Looking At Buying A R32 Skyline, Do Go Get N/a Or Turbo?

[Sub Lover]

I posted this message in another section of this forum, but figured I should repost here to get more responses...

Hi everyone, I'm looking at buying myself a r32 skyline. I am buying through a import caryard and they currently have two models, essentially exctly the same (1990 r32 coupes) Both are the RB20DE's however one is a turbo. There is only $1.5k between the two, s I could possibly stretch my budget to afford the turbo however...

I am worried about insuring a turbo, the n/a model can only get me 3rd party fire/theft but the turbo will probably make in uninsurable (for my budget anyway!) Also, due to the age of the cars, I am inclined to think the N/A engine will be in better condition due to less chance of it being thrashed and as turbo's naturally put more strain on the engine. However, I doubt I'd be able to turbo a N/A car for only 1.5k. However this car needs to last a while whilst I pay the loan for it off, and a N/A would definately be more reliable.

Another thing is performance, I like the idea of a turbo, however even as a fully licensced driver I am worried that I will not be able to handle the power (and thats saying something since I've managed to push my 1.8L Pulsar to do some crazy things!) and that I would risk crashing the car or blowing the engine or something similar (All you L and P players out there wanting a turbo, believe me, DON'T, I could give you a long list of people I know who have had bad accidents because they got a car too powerful for them to handle, stick with a low power car for the first few years, you'll be a better driver for it)

Anyway, getting back to it. Even a N/A 2 litre 6 cyl should be a marked increase on my current car so it should be enough to satisfy my need for power. Although I must admit the idea of the turbo appeals to me mostly coz I would then be able to drag off my brothers WRX, which the N/A would not be able to do .

So for all those guys with experience in both, would I be best to stick with N/A and upgrade later and for now have a potentially more reliable engine or will the turbo version be likely to last as long and be worth the extra 1.5k? And will a N/A still have enough kick to satisfy me without being TOO powerful, or are the turbo's fairly easy to control?

Thanks for letting me get that all out, sorry if any of this has been covered in past threads but I really need to get all this info all together in one place to make my final choice. Anywayz, Merry Christmas to all, happy new year! Hope to get a good response soon and with any luck will be joining you all in owning a skyline (assuming my loan gets approved of course )

Incidently, the prices of the cars are $8900 and $10500 respectively, neither are registered (So and RACT check is in the pipeplines, and yes, the T is for TASMANIA) Anywayz, thanks again

[xRHETTx]

Dont get a non-turbo.

Resale value would be nothing, you will not find it fast enough or at all fast with the rb20DE.

You cant make a non-turbo R32 into a similar car to the turbo model with $1500. Things like brakes and some interior parts etc are different.

You sound like you have had some driving experience. How old are you, what is your insurance rating/no claim bonus?

Insurance wont be much cheaper for the non-turbo car, if at all. Its still an import. 3rd party is not worth it, you'll be paying over $500 a year for it anyway, for $3000 to $5000 cover. You will be suprised how reasonable insurance is for R32's for people in low risk suburbs with good insurance history and above 21.

Rhett

[Rekin]

hrm, i believe it comes down to maturaty/responsibility in regards to P-plater with turbo, but this not being the main issue of this thread.

Sounds to me like you are getting a loan for the car, and that you will be stretching to the max if you get N/A or turbo.

A skyline will never be as reliable as your pulsar, being n/a or turbo. If you have no money on the side for repairs you will be taking a big risk.

As you mentioned its from an import yard, the car is fresh from japan and no doubt full of problems. Even if RACT gives it the thumbs up, there is no doubt problems will occur once you start driving it.

Dont forget to give the car a major service if bought, probably AC converted to new gas system and plenty of other issues.

I've probably spent over $1500 on just repairing the car to standard, and ive only had it for a couple of months.

An old car like r32 will need constant attention and hopefully service every 5000km which may be a big jump from your pulsar.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but its better to know now than to regret it in the future.

Other than that, the r32 gtst is bestest skyline evar!!

- Patrick

[r32line]

Well after reading the two cars you are deciding between i have one question first off:

Is the turbo skyline an N/A that someone has put a turbo on, or is it a gts-t cause this is not clear from your post. If it is one that someone has put a turbo on then personally i would not even consider it.

To me it sounds like your decision is made for you, the turbo does not really seem financially viable for you, cause if you cant insure it then it is not an option. Driving uninsured is not acceptable because its not fair to everyone else on the road!!

Also if your stretching that much just to buy it then you have no money left to fix inevitable issues and if you yourself think it may be too powerful for you then its not a good idea to get the turbo.

If you can drive both and see how they are, i have never been in a non-turbo r32, i have been in a n/a 33 but that has the rb25 and it seemed to go fine, but i duno what the 32 is like.

Maybe it is better to stick with what you have for now and get some more experience and save on more expensive insurance for a little while until you can deffinately get a car that you want and can insure etc. Thats my 2 cents anyway

[Sub Lover]

Wow, you all have great points which I will have to consider. I will probably test drive both anyway.

The turbo model is listed as a GTST. Something interesting, the N/A has only 94,000k on the clock, where as the turbo has done 147,000 which would indicate that it is not directly imported from Japan but has possibly been already owned somewhere in Australia before. I won't be able to find out the details later though until the caryard re-opens.

I am over 21, not too sure of my exact rating, though I am fully licensced for over a year with no accident (which I was responsible for...)

My only real concern about the financial stretching is the initial few months. The loan will be for $10,000, so if I get the N/A I'll have $1000 emergency cash. I plan to sell my car, which down here can sell for anywhere between $2000 - $3000, and I have plenty of work coming in so I should probably be able to put an extra $1000 away over the holidays (I'm at uni, which sure has made finding a loan a bit of a pain despite being left with $150-$200 per week left over AFTER all my expenses!). Looking at the K's done by the turbo, it's done over 50,000 more, which means it's either going to be in better condition due to local repairs, or REALLY bad condition (More likely due to it's price)!

Originally I was looking at a S13 silvia CA18DE which is only $5500, however the gearbox is on the way out and the brakes are a bit worn, meaning that the engine is probably on its last legs as well, so I figure the cost of repairs I'm better off getting the Skyline IF it's in good condition. My logic is, if I was willing to settle for a N/A CA18, then surely a N/A Skyline will perform a bit better. Really, I'm not planning to race this thing, and my logic is that having a turbo is kinda like having a condom in your wallet, the reality is 99% of the time you won't be using it, and when you DO finally get to use it, it'll probably be to old to use anyway!

Sorry bout that one, but yeah basically 99% of the time I wouldn't be able to LEGALLY take advantage of a turbo, and as long as it performs moderately better then my 1.8 pulsar, I'll be happy (Anyone who has owned a Pulsar Q can testify to their suprising zippyness). It's good to know that the Skyline will not be as reliable as the Pulsar even tho they are both the same age, although that said even my Pulsar wasn't that reliable or in good condition until I did over a grands worth of repairs, so I should probably keep that much in spare. In real dire emergency I also have a credit card, although using that is extremely undesirable whilst having a loan as well!

The one thing I find interesting is that neither car has had any modifications done, even the wheels are stock, which makes me feel that they may not have been abused too much (although I could be wrong). I'm going to have to get a quote from Justacar I guess. Anyway, thank you very much for your advice. I'm going to have to keep meditating!

If anyone has had experience in a N/A RB20 please let me know their performance tho in comparison to the Pulsar, the Silvia and the Turbo R32 (Lol, asking a lot I know, sorry )

Merry Christmas to all

[r32line]

I don’t think I agree with your analogy comparing a turbo to a condom... the turbo always entices you to go faster and rev out gears etc, once in spools the power is addictive... as far as the kilometers that each of the cars have done, with any r32 I wouldn’t trust the odometer as far as i could throw the car!!

You can judge when looking at wear etc and how it drives the condition of the car because most of them are wound back unfortunately. But have a good look at both and check insurance and finance first and see how you go!

Best of luck.....

[d0p3y]

I haven't bothered to read half of this thread but the answer is simple.

Buy an R32 GTS-t (turbo) in stock-ish form and you'll be fine. Else, keep your Pulsar, because there's no point buying a non turbo R32, the pulsar will probably beat it.

[Sub Lover]

Thanks very much for all the advice, it seems that I would be better off with turbo. A new contender has stepped up in the form of another 1991 Silvia CA18DET which I am also looking at (and this one is private sale and registered) with a few nice extras. Will let you all know how it goes, thanks very much.

[32line]

i get tired of the power in my 32gts-t...if i had a non turbo 32 i think id last about 2 months b4 i would want to seel it for a turbo model.

if u were to get sumthin N/A, i would say a dcr2, fast, light, great handler....but they expensive, well outa ur price range...

go for a turbo, or ull regret it in a couple of months...if that.

[Sub Lover]

Very good point there, thanks very much. Right now I've narrowed my choices down to three different cars. The completely stock unregistered turbo R32 skyline, an S13 Silvia CA18DET which has a bodykit, 17" mags plus other unkown extras, or a SR20DET Silvia which doesn't have a bodykit and only a few extras. Gonna be a hard choice!

[eddieneedsboost]

Personally i wouldnt buy a unregistered car, id be looking at a rb20det R32 or SR20det silvia.. oh and they gotta be manual

Also get a good workshop\mechanic friend that can at least do a compression test and go over the whole car. Wouldnt want any nasty surprises

Edited December 25, 2006 by eddieneedsboost

[Sub Lover]

I must admit I am leaning more towards one of the Silvias, it's a bit of a tough choice. On one hand one is more powerful but also more stock, on the other one is a bit less powerful but has some cosmetic addons like the bodykit which I find just as desirable. Gonna be a very tough choice!

[d0p3y]

Don't bother with the CA18DET.... If you're going to bother with an S13 make sure it is an SR20DET.

[r32line]

^^ What he said!