R32 price and specifications: Is the Nissan Skyline R32 car worth it?
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Do you know which car is called the “Godzilla- The monster”? Well, it’s the Japanese car R32 GT-R edition that was called by the name of this monster. It costs $30,000 to $1,00,000 at present.
Without any doubt, R32 is one of the most appreciated car models produced in Japan. Although the series was discontinued before the 1980s, it got back on track with the GT-R version in 1989.
Seeing the interest among the car enthusiasts in this specific model, the manufacturer made four more versions till 1994.
Here, we’ll tell you whether it’s fair enough to go for this model today and how much it would cost. So, stay with us.
The average cost of Nissan R32 car
On average, the R32 model from Nissan Skylines costs $30,000 to $45,000. There should be no argument regarding the fact that it’s a pure classic edition among all the Japanese cars.
The revival of the R32 GT-R model happened back in 1989, and it continued till 1994. Although the production of the car has ended, it holds the same value among car enthusiasts.
Among the cars in the nineties from Japan, this particular series holds the maximum amount of value, and till now, it has the value of a classic Japanese car.
It had released five models in the years from 1989 to 1994 before discontinuing production. The following chart shows the price of these different versions.
Nissan Car model | Year | Cost |
R32 GT-R | 1989 | $30,000 to $35,000 |
R32 GT-R Nismo | 1990 | $30,000 to $35,000 |
R32 GT-R | 1993 | $35,000 to $40,000 |
R32 GT-R V-Spec | 1993 | $40,000 to $45,000 |
R32 GT-R V-Spec II | 1994 | $50,000 to $55,000 |
All these car models came with the similar engine RB26DETT, which could produce up to 276 horsepower. And because of being a highly powerful engine, it is known as the Godzilla- The monster.
How much does a brand new R32 cost?
As the production of R32 series cars has ended, it's impossible to get a brand new one. However, as it still holds the value just before, the price hasn't decreased much.
The cost depends on –
The price of any of the models from this particular series can still charge you as low as $25,000. And if you have noticed, the brand new model was worth $30,000.
Again, the models are hard to find in your area or a tough task importing the car from Japan to the USA. Therefore, the price could go up to six figures that are equivalent to $1,00,000.
Specifications of R32 series cars
Now, before you decide whether this particular car model is suitable for you as a daily driver or not, knowing the specs is a mandatory task you want to do.
The five models from this particular series come with a similar engine that is so powerful to produce up to 276 HP. For day-to-day, the engine power appears to be more than enough.
Check out the following chart to know the specs of the car model at a glance.
Years produced | 1989 to 1994 |
Body style | Two doors (Coupe) |
Engine type | Spark ignition 4-stroke engine |
Cylinder type | 2.6L inline-six unit cylinders |
Fuel capacity | 19 US. Gallon |
Charger type | Twin turbocharger |
Fuel type | Gasoline through indirect injection |
Net power | 276 HP |
Transmission | 5-speed manual |
Drive type | All-wheel |
Top-speed | 250 km/h (Approximately) |
Front suspension | Strut type (Coil springs) |
Rear suspension | Multilink (Coil springs) |
Brake (Front) | Ventilated discs |
Brake (Rear) | Discs |
The above chart was regarding the technical information of the vehicle. You may also want to know something about the dimensions of the car, which you are looking forward to using as your daily driver.
Length | 178.9 inches |
Width | 69.1 inches |
Height | 52.8 inches |
Wheelbase | 103 inches |
Ground clearance | 5.3 inches |
Tire size | 225/50 ZR16 |
Curb weight | 1430 KG |
Gross weight | 1650 KG |
It was a two-door coupe-designed car that was made for racing purposes. To provide a racing stance to the car series, the Japanese manufacturer used wide tires and the fenders were enlarged as well.
The sleek body design of the car gave it a racing look. Moreover, if it had to go with any damage on the racing track, it wasn’t a tough task to repair the vehicle.
Price of a used R32 car
A thumb rule about a used car is that it loses a certain amount of value per year of usage. That is to say, the value can decrease about 10% to 15% a year.
And it could lose half of its real value within three years of usage. However, it didn't really happen for the Japanese car series R32 as it still holds the same value as it had before.
A used R32 series car will still cost you not less than $25,000 depending on what condition it is. Moreover, the price can go up to $50,000 too if the car is rare in the market today.
Moreover, don't forget adding the extra costs to import the car from Japan to the USA, which is indeed a tiresome process. Also, if you are up to doing any modification to the car, the cost can go up to $90,000.
What factors impact the price of R32?
If you want to get hands-on with this classic Japanese car model, you have to go for a used one and import it from Japan. Before you purchase any of the models from this particular series, it’s better to go through the following factors.
- Condition of the car.
- If there is any damage on the exterior.
- The fuel-efficiency.
- Does the car need any modification?
- If any parts of the car need repair.
The condition of the car impacts the pricing mainly. If there isn't any damage to the exterior of the car, you are supposed to pay nearly the same amount as a brand new car.
Checking fuel efficiency is a key factor to decide how much it is worth paying for your car. Another crucial factor that can noticeably increase the overall cost is the modification done to the car.
It may not need any modification, but if you are up to giving a new look to any specific part of it, the overall price goes up significantly.
Last but not the least factor that has a direct impact on the overall cost is the condition of different parts of the car. If any parts of the car need repair, it appears as an addition to the pricing.
How much does it cost to modify R32?
As it is completely legal to modify R32 in the USA, you are well on to give this classic Japanese car a new look. The overall cost for the modification of this particular series can cost you $14,000 to $40,000.
Modification type | Cost |
Body modification | $2,000 to $8,000 |
Applying a new paint | $4,000 to $17,000 |
Replacing the tires | $8,000 to $15,000 |
Body modification
If any parts of the exterior or interior of the car that you want to modify, it's going to charge you the least. However, the modification charge is variable as it differs from part to part of the body.
Applying a new paint
Again, one of the most tiresome and expensive types of modification is applying entirely a new paint on the exterior body.
Depending on the quality of the paint and how much time the labor takes the charge can go somewhere up to $17k.
Replacing the tires
Of course, you won't want to change one or two tires; rather all four tires of the car. And replacing a tire also means replacing the wheels and rims. The cost of replacing all these tires can cost up to $15k.
Servicing and maintenance cost for R32
Although the terms servicing and maintenance are spelled together, these two are different on paper and in reality. The annual maintenance cost for an R32 series car ranges from $900 to $1,000.
Maintenance (Annual) | $900 to $1,000 |
Maintenance (Monthly) | $120 to $150 |
Service charge | $350 to $1,200 |
However, you may also like to go for a monthly maintenance service that is going to cost you from $120 to $150. On the other hand, the servicing charge depends on what type of damage is done to the vehicle.
Depending on which specific part of the vehicle needs servicing, the charge can range from $350 to $1,200.
Nissan Skyline R32 car insurance cost
Nissan Skyline R32 is undoubtedly an expensive car for the insurance service compared to the other cars. The insurance of this particular car series ranges from $2,200 to $3,500 depending on the model and company.
Compared to the other car models, the insurance cost for this particular series can be twice sometimes. However, which model and year of the car you own is a key factor to decide how much the insurance service will cost.
As for the newer models, the cost is typically on the higher side compared to the older models.
Another key factor is the company providing this expensive insurance service. Each company has its own criteria for insurance, and the cost varies because of this.
Fuel cost for Skyline R32 car
How cost-efficient the car is depends highly on how much fuel it requires annually. The less fuel efficiency it has, the less cost-efficient it will be. On average, the fuel cost for this car is not more than $2,000.
However, it can be slightly higher or lower when it comes to real-life performance.
Parts and repair cost for R32 model
The parts and repair cost for the R32 series vehicle is one of the most variable price segments. The cost can be somewhere from $350 to $1,200 depending on the part that needs replacement or repair.
Typically, replacing it takes much more expensive than repairing it. Meanwhile, you may find some parts are better to replace than repair to uphold the performance quality.
Is it worth buying R32 today?
Why it isn't worth buying R32 today? Among the best Japanese cars, it is the most famous and user-loved edition. It is a type of classic vehicle that still holds value.
- Holds the value like before.
- Have five different models.
- Excellent choice for racing purposes.
- Fuel efficiency is superb.
- Different companies offer insurance services.
If you can bear the cost of importing the car from Japan, you will get a value for money car as your daily driver for sure.
Is Nissan R32 model car legal in the USA?
According to the legal statement from the US government, any car over 25 years old is completely legal to use in the US. This means that Nissan R32 series cars are right now legal in the USA.
However, the rules for California still stay the same, and you may have to go through a long process to make it legal there.
Meanwhile, the charge to import the car from Japan is definitely not a cost-efficient thing. If still, you want to experience the Godzilla of classic cars, you should go forward and get one.
Cost analysis
The cost for this particular series depends on the condition of the car, the year of the specific model, and so on. However, the thing you need to know is that you have to pay the cost of the car and importing charge as well.
The cars haven't yet lost their value, and that is the reason why the price for each of these models remains almost the same. On the other hand, the import charge is undoubtedly a big thing to deal with.