Skyline Wagon: 1997 Nissan Stagea AWD – SOLD!

February 27, 2023, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we can now call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

February 15, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their latest expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing.  This time, they lowered their asking price by another $500 to an even $11,000.

January 26, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their latest Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. The description, pictures, and already lowered asking price remain the same.

December 26, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their latest Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. The description, pictures, and already lowered asking price remain the same.

November 25, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. In it, the pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same. However, they lowered their asking price this time from $12,500 to $11,500.

November 3, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. In it, the pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

October 10, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. In it, the pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

September 14, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. In it, the pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

Here’s one you don’t see daily: a Nissan Stagea wagon. While there’s a seemingly endless list of Japanese market vehicles that ambitious enthusiasts can import or pay an agency to procure, most of the cars and trucks they seek out are known to collectors. A Stagea wagon, on the other hand, is an oddball we don’t hear much of despite having some interesting credentials. First spotted for sale in August 2022 on Craigslist near Dallas, Texas, this is essentially a Skyline in long-roof form, owing to its shared drivetrain components. The seller last requested $11,000 (the original ask was $12,500) for the wagon that has 50,000 miles and is in fair condition; there’s no direct pricing guide we can reference for a Japanese market model like this.

The market for overseas models like this is a curious one. The Skyline GTR, Toyota Supras, and Alpina-built BMWs are popular with enthusiasts and any JDM truck models. When an enthusiast chooses to go after a more obscure model like this, I believe it’s because this is a car or truck they truly wanted above any other criteria that might affect someone in the business of selling these cars for a modest profit. Performance, exclusivity, rarity, and other factors have less to do with importing a model like the Stagea versus just wanting to own something different. At the end of the day, it has a six-cylinder engine with all-wheel-drive paired with an automatic transmission, so it’s not unlike a Subaru Outback on paper – but it’s much more distinctive than yet another lifted Legacy wagon.

The That Dude in Blue YouTube Channel provides a nice overview of why the Nissan Stegea is highly desired among Japanese Domestic Market (“JDM”) enthusiasts:

The seller’s Stagea is like so many other imported Japanese models: shockingly clean for being just another used car, and with mileage so low you know you can drive it daily without much concern. That’s the best part, in my opinion, of buying a car like this: it checks all of the boxes of being a gearhead’s delight but without the penalty that often accompanies older European cars staring down years of deferred maintenance. While I find the “Skyline wagon” description somewhat unconvincing, I just like the fact that a Stagea is not what you typically see imported and that it’s a practical choice for someone seeking out an enthusiast model that can do it all. Plus, if you need a wagon right now, your standard used car with 50K on the clock is going for a fortune; this Stagea has all the reliability of any other late-model Japanese car with low miles for well under $15,000. I never thought I’d see this day, but for once, the enthusiast car seems to make more sense than the mass-production counterpart.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Right Hand Drive 1997 Nissan Stagea Wagon. You don’t see these very often.
It’s all-wheel drive with a 4-speed automatic transmission and rb25de 6cylinder engine. It’s basically a skyline wagon. Was just imported earlier this year under the 25-year rule. I’ve added a touchscreen Bluetooth radio with a backup camera and all-new pioneer door speakers. New tires and fresh tint.

Cash only, no trades. The price is firm. Call or text to set up a showing. Serious buyers only, please.“

JDM market forces: do you still find the forbidden fruit from Japan to be worth the effort of importing?