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

[R32monster]

just get a suby then, they're great for getting groceries fast.

[magular]

hey man, honestly, i dreamt of getting a skyline for years, even before having a license, and i told people ill own one some day, and most people though i was just some kid with bigger dreams then i could do in reality, but i never stopped wanting it, and now ive had my car for 3 years and i like it more and more with time. ive learned how to fix alot of things, i get adive and do the work myself, learn as you go.

but the most important thing, if you pass up the chance to get a gtr because you settled for something else... you'll always regret not getting it. ive thought many times about selling my skyline, but if i had, i would be so sad that i never got to do all the things i wanted to because you let your dream walk away pretty much.

so do what your heart sais because youll just end up broken hearted.

but i do love love gc8. subaru's in general. had one myself and worked on others. nothing wrong with them, and parts are for easier to come about, and maybe some things are better then gtr, but the point is, its NOT a gtr.... thats the end of the line.

hope to see you in the family man!

[gtrjerry73]

^ lol that is a very good point magular. I can just see it going back and forth in his head too lol. My r32 was my dream car for a very long time too and I have zero regrets. It was the most impractical car and worst timing and still is not a smart financial decision to keep it but that's not what a hobby car is all about at all. Every time I drive it or tinker with it I fall in love again I even waited almost a year to buy a house because I knew I wouldn't be able to buy my gtr for a long time after. And I do feel a little more "complete" with her in my garage. Lol so ya I'm sure this doesn't help your decision at all but gives you something to think about I suppose. maybe do what I did buy the gtr (I found a mint one for 10) and buy a cheap winter beater. I just got an 03 cavalier and haven't had a hitch in 60,000 clicks and gets far better mileage then an Sri ever will. Just a thought

[goodveet]

Those 2 posts are exactly what's been on my mind!
I was looking at buying a gc8 but then I got the Jetta 1.8T because it was more practical and i found a good deal. I spent about $2000 trying to mod it before I realized that it's just not the car for me, it's nice but it wasn't what I really wanted. Now I'm going back to getting a like I should have got, l except now I have more money than before. Which means I can even afford a GTR, which iv always wanted but it was too expensive until now. I like both cars but I prefer the looks/sound/personality of a gtr. I have a feeling I would regret not buying one. Then again I would definately regret buying one and have to rebuild the engine in a month.

Is having to rebuild an rb26 as common as people say it is?
Where are the best places to buy parts for a GTR in calgary?

Really tough decision... If only I could have both..

[JVizZLe]

there is a guy on this forum selling a r33 gtr for like 10grand.slight rear end damage.might want to check that.good luck

[Sharkus29]

Just be prepared to spend the money on a GTR. They are a very high maintenance car, amazing cars but very expensive. Ive already spent almost double what I bought the car for haha.

[goodveet]

^^ ouch, its that type of stuff that worries me about a GTR..

[Sharkus29]

^^ ouch, its that type of stuff that worries me about a GTR..

Yeah but in saying that, its money well spent for me.

[MKIV]

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.

I am very happy with my GTS. I opted for it over the GTR because of personal preference.
I won't start this GTS vs GTR debate but please don't be telling people what a "waste of money" something they have interest in is.

With that aside, OP I suggest you take the answers you received here and actually go out to see both cars. Two completely different cars that should be compared in person behind the steering wheel.

[Alberta92]

you can get parts at a few places in Calgary. My gtr is my daily driver and as long as you do the regular maintance (fluids etc...) you will be fine just make sure the car you buy is in decent shape. I took the lower front clip of so as not to ruin it in the winter. But either way you go have fun with it. If your in Calgary pm me I can shoot you to places to get parts and upgrades for a gtr!!
Plus kijiji is an awesome place for some parts, ppl let stuff go for cheap when the blow theirs up being stupid hittin the rev limiter all the time. I rarely push mine past 4k and she's treated me pretty good so far minus the injector leaks but they are notorious for that I'm told.

[magular]

exactly, if u really keep an eye on her, and look under the hood often just for a peak and see how the fluids are and stuff are doing, its not hard, but you just have to do it. i drive my car to the snowboard mountain, i drive to all constuction sites with it, drive it every day, and race who ever is next to me at the light that wants to race. all around i love it, i use it for everything. and its rwd and i have no issues in the winter since i got good tires, but a gtr is even more versatile but heres a big choice, is your gc8 your looking at going to be 4 door? and do you need 4 doors or 2 doors is all you need?

and do drive both cars before choosing, you might think the gc8 suits the feel you wanted more then the gtr. i never got to drive my skyline before i bought it, was a poor choice but i love love love the way it drives (well cutting the springs wasnt great) but it drives 1000 times better then my buddys mod'd 2002 wrx. his subaru feels like beefy as in sluggish and so forth. but drive both, i think it will answer your decision between both. theirs so much you can figure out on paper, the real answer is how they drive! let us know!

[gtrjerry73]

I agree that if you haven't driven one yet you should for sure. I didn't test drive mine and I took a bit of a chance with it because it wasn't running (guy said it was just a dead battery and had a flat tire and was sitting for two years. But it's in ten times better shape than my 03 cavalier. And the gtr is like nothing I have ever driven. It's well made, stable and very fast. And being on this forum is the best thing you could do for yourself if you buy a gtr. I could have spent a couple grand already instead of fixing issues by myself if I didn't have the help from
The people on here. Just make sure you inspect the car and get a compression test done. And make sure if you take it for a test drive its not just around the block. Get it On the highway and bring it up to at least 110. You could end up getting a lemon subie too.so don't be scared of a gtr for maintenance just stay on top of it and you won't have a lot of issues. Like I said earlier I put over 10000 on my car last summer and never got stranded.

[cdnleaf]

I am very happy with my GTS. I opted for it over the GTR because of personal preference.
I won't start this GTS vs GTR debate but please don't be telling people what a "waste of money" something they have interest in

Re-read my post - I'm encouraging the op to buy what he is truly interested in - a GTR. Similar to yourself, given the choice and $$ - I opted to buy a GTS. What I find entertaining are people buying a GTS, then trying to make it look like a GTR. No debate, there are some great deals on GTRs. All the best.

[goodveet]

Pm'd Alberta92 to ask

[JZ]

Again, my advice is to buy the most stock Skyline if you care about reliablility. It's no less reliable than any other 15 yr old Japanese vehcile IMHO. My R33 GTR is bone stock aside from the intake and exhaust, wheels and springs. All minor updates. For DD duty is rock solid. The GTR and RB's bad rep comes from cars that have not been cared for well in the past or have had the living sh!t boosted out of them.