Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hey everyone, I am looking at buying my first stagea and have been looking at threads here and everyone seems to knows a lot more then anyone in new zealand does so I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on what to pick.

I have two in mind, one is a 2001 250t Rs four with 92000kms and the other is a 2004 350rs with 117000kms. Obviously everyone's first choice is gonna be turbo(mine was too) but I wanna know whats likely to go wrong with each etc etc and what would be smartest long term if anything needed fixing. Have taken the turbo for a test drive and taking the other one this weekend then we will make our choice. Any advice or information anyone could give me would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/
Share on other sites

it depends on what u want to do with it both the 2.5ltr turbo and the 3.5Ltr N/A are 206KW.

the VQ25DET requires some mod's to keep it more reliable such as replacing the dump pipe off the turbo (it causes a huge build up of heat due to there being a cat in there) etc etc have a read and look into it.

but then again if you choose the VQ35DE then there are turbo/supercharger kits for them also!!!

whats your reason for buying it..... as a daily driver or to modify? or will it be a family car........... weigh up the options and search the forum there's alot of help/info if you look for it :)

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6226772
Share on other sites

They are pretty reliable. Turbos can fail but there are plenty of parts about. Soichi at Hytech in Mt Welligton is the only person in the country who can tune the stock ecu and he can also fit an HKS F-Con if you want to go to town on mods.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227177
Share on other sites

Attached some pics for you to see.

Thanks for you replies so far, it will be driven most days with little mods intended. (that's what my skylines for) We travel a bit so thought a stagea would be perfect for our stuff and our dog in the back. My wife just wants to lower it and put some 20" s on it. She said as long as it goes faster then her 1600 and looks good she doesn't care.. I have been searching the forum and there is so much information to sift through. Will keep looking though!

post-91270-0-41728200-1328822036_thumb.jpg

post-91270-0-61096300-1328822044_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227252
Share on other sites

They are pretty reliable. Turbos can fail but there are plenty of parts about. Soichi at Hytech in Mt Welligton is the only person in the country who can tune the stock ecu and he can also fit an HKS F-Con if you want to go to town on mods.

How does he do that?

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227392
Share on other sites

Depends what you want to do and how much you have to spend on mods.

If only a couple of grand to make it go faster, get the VQ25det.

If you have $5k or so, get the VQ35de as the Z33 single turbo kits will pretty much bolt on if the Stagea is RWD.

I had a similar choice after my NM35 was written off.

a) import a VQ35de Stagea and maybe get some rims or

b) import an VQ25det Stagea and have ~$7-8k to throw at mods

I chose a)

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227459
Share on other sites

He has the hardware and soft ware - he used to work for Nissan in Japan - goes back regularly and has good contacts there.

So no piggy back nothing - tune the OEM ECU?

not sure if troll or srs...

haha just kidding, thought the VQ25DET ECU was uncrackable...

Edited by ironpaw
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227596
Share on other sites

I looked at that turbo one wouldnt be left with enough cash after our trade in to get it though as its private sale, found another by chance at car city in papatoetoe(the one in the picture i posted above).

Its the premium model with black leather etc etc. He wants 14k for it. Which is why I havent made up my mind cos the 350rx is only 12k. Guess I cant really go wrong with either can I?

Edited by Mashlee08
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227631
Share on other sites

I looked at that turbo one wouldnt be left with enough cash after our trade in to get it though as its private sale, found another by chance at car city in papatoetoe(the one in the picture i posted above).

Its the premium model with black leather etc etc. He wants 14k for it. Which is why I havent made up my mind cos the 350rx is only 12k. Guess I cant really go wrong with either can I?

Leather is nice though. Mind you I have fabric and it's great. Maybe leather is better with a dog?

I think it's toss a coin time... I love my Stagea and I reckon they're both going to be awesome.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227761
Share on other sites

I looked at that turbo one wouldnt be left with enough cash after our trade in to get it though as its private sale, found another by chance at car city in papatoetoe(the one in the picture i posted above).

Its the premium model with black leather etc etc. He wants 14k for it. Which is why I havent made up my mind cos the 350rx is only 12k. Guess I cant really go wrong with either can I?

You're going to buy a $14k car because you can't afford a $9500 (or less) one? You can get finance for private sales from AA or other finance companies or your bank.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227924
Share on other sites

I looked at that turbo one wouldnt be left with enough cash after our trade in to get it though as its private sale, found another by chance at car city in papatoetoe(the one in the picture i posted above).

Its the premium model with black leather etc etc. He wants 14k for it. Which is why I havent made up my mind cos the 350rx is only 12k. Guess I cant really go wrong with either can I?

F-ing cheap imports in NZ.....rant.gif

Have you considered the interiors of the two cars? They are vastly different. Its the place where you spend most the time. For the daily, I'd go the 350RX, it actually is much more drivable around town, due to the throttle response and instant torque. Turbo may produce more overall, but driving the 3.5 commuting is much nicer.

Edited by PN-Mad
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6227932
Share on other sites

yeah i know sounds silly, but its a fresh import and would i dont think private sales cover the consumer guarantees act.(might not be right there) Plus a lot less kms.We travel a lot so the less kms it has when we buy it the better. And extras like bodykit and rims and leather etc etc. (my wifes likes those bits) And it sold once while we were looking at it so we looked elsewhere.

Anyway I would try negotiate the price down if he's not gonna budge from 14k then he loses a customer.

Haha PN-Mad I have noticed the prices in australia are mad, Thank you that is good to know about the commuting, cos my wife will be doing that everyday.

I just saw that volvo thread, hilarious cos when we first started looking at stageas we went to see one and the dealer said "oh if the stageas not quite what your after you could always take the volvo wagon for a test drive" haha no thanks mate.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/391135-help-me-pick/#findComment-6228029
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • The rain is the best time to push to the edge of the grip limit. Water lubrication reduces the consumption of rubber without reducing the fun. I take pleasure in driving around the outside of numpties in Audis, WRXs, BRZs, etc, because they get all worried in the wet. They warm up faster than the engine oil does.
    • When they're dead cold, and in the wet, they're not very fun. RE003 are alright, they do harden very quickly and turn into literally $50 Pace tyres.
    • Yeah, I thought that Reedy's video was quite good because he compared old and new (as in, well used and quite new) AD09s, with what is generally considered to be the fast Yokohama in this category (ie, sporty road/track tyres) and a tyre that people might be able to use to extend the comparo out into the space of more expensive European tyres, being the Cup 2. No-one would ever agree that the Cup 2 is a poor tyre - many would suggest that it is close to the very top of the category. And, for them all to come out so close to each other, and for the cheaper tyre in the test to do so well against the others, in some cases being even faster, shows that (good, non-linglong) tyres are reaching a plateau in terms of how good they can get, and they're all sitting on that same plateau. Anyway, on the AD08R, AD09, RS4 that I've had on the car in recent years, I've never had a problem in the cold and wet. SA gets down to 0-10°C in winter. Not so often, but it was only 4°C when I got in the car this morning. Once the tyres are warm (ie, after about 2km), you can start to lay into them. I've never aquaplaned or suffered serious off-corner understeer or anything like that in the wet, that I would not have expected to happen with a more normal tyre. I had some RE003s, and they were shit in the dry, shit in the wet, shit everywhere. I would rate the RS4 and AD0x as being more trustworthy in the wet, once the rubber is warm. Bridgestone should be ashamed of the RE003.
    • This is why I gave the disclaimer about how I drive in the wet which I feel is pretty important. I have heard people think RS4's are horrible in the rain, but I have this feeling they must be driving (or attempting to drive) anywhere close to the grip limit. I legitimately drive at the speed limit/below speed the limit 100% of the time in the rain. More than happy to just commute along at 50kmh behind a train of cars in 5th gear etc. I do agree with you with regards to the temp and the 'quality' of the tyre Dose. Most UHP tyres aren't even up to temperature on the road anyway, even when going mad initial D canyon carving. It would be interesting to see a not-up-to-temp UHP tyre compared against a mere... normal...HP tyre at these temperatures. I don't think you're (or me in this case) is actually picking up grip with an RS4/AD09 on the road relative to something like a RE003 because the RS4/AD09 is not up to temp and the RE003 is closer to it's optimal operating window.
    • Either the bearing has been installed backwards OR the gearbox input shaft bearing is loosey goosey.   When in doubt, just put in a Samsonas in.
×
×
  • Create New...