It had 49000 km, but no history (Only a V5 and MOT, everything else was lost in Japan)and damaged front and rear bumpers, other than that it just needs a wash, engine sounds mint and it has new coilovers and 380BHP. Is it a deal or should I stay away?
Andy

 

id stay away but thts just me mate

 

Your lucky to ever get any history from Japan.
Oh, and im jus replying to last nites PM, forgot, doh

 

I wouldnt touch it personally

 

Wouldn't bother me to be honest.... I bought my Honda s2000 from japan with no history and it was perfect!

 

if the car can be easily repaired and everything is in order why not
who's to say most of the history from japan aint forged anyway just like most cossies also whn you fix the car it wont be on hpi either which cant be a bad thing

 

10k is a bit steep if it has minor damage but if the car is mint apart from that and drives nicely it might be OK.

 

I've been searching and found one a mile from my house! Been sat in a garden for a month but starts fine, sounds perfect and apart from the history lacking and damaged bumpers, he does live near alot of speedbumps. It's so tempting, all I want it for is to abuse on the track and sprints, at that price I cant say no.

 

 

finish the fooking mk2

 

well it could turn out mint or it may turn out very bad

i wouldnt personally

 

fraid not, she's sold! I've realised now having a nipper I just don't have the time.

 

I have read a fair few stories of people buying jap import cars like Skylines and Supra's that all appear cool, even without history, and have had a couple of UK owners, then all of a sudden you get tugged by old bill, the car shows up as stolen from Japan and you get ti taken away from you and get no money back

That said, you hear that about a lot of other cars aswell tho - including UK Cossies! Plus, news stuff is only ever negative anyway, so not like you would hear about the thousands that have been fine when buying grey imports.....

Tought call really....

 

When?

I dont think ive EVER heard of anyone getting their cars taken as they was stolen from Japan TBH?

Tho im not saying they dont get stolen from Japan, I bet loads are, but never heard of anyone finding out, or any way of them finding out...

Examples please, interesting

 

My old neighbours mate (yeah, I know ) had an R33 V-Spec, bought from a very well known garage that had a good rep' for Skylines. Car got broken into and trashed at a pub, and the Police turned up that it was flagged as stolen in Japan. As far as I remember, he got his money back from the garage, who were none the wiser either.

 

Last example I remember was on a motoring programme on TV - think it might have been either Top Gear or 5th Gear. There was an interview with an owner of a blue R33 that was stopped for speeding on a motorway by a cop, and when checks were done on the vehicle, it turned out to not be registered to him, even tho he showed a V5 in his name. Further checks done, car found to be stolen from Japan, and the car was impounded....

I also remember one from the news I think it was, some years before that, and sure I have read it before now in car mags......

 

I would snap it up if it was as good as that. They are not changing hands here for much under 12K pounds. Bearing in mind insurance is more over there, it should work out roughly even. Most here are a lot more than that also.

 

TOTALLY wrong car for the job then mate!!!!!

They are just not up to track abuse. Just TOOOOOOO heavy. You need to seriously uprate the brakes, cooling, and oil system. That costs big bucks.
They are monstorously thirsty and EAT tyres and brakes...

I would also BET that car would do 2 laps of a track before it did a shell or something worse in the bottom end Engine oil would overheat after 1 lap and the brakes would cook after 1/2 lap!!!!

I love R33 GTR's. They are awesome value for money. GREAT to drive on the road. They are NOT the bombproof things people think they are. They need properly looking after and modding is expensive!

I would not let the lack of history put me off although I would be worried it was stolen in japan!

BUT its not the car for what you want it to do UNLESS you spend PROPER money on it!

 

ur better off with th silvia or 200sx for trackin surley

 

Depends on your budget.

 

yeh i suppose if ya got th money then why not but if not then there others out there rx7??

 

as prokie said, wrong car get an r32 to do that in

 

how true, i took my mates r33 gtst on track at jap fest (combe)

within a lap and a half the brakes were fucked, then coming over the crest of avon rise on lap 7 i think it was we saw a puff of smoke - oil surge had coated the MAF sensor, leaned the cunt out and royally fucked the bottom end. (cracked the ring lands off 4 out of 6 pistons )

were still in the process of rebuilding it

 

Nope, same problems... they are still HEAVY cars! Brakes are WORSE on most R32's as well

 

yes but if you were going to spend 10k on a r33 and you got an 32 for 4k then that's 6 grands worth of upgrades and if it's only an arsing around car then you can afford to strip it etc etc whereas with a 10k car in the first place you might be worried about loosing money on it

 

Import an Evo IV or V RS from a reputable Jap exporter, you'll save a few grand, which can be used to up the power and sort some good brakes.

You get de-reg documents delivered before the car even arrives from a reputable dealer in Japan, so there is no danger of it being stolen.

 

an R32 GTR for 4k???

Good advice about the EVO

 

was gonna agree with Lee but i see loads of people already have!

skyline is the wrong car.. if you were going sprinting and don't want to spend ££££££££££££££ then you were better off with what you had or else get on to Gary @ retros... or maybe get a pug 205 - they seem to be very competitive in some classes.
this is precisely why i have a saff for a runaround and am building my gp2 zakspeed escort.

 

For sprints and trackdays, lightness is the key.

For 10k, you could buy a decent secondhand Caterham or even build a new zetec engined Westfield etc.

Christ, for 17k, you can go racing in the Caterham challenge for a season including the cost of the car!

 

cheers all for your advise, but too late I'm afraid! I've just bought an mint white R33 instead, 20 000 miles, history, mot and tax, totally standard except 380 bhp engine upgrade, I know about the brakes and suspension, but I've got some money put aside for that! I klnow that it's a big motor, but since I started working at "Top Gear" I'm surrounded by supercars all day and I'm shying away from hot hatches now, this is so much more up my street.
You'll never guess who's gonna take it out and show me how to use it properly!lol.

 

liverpool last time i was there albeit couple of moths ago they were around 4k for a good example might have changed though

andy good luck with the r33 and is there any news on the grp4?

 

The Gp4 has been sold to a very well known person on here, I'm sure he'll get it finished well. I would of loved to, but as I say, having a little boy and 4 jobs is such hard work. I just wanna get in the Skyline, grive to a trackday, have a bit of fun , stop off at tyhe pub on the way home, ya know.Some of my mates from rallying have bought Porkers and Ferraris so it's time to move on. I still love mk2's though!

 

New Skybus, no Grp4 - you'll be wanting a new siggy then soon I should think

 

Enjoy the car matey

Great road cars apart from the fuel consumption which you are just not going to believe!

Hope the Stigs pays for your engine when he busts it by the way.... coz he will!

P.S all 33's wiggle their asses on the motorway when the Hicas gets confused. Its scary the first time, but don't worry

 

shame mate, hope you enjoy the 'liner though

who bought the grp4 or is it a secret?

 

nice car

time for a trip to abingdon!

 

Mine's around the 600 bhp/400 lb/ft mark and does 19-20 mpg going with the 80-90 mph motorway traffic.

Obviously less if you're standing on it, but I think that's more than acceptable ...

Phil

 

Jap cars even without history imported, should have a milage verification form. If they came from a decent exporter. Also you can ask to have a look at the original auction sheet.