FTO AUSTRALIA

Hi guys,

So it looks like I might be in the market for another FTO. My one needs repairs and I don't want to invest any more money into it, would rather something solid.

Have a budget of about $5,000 - $8,000, not really anymore than that unless it's in Victoria. Anyone know of some clean examples out there? I'm after 1996 and above with the body and engine in good condition. If I don't find anything nice in the next few weeks I might have to jump ship to another car

Thanks

Yeah I saw that one. While it does look nice, I'd prefer a facelift model this time (and something with airbags).

Rock_it's. Stretch your budget it will be well worth it.

I would, but he's asking too much. There aren't many FTOs worth 9k especially ones with 150 km on the engine and roof rust...

lol

-Nighthawk- wrote:I would, but he's asking too much. There aren't many FTOs worth 9k especially ones with 150 km on the engine and roof rust...

A seller has the right to ask any price he/she see's fit. With an engine that has been meticulously maintained, and the car doing 100k per day when I take it to work, it is no wonder K's will rack up. My mechanic has seen many FTO's and when we were doing the roadworthy yesterday, he even mentioned that he has not seen one that has been in such good nick for a long time.

I am curious as to the roof rust... You have not even looked at my car The car had a spot on the roof when I bought it (assumption of rust) ... It has not gotten any worse, and not bubbled the paint ... So as to it's extent, I think the only dot on it, was repaired, but not painted and prepped properly.

Get any FTO, add the coilovers, fix any minor leaking and engine problems + service add all the Carbon Fibre, and stereo and even if you buy a 4.5k clunker with 200k on the clock you won't see any less than 7k after you add all that in... And apart from some really run down pre-facelifts, I have not seen a 97+ go for anywhere near 5k in stock form.

I do not try and sell my vehicles for profit. Simply put, I go for what seems realistic. And based on the condition of mine, I believe this to be a realistic price for a car that has not been modded over the top.

If you want the cheapest option ... Buy Dwayne's 4.5k Silver one with no rego ... Do a facelift conversion if that is the shape you want and you have grabbed a bargain. Mind due, that does have 200k on the clock so not sure if you will consider that to be too many K's...

rock_it wrote: Get any FTO, add the coilovers, fix any minor leaking and engine problems + service add all the Carbon Fibre, and stereo and even if you buy a 4.5k clunker with 200k on the clock you won't see any less than 7k after you add all that in... And apart from some really run down pre-facelifts, I have not seen a 97+ go for anywhere near 5k in stock form.

I can vouch for this, I started out with 95 GPX with 110kms on it, paid 4k. Now after adding a lot of the stuff Rock_it has on his i'm well over 12k invested. Given the opportunity to start again id just buy a complete FTO such as rock_it's. Well worth that little bit extra in every way, cause after you get another FTO there will be those little things you want to do, and with his car it'll already have been done. Anyways, just my 2 cents worth.

rock_it wrote:

-Nighthawk- wrote:I would, but he's asking too much. There aren't many FTOs worth 9k especially ones with 150 km on the engine and roof rust...

A seller has the right to ask any price he/she see's fit. With an engine that has been meticulously maintained, and the car doing 100k per day when I take it to work, it is no wonder K's will rack up. My mechanic has seen many FTO's and when we were doing the roadworthy yesterday, he even mentioned that he has not seen one that has been in such good nick for a long time.

I am curious as to the roof rust... You have not even looked at my car The car had a spot on the roof when I bought it (assumption of rust) ... It has not gotten any worse, and not bubbled the paint ... So as to it's extent, I think the only dot on it, was repaired, but not painted and prepped properly.

Get any FTO, add the coilovers, fix any minor leaking and engine problems + service add all the Carbon Fibre, and stereo and even if you buy a 4.5k clunker with 200k on the clock you won't see any less than 7k after you add all that in... And apart from some really run down pre-facelifts, I have not seen a 97+ go for anywhere near 5k in stock form.

I do not try and sell my vehicles for profit. Simply put, I go for what seems realistic. And based on the condition of mine, I believe this to be a realistic price for a car that has not been modded over the top.

If you want the cheapest option ... Buy Dwayne's 4.5k Silver one with no rego ... Do a facelift conversion if that is the shape you want and you have grabbed a bargain. Mind due, that does have 200k on the clock so not sure if you will consider that to be too many K's...

I think what he's saying is that you can get a GP Version R Aero imported and complied for that sort of cash.

http://www.importmonster.com.au/view?your ... le=FTO%20F

I respect your build and there is no doubt it's a great looking car but at the end of the day its a customised GPX, 9k is a big asking price.

Shhtuart wrote:I think what he's saying is that you can get a GP Version R Aero imported and complied for that sort of cash.

http://www.importmonster.com.au/view?your ... le=FTO%20F

I respect your build and there is no doubt it's a great looking car but at the end of the day its a customised GPX, 9k is a big asking price.

And at the end of the day, the car you linked has an unknown history and could very well be a lemon.

I'm all for stock cars personally, but in the end a Japanese import fresh from the shores is no comparison to a customised car with known history.
a GPVR is a GPX with a few extra, and a few missing bits. Worth only what someone values it. - (i.e. still a P platers sports car.)

Good luck with whatever you choose to do Nighthawk.

Shhtuart wrote: I think what he's saying is that you can get a GP Version R Aero imported and complied for that sort of cash.

http://www.importmonster.com.au/view?your ... le=FTO%20F

I respect your build and there is no doubt it's a great looking car but at the end of the day its a customised GPX, 9k is a big asking price.

I know what you mean, and that is the gamble ... And if you happen to win at that auction price. I have bought many a things from import monster, and every time there *estimated calculation* has always been incorrect. And I am pretty sure out of all those times, only once did they under estimate.

We all take that gamble of bringing an import in, and lets face it, it is a gamble ... But I have always opted to go for something available locally (knowing its history) then risking it to save a few bucks.

But that is just my $0.02 ...

rock_it wrote: I am curious as to the roof rust... You have not even looked at my car The car had a spot on the roof when I bought it (assumption of rust) ... It has not gotten any worse, and not bubbled the paint ... So as to it's extent, I think the only dot on it, was repaired, but not painted and prepped properly.

Get any FTO, add the coilovers, fix any minor leaking and engine problems + service add all the Carbon Fibre, and stereo and even if you buy a 4.5k clunker with 200k on the clock you won't see any less than 7k after you add all that in... And apart from some really run down pre-facelifts, I have not seen a 97+ go for anywhere near 5k in stock form.

I do not try and sell my vehicles for profit. Simply put, I go for what seems realistic. And based on the condition of mine, I believe this to be a realistic price for a car that has not been modded over the top.

If you want the cheapest option ... Buy Dwayne's 4.5k Silver one with no rego ... Do a facelift conversion if that is the shape you want and you have grabbed a bargain. Mind due, that does have 200k on the clock so not sure if you will consider that to be too many K's...

Roof rust:

rock_it wrote: I have a bit of Ye olde roof rust, and am contemplating a full re-spray, or just doing the roof, and bar …

Why would you respray if it's only a tiny mark?

You've got to understand that just because you invested say 5k in mods doesn't mean the car is instantly worth 5k more. Modded cars never see a return for the money, in fact always see drastically less. 9k for an FTO is just unrealistic IMO, people have been selling Turbo ones for 6k lately :\ FTO's are just becoming cheap now.

If you want the cheapest option ... Buy Dwayne's 4.5k Silver one with no rego ...

2.5K unregistered actually - no roof rust. But is a tip and does have 220K on clock. I would have said that you'd be better off going with one with all the stuff you want on it already though. As much as it seems easy to add it all later, it is a big hassle and always costs more than you expect.

-Nighthawk- wrote:9k for an FTO is just unrealistic IMO, people have been selling Turbo ones for 6k lately :\ FTO's are just becoming cheap now.

I'm not taking anyones side here, but you're dabbling over the cost of registration in the difference.

-Nighthawk- wrote:Have a budget of about $5,000 - $8,000

So, 9K is too much, but 8K is ok...



FTOs are getting cheap, but I've seen what a cheap FTO looks like and runs like.
Expectation>Result
You might be lucky, you might not be.

FTOs are now primarily owned by people who don't know what they're doing, get repaired poorly, or cheaply, or have so many things wrong that the cost of repair outweighs any sort of benefit.

Prioritise really.
You might be lucky like Dwayne and land a minter for very little, or for $1000 you could end up with a parts car and the only good thing in it is the gearbox few people value...

EDIT: and as Dwayne just said also, as he got in before me.

P.S. Turbo FTOs are simply no point of argument. 1: P Platers, 2: stand and deliver, lots of talk, but never action.

Astron_Boy wrote: So, 9K is too much, but 8K is ok...

Not sure what you're trying to imply there. 9K is too much for that car, simple. I think most owners are just upset that their FTO is worth less than what it was a few years ago, that's just the market for them.

I think if u werent an ass u could talk rock_it down to 8k.

-Nighthawk- wrote:

Astron_Boy wrote: So, 9K is too much, but 8K is ok...

Not sure what you're trying to imply there. 9K is too much for that car, simple. I think most owners are just upset that their FTO is worth less than what it was a few years ago, that's just the market for them.

In context.

Astron_Boy wrote:

-Nighthawk- wrote:9k for an FTO is just unrealistic IMO, people have been selling Turbo ones for 6k lately :\ FTO's are just becoming cheap now.

I'm not taking anyones side here, but you're dabbling over the cost of registration in the difference.

-Nighthawk- wrote:Have a budget of about $5,000 - $8,000

So, 9K is too much, but 8K is ok...

You didn't say his car, you said "FTOs".
You then say budgeting up to 8K, yet that's a difference of $1000.

*shrug*

And for those who value their car over the price tag, they will simply keep the car.
However if someone wants to give it a good new home it's there.


You're looking at buying a car which will need work, just like your car does now.... why spend the money...

I'm done. I forfeit the inevitable last come back.

silverGPX wrote:I think if u werent an ass u could talk rock_it down to 8k.

lol, funny coming from you out of all people.

You don't think I tried to negotiate? I offered him 7.5k. So with him getting the full refund in rego that would have been OVER 8k. Nice try.

-Nighthawk- wrote:
Roof rust:

rock_it wrote: I have a bit of Ye olde roof rust, and am contemplating a full re-spray, or just doing the roof, and bar …

Why would you respray if it's only a tiny mark?

You've got to understand that just because you invested say 5k in mods doesn't mean the car is instantly worth 5k more. Modded cars never see a return for the money, in fact always see drastically less. 9k for an FTO is just unrealistic IMO, people have been selling Turbo ones for 6k lately :\ FTO's are just becoming cheap now.

Because I am fanatical about things... As I have a carbon bonnet, carbon boot, & Dwayne's rear bar, my simple thought is if you spray a roof, and a bar, there are only the doors and front bar and guard to finish the job ... Any spray painter will end up colour matching down the roof line to the rear quarter, so there is not much more paint and prep time to do the rest of the car...

My thought back then was to do the car black with a red pearl ... This has been my plan for quite some time ... Now that I have Dwayne front guards as well, that means if I was going to do anything to the car, it would be roof + rear bar + guards ... As you can see, this is almost a full respray ... So you would be crazy not to respray the whole car... This was when I was contemplating also getting the wheel arches from the UK, which would have then meant more painting and blending to the guards as well.

When I bought the car, I had the front guards resprayed as there were key marks and imperfections. Not long after that, I had the new front bar painted ... And as it was in the early stages of the kit being completed, when the side skirts were added, I didn't want to do anymore paint until the full car was ready, and as I mentioned above there were plans in the works that made no sense to do more paint work.

Rego and insurance does not work out that expensive for me. This is based on a fleet discount. So my insurance for greenslip is lucky to be $500 ... And rego is what, about 2-300... My PM to you was I would let the car go for 8K ... As I would take that rego money off, when the car would be sold interstate ... I also advised you to this price you were getting 2 new tyres as well which is another expense which I was prepared to wear and the lowest I would go for the car in its condition.

Yes there are a lot of cheap FTO's around ... And as others have stated, they have fallen for this trap before. I think Lawso's last fto was a late model GR which had a respray to mask what was bad rust in the roof, oil leaks, and what seemed like a good buy at over 7k, well actually was not such a good buy ... That was the same amount of K's as mine...

And as I have said at the end of the day, I know the car has no issues, and I lover her to bits. Meticulously maintained, and if she doesn't sell at a price I am happy with, I don't care... I will keep it, and put the K's on it instead of the new car ... And still share with the bike and Evo ... So I am happy to wait for a buyer who doesn't want to have to dick around with a car to fix it up .. Someone that will just get in, drive and enjoy ...

So please do not make assumptions about roof rust and proceed to tell me my car is overpriced and has rust, without inspecting it...