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GTR-R33 Vspec....

1K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  BigHands 
#1 ·
Hello,

I am new here, I am planning to buy a R33 GTR, Vspec, what should I look for? what is the different betwee the UK one and the Grey import? as Middlehurst mention that there are three oil cooler extra for the UK one, so beside of this, any different?

Will there be any doggy one in the market? such as by combining two car into one? or any comon failure I could find?

Many Thanks!
 
#2 ·
What to look for

Gary

The differences between the imports and UK models are:

-Extra oil coolers, one for the engine and two the rear diff and associated gubbins
-The front spoiler is slightly different, i.e. with a different indicator/side light assembly. Also a cut-out in the offside of the spoiler.
-Kenwood cd-stacker fitted to all UK cars
-They had a warranty but these will have run out now (unless extended to 5 years I suppose).
-No Xenon lights (only bad difference)
-Rear fog light (which many think looks like a carbuncle)
-Cat1 alarm/immobiliser
-Different ECU and no speed restrictor

There may be other small differences I have missed.

There will always be some dodgy cars about, be them Ford Escorts or Rolls Royces. I have not heard of any cut-and-shut Skylines but you never know - people do crash them.

More of a worry (with an import) is that the car may have been stolen in Japan. Such cars are normally brought to the UK via the Middle East. If you do buy such a car, it could be repossessed! You can run checks on VIN numbers though (bit like an international HPI)

Generally, the cars are very reliable up to reasonable states of tune and somewhat less so the further you go. A standard or stage 1 tuned car should be 100% reliable if looked after.

My stage 1 tuned UK car is 5 years old and has never left me stranded. In 3.5 yrs, I have only had one thing that could even have been called a problem with the car, and that was of a peripheral nature and was sorted cheaply. In fact, it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned, and I've owned a few....

Incidentally, my car's for sale (see the For Sale forum).

Chris
 
#3 ·
Chris,

Thanks for our reply, but for the preformance, is that mean the UK one is same as the Japanese one? and do u think the seat position, size might be a bit smaller for the Grey one?? as everyone know, Japanese is shorter than British!!!
 
#5 ·
Apart from the coolers (most people who modify fit the oil cooler to Jap car anyway), the Jap spec cars are pretty much the same. My 1998 Jap import has fog light as standard and Xenon lights, which are :cool:

There is a slightly different front bumper on the UK, but to be honest its a fairly minor thing...

_Chris_'s car is well priced for a UK one (slightly cheaper insurance for UK's too, but only slightly!) which I believe used to Nissan's press car!
 
#6 ·
To answer your question about dodgy cars, then the answer is yes - there are plenty around, but no more so than any other car.

I notice you live in Manchester. There's a purple VSpec for sale in Manchester advertised in Autotrader at £15995. This car used to belong to me, and has been crashed so many times:eek: . Stay clear of it mate.

Good luck.

D.
 
#7 ·
hi all, i think it was stated earlier on that if you buy an import that is stolen it can be repossessed this is actually not true as i was told by the D.V.L.A and interpol if a car is imported and then registered in a different country the original owner has no claim to the car what so ever as the insurance companies would have to pay out on the car as soon as it left its country of registration so there is really no come back (i too was surprised by this).
 
#8 ·
BigHands said:
I notice you live in Manchester. There's a purple VSpec for sale in Manchester advertised in Autotrader at £15995. This car used to belong to me, and has been crashed so many times:eek: . Stay clear of it mate.
It used to belong to you? Were you aware it had been crashed when you bought it? Were you the one that crashed it? :eek: I take it some other poor soul is trying to pass it on now! :rolleyes:
 
#9 ·
stolen imports

Venners,
Not sure that info given by both Swansea + Interpol is correct. I believe that "title" to a car that has been stolen in Japan and exported to UK remains in the Japanese owner..or in the event that Japaneses owner has been paid out by his/her insurance then title vests in said insurance company. Under English Law you cannot perfect a defective title (i.e. stolen) by "crossing a border". There are some very narrow exceptions (including "market ouvert" which if I remember correctly from Law School days..involves a bona fide purchaser for value without notice..buying at a market which has a charter).
I think that this reply is becoming boring.
 
#11 ·
sorry guys i forgot to mention if you buy an import from a a trader and there isnt any service history the chances are its been trimmed, I am quit happy to source cars with guaranteed mileage and full service history documented /sva,d/ tax &mot/kph to mph/ derestricted/on the road , you just have to wait 6 weeks thats all
 
#12 ·
Re: stolen imports

Nedos said:
Venners,
Not sure that info given by both Swansea + Interpol is correct. I believe that "title" to a car that has been stolen in Japan and exported to UK remains in the Japanese owner..or in the event that Japaneses owner has been paid out by his/her insurance then title vests in said insurance company. Under English Law you cannot perfect a defective title (i.e. stolen) by "crossing a border". There are some very narrow exceptions (including "market ouvert" which if I remember correctly from Law School days..involves a bona fide purchaser for value without notice..buying at a market which has a charter).
I think that this reply is becoming boring.
hi, i was told this by a woman at the dvla and a bloke at interpol as i wanted to be double sure i was covered in event of buying a stolen import both confirmed what the other had said so it was good enough for me but to make sure i phoned yokohama in japan to get the details of the car i bought.
 
#13 ·
Durzel said:
It used to belong to you? Were you aware it had been crashed when you bought it? Were you the one that crashed it? :eek: I take it some other poor soul is trying to pass it on now! :rolleyes:
I crashed it into a hedge in '99 (lost an argument with a tractor :eek: ). Not too much damage, just nearside panels & glass, but I ran it after that incident for 2 years and it was fine. However, it was written off earlier this year and the rebuild was very poor e.g., standard front drivers light mixed with xenon passenger light! And the panel fit is terrible!

The seller bought it written off and repaired it himself. Wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now.

D.
 
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