New guy looking to buy a GTR, is it the car for me?

[goodveet]

Hey im looking to buy a JDM, AWD, turbo car that i can drive all year round. Maybe its a long shot for a GTR, but i know many people drive GC8 WRX STis everyday no serious problems. Iv searched around and some people say an R32 will be fine as long as i take care of it etc.. and some say no cant be done, too expensive, too many repairs etc...

About me:
I drive about 12000km a year, I'm not looking to build it up or track it(300hp is plenty), and i know how expensive gas will be. I drive normally but i will push the car here and there when the roads empty.
Im a student and work ~15 hrs a week part time doing security, summers almost here and ill be working full time.
Im by no means a mechanic but i am an enthusiast so im somewhat knowledgeable and im willing to learn. I've done some basic work: numerous audio installs, BOV install, cold air intake, oil changes, did a front end conversion, and parted out a car (everything but mechanical parts)

Iv always loved the R32s but if its not practical for me then the STi is my fall-back option. So i want to know:
What am i getting in to?
Will $10,000 even be close to enough for a GTR plus initial maintenance?
What typically will need to be replaced(everyone says expensive parts/repairs but nothing specifically)? I know about gaskets, timing belt, fuel pump, but what else is common?

Thanks

[Supraclean]

10 grand can get you a pretty good Gtr, but if I was you and I was a student I'd buy a wrx or older sti.



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[evilgtr]

Iv got both and by far the WRX is way cheaper ! Mine is a 96 wrx and its almost all stock, gets over 30mpg on the highway and its still a blast to drive !! over 300hp and 700lbs lighter then the gtr. You can find mint JDM wrx's with less then 50,000km for less the $7000 and they seem to hold there value much better then a GTR.

So my advice coming from a guy with both, buy the WRX. I love my GTR but they can be finicky and high maintenance and this wouldnt be practical for what you need

[TrevoR32]

Agreed with the guys above. It can sorry WILL be a slippery slope with a GTR. If you are trying to stay around ten g's i would get the subbie as well. You can save alot of heartache, wallet burn with an sti (somewhat). to be honest just get a nice rwd or awd v8 german saloon....before the price of gas makes them extinct.

[bobbo]

I've got a GTR and a WRX. I driving it daily Subaru hands down.

[JZ]

Meh, wrx are nice but not special.

This is a GTR forum.

Buy the most stock, best condition GTR you can find and enjoy it. $10 ought to do it. $15k will net you a great R32 or 33.


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[cdnleaf]

If you are heart set on a GTR - then please buy one. Do not buy a GTS and then try to make it look like a GTR. You will not be happy and spend much more $$ on the 'conversion' than buying a GTR in the first place. All the best / as noted above, there are some great deals out there.

[Messiahlee]

Totally agree with JZ.
Couldn't have said it any better, get a Gtr.

[R32monster]

If ur gonna drive 12,000km a year...get a Hyundai Accent.

[GTS-James]

dude, coming from a 20 yr old whos had 3 skylines already and still gets a boner every time i look in my drive way go with the car that your going to enjoy the most, dont abuse the gtr and it wont abuse you, but my advise is buy a close to stock one from a mature owner and do the regular maintinance on it that you would on any vehicle.

[surfer]

It's all comes down to what'll make you happy. If your dream car is a R32 GTR, then get that. Just do research and have a buddy/mechanic with you to check out the car before purchasing.

Only advice is don't drive it like Vin diesel lol jk

[NismoS-tune]

If you're patient, mine will be back on the road by june. PM if you're looking for something far from stock.

[gtrjerry73]

If you are a poor student a gtr may not be for you. they are a blast to drive, but it's an old car and needs a little more attention to keep maintained. That being said if you maintain it properly its not too bad. I put 10 thousand clicks on mine last summer with only one issue that I was able to fix for free (mafs) pig on gas though plus I just love my car so much I won't drive it in the winter cause the body is in good shape. The Subaru on the other hand I wouldn't care about.

[Xeno-Vibe]

GC8 is a great choice because the readily available parts and interchangeable parts between USDM spec subarus is always around and at great pricing compared to alot of skyline parts.

If ur gonna drive 12,000km a year...get a Hyundai Accent.

but what will he do about the other 11,950 km?

[goodveet]

^^ lol

Alright thanks for all the help, seems the suby is the more practical choice, then again the GTR is showing up in my dreams haha maybe it's a sign. I'll just go for sti unless I can find a smoking deal on a GTR.
Looking at buying either car from jdmsource or jdmconnection. Ill post pictures/links here if I come across any nice gtrs