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Well I have to put a couple of thousand dollars into a fairly clean R32 GTS-T so far.. just to fix all the minor things like worn bushes, installing decent stereo, replacement brakes, new tyres, etc.. But that was expected. Least the cost of most replacement parts is pretty cheap, and I am upgrading to performance items anyhow.

For a GTR just multiply the cost a little, and pray to the engine, clutch, and gearbox gods for good fortune.

But if you're just doing it for a quick buck, you can bet those minor things that will bother you aren't going to get fixed by the seller.

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err, colour change, repaint and carbon fibre bonnet plus different front bar??

In my mind, immaculate is a bit closer to original than that.:D

Mind you, looks nice.

Cheers

Ken

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err, colour change, repaint and carbon fibre bonnet plus different front bar??

In my mind, immaculate is a bit closer to original than that.:D

Mind you, looks nice.

Cheers

Ken

I agree it looks very nice, although if it's an 89 there may have been multiple sprays. As far as I know white wasn't a factory colour for 1989/90 cars.

Please correct me if any knows 100%. Perhaps check FAST.

Mark

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My GTRs definately not going anywhere for a while when I get it :D

From the pictures I have seen it looks like a great 'base' to work from everything is standard and all the parts are intact....and that is exactly what I wanted, if the motors tired it will be rebuilt...if the Paint is faded it will be resprayed...if the interiors dirty it will be Replaced / Cleaned.

I think the mistake some people make, and this is perhaps why there is so many for sale is expecting them to be fantastic straight off the boat, a quick oil change and there off. Finance is so easy to get these days people stretch themselves to buy a car then when something goes wrong (or was never right) they cannot afford to fix it.

Plus GTRs have so much hype surrounding them sometimes the reality may not match the expectation...!

As for 89 GTRs being shitters....well I must admit...a lot I have seen as 'current stock' and on Jap yahoo Auctions do look a little rough around the edges, modified in a messy Japanese kinda way, pieces of bodykit missing, interior bits missing or removed etc, but just because you have a 92 GTR dosnt automatically qualify you as having a good one :wave:

I've seen a few rough ones of them also :)

Oh and btw mines a 90 :D

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My GTRs definately not going anywhere for a while when I get it :cheers:

From the pictures I have seen it looks like a great 'base' to work from everything is standard and all the parts are intact....and that is exactly what I wanted, if the motors tired it will be rebuilt...if the Paint is faded it will be resprayed...if the interiors dirty it will be Replaced / Cleaned.

I think the mistake some people make, and this is perhaps why there is so many for sale is expecting them to be fantastic straight off the boat, a quick oil change and there off. Finance is so easy to get these days people stretch themselves to buy a car then when something goes wrong (or was never right) they cannot afford to fix it.

Plus GTRs have so much hype surrounding them sometimes the reality may not match the expectation...!

As for 89 GTRs being shitters....well I must admit...a lot I have seen as 'current stock' and on Jap yahoo Auctions do look a little rough around the edges, modified in a messy Japanese kinda way, pieces of bodykit missing, interior bits missing or removed etc, but just because you have a 92 GTR dosnt automatically qualify you as having a good one :D

I've seen a few rough ones of them also :(

Oh and btw mines a 90 :)

believe me when i say i bought a lemon! haha

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']have you also noticed that every single 89 one for sale is in IMMACULATE condition?

and i no disrespect to the "good" 89 models , alot state that the cars have 30k on the clock , yeah ok that is plausible but dont think they would be going for 20k.

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[WLDCRD] Sorry dood I just used 92's as an example....I probably should have said 'Post 15year rule GTRs'

yeah, lots of people with GTR's also have big problems as they get older.. wouldn't say that its just 1989 ones to be fair.

Hence why I'm not really going to buy a GTR anytime soon.. unless I have a *lot* to throw at it and/or buy a primo one..

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Greg, most are in terrible condition tho. Your dad imported his car himself using his own contacts.

The majority are rooted quite frankly and those that think a few K fixes up a $17-20k GTR are kidding themselves. Transfer cases, gearboxs, turbos, 15 year old tired engine internals, suspension, body, interior - pfft forget it. If you are happy with a substandard vehicle then yes its fine.

that said - yes your dads car is damn fine!

guys lets not bagg all 89 gtr buyers, some of them eg my dads and the ones he has bought in have been in imaculate condition and has had alot of offers to sell his, but i do have to agree most of them are crap and whoever buys shit deserves shit,

end rant

cyas

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The majority are rooted quite frankly and those that think a few K fixes up a $17-20k GTR are kidding themselves. Transfer cases, gearboxs, turbos, 15 year old tired engine internals, suspension, body, interior - pfft forget it. If you are happy with a substandard vehicle then yes its fine.

But a 12 - 13 year old 91-92 Model GTR is'nt.....?

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Another arguement is that in a way it is good that people are bringing in R32 GTR's to make a profit on. That way, you can actually have a look at the car, kick the tyres, look at every aspect of the car. Digital photos and auction reports can hide a nasty past. I think that paying a higher purchase price for a better car here in Australia is good, rather than buying a tired version sight unseen from Japan.

I keep contemplating trading up to a R32 GTR, via importing it myself, aiming for $20k on the road, but am worried about the running costs, and also the possibility of having huge repair bills when it arrives due to it being knackered.

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I doubt anyone got one as cheap mine... which was $14,700 landed. Even then, its $17,000 on the road, and when you add other stuff, its going to add up to $20k, I don't think you should ever think of getting a GTR for a $20K budget... just my opinion, which I think is valid after scoring the cheapest GTR I have ever seen for $14,700 landed of Prestige and nothing was really wrong with it... there will always be little things though... $25k would be a better budget (if you import yourself )

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What gets me is the price of some of these 89's being sold for. People wanting $27-30k for an 89 is just silly in most cases, especially when their are quite a few 92-93-94's that have been in the country for a number of years, all the bugs ironed out for the same price.

I don't think i'd ever pay more than $20k for an 89 unless it was in mint condition not a scratch/fault/missing part. Even then i'd have a long hard think about it simply because of it being 15yrs old, hell I cringe at the thought my my '95 R33 GTS-t is 10yrs old already and wanting something 'newer'.

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most of the good 89' GTR have been purchased waaaay bak when the 15yo import rule was first introduced.

the 15 yr rule has been around since about '91, if you get a clean one without too many mods you should be right

i haven't had any real problems with mine, and i bought it because it was clean, and had next to no mods at all.

no accident history is a big thing to look for

someone said that they have all been on the track the last few years, thats why you don't buy one without rego, if its got rego at least you know it hasn't been a track skank

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Not sure why so many people get so fired up about 89 model GT-R's, maybe it is because the relatively low prices put them within reach of so many.

:headspin:

Like most things in life, you cannot generalise too much, however...

If you are after one of these things about $25k will get you a goodun. Both mine cost this amount of money and both were at the nicer end of the spectrum.

If you are buying an import direct from Japan, you can get it on the road for less, but be prepared to spend $2 to $3k to bring the car up to a good standard. Things like the brakes, suspension bushes & a myriad of minor things will need attending to. Remember the seller is getting rid of their old car whereas you - an enthusiast - are attempting to get hold of something a bit special. So your standards will be higher & you will probably want to fix stuff the previous owner didn't care about too much.

If you are buying a GT-R that has been in the country a while, has had these things attended to or perhaps one that is in sufficiently good nic not to need these things - expect to pay a premium anyway.

To reiterate, approx $25k is the money. More for one with extras and/or particularly good condition, less for a lesser car. Not 27-30k for something just off the boat by any means - but more than the (low) silly numbers people sometimes quote. Sometimes people get a bargain - good for them.

In any case an R-32 GT-R is one of the most awesome cars you will ever own, regardless of the model year. I wish people would see them for the great cars they are, not split hairs about which year they were made in.

In closing: Don't let a broker/seller try and force you into a car because the 15 year rule is coming to an end - the are enough GT-R around for you not to be placed in that position.

Tired now, must end rant: ;)

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