Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject: Aristo bought and on the way from Japan
Hi people,
Ive just purchased a 93 Aristo from Ben at J Spec and it leaves japan 30th may.
Its silver, stock standard with rear spoiler etc. Ive been researching and looking at getting one for a while now after owning several jap turbo cars. Ive got some big plans for it and cant wait to get the dam thing in Adelaide !!
Any advice, comments, thoughts or input about the whole importing thing from J Spec etc and general Aristo talk/performance mods etc would be great.
Ive got money set aside for 19 inch staggered wheels (racing hart rs451 black face), coilovers, front mount, filter, bov, shift kit, tint, full exhaust, fuel controller, speaker upgrade, boost controller.
Any ideas on output after these mods, i was thinking around 240-270kw at rears.
Anyway, good to be a part of the Aristo world !
thanks mate.
how do i post pics ?
at the moment its stock as a rock in japan, but when it gets here......!!!
280ish sounds good.
anything to watch out for with it ?
think belts have been done , there is a stick on the engine cover/cam cover.
s
Ok, its a 93 V with 100kms, sunroof, cloth trim and stock standard with rear boot lid factory spoiler.
Its a grade 4 at auction, which means it should be pretty nice, right ???
Its got tinted windows, which is coming off when it lands as its bubbled in some spots, and new tint will go on after compliance. I will then start the modifying. Hopefully there isnt anything that need attention and its ok to drive as is, just oil and tune etc and mods.
s
Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Mackay QLD
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:
Hi there,
I'd budget for surprises - mine was grade 4.5 but it's had and still got a few problems. There's a few other problems apart from ball joints and radiator tanks that everyone talks about. From what I've found with Aristo's and Soarer's the nitrogen brake booster generally needs work. At the least a nitrogen recharge. I've also been busy fixing things like windows not working, interior electrics, warped discs, and I think it's also got a bent hub! A few guys here have had their harmonic balancer come apart when driving and from what I've seen the hoses will need a once over. New harmonic balancers aren't cheap - off the top of my head you'll be looking at over $500, and then you've got to think about timing belt, idler, water/hydraulic fan pumps etc. My intercooler pipe had gone funny from age and I just got a new one from castle hill toyota for $187! I spent nearly $800 in parts from Castle Hill this month and there's more to come - still have to do timing belt etc etc.
When you get the car complied ask the compliancer to give you the old tyres and side mirror glass. Every other comliancer I've used in the past has given me all the old parts but this mob took it upon themselves to say they threw all the tyres out etc - crap because I know the old tyres were in great condition. I'd had enough in the end as I had to wait two months for the compliance plates.
Don't want to lull you joy at getting your Aristo but I'd suggest you take it easy on the car and really get to know it before you give that lovely 2jz a hard time. They're a beautiful car but you'll probably find they need a bit of TLC!
wow sounds like you bought a lemon !!! lol
seriously tho, are they all needing that kind of tlc or is your case an isolated one ?
ive owned an import before it was grade 4 s13 and it didnt need any attention at all, just minor paint.
are the aristo's that prone to component failure and wear and tear ??
youve got me all worried know and thninking my choice of car is the wrong one !!
Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 1148 Location: melb, aus.
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:
its really hit and miss when importing - it goes for any car really, not just the aristo.
my view is that it really comes down to not being able to gauge how meticulous the prior owner was - as you never meet them or even know who the hell they were.
once your car lands and you get it home it probably wont take too long to realise if you've got yourself a lemon - been through that with a previous car, and its not a good feeling, but you enjoy the car anyway and just have to spend some cash & time bringing it up to a better standard before going further with any planned modifications.
my aristo has been sweet, had it for over a year and i havent had to do ball joints, window regs, water pump or any of the other common faults (and it was only grade 3.5). i dont know if the faults just yet to happen or if they've already been taken care of in the past.
Doesnt matter what grade car / priced car you get youre either going to some problems / alot or none at all. Just the thing when importing cars as you're not going to pickup everything wrong with a car as we know with most owners that have there minor / major issues as stated be Geoffree and his auction grade 4.5 car.
Just makesure you've a contigency to be for extra work required and ecspecially J-Specs guesstimation or for that matter all car importers quotation.
All imported cars have there faults just more then others as dont be put off unless you buy a real lemon which has happened to a few owners as the Aristo to me a great car for the price aslong as you know there faults of which im completely confortable with
Bang for bucks the Aristo as 2J is what got me buying the Aristo ecspecially.
its really hit and miss when importing - it goes for any car really, not just the aristo.
my view is that it really comes down to not being able to gauge how meticulous the prior owner was - as you never meet them or even know who the hell they were.
once your car lands and you get it home it probably wont take too long to realise if you've got yourself a lemon - been through that with a previous car, and its not a good feeling, but you enjoy the car anyway and just have to spend some cash & time bringing it up to a better standard before going further with any planned modifications.
my aristo has been sweet, had it for over a year and i havent had to do ball joints, window regs, water pump or any of the other common faults (and it was only grade 3.5). i dont know if the faults just yet to happen or if they've already been taken care of in the past.
thanks, and yeah i know the risks , i guess i just wasnt expecting and hoping for a lot of things to fix.
i got the car really cheap, so i hope it wasnt too cheap for a reason, but if it requires work i guess i can make sure its right and throw a few bucks to bring it up to scratch.
would tilbrooks here in adelaide do general repairs like the belts and pulleys and brake hoses etc ?
by the way im getting the car for around $7900 landed/complied
s
Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1910 Location: Perth, SoR
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject:
It will be more then that, trust me. Mine was ment to be $13 500 it ended up being around $17 000 then you still got rego and that’s about $400 for just 6 months.
It’s good that you have gone for a stocker the chances of it being thrashed out are much less therefore being in better condition but this is not always the case. But don’t get me wrong Aristos are great cars apart from common things like window regs I have had no problems at all with mine. And it’s always working unlike my mates Nissan's. And its speed from 80kph to 180 is just insane you will love it but there starting to get old so little problems do start to arise. Very rarely with the engine though. _________________
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 176 Location: Adelaide S.A
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 12:31 am Post subject:
sorry to hijack your thread mate, but when registering your car for the first time (SA) what charges are involved? is it just stamp duty, rego and away you go?
Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 1100 Location: Adelaide, Woodcroft
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 12:33 am Post subject:
2JZEE wrote:
xscape wrote:
its really hit and miss when importing - it goes for any car really, not just the aristo.
my view is that it really comes down to not being able to gauge how meticulous the prior owner was - as you never meet them or even know who the hell they were.
once your car lands and you get it home it probably wont take too long to realise if you've got yourself a lemon - been through that with a previous car, and its not a good feeling, but you enjoy the car anyway and just have to spend some cash & time bringing it up to a better standard before going further with any planned modifications.
my aristo has been sweet, had it for over a year and i havent had to do ball joints, window regs, water pump or any of the other common faults (and it was only grade 3.5). i dont know if the faults just yet to happen or if they've already been taken care of in the past.
thanks, and yeah i know the risks , i guess i just wasnt expecting and hoping for a lot of things to fix.
i got the car really cheap, so i hope it wasnt too cheap for a reason, but if it requires work i guess i can make sure its right and throw a few bucks to bring it up to scratch.
would tilbrooks here in adelaide do general repairs like the belts and pulleys and brake hoses etc ?
by the way im getting the car for around $7900 landed/complied
s
yeah champ they pretty much do everything!! but if your handy with a spanner or 2 defiantly give it a go yourself as its not hard to do and can save you a few $$$
Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Mackay QLD
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 7:05 am Post subject:
Guys, I haven't bought a lemon - just a car that hasn't had much done on it for its 70000 k life. I doubt any other windows apart from the drivers have been used for years - I had to pull all the doors apart and lubricate everything with silicone spray to make them slide nicely. All the other stuff is normal wear and tear for these cars - ball joints exscape you're most likely one of the lucky ones that had the factory recall or the previous owner replaced them in Japan.
Yes I've owned silvias and my second car is a r33gtst - the skylines have much stronger ball joints - they just don't seem to wear out. Personally I think the nissans are more durable in camparson - I'm talking about the little things like trims etc - I've never heard of someone having to replace a harmonic balancer on a nissan because it fell to bits! My car has a log booked 70 000 kays on it and everything reflects that - but they must have used poorer grades of rubber on things like the harmonic balancer and intercooler hoses as I've seen a few fail. Coil pack plugs - I started a thread as when I changed my plugs the coil pack plugs fell to bits and a heap of guys wrote in saying they had the same problem.
Your 100000 k service will cost you a grand in bits if you want to do it right - my r33 gtst cost less than $400 including new water pump. If you have to replace your ball joints the uppers are $350 a side and lowers $150 a side so there's another grand in parts. For me only the left lower is buggered and I just received it in the mail.
In comparison to the nissans they are a more expensive car to work on - I think mainly because they are still a rare car in Aus and not a lot of guys know much about them. For my brake booster problems no members here knew much about it. I went onto the Soarer website which have the same brake set-up and heaps of guys have exactly the same problem. Just more soarers in aus.
I won't be selling my Aristo for awhile though - it's such a nice car and bang for buck great value. Just think every time you jump in this car cost over hundred grand brand new! Just keep in your mind that they're not as cheap to fix as the lines and silvias.
Guys, I haven't bought a lemon - just a car that hasn't had much done on it for its 70000 k life. I doubt any other windows apart from the drivers have been used for years - I had to pull all the doors apart and lubricate everything with silicone spray to make them slide nicely. All the other stuff is normal wear and tear for these cars - ball joints exscape you're most likely one of the lucky ones that had the factory recall or the previous owner replaced them in Japan.
Yes I've owned silvias and my second car is a r33gtst - the skylines have much stronger ball joints - they just don't seem to wear out. Personally I think the nissans are more durable in camparson - I'm talking about the little things like trims etc - I've never heard of someone having to replace a harmonic balancer on a nissan because it fell to bits! My car has a log booked 70 000 kays on it and everything reflects that - but they must have used poorer grades of rubber on things like the harmonic balancer and intercooler hoses as I've seen a few fail. Coil pack plugs - I started a thread as when I changed my plugs the coil pack plugs fell to bits and a heap of guys wrote in saying they had the same problem.
Your 100000 k service will cost you a grand in bits if you want to do it right - my r33 gtst cost less than $400 including new water pump. If you have to replace your ball joints the uppers are $350 a side and lowers $150 a side so there's another grand in parts. For me only the left lower is buggered and I just received it in the mail.
In comparison to the nissans they are a more expensive car to work on - I think mainly because they are still a rare car in Aus and not a lot of guys know much about them. For my brake booster problems no members here knew much about it. I went onto the Soarer website which have the same brake set-up and heaps of guys have exactly the same problem. Just more soarers in aus.
I won't be selling my Aristo for awhile though - it's such a nice car and bang for buck great value. Just think every time you jump in this car cost over hundred grand brand new! Just keep in your mind that they're not as cheap to fix as the lines and silvias.
Cheers
ok, hope i didnt offend you with the lemon thing ?
didnt mean too.
i totally understand the car is an import and age etc and i hope i dont have to replace too much stuff on mine, but will if it needs it.
thanks for your input mate, its appreciated !
thanks
s
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