[Curt2000]

The '89 and now '90 R32 Nissan Skyline GTRs are exempt to the NTSB and EPA standards via the 25 year rule. Under this premise you can now legally import and register these cars for street use albeit a pain in the ass. Undoubtedly there is a 100% chance that whatever poor DMV worker you present the ream of NTSB, EPA, customs, importer, and Japanese documents too will suffer from cranium eruption.

Supposedly the market for R32s is already spiking in Japan since import companies are starting to soak up all the low mileage R32s for sale and coming across the auction block. Even-so they can still be had for under $20k import and shipping fees included.

Another cool aspect is that you can import them fully modded and not have to worry about emissions in any state (besides CA). So you can score a sweet deal on a lot of cool and authentic JSPEC aftermarket parts.

What I'm worried about: Condition of a 25 y/o car that I'm buying sight unseen. You can mitigate that by going through a reputable international importer but there is still very little history since there are only a handful that have been imported under this new rule.

Another thing to consider is the lack of U.S. Market history and comparisons for banks and insurance companies to confidently loan and insure these cars.

I'm unfamiliar with what type of gas these cars have seen throughout their life, and especially if Im importing one with some performance parts and tune, I'm afraid it may not like the crap 91OCT ethanol blend here in Vegas. I'm also worried about finding a shop that can tune the car and/or trouble shoot in the event that something is not running right. I suppose there are plenty of drifter/import focused shops that have worked on RB26's in town but since its a much different scene I guess Im just worried about the unknown.

So bottom line, I want to do it...its a fairly low buy-in cost to get a really cool and rare car that will probably appreciate in value once they start becoming scarce/expensive in Japan due to the export draw. But just like any other used car from whereabouts unknown there is the obvious risk of it having serious issues and becoming a money pit. For this reason would you guys rather try to find a completely stock and un-molested example or would you try to get a slightly modded offering? With R32 GTR parts being very rare in the states and expensive I'm leaning towards the latter because there is no way I could leave a RB26 stock

Some R32 GTR Pics for your viewing pleasure and consideration...

[woosh]

Do it. Plenty down here with 200,000+ kms that get daily driven.

[remyd]

Search up Doug Demuro, he is a automotive guy that recently imported one and writes a bunch of articles about it on jalopnik.

[gtron]

it's still just a used nissan and few people will understand what you have done. just throwing that out there.

[ShocknAwe]

Awesome cars. It's not for other people to appreciate but rather for you to enjoy. Do it.

[PoorLurker]

Or you can buy one that's already here.

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/a...-ca-legal.html

[Ftenm5]

This might help out

http://m.dsscars.com/importavehicle/default.aspx

[Curt2000]

Originally Posted by woosh

Do it. Plenty down here with 200,000+ kms that get daily driven.

This would probably be a pump and dump acquisition, have some fun with her for a few months then let her run off with someone who will truly a appreciate her for the long term

[Curt2000]

Originally Posted by remyd

Search up Doug Demuro, he is a automotive guy that recently imported one and writes a bunch of articles about it on jalopnik.

Yep, read up on his posts! I'd probably do the same

Originally Posted by gtron

it's still just a used nissan and few people will understand what you have done. just throwing that out there.

yeah...luckily Japan has compulsory insurance, meaning you can get regular maintenance items and replacement parts for things that ware out under your insurance policy so most of the cars they are importing are in descent shape. So its an old but not junky Nissan

[swagon]

Or you could buy his (Doug DeMuro's) car when he gets rid of it. He changes car up quite quickly as far as I know.

I love Gojiras - R34 is my favourite!

[Curt2000]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Awesome cars. It's not for other people to appreciate but rather for you to enjoy. Do it.

Originally Posted by PoorLurker

Or you can buy one that's already here.

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/a...-ca-legal.html

Thanks, I like the idea of having one of the importers find exactly what I want for me.

Originally Posted by Ftenm5

This might help out

http://m.dsscars.com/importavehicle/default.aspx

Thanks, I hadn't talked to that importer yet, in contact with them now!

[davis449]

Originally Posted by gtron

it's still just a used nissan and few people will understand what you have done. just throwing that out there.

You should go read Demuro's article on the Skyline he just bought:

"The Skyline attracts just as much attention as any car I’ve ever driven. JDM enthusiasts come up beside you and ask questions. Old people notice you’re driving on the “wrong side of the car” and do a double-take. People who know the “GT-R” name see the badge, and think you’re just some idiot who stuck it on an old Sentra, until they realize that you’re sitting on the right side of the car. Then they give you a thumbs up. The entire experience is very much like driving the Ferrari, except nobody hates you."

That last part made me ROLFMAO!

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by davis449

The entire experience is very much like driving the Ferrari, except nobody hates you.

That last part made me ROLFMAO!

If you know anyone who has a Ferrari or a Lambo for that matter you'd know how true that is!

[P1]

Perhaps it's neither here nor there, but it's funny to see how obsessed many Americans are with these care simply because they cannot get them.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by gtron

it's still just a used nissan and few people will understand what you have done. just throwing that out there.

It's not for them, it's for him. LOL @ a Nissan which was faster than any car BMW made until 2001.

[Beemzilla]

I owned a 1990 GTR, Nismo build, one of 530 ever produced. Sold it. Biggest regret in my life to date. Owning a GTR will have its ups and downs, incredibly fun to drive, but the novelty of RHD does wear off eventually. They respond incredibly to modification and the after market for parts is HUGE. However, sourcing those silly OEM pieces can be tricky, and frequent. Nonetheless a real neck breaker. You can't go wrong, but set a budget and do your best not to exceed it.

[davis449]

Originally Posted by Bobble

If you know anyone who has a Ferrari or a Lambo for that matter you'd know how true that is!

I do know quite a few of them, actually.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

It's not for them, it's for him. LOL @ a Nissan which was faster than any car BMW made until 2001.

Yeah the R32 in stock form is very comparable to the E46 M3 in terms of performance figures. The posted the exact same Nurburgring times. Not bad for a car that was in production around the same time as the E30 M3.

[stimpy]

R32's stateside is nothing new, just the ability to drive them on the streets without doing some crazy stuff like opening an LLC in Montana.

My mechanic is working through a broker and has an R32 on the way, should be here in the next couple of weeks.

Any race shop should be able to work on them fine - but like you said, it's an older car and it is going to break. Parts are a little harder to come by but they can be gotten.

There's really no secret here - old car, probably not driven nicely over 20 years, and will break. Do you want it bad enough to spend the money on it plus repairs?

[Curt2000]

Originally Posted by swagon

Or you could buy his (Doug DeMuro's) car when he gets rid of it. He changes car up quite quickly as far as I know.

I love Gojiras - R34 is my favourite!

Ill probably be on the same timeline

Originally Posted by davis449

You should go read Demuro's article on the Skyline he just bought:

"The Skyline attracts just as much attention as any car I’ve ever driven. JDM enthusiasts come up beside you and ask questions. Old people notice you’re driving on the “wrong side of the car” and do a double-take. People who know the “GT-R” name see the badge, and think you’re just some idiot who stuck it on an old Sentra, until they realize that you’re sitting on the right side of the car. Then they give you a thumbs up. The entire experience is very much like driving the Ferrari, except nobody hates you."

That last part made me ROLFMAO!

hahahaha!

Originally Posted by P1et

Perhaps it's neither here nor there, but it's funny to see how obsessed many Americans are with these care simply because they cannot get them.

exactly why I want it, rarity