Austarion

Hi

I have come across an opportunity to acquire one of these with a good history. Where is the best info/websites to look at to determine what to look for in them.
Anyone on the forum have one?

any aussie websites or are they all USn ones - what are parts like to get? - surely not harder than Starion bits?

Thanks :)

I've done lots of research.
Call me if you want to have a chat... :)

yeah i reckon harder to get parts for (in aus at least) than a starion.. even harder to find someone who will work on them (got a customer who has had mega trouble finding people to in the past)

We did some research a few years ago with a view to buying one as I think they are dead sexy.

We went cold on it because of service/parts/maintenance issues. As Redzone says its harder to get parts in Australia than a Starion. That said the US has a decent supply but you are subject to freight and exchange rate issues.

If you really want one go for it and love it but just do the work on how you will maintain it. I'd love one trust me but too much :x in the service/maintenance for me.

their downfall is the americans had too much input in their design. They are actually based on the early 90s Diamante chassis (the actual original one, not the weak ass solid beam axle model Magnas you aussies got).

A standard model GTO twin turbo manual is 1710kgs, while a fully optioned 4WD 4WS automatic Diamante four door sedan with leather tips the scales at 1600kgs - you figure out where the extra 100+kgs comes from!

That said they share a bit in common with the E39A series Galant VR-4 and once you get familiar with them they aren't too hard to service or maintain. Like some cars, they have heaps of little niggly issues and common faults.

One major fault is the engine oiling system on the early 90-93 2-bolt mains motors - often after its 100,000kms service (ie cambelt replaced) they suffer low oil pressure and starvation problems - this is due to a negligent mechanic propping up the engine block from the bottom of the sump when removing the cambelt side engine mount, and this pushes the tin sump up into the shallow oil pick up screen and partially or completely blocks it.

Thanks - losing interest -more feedback from someone who has one would be good- trying to work out where I would park it!

what's the value of one over there? here they can be picked up for as little as $1000 with issues for an early model one or as much as $15000 for a late model good condition one.

1994 model - so 4WS 4WD turbo
$15 approx
i have not seriously looked at it as I do not want to get tempted on a whim - I would need to do some justification........ and I am sure there are plenty of other things to focus on at the moment :D

yeah a '94 model isn't really an AUD$15k car. I would say AUD$5-7k at most.

Cars must be so cheap in NZ - most of the GTO and GT3000 are $15 - $25K over here...

search www.carsales.com.au

Ray

Noddy,

As I said before I love these cars and go a bit gooey anytime I see one on the road but when we were looking at getting one (about 4 years ago now admittingly) they were selling @ $40-45K. Those same year/model cars are in the $15K range now. Big price fall. :o Glad we didnt commit back then.

Good luck. At least you arent diving in and buying one THEN asking the questions. :beer

a lot of people i know who migrated here from NZ a while back when they were closing the gates, these people brought their cars over with them, because they realised it was much cheaper to pay for the transport and other costs than to sell their car there and buy an equivalent one here. Perhaps that's something to look into if you can get a 3000gt from nz for a grand?

I personally don't like them. Very pretty cars for sure, but i'm not a form over function kind of person. The starion is a true sports car.. it was designed to race.. whereas its replacement is just 2 tons of ultra hardcore technology with seemingly little benefit to it all. Very nice cruiser perhaps, but not really what I would consider a sports car.

dirtygalant wrote:yeah a '94 model isn't really an AUD$15k car. I would say AUD$5-7k at most.

yeah it would be if it's a 3000GT, GTO imports are worth a little less. but good luck finding one over here for 5K!

Noddy wrote:Cars must be so cheap in NZ - most of the GTO and GT3000 are $15 - $25K over here...

search www.carsales.com.au

Ray

It's a 3000GT not a GT3000 mate.