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Rural Skyline Owners

bozodos
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bozodos Grand Master

bozodos

Posted
Posted

Well I thought I'd create a topic about the unique issues that those of us living further away from civilization face.

I personally live in a small town 30 odd km from Mildura, apart from the daily commute on the highway, I notice that my 'line gets a lot of stone chips in the front, piggy on fuel on the highway and also seems to get a lot of comments from locals about 'driving one of those bloody cars that cheated at bathurst'.

Even so, its still a nicer drive than my recently departed VN SS, I also managed to hit a red kangaroo once (thank god for good brakes and ABS), breaking a front headlight in the process, I've also hit several cats and rabbits, all of which were unavoidable. On the other hand, the kangaroo would have ended up in the windscreen of the VN, so I count myself very lucky.

There are several tuning places here who do a horrendous job of tuning Skylines, parts are easily come by at one (at least for 4wd R32's), of course if I want a retune, Adelaide is 400km and Melbourne 550km away so JDM parts and wreckers are a fair while away, though good freight services means that parts usually come within 2 days or so from a capital city. Getting the car retuned locally is out of the question; discerning import owners usually go to Adelaide. Local mechanics are also very hit and miss with the grey imports, luckily i've got a few mates who are very knowledgable with the mechanical side, though I try to do as much as I can myself.

The often craptastic roads around here mean I am often bashing my head on the roof, I'm fine with the suspension settings in terms of hardness, but potholes + coilovers = concussion.

On the plus side, cops usually always leave me alone unless when recently I had a headlight switch not working properly. Their one and only concern is the atmospheric blow off valve, which I am soon to get rid of, because of its obviousness. I also find the abundance of twisty, little used bitumen roads fantastic for testing out my driving ability (at the speed limit).

I try my best to stay off dirt roads, but even in 2WD, it handles quite well.

Due to the remoteness, I find no point in joining the Skyline club, once in a blue moon there is an 'import cruise' with 30 odd R33's, I might attend the next one.

I'm curious as to the kind of things the rest of you guys who live in the country face.

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Melly Grand Master

Melly

Posted
Posted
Stone Chips,

Bugs,

Bad Roads,

Wildlife,

Not many other Skylines here, and the ones that are around are Non Turbo P-Platers with chopped springs and chrome wheels. Would be good to see some more performance ones.

agreed! My front car has so many chips it isnt even close to funny!! And it would be good to see more performance skyzas in g-town (even tho i am no longer based there). Ant you should come to a cruise here one day next time we have a big one arranged

bozodos Grand Master

bozodos

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Posted

Yeah tell me about R33's with chopped springs and chromies, I've also noticed the paint on my lower bar is starting to peel - it's a real tossup on whether to repair and repaint, buy a new bar to get trashed or leave it.

Did an 800km round trip to Adelaide with a couple of mates to get some JIC coilovers, s14 hubs and a few other bits and pieces, was well worth the trip to see somewhere which actually sells aftermarket parts for imports! (there is a performance shop here who has a remarkable amount of R32 GT-R parts, almost suss in fact, but no aftermarket stuff.)

Bliksem Veteran

Bliksem

Posted
Posted
agreed! My front car has so many chips it isnt even close to funny!! And it would be good to see more performance skyzas in g-town (even tho i am no longer based there). Ant you should come to a cruise here one day next time we have a big one arranged

Yeah that would be good :O

Prob the biggest problem I have is Dust... car only stays clean for a few days :)

jdonly12 Contributor

jdonly12

Posted
Posted
Yeah that would be good :D

Prob the biggest problem I have is Dust... car only stays clean for a few days :O

Same here :) I live on a gravel road,it sucks arse(my R33 GTR was spotless under neath,it aint now :( )Stone chips are a bitch and if I need the car tuned I take it to Melbourne.The one plus side is I got pulled up on a country road(2 lane and no traffic) doing double and a half the speed limit(cops where chasing me and I didnt even see them :O )any way they booked me for doing 120ks.I think they seen how much I was shitting my self and I drive for a living.

Any way,dust bugs,stone chips,crappy fuel,bugs and stone chips,Im just used to it now

NZM.031 Grand Master

NZM.031

Posted
Posted

i used to be a rural dweller... i would again if i could. yep, stone chips, bugs, dust, its all part of the deal.. but you get some good roads where you can give it a good boot and have fun.. without hassling people, without the risk of crashing into a house, or other cars and without the pedestrians.

cheers

Linton

old normo Rookie

old normo

Posted
Posted

I live 10k North of a town of 2500 people, on a farm. Just got the R34.

Dust and bugs and stone chips but great long roads and a 100kph drive to work for 25 minutes.

At night I watch for Kangaroos or drive the Hilux.

But a great way of life

Love it!

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