RE: PH Blog: we'll meet again
Friday 24th August 2012
So look at what I got to drive into the office this morning. Pretty special, eh? Really special in fact, this being Nissan’s heritage fleet R34, totally standard UK spec and with just over 23,000 miles on it. Doubtful there’s another like it – certainly all the R34s in the classifieds have felt the modder’s hand and boast suitably crazy horsepower figures.
Exotic, unapologetic and totally coolBut it’s always nice to drive a car as its maker intended too, especially one like this. And it’s got particular resonance for me this car, it being the first seriously rapid car I ever drove. That was back in 2001 and … it didn’t go so well. That little anecdote Chris shared in his Tell Me I’m Wrong piece about a scary near miss at the ’ring in Nissan’s blue T4 GTR press car? I read that and laughed out loud, it being, word for word, pretty much what happened to me in the red one, T3 GTR, not long after. Only it didn’t end quite so well in my case.
A fresh-faced Dan and T3 GTR before the inevitableI can understand Chris’s stance in his piece. And I’m happy to defer to his greater experience of R32s and 33s. But for me the 34 is the one, mainly because it was the first fast car I ever drove and, incredibly given what happened, provided me with a path from being a games journo to doing what I do today. Virtual to real, if you will. And that’s a neat analogy for what the R34 is to me and many like me – a car idolised and made legend through gaming as much as real-world exploits and still, to my eyes, amazing to see in the metal rather than pixellated form. A theme we’ll be exploring in more detail very soon…
PH Blog: we'll meet again
R34 Skyline revives memories for Dan, most of them happy ones...
Nothing wrong with that of course – the Skyline is famously a blank canvas in standard form and done properly the mods simply realise the potential laid down in the base package.
Exotic, unapologetic and totally cool
This isn’t my first time back in an R34 since though. V16 SKY and I met a little while back for a buyer’s guide I was writing. But I only had a quick go and this time round I’ve actually got a couple of days to get reacquainted. And I was beaming all the way in this morning, as if an R34 in early morning M25 traffic didn’t stand out enough already!
A fresh-faced Dan and T3 GTR before the inevitable
Sure, it’s no looker by any rational measure. But I can’t take my eyes off it and every time I park up and walk away I have to stop, turn around and take it all in once again. I felt like that 11 years ago with T3 GTR. And it’s nice to know those feelings haven’t changed one bit.
Fancy sharing the love? I’ll be bringing this car to our Sunday Service at Silverstone this weekend so pop across and have a look yourself. V16 SKY will be driven with due deference but to get you in the mood here’s a little vid I found – one of many like it – of a Mine’s R34 being driven in true Banzai fashion. Enjoy! And if anyone else has any favourite Skyline videos let’s have ’em!
Dan
Discussion
One of my all time favouritist cars in the world ever! One day....
GTR vs RX7 Touge video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdjDPWXMB9A
GTR vs RX7 Touge video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdjDPWXMB9A
Edited by DanDC5 on Friday 24th August 10:36
melvster said:
Absolutely gorgeous, i would want a V Spec R34 with no mods.
it may be easier to get hold of rocking horse s
t mate!i have a lot of love for the R34. but the skyline of choice for me is the R32, everytime i see a nice/decently modded one i get a little twinge, kinda like james may's penis fizz
Lovely cars, Loved mine when I had it, i would say it was one of the most special cars I've owned
Here's mine before I sold it, standard engine, just an HKS exhaust that did sound stunning I managed to track down a Nismo Z tune front bumper for it that made a big difference.
I had other plans for it, mainly a few more Nismo parts. but had to sell it on
Here's mine before I sold it, standard engine, just an HKS exhaust that did sound stunning I managed to track down a Nismo Z tune front bumper for it that made a big difference.
I had other plans for it, mainly a few more Nismo parts. but had to sell it on
Edited by XKjimmy on Friday 24th August 11:03
melvster said:
DanDC5 said:
An exhaust is always a necessity. Got to let that straight 6 sing through a 5 inch tailpipe. It's Jap car law 
Yeah i see where u are coming from.I take it u have the same on your DC5 and it is never out if the Tec zone.
It spends more of it's time sat in traffic going to work and back.The Dirty Bubble said:
"Only it didn’t end quite so well in my case"
Come on then Dan, you can't tease us with this little tit bit without spilling the beans.
Well, I had a story about the whole affair published in Evo back in the day so it's no secret! But the abridged version is games journos borrow a Skyline in an attempt to replicate gaming experiences in real life, wish that you could just hit restart... The plan had been to try and drive circuits we'd been featuring in games recently so we went to Le Mans and were intending to then go to the 'ring. All told it's probably best we only made it as far as Indianapolis before a minor but terminal (as far as the trip was concerned at least) interaction with the Armco occurred. Over the intervening years you'd be forgiven for thinking the car cartwheeled into the trees, through a convent and exploded into a million pieces but the reality was a lot more dull and only really involved a cracked headlight, bit of bumper damage and knackered intercooler ducting. Massively embarrassing/humbling/etc... but we got the story. Come on then Dan, you can't tease us with this little tit bit without spilling the beans.
I do recall limping to the Le Mans Nissan dealership in the vague hope they could fix it and there being a lot of Gallic shrugging at the sight of a Skyline. They got it on the ramp, pulled a few bits of turf out, shrugged some more and that was that. Amidst it all an old lady who was in having her Micra serviced looked at us, tutted and said "you bad boys, what have you been doing?" She then looked at the Skyline, the turf, the Armco imprint and then sighed "I know EXACTLY what you've been doing..."
Edited by Dan Trent on Friday 24th August 11:11
Dan Trent said:
Well, I had a story about the whole affair published in Evo back in the day so it's no secret! But the abridged version is games journos borrow a Skyline in an attempt to replicate gaming experiences in real life, wish that you could just hit restart... The plan had been to try and drive circuits we'd been featuring in games recently so we went to Le Mans and were intending to then go to the 'ring. All told it's probably best we only made it as far as Indianapolis before a minor but terminal (as far as the trip was concerned at least) interaction with the Armco occurred. Over the intervening years you'd be forgiven for thinking the car cartwheeled into the trees, through a convent and exploded into a million pieces but the reality was a lot more dull and only really involved a cracked headlight, bit of bumper damage and knackered intercooler ducting. Massively embarrassing/humbling/etc... but we got the story.
I remember reading that- I didn't realise it was you though. I've still got that mag at home somewhere, I'll have to dig it out...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff