accident damange? Thanks.

P plates on windscreen block their view

Saw [JOBLSS] today at around 1800 on Dynon road near Footscray. Was on an immaculately white late-model BMW 3 series with bi-xenons, bodykit, lower suspension, tinted windows, etc, etc.

You definitely CAN have the word SEX in your plates, despite what Vicroads says. There's a bayside blue R34 GTR in Springvale with [iSEXYI] And INCWNC on a MR2 is just genius

Spotted a very clean white R33 GTS-T driving down Spencer St from Dynon Rd towards city at around 1830 today. Stood out, must have been a girl's car. Had hot pink plates and huge hot pink "NISMO" scrawled across the sides. Was driving too fast to notice her plates

I remember with the old Vicroads' power:weight rule, you COULD drive, say a Zonda on your P's legally if you could PROVE that it was the only car you and your family owned, and therefore, you didn't have any choice to get around. You would apply for this exemption to Vicroads and I think they gave you a special sticker on your windscreen. I am not sure whether you can still do this with the new laws, but it would be worth asking Vicroads/VP.

Awesome MASH pic, ylwgtr! That just made my day