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Some of the idiotic responses this thread amazes me. The amount of misinformation that has already been thrown around should have the thread locked.

So many people think they are experts on these cars, when infact the real experts are the people who go and view/appraise these cars every day and are working for people like Geoff @ Prestige Motorsport.

Every car that the inspector views or is produced on geoffs website is scrutinised with far more professionalism than a few kids on an internet forum, and after importing through Geoff I will confidently tell ANYONE who doubts this being a genuine car that all the info he gives you is as accurate as a poke in the eye. If Geoff says he believes those km's are genuine I believe his opinion over ANY of you so called arm chair experts.

Someone picked up a GTR in close to immaculate condition with less than 30,000kms on it yesterday for $29,000. The interior is virtually concourse. Seems like some of you cant come to terms with that.

I have seen some cars these well respected importers bring in. While majority of the time they are good condition, occasionally a few duds slip through as well. A R32 GTR given a clean bill of health and was said to be in "perfect mechanical condition" landed with blown pistons, and another GTR falling under the same description had severe drivetrain problems when it landed.

While most of the time the cars are good, its inevitable that some duds will get through. You always take a gamble on importing. $29k sounds too cheap for me and I would be cautios, but if it is mechanically sound, then the new owner picked up an absolute bargain.

I wouldn't touch that thing with a ten foot pole. Yeah its a GTR I love them and all, but that thing has had the crap thrashed out of it (I can be wrong so no need for flaming).

What makes think this is : Look at the engine bay, that car has been under intense heat, causing paint and different colour patches on the head, etc.

For it only doing 24,000 i think the person must have been driving around at 8000RPM all the time

pentae

Yeah maybe I am an idiot, but when you're paying $30, 000 on a car you haven't even test driven, let alone even seen with your own eyes, you would take the risk of throwing away that much money?

Ok, so the condition notes say Runs very well and is mechanically sound..

How do you know that it is viable? this car hasn't even got a condition rating from 1 - 5.

Its not like they're going to say in the condition notes : engine is about to go "Kaput", or even "Don't buy this car! It's a lemon!"

Why are you getting defensive Pentae? So some guys wouldn't touch that car with a 10 foot pole... so what?

While I agree mostly with what you said in your post above, I wouldn't trust what certain importers say about "genuine km's" or "one owner" whatever, unless there are documents to back it up. They're in business to sell cars, so you can expect some exaggeration of the quality of some cars *sometimes* (not implying that the R33 GT-R in question is dodgy). I think it's good that alot of guys in this thread are approaching a car of this status with caution... if they were in Japan right now I'd be TELLING them that the car might not be "what it seems".

Japanese sellers are often dodgy... I'm talking about the mob who sold the car before it went to auction. Who can say what the car is like? I for one KNOW FOR A FACT that the buyers in Japan just do a quick test drive (if it's ok, sometimes theyjust turn the engine over and give it a few revs) to see if the car is alright, then do a quick visaul appraisal. Nothing special, and nowhere near the extent that the potential buyer would be happy with.

Any car that has a list prrice thats too good to be true in Japan, theres always the "water damage" issue... or maybe the car was in a previous accident when the occupants died... Japanese people NEVER buy cars where occupants have died in them, so they go to auction for probably overseas exportation.

Who knows, like someone said above, "it's too late now"....

Rezz: How are you mate ;)

I get defensive because I have used Geoff as my import agent, and infact i'm now using his service for a second time and he's a really top bloke!

As someone who has imported through him in the past he is the firts person to recommend against buying a car, as are his suppliers and buyers. I have asked him to look at a few cars on Auction and his people have come back with "Dodgy.. next"

The Auction system works great and I think the grading system seems to work pretty decently. Because this car is from a supplier it would be interesting to know what grade it would be if at an auction :)

Oh, and if anyone wants to know what I think, judging from the photos I believe the km's to be genuine. Or if it has had a haircut the km's look to be less than 50,000km judging by the condition. Still an awesome buy.

At that price you could afford an engine rebuild or turbo replacements.. and your still getting the car cheaper than what you will pay here locally!

Hows your r32 treating you?

lol! it helps that the thing is stock too mate ;)

Part of the price absorbed when compliancing is involved is removing aftermarket parts and buying stock parts... Not much of a big deal with this one.

I just dont get why people think that because a car isnt in Australia, and they cant see it, touch it or drive it, that all of a sudden has to be a lemon. As I said the cost saved by importing gives you a LOT of room if theres anything actually wrong with the car (thats an IF) :)

For example I'm about to import an 89 model r32 gtr.. sure I will pick one up for about $20k.. but buying in Australia is going to cost me around 23-27. This gives me enough of a saving to take the risk, and if something does go bang i will be no worse off than buying locally.

If for whatever reason theres something about the car you dont like, you can sell it and try again.

Thats what I believe a few of you are missing :rofl:

Oh, btw I'm pissed I missed out on this one: http://www.prestigemotorsport.com.au/?/au/...sp?StockID=2611

This car is probably a big bargain. The interior looks great, which brings me think about the comment on the interior possibly being replaced. Nowm if that did happen why would they do that and forget to throw a bit if black paint over the plenum and spice up the engine bay??

Therefore, for $29000 you get a r33 GTR which you find around here for pricing starting some 10K dearer than this GTR. So as penate said there should be money on hand in case somehting terrible were to happen. Also, you would think that you would have done compression tests and whatnot just to be certain before buying.

no offence people,(especially pentae who obviously disagrees and is defensive..) but i find it funny that you are all saying the interior/exterior is immaculate, And that some you are also assuming that and immaculate interior means low kilometres.

Plus that can never judge paint from pictures. paint always looks good in pictures.

And, skyline interiors look new for a long time if taken care of.

as an example, my old car was imported when less than 2 years old, with ~40,000kms on the clock (normal kms, so assuming not wound back but u never know, could be 240,000kms :P

when i sold it, the car had 120,000kms on the clock, and the interior looked brand new, as in completely unmarked, fabric unmarked, no signs on wear or ANYTHING.

steering wheel leather was like brand new too. the gearknob was replaced with a nice momo one, and the plastic surrounding the gearknob and hand brake had a few lines/leading to cracks in them. otherwise all original 96 model r33 interior.

if i wound the clock back to 30,000kms, by some people logic, it is probably true because 'the interior is in concourse condition'

wrong.

So many people think they are experts on these cars, when infact the real experts are the people who go and view/appraise these cars every day and are working for people like Geoff @ Prestige Motorsport.  

I remember one time that i inspected an R32 GTR at USS in saitama,after coming to the conclusion that the vehicle had

A.a noisey oil and water pump

B.Rust bubbles and water leaking in the boot,not to mention the damp smell

C.excessive corosion on ALL nuts and bolts.

D.Interior was very worn

E.Paint was knackered(and thats a technical term :P)

Now i have restored vehicles and repaired almost anything so i have an idea on what can be serviced,repaired or rectified....but I refused to even considering sending this vehicle to a customer......the vehicle then ended up on someones website not mentioning any of this....infact it stated what a wonderful car it was.....some poor guy was waiting his car and this "thing"wouldve turned up.....what a joke.....

Some of the idiotic responses this thread amazes me. The amount of misinformation that has already been thrown around should have the thread locked.

So many people think they are experts on these cars, when infact the real experts are the people who go and view/appraise these cars every day and are working for people like Geoff @ Prestige Motorsport.  

Every car that the inspector views or is produced on geoffs website is scrutinised with far more professionalism than a few kids on an internet forum, and after importing through Geoff I will confidently tell ANYONE who doubts this being a genuine car that all the info he gives you is as accurate as a poke in the eye. If Geoff says he believes those km's are genuine I believe his opinion over ANY of you so called arm chair experts.  

Someone picked up a GTR in close to immaculate condition with less than 30,000kms on it yesterday for $29,000. The interior is virtually concourse. Seems like some of you cant come to terms with that.

I have been importing cars and parts for some time now. My observation was the price and condition as opposed to what was being offered (gtr with f all k's on the clock.).

Peace out.

Ken

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