So you want to buy a Skyline in the US....

A forum for owners and fans of the legendary Nissan Skyline and Nissan GTR.
ShadowMaxim
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I am the proud owner of an R34 although I could not get it in the state that I am in now that car is and always will be my baby only thing I love more is my girlfriend. I also had an Infiniti G35 but my last girlfriend took it to California with her and refused to sign it over to me until I made her a deal so now I am stuck with a mitsubishi Galant, point being is my Nissan Skyline changed my life it made me want to become a Nissan Technician and now I am starting school to do that next year. If I remember right I paid an arm and a leg and a few ribs to get my R34 here


ShadowMaxim
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If you ever get a chance to own a Skyline it is the best decision related to a car in the world

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jbracy7
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ShadowMaxim wrote:If you ever get a chance to own a Skyline it is the best decision related to a car in the world
agreed 100% :werd:

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Gold Digger
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ShadowMaxim wrote:If you ever get a chance to own a Skyline it is the best decision related to a car in the world

They aren't that great, man. They are good, but I would say it's the best decision related to a car in the world.

And yes, I own a GT-R.

TwistedKreation
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Just out of curiosity how much would an R31 cost to get over here?

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AZhitman
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JDM Legends. Look 'em up. They have one for sale right now. It ain't cheap.

p.s. Have fun finding parts for one.

GTRicky
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Something that also needs to be said is that if you do choose to buy a R32 in 2014, make sure to buy a completely stock R32. Any engine modifications can make it illegal in register/import. Not sure how crazy it will be when August 2014 comes around for R32 skylines, but I imagine that after the first few dozen to get imported, rules will be followed more closely.

After the R34 GT-T kaizo I had siezed while I was deployed, I'm planning on a 89 R32 GTR for sure. Just because, really.

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Ni$$@n240
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If I wanted to buy a r33 and it had the bond release papers but not the motorex tag would this vehicle still be legal for public roads? Also if you were unsure if it was how could you check if it was imported legally if the owner is unsure?

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AZhitman
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If it's not one of the Motorex cars, its technically NOT Federally-legal. Period.

There's some that may have somehow acquired alternative clearance, but 9 times out of 10, you're dealing with a run-of-the-mill, grey market Skyline.

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Ni$$@n240
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There is a lot of information here but it all seems to get jumbled around with other peoples nonsense. What I have concluded is that unless you have the bond release papers saying your vehicle complies with the us standards for that make it is illegal. And the only current vehicle allowed is the r33? So for everyone else that is driving a skyline that is not 25yrs old in the states is illegal even if they have a state title and insurance? Those drivers are basically driving on borrowed time and could receive a visit from whatever agency seizes cars right?
One question remains for me though. Were there any modifications to the r33s in terms of passing the crash testing?
Oh and where are the motorex badges located on the vehicles?

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Ni$$@n240
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I have found my answer to my question regarding the crash test. I also found this:http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/forms/3520-1.pdf
By the looks of it they also try to control the engines being EPA certified once installed. :werd:

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AZhitman
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Ni$$@n240 wrote:the only current vehicle allowed is the r33? So for everyone else that is driving a skyline that is not 25yrs old in the states is illegal even if they have a state title and insurance? Those drivers are basically driving on borrowed time and could receive a visit from whatever agency seizes cars right?
Correct.

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Ni$$@n240
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Fountain of knowledge here at Nicoclub

john450r
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I hear a lot of people are awaiting the 2014 date when the 25 year ban ends.

I'm just curious.. anyone willing the share their plans? ie, buying the car before the date, storing it in Japan for a little bit, then shipping it? Planning on going to Japan or using one of the car auction broker companys?

I understand the basics of getting the car imported but have no experience. I'm just hoping to be more prepared. If you don't want to share on an open forum I am open to PM's.

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AZhitman
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No reason to.

Here's the deal... there's not a lot of '89s to begin with, and the ones that ARE in existence are tired. REAL tired.

The first few that come over are gonna be OVERPRICED, rusted, beat-down POS's... no parts available, a LONG wait to order replacements from Japan, and the markup will be retarded. Try finding an R32 windshield. Good luck.

The rest of us will look at their misery and say, "No thanks."

I'll keep building stuff that will outperform an R32 (and I can get parts for it 5 miles from my house).

john450r
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Not exactly the enthusiastic response I was hoping for but I'm not going to get into a debate over replacement parts or the current condition of 89 R32's in Japan, this is you're thread obviously.

For those of us who wish to endure this self inflicted misery would you be willing to share any info you have? Sometimes we like to learn the hard way.

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AZhitman
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I'd say make sure to read the original article... I don't think anyone really knows how it's gonna work yet.

Like I said, I think it's initially gonna be a deluge of half-a$$ed efforts, a lot of scams, and a lot of overpriced junk... which is why we've always cautioned people to do their homework and ask lots of questions.

But until that time comes, it's hard to say how it's gonna go.

BTW, this isn't "my" thread - it's here for you guys. Just sharing what I know thus far, and I've been wrong before. :)

Welcome aboard!

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the converted
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john450r wrote:Not exactly the enthusiastic response I was hoping for but I'm not going to get into a debate over replacement parts or the current condition of 89 R32's in Japan, this is you're thread obviously.

For those of us who wish to endure this self inflicted misery would you be willing to share any info you have? Sometimes we like to learn the hard way.
I'm not sure what you really were expecting. In 1989 276hp or what ever it really was, was amazing. Corvettes had 250hp and 911 turbos had around 300hp. Now a Vette can be had with with 638hp and a 911 gt2 rs makes 620hp. It really just makes you think, especially when a wrx makes close to the same power and is easy to get your hands on. I'd much rather feel the pain of a fighting over a warranty than the pain of a 23 year old car that already been beaten half to death. Don't get me wrong, I would love to own a R32 because I love the way they look and can imagine that they are pretty fun to drive, but I think that finding a good one will be like trying to find a prostitute that isn't flapping in the breeze by the time the 25 year mark hits.

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Ni$$@n240
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^^^ :rotfl

I wouldn't doubt if a few of the 89 R32 washed away in the tsunami or any other skyline for that matter. I'm willing to bet that the majority of the front clips and motors exported were from r32s. Slim picking in other words.

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Nrthsidelongbeach
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same thing I was thinking. Alot of your plans may have gone down the drain. dependent on how many skylines are still there and in desirable condition.

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AZhitman
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Let's bring this around to something that the Skyline fanboys can (hopefully) comprehend:

We're talking about an R32, right? Specifically, a 1989 Skyline. OK.

Between 1989 and 1994, 43,934 Skylines were built. That's 6 years. Let's ASSUME that an equal number were built each year. That leaves 7,322 Skylines to fight over.

IN COMPARISON, Nissan built 68,118 240sx's in 1989.

That's 9.3 TIMES as many 240sx's as Skylines.

25 years later, can you find a nice 1989 240sx? Maybe one that's been in the southwest its whole life. I don't see many at all.

But wait - there's more: Japan is an island country, with a lot of rain, and is surrounded by saltwater. You think those cars survived without rusting?

Let's also remember that, unlike the US, Japanese drivers have NO incentive to keep and maintain a car for 25 years. It gets MORE expensive, not less.

The only real hope in finding a GOOD R32 is to find one that was stored, or exported to Australia / New Zealand, or maybe Canada (but they rusted too). Good luck with that. You'd have better luck finding a Hemi 'Cuda in a barn with 10K miles. :)

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Ni$$@n240
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Yea American Pickers style of jdm hunting. Australia would be the best bet I would think.

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uber240times2
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Hey guys, little late on the topic but I'm doing an argument paper for my English class and it'd be really helpful to know a few things. So I apologize for not doing all of my research, but I have looked a little a bit. So the questions I have are:

Does anyone know how much taxpayers dollars have been used to fund the programs to find the Skylines? I know CAGW was mentioned, but I couldn't find the article about the Skyline.

Basically, if crash testing could be done and air bags installed for the R32 and R34 and brought into compliance with the NHTSA and FMVSS, using the emissions system in the R32 would the 33 and 34 be legal as well?

What Standards for emissions does the R32 need to meet since OBDII was not mandatory until 1996?

Thanks in advance for the replies!

AdamBritt
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How do you guys feel about importing more recent skylines? Like '05+

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themadscientist
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Same problems.

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Gold Digger
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AdamBritt wrote:How do you guys feel about importing more recent skylines? Like '05+

What would be the point? Those are already in the U.S. It's called the Infiniti G37.

defycommon
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ok, so at the present time a select few R33's are legal in the usa. if this is true what is the price range they are selling for ? or is it best to slide a rb26 in a s14? logic kicks in and says go with the swap. where i live no restrictions nothing besides money, lol. i even have cam2 race fuel at the local pump, mmm race gas. i have a sube grocery getter and love awd. but the skyline kinda sounds like a smokin gun in hand over a dead body. any input would be appreciated , or email me and let me know

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Gold Digger
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It's more like there are a few select Skylines in the U.S. that are legal. Those would be MotorEx cars that were already clean and clear before the fiasco. I have heard about other Skylines that are 100% legal, but I can't remember/don't have the info on them and how/when/where they were done.

As for prices, well...

Considering that Skylines seem to be the "it" car to have now, whoever has one that is legal and is selling it would probably be charging more than what the car may actually be worth, because the owner knows that someone will buy it.

It's not how much the Skyline is actually worth, it's how much someone is willing to pay for one...

defycommon
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I keep finding more info about the big crap of a mess. It all starts in the early to mid eighties where people were bring euro cars in known as grey market cars. 930's ferrari's, benz's, bimmers, and so on. Benz got made mad, payed the government to stop it since they were not making money off it. SO, first blame benz. Then, motorex did the right thing, dotted the i's crossed the t's perfectly. If you read the government said since they are similiar under a law(it still is in effect) and or share a certain percentage of same parts you can crash one to cover all three models. Next, like i said the government went back on their word and changed their mind. And decided no, we want more cash after seeing how much was stacking up. so the government shut it down. so Motorex is NOT to blame the government and benz period.
now if we can get them to reopen the case and accept we crash a r32 and a r34 (expensive waste). Sweet talk them in to allowing importation then we can solve the issues. But sad to say it will have to be probably one company. as before others tried and fubared it, only made it worse for us. It will probably be setup with a couple government workers working there to inspect and approve the work. This is a guess not facts, who knows if we sweet talk the right person maybe we crash the two and the whole thing goes away. but what about emissions ? hopefully it can slide by, money eases things. as they say money talks and b.s. walks.
so if you want one let get some cash pay our way to freedom. no drama, whining or crap. You want something bad enough you will find a way to get it. be part of the solution not part of the problem.

R33sky
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I own a r33 gtst it's awesome!!! I drive it daily!!


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