Nissan Stagea RS Four S2 V

Highlights

• Rare C34 Stagea RS4 S2 V
• 276bhp turbo straight-six
• Skyline running gear
• Imported in 2017
• Will have new MOT upon sale

Overview

The Nissan Skyline R34 is one of the definitive performance cars of the 1990s – cooler than a swim in the Arctic Circle, yet searingly hot at the same time. An icon of the PlayStation Generation, it’s perhaps the very car that made ‘JDM’ such an appetising prospect for so many.

These days, the late-teenagers of the first-ever PlayStation generation are in their mid-forties, so it’s no surprise that R34s are strong money – a peachy R34 GT-R will set you back a similar amount of cash to a spotless Ford Sierra RS500, and we’re talking six figures for a good one.

But if you’re clever, there’s another way – and it has the added bonus that you can get a sideboard in the back. If you’re of that generation, it might actually be an attractive proposition for that purpose just as much as the more obvious reasons why a PHer would love it. Here it is.

This car is a 2001 Nissan Stagea, which is based on the same platform as the R34 but in five-door long-roof format. This one is an RS Four V-S2, which will mean very little if you’re not well-versed in JDM Nissan speak, but in layman’s terms it means it’s one of the iciest of the ice-cool station wagons ever made, featuring a turbocharged inline-six RB25DET Neo engine, also found in the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-T.

In standard tune, it has 276bhp at the flywheel, which in this example translates to 255bhp at the wheels – we know this, because it comes with a rolling road printout that proves as much. Yet to look at, it’s not loud or garish. To those with minimal car knowledge, it’s an ordinary silver estate car. But to those who know, it’s so much more than that.

There are hints, of course, that this isn’t your average family wagon. The frameless doors, mesh air intake, grille-mounted fog lamps, rear privacy glass, twin exhaust pipes and subtle RS badges all hint that this is no ordinary estate car, but it’s subtle. Beautifully subtle. And that’s very much core to its appeal.

We’re talking ourselves into this one by just writing about it, so you’d better get your bid in quickly before we beat you to it.

History and documentation

• Imported in 2016 and first registered on 9 August 2018
• All import and NOVA paperwork included
• Some old MOT certificates
• UK V5C in the current owner’s name
• Will have a new MOT valid to May 2026
• Four UK owners
• Original Japanese Owner’s Manual
• Invoices for service in 2024 as well as a return to standard ride height (previously lowered) and a full wheel alignment, as this was the owner’s preference
• Rolling road printout showing 255bhp at the wheels
• Two keys and remote fobs

Interior

• Black cloth sports seats with 90s retro seat pattern
• All upholstery in very good condition, as are the carpets and door cards
• Huge load bay
• Original spare wheel and tool kit
• Electric windows
• Air conditioning
• Aftermarket double-DIN stereo with Apple CarPlay (original head unit also included)
• Original-spec ‘Stagea’ floor mats with embroidered logos
• White sports dials

Exterior

• Original silver paintwork in great overall condition
• The owner reports a few imperfections where the paint has been previously touched-in, but in the correct colour-matched finish
• Some very minor marks on both bumpers
• Excellent set of original alloy wheels with good tyres, plus a spare set of gold show wheels that the vendor says will require some refurbishment
• Underside treated and rust-proofed under current ownership, no evidence of prior welding or corrosion issues

Mechanical

• 2.5-litre turbocharged straight-six
• Four-speed auto
• 276bhp
• Has just had a full service including timing belt, oil, filter change, auxiliary belts and new battery
• New boost pipes
• New battery
• The vendor tells us that the car drives very well and there are no mechanical faults or issues to report

Summary

Let’s face it, fast wagons are seriously cool. Whether it’s a Volvo 850 T5, a Saab 9-5 Aero HOT, a Subaru Legacy B6, a Mitsubishi Legnum VR4 or a VW Passat W8, by buying one, you’re marking yourself out as someone capable of applying critical thinking to bypass the norm (and, by happy serendipity, probably save yourself a bit of cash).

Do it with this car and what you get for your money is the thinking person’s R34 Skyline – six succulent, sweet-sounding cylinders with a turbo attached, a fabulous exhaust note and terrific performance, allied to spaciousness and comfort that make other performance cars look a little uncouth. It’s a seriously cool piece of kit, but at the same time, it’s a cracking family car.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Plymouth, Devon.