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Picking up a freshly imported car

chalon
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chalon Rising Star

chalon

Posted
Posted

Hey everyone,

I've just found out my R32 GTR has just cleared customs in Brisbane and will be delivered to the Seaway depot in Adelaide in about a week.

My question is: what's the best way to get the car from the depot to your house? Have people just driven them there (with temp permit etc.)?

I'm worried that the car hasn't been driven for a good 6 months and I'll do damage to it with old fluids in there etc. It's also likely the battery's dead.

If I were to change the oil & filter, and jump start it, would that be safe to drive home? Driven very safely of course.

Otherwise I'll just organise a tow and hope they don't kill my front bumper!

Cheers,

Alan :)

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Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

couple of things if you are hell bent on driving it home.

1. The battery WILL be dead. no doubt about that. so buy or borrow a jumper pack.

2. there will be next to 0.00 litres of fuel in the tank so you will have to buy or borrow a container of fuel to take with you (98 RON of course). try to get at least a 10 litre container

3. check the brake fluid and brakes. it will have absorbed quite a bit of moisutre over that time sitting still and the rotors will be rusted up quite nicely. the car will not be stopping too well straight off the boat.

4. check the oil. dunno if i'd go to the extent of changing it on the spot, but certainly make sure there is some in it, and that it's topped up.

5. also be aware of problems like stolen steering wheel, stolen gear knob (has happend to me and is a bitch with a a/m gearset that requires a firm hand), stolen boost controller (may be running unlimited boost) etc.

if you have your wits about you it shouldn't be a problem, but all those hassles make you think maybe you are better off just getting a tow...

lang Collaborator

lang

Posted
Posted

if your worried about it put it on a trailer

how do you plan to change oil and filter prior to moving it anywhere, you can do it at the depot

when i picked mine up i took spare battery, 20L of bp ultimate (to dilute what little fuel that was in there and would have been off from sitting for 6 months), oil ect. i also checked oil levels, coolant levels, brake fluid levels ect prior to driving off.

lang Collaborator

lang

Posted
Posted
couple of things if you are hell bent on driving it home.

1. The battery WILL be dead. no doubt about that. so buy or borrow a jumper pack.

2. there will be next to 0.00 litres of fuel in the tank so you will have to buy or borrow a container of fuel to take with you (98 RON of course). try to get at least a 10 litre container

3. check the brake fluid and brakes. it will have absorbed quite a bit of moisutre over that time sitting still and the rotors will be rusted up quite nicely. the car will not be stopping too well straight off the boat.

4. check the oil. dunno if i'd go to the extent of changing it on the spot, but certainly make sure there is some in it, and that it's topped up.

5. also be aware of problems like stolen steering wheel, stolen gear knob (has happend to me and is a bitch with a a/m gearset that requires a firm hand), stolen boost controller (may be running unlimited boost) etc.

if you have your wits about you it shouldn't be a problem, but all those hassles make you think maybe you are better off just getting a tow...

my battery worked fine and the car had been sitting for 6 months prior to shipping, so it wont DEFINATLY be dead, cos mine wasnt, but your right its very very likely. and your also right about the brakes, they were ****ing awfull on the drive home, still safe enough taking it slowly, but shithouse all the same

dori180 Enthusiast

dori180

Posted
Posted

I had a quick look of fluids ect- jump started it and put in 10 litres of bp ultimate- brakes locked up for the first few stops but ran sweet after the corosion wore away

Other than that it is not recomended without a permit though this sways few people- It is a very memorable moment driving youre beast off the docks :)

chalon Rising Star

chalon

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for your responses guys!

I don't mind getting a tow, but a friend who tried to get his MR-2 towed got refused because the tow truck driver didn't think he could do it without damaging his (stock) front bumper. I just wanted to check if it's relatively safe to drive it back from the docks if that was the only option I had. I certainly would be driving it slowly and safely in order to avoid any damage. It's probably a bit over the top to do an oil & filter change on the spot, so I will most likely check fluid levels etc. make sure everything checks out OK then drive it very sedately home.

I can't wait :(

sewid Grand Master

sewid

Posted
Posted

You wont damage it by putting it on a flatbed. My front bar sits so very low and there were no problems at all. I highly recommend doing that and transporting it to you destination.

If you book a flatbed truck the day before you go down then you are likely to get a better rate too.

sewid Grand Master

sewid

Posted
Posted
my battery worked fine and the car had been sitting for 6 months prior to shipping, so it wont DEFINATLY be dead, cos mine wasnt, but your right its very very likely. and your also right about the brakes, they were ****ing awfull on the drive home, still safe enough taking it slowly, but shithouse all the same

Yeah my car started first go too. But my battery is quite new. On an older car its less and less likely to happen.

lwells Grand Master

lwells

Posted
Posted

I went the tow. For $80 it saved me all the hassles listed above, having to drive an unknown car, and any worries about breaking something.

For peace of mind, it was well worth it IMHO. Compared to the cost of the car its nothing anyway.

LW.

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