Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Prices Have Plateaued, So Now Is The Time To Buy One

If you grew up in the 1990s, there is a good chance you were, at one point, fascinated by JDM sports cars that were never sold in the US. Thanks to Gran Turismo and Fast and Furious, cars like the Toyota Supra and Nissan Skyline GT-R became legends. Their iconic status was exacerbated by the fact that you weren’t allowed to import one into the US, until they became 25-years old. 

Left-hand drive Supras were available in limited quantities, which is why prices have skyrocketed to the point where these cars have become unobtainable by the vast majority of enthusiasts. But if you are still lusting after a Japanese sports car from the 1990s, then you will be happy with the most recent developments on the used market. 

Lately, I have been spending more time on Cars and Bids. I was curious about how the market for classic JDM cars is doing and was surprised to see that some of my favorite cars from my childhood are more affordable than I remember. One model stood out in particular - the R32 GT-R - and it got me thinking, are 1990s JDM sports cars still worth it in 2025?

Are 1990s JDM cars still worth it?

For the most part, 1990s JDM sports cars have become too expensive to make sense. I am sure plenty of aficionados out there will jump out and say that an R34 GT-R (one of my all-time favorite cars) is worth $130,000 or more, but is it really? 

Nowadays, there are plenty of newer, measurably better sports cars available for a fraction of the price. The Nissan Z is a great example of a sports car that is great value for money, and the Toyota GR Supra is not far off either. 

Certain GT-R models have plateaued in value

One of the biggest surprises is the Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R. There are plenty of examples listed for the high-$20,000 to mid-$30,000 range, which isn’t nearly as scary as the six-digit figures seen on many R34 GT-Rs and Mk IV Supras. 

While some examples are still changing hands for over $50,000, one clean example of the R32 GT-R was sold for $34,000 back in July. If you don’t mind a car with some tasteful modifications, this R32 “Godzilla” currently sits at $26,250.

R32 GT-R prices are holding steady for two main reasons

The R32 is the first of the truly iconic Skyline GT-R models of our time. By now, you have heard a million times how the R32 GT-R got its “Godzilla” nickname through dominating in motorsports, and that the R33 and R34 that came after essentially improved upon the platform. 

The Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R is considered the ultimate evolution of that 1990s platform, and has the most amount of special variants. This, along with pop culture’s impact on the JDM scene, caused R34 GT-R prices to become what they are today. 

At the same time, the R32 (and R33) are less desirable and not as desired by collectors. Moreover, early R32 models had issues with the oil pump (before May 1993), problems with the twin ceramic turbochargers, rust, issues with the HI-CAS four-wheel steering, synchromesh, premature failure of the coil packs, and potential crankshaft issues. Later models were known to be exempt from those issues as the imperfections were ironed out.

Would you still buy one?

At the end of the day, you are still getting a Japanese legend and a homologation special meant to dominate racetracks. You get the R32’s race-tuned chassis, capable of handling immense power, the RB26DETT engine, and the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system.

 These cars are old, which means one of two things: either the aforementioned issues will have been taken care of by now, or you will have to deal with new issues, like rust, which is known to be persistent on most Japanese cars from that era. 

Then, there is always the chance that you will stumble upon an abused vehicle, and if you want to know what to look for when buying a used sports car, I have shared my personal experience here.

With all that said, would you still buy a 1990s JDM sports car? Are they still cool enough or is the “bang-for-buck” ratio no longer there? Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: Cars and Bids