FTO AUSTRALIA

ah..... i knew it was something like that

aza013 wrote:They do have electric windows it's the side mirors that are not electric.

fixed that up for you aza

They also have blue seats, never came in the blue colour, strut braces front and rear (if not removed for compliance), HID headlights, leather trims in the doors. All are either white, red or black so it begs the questions how that blue one can be a version r..

if they are the better model why dont they have climate control?
and electric mirrors?

It's suppose to weight reduction

Yep the less weight the better
it's about 10-15 kgs lighter than the GPX, as there is a lot of little things taken out of them.

OK, First and foremost, get the chassis number (DE3A.......). When you have it, enter it in here:

http://www.completefto.com.au/modules/p ... p?mode=vin

This will tell you what the car is, when it was made, original colour etc.

Now a version R is usually distinguishable as follows:

Limited Slip Diff (turn one wheen and the other should turn as well)
Different rear wing (although the car pictures has a version R wing)
Blue seats on a white car, red seats on a black car and black seats on a silver car.
Non folding mirrors
Manual Air con (knob and levers instead of buttons)
Front and rear strut braces. The front ones should have red on the outsides and the rear should be plain silver. Also, the fabric in the boot should have a factory cut to house the rear brace (and not a messy job dob done with a pair of scissors)
Momo steering wheel
Many dont have side skirts (unless its an Aero - Limited Edition)
Uprated Suspension (the drop links should attach to the lower control arm instead of the shock.
Thicker sway bars both front and rear.

OK, I think that covers it

Well saw this one in the tin as it were today--what can I say --not 18k's worth , paint swirly , could be cut out with a bit of work-a fair bit, rubber good--no service records atall (and that puts me right of in a fresh import) -engine sounded smooth on start up, a little smokey but to be expected as it looks like the cars been standing a fair time , interior ordinary - tidy-but ordinary , seats good -suspiciously good considering the gear knob looked like the dog had chewed it and the handbrake had had a tug or two or three, Brake rotors lipped but ok couldn't see pads.
All in all nice enough to pay $11K for with warranty and 6 months rego bearing in mind that there would be an easy $1500.00 in servicing to do and I didn't drive it.
I decided not to buy, just not what I'm after , they did offer me $15K to buy the R34GT-t though, but strangely had no leeway in the FTO, I think they may have it a while--just an IMO.

THE SEARCH CONTINUES

dstocks wrote:OK, First and foremost, get the chassis number (DE3A.......). When you have it, enter it in here:

http://www.completefto.com.au/modules/p ... p?mode=vin

This will tell you what the car is, when it was made, original colour etc.

Now a version R is usually distinguishable as follows:

Limited Slip Diff (turn one wheen and the other should turn as well) NOT CHECKED
Different rear wing (although the car pictures has a version R wing)
Blue seats on a white car, red seats on a black car and black seats on a silver car. GREY
Non folding mirrors DIDN'T NOTICE
Manual Air con (knob and levers instead of buttons) CLIMATE CONTROL NO LEVERS
Front and rear strut braces. The front ones should have red on the outsides and the rear should be plain silver. NO STRUT BRACES
Also, the fabric in the boot should have a factory cut to house the rear brace (and not a messy job dob done with a pair of scissors)
Momo steering wheel DIDN'T NOTICE
Many dont have side skirts (unless its an Aero - Limited Edition)
Uprated Suspension (the drop links should attach to the lower control arm instead of the shock. DIDN'T CHECK
Thicker sway bars both front and rear. DIDN'T CHECK

OK, I think that covers it

Thanks for that I didn't read this post till after I'd returned from looking at the car but I'd say on balance it's unlikely to be an 'R' spec, the differences are to fundimental and/or missing.

The details on that car are below. It's a GPX.

Chassis No: DE3A0300676
Model Code: HNGHE
Model: GPX
Engine: 6A12 Mivec
Transmission: 5sp MT
Colour: Icecelle Blue
Manufacture Date: Week 1, June 1998
Option Code: G20
Interior Code: 22X

No need to give up so easily if that car still interests you apart from the price. Personally I think that blue looks really nice.
Don't be afraid to talk it tough with the dealer.
Use the points about the poor paint quality, ordinary interior, lack of service records etc as points to support the fact that it is grossly overpriced.
Even take in a printout of the VIN decoder output and tell them to stop pretending it's something it's not.

If the timing belt has been changed there should be a sticker on the side of the engine with the km's when it was done. If that is recent then it is likely the major service has been done for you. If it's not there, then again tell the dealer he is dreaming if he is expecting that price PLUS a major service on top of it.

If he brings the price down enough for you, but you are still worried about the condition of the car mechanically etc, I would highly recommend a stateroads inspection as they usually have an import specialist who knows what to look for.

GPvR's don't have climate control or power windows *raises eyebrow* I looked at a scotia white GPvR in Melbourne last week and it def had power windows (one of the first things I looked for) didn't take much notice of the climate control though.

Basho-I to know stuff all about FTO's however these guys seem to know pretty much anything and everything about FTO's, I think between the lot of them they could write a book on them. I asked the same question about what to look for recently, there is a few threads about it, most recent one (Ive seen) is 21 year young female looking for FTO in general discussion, but like the other guys have said the timing belt is a big one, I haven't had one done but I've been told it's damn expensive (round the 500+ mark)

17,000 is way to expensive for one, U can find some nice one's for around 10-11k and I agree with the others, loving the blue, it makes them look snazzy, the scotia white also looks really nice to...actually what am I talking about FTO's just look good in general. I've been looking for one to, but in Victoria, and I've found it difficult, however if you're dead set try and haggle with the guy, maybe go onto carsales.com.au and find one's with similar km's from car yards print them out and use it as evidence to back you up.
I dunno what you guys have in Queensland, but in Vic we can go to the VicRoads website and check details of the car using the chasis number, maybe u might even be able to haggle with a roadworthy/rego

Anyways good luck in finding one
Ciao
Chantalle

Slinky-minky wrote:GPvR's don't have climate control or power windows *raises eyebrow* I looked at a scotia white GPvR in Melbourne last week and it def had power windows (one of the first things I looked for) didn't take much notice of the climate control though.
Chantalle

You seem to have a bad habit of not reading the entire thread before posting...

GPvRs have power windows.

okay i know there is a thread on the question im about to ask, but i couldnt find it with search
so if someone could link me to it it would be great


so the gpvr is basically the gpx but with better performance and little comfort items taken out?
why does this make the price raise so much? i cant imagine that the production cost would be much higher?

and would the main interest in gpvrs be from people who are more interested in the performance of the car?

Same engine.. Just lighter weight and suspension is beefed up..

That is pretty much it..

Who would buy.. Well there is not as many in production as a regular FTO so it is more unique.. and due to the lighter weight, more powerful.. So more of a collector would hunt the versionR, or someone wanting to track a car...

rock_it wrote:Same engine.. Just lighter weight and suspension is beefed up..

That is pretty much it..

Who would buy.. Well there is not as many in production as a regular FTO so it is more unique.. and due to the lighter weight, more powerful.. So more of a collector would hunt the versionR, or someone wanting to track a car...

and with LSD fitted....perfect for track!
oh...does the ver R have thinner rear windscreen like what honda did to their teg Rs? Thats how extreme they can be!

Dude if you want a sweet car that has been well looked after, drive down to Sydney and buy AJ's.

Autoshop are terrible for price.... They had a 96 GR there when I bought mine from a generic dealer a few years back, they were selling it as a MiVEC and all the other BS and I ripped though them... Price on it at ~ 130k was $13,990.00. Engine was poor and there was no service records, or a plate detailing the 100k service... I wouldn't go near them with a 10ft pole...

Slinky-minky wrote: but like the other guys have said the timing belt is a big one, I haven't had one done but I've been told it's damn expensive (round the 500+ mark)

Thats just for the belt and gasket kit, fitting is extra

AND they are a bastard to fit...

i bent a valve

why dont u buy my turbo,its only $9000

SchumieFan wrote:i bent a valve

That wasn't in the car thou, was in your head

Thanks mighty for all the replys guys , hugely helpfull .
I now have two people that actualy wanrt to see my R34GT-t and at least one has no problem with the money and as importantly the insurance.
I shall keep looking and hoping down to Sydney or Malbourne is not out of the question atall airfairs are below bargain price at the moment.
I priced the full service timing belt jobby including seals and tensioner and whatever other bits come in the kit at $790.00 inc GST and labour from AutoLeaders (all OE parts) , which aint to bad as the same job in the R34GT-t which I did recently came in at $1100.00 but that was including a water pump (using all OE parts).
I supose the real issue with a first owner import is the fact that , in my experiance anyway , you're just going to have to service everything and it's going to cost you at least $1500.00 , providing theres nothing hops out of the woodwork and bites you in the bank balance , whereas if you buy as a second owner you're likely to have at least some of the servicing done and documented.
I'm realy still dependant on selling so I'm just hoping I can put that away quickly and move on.