Guess The Price – 1997 Nissan Stagea 25X

Our first “Guess the Price” feature reveals a hidden JDM gem – the Nissan Stagea. Guess how much the Skyline’s daily-friendly wagon sibling sold for at auction!

This is the first in a series of “Guess The Price” articles, where we’ll cover some surprising prices of cars recently sold at auction in the US. We’re kicking things off with this unsung hero JDM wagon.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a Skyline but need something more practical for daily duties, the Nissan Stagea is the perfect solution. It’s reasonably priced, too, with this super clean example recently selling at auction in the US for just $10,000 at Cars & Bids.

A Brief Stagea History Lesson

The Stagea was Nissan’s answer to the Subaru Legacy wagon. Built on the Nissan Skyline R33 platform, it shares many components with its sedan sibling. Despite its mechanical similarities, the Stagea boasts a unique body style that sets it apart.

Long considered one of Japan’s best-kept secrets, the Stagea never officially made it to American shores. However, now that it’s over 25 years old, it’s eligible for import alongside the Skyline, presenting the perfect opportunity to bag a bargain.

The Ultimate Daily Driver?

With just 66,000 miles (107,200km) on the clock, this Stagea is barely broken in. It’s the perfect “one car fits all” solution. You can do the school runs during the week, then comfortably fit five of you to cruise across the country to the drift track at the weekend.

Imagine the wheels and spare parts you could fit in here if you’ve got a dedicated drift car. This could be the perfect everyday weapon for hauling everything you need.

While it’s ridiculously practical, it also looks awesome. This one features 18-inch JDM-style wheels, a Stagea RS Four front bumper and grille, matching side skirts, and an aftermarket rear bumper. The Series 2 Stagea taillights help add a modern touch to this 27-year-old classic.

We’re amazed at how clean it is throughout, especially underneath, especially when you consider that it’s now approaching three decades old.

While mostly stock, the interior features a Kenwood touchscreen head unit (currently in Japanese – JDM, yo!) alongside the quintessential JDM accessory – the ETC card reader you’ll never use! These toll cards are a rite of passage for anyone who buys a Japanese import. They’re useless in the US but super cool at the same time.

Potential Upgrade Considerations

Under the hood, you’ll find an immaculate-looking, naturally aspirated RB25DE 2.5L straight-six engine, pushing out around 197 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque. While not a powerhouse, it’s still respectable for a daily and has enough power to spin up the rear wheels.

“But, aren’t all Stageas all-wheel drive?” You might ask. Nope. Unlike some AWD Stageas, this model is rear-wheel drive (RWD), making it ideal for those who enjoy a bit of tail-happy action. However, the 4-speed auto transmission will dampen some of that sideways enthusiasm!

Our First Upgrade Considerations

If you’re serious about throwing it sideways, the stock open differential won’t cut it. You’d need to consider welding the diff or installing an aftermarket limited-slip differential (LSD).

A welded diff is a budget-friendly option for dedicated drift cars but has significant drawbacks for daily driving. An aftermarket LSD offers a better balance for street use but at a higher cost.

While the ride height looks ideal for daily use, coilovers will be necessary if you’re considering anything more than the occasional sliding fun around a corner or in a parking lot.

Also, those flat-bottomed leather seats will be a recipe for disaster with sideways shenanigans, so aftermarket bucket seats should be on the shopping list before you slide over to the passenger side mid-drift!

The current exhaust setup looks a bit lost in the aftermarket bumper, making it a prime candidate for an upgrade.

The Turbo Question

While turbocharged RB25DET variants exist, they come with a heftier price tag. Converting this NA engine to turbo is possible but requires significant work, including drilling new holes in the block for oil and coolant lines. It’s a job best left to the professionals, and the costs can quickly add up. Combine that with the manual swap you’ll inevitably want alongside it, and the bills start stacking up.

For many, the naturally aspirated engine’s reliability and lower maintenance costs will outweigh the temptation of forced induction, especially for a daily driver that sees occasional track use.

Other Stagea variants, such as the 25t RS Four V, could also be considered. These were factory-equipped with the RB25DET turbocharged engine.

The top-tier Stagea 260RS Autech Version even features a 5-speed manual and the 2.6L RB26DETT twin-turbo from the R34 Skyline GT-R!

Value Proposition

Depending on your needs, this might not be the perfect Stagea for everyone since it’d need quite a bit of work to transform into a dedicated drifter. However, at just $10,000, it offers incredible bang for your buck daily, especially considering how bad the usual JDM tax has become in recent years.

Sure, an RB25DET or even an RB26DETT with a manual gearbox would be the dream, but good luck finding one in this price range! There are options; whether that means engine swaps, a turbo upgrade, transmission swaps, or keeping it as the perfect stock daily as Nissan intended, it’s up to you.

Spotting JDM Bargains

Although this particular Stagea has already found a new home, it serves as a reminder that these lesser-known JDM gems are still out there if you look hard enough.

Finding these bargains is becoming increasingly difficult, so you’ve gotta think outside the box. It may not be the ultimate drift weapon in stock form, but as a daily driver with heaps of space, plenty of JDM goodness, and some modification potential, it’s hard to beat for $10k.

Photography Credits

Thank you to Cars & Bids for the use of their media.

---