RE: Nissan R34 GT-R Skyline | PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
Mikee19 said:
Mackofthejungle said:
Terribly underwhelming cars, even new. I vaguely remember a quick run in one when I was dropping the TVR in for a service 20 or so years ago - slow, heavy, engine and gearbox not a patch on the Cerbera... Hard riding, and 50% more expensive at the time!
I find it astonishing how they've developed such a following to be honest.
Having driven a stock ish one last year, I totally agree, very boaty! Would still love one, although ownership would be worrying about it blowing up or being stolen. I find it astonishing how they've developed such a following to be honest.
33's look good value and I believe not too much changed as they ran out of money when developing the R34.
Good as standard, but with such a plethora of tuning bits and with the race winning history, I suspect that lead to the following.
I do remember a standard car in 1989/90 at Goodwood decimating all the lambos/ferrari's/porsches!
TVR feels fast (light & loud), the GTR not so much, but in the day, round circuits they were pretty quick
Mikee19 said:
Mackofthejungle said:
Terribly underwhelming cars, even new. I vaguely remember a quick run in one when I was dropping the TVR in for a service 20 or so years ago - slow, heavy, engine and gearbox not a patch on the Cerbera... Hard riding, and 50% more expensive at the time!
I find it astonishing how they've developed such a following to be honest.
Having driven a stock ish one last year, I totally agree, very boaty! Would still love one, although ownership would be worrying about it blowing up or being stolen. I find it astonishing how they've developed such a following to be honest.
33's look good value and I believe not too much changed as they ran out of money when developing the R34.
i ran a 32 as an everyday car (as a student) in a 2003. The wear and tear on the car was quite high.
it's also more of a sense of occasion car, using it every day ruins the experience i think.
i certainly find that with my 35
I'd love one of these, GTR or otherwise. I often find myself looking through eBay etc at them. A GTR is very much out of my budget, but an R33 GTS or R34 GTT still has a lot of appeal.
A standard one doesn't interest me in the slightest though. It would have to echo the stuff coming out of Japan in the late 90s.
A standard one doesn't interest me in the slightest though. It would have to echo the stuff coming out of Japan in the late 90s.
Mackofthejungle said:
Terribly underwhelming cars, even new. I vaguely remember a quick run in one when I was dropping the TVR in for a service 20 or so years ago - slow, heavy, engine and gearbox not a patch on the Cerbera... Hard riding, and 50% more expensive at the time!
I find it astonishing how they've developed such a following to be honest.
I don't think it's astonishing in the slightest. It's the icon of the Gran Turismo generation. Most people would want one without ever having driven one outside of a video game. The other side of it is the Japanese tuning scene, where 1000+bhp examples were legends. I would imagine that most people who want one aren't that bothered about owning a standard one even.I find it astonishing how they've developed such a following to be honest.
tim milne said:
Way back when, David Yu, myself and few others all bought R32 GT-Rs. David swapped it for a R33 and I later bought a 9,000rpm 620hp R32. This was a very rare car and servicing options were a nascent Abbey Motorsport in a single lock-up garage down an alley in Croydon (with the a toilet that must have inspired the one in Trainspotting) or a trip to St Helens to see Andy Middlehurst
Everybody tuned the cars a bit and David tuned his a lot, but all of them suffered major engine failure at some point or other. Even if they didn't blow up, a trip to St Helens was rarely a cheap experience — we used to joke that Skyline ownership involved becoming very familiar with a new unit of currency: a Middlehurst = GBP1,000
They were a lot of fun. We all lusted after the R34 when it came out, but I think the Skyline bubble of excitement had burst by the point.
Always remember that PC mag article on your blue oneEverybody tuned the cars a bit and David tuned his a lot, but all of them suffered major engine failure at some point or other. Even if they didn't blow up, a trip to St Helens was rarely a cheap experience — we used to joke that Skyline ownership involved becoming very familiar with a new unit of currency: a Middlehurst = GBP1,000
They were a lot of fun. We all lusted after the R34 when it came out, but I think the Skyline bubble of excitement had burst by the point.
Matty322 said:
i still enjoy my 34, after 11 years now.
People often wish to own the car (gtr or other) that they have fond memories for in childhood.
That dream however can be a very costly decision if you make a rush decision
My advice. Be aware, these are old cars, and require TLC. Engine's are not bullet proof, but just like any other car, condition and ownership joy, is often based upon how previous owners have treated their cars. That is why there is such a gulf in condition and pricing & those who have tuned on the cheap, or have a rust monster.
Are they fast? no not really until around a settled 550-600ps, are they iconic, yes, and that is what people are chasing.
Every country has it's price point. Japan owners typically if they are the type that attend Rs festival etc will have no problem on lashing money on the car they have often owned for many many years.
Nissan / Nismo's heritage scheme is not really aimed at anyone outside of Japan. so prices are what prices are.
Not that i look at what the market is these days for them in UK, but finding a very good one will still mean you have to refresh certain items on the car.
Stock at Nissan Japan is difficult for a number of items on GTR (32 especially). Example radiator brackets now discontinued. used ones in japan going for £150 etc. Expansion tank for the rad etc
34 is going that way too (i dont own a 33 so dont look at those but many parts are transferable)
That's a beauty,how long have you had it?People often wish to own the car (gtr or other) that they have fond memories for in childhood.
That dream however can be a very costly decision if you make a rush decision
My advice. Be aware, these are old cars, and require TLC. Engine's are not bullet proof, but just like any other car, condition and ownership joy, is often based upon how previous owners have treated their cars. That is why there is such a gulf in condition and pricing & those who have tuned on the cheap, or have a rust monster.
Are they fast? no not really until around a settled 550-600ps, are they iconic, yes, and that is what people are chasing.
Every country has it's price point. Japan owners typically if they are the type that attend Rs festival etc will have no problem on lashing money on the car they have often owned for many many years.
Nissan / Nismo's heritage scheme is not really aimed at anyone outside of Japan. so prices are what prices are.
Not that i look at what the market is these days for them in UK, but finding a very good one will still mean you have to refresh certain items on the car.
Stock at Nissan Japan is difficult for a number of items on GTR (32 especially). Example radiator brackets now discontinued. used ones in japan going for £150 etc. Expansion tank for the rad etc
34 is going that way too (i dont own a 33 so dont look at those but many parts are transferable)
Edited by Matty322 on Thursday 26th March 11:09
Did ToP Secret do all the work on it,must be putting out some nice power as well?
I'm guessing you could spend a good few hours/days keeping that engine bay shining and looking as good as the pictures.
This is a non v spec 34, although it makes very little difference in my eyes from v spec to non v spec (i have had a v spec previously), but its a sub 900 unit car so one of the 1st 1000 units made, and the odo is at around 20,000 (all documented). (originally supplied in Bayside Blue)
The car was purchased new in 1999 by a friend (Gio) and driven straight to TS who did all the work, (it was always at the shop undergoing more mods etc or servicing and pushed the capabilities of the RB engine, hence the early development v cam that was not sold to the public being used on the car so that TS and HKS could gather data before releasing).
Final refresh by TS was in 2009 (included a detune), and i imported it in 2010, with it arriving on Christmas Eve. It is currently having a new fuel system etc (replacing all the nissan oem bits where required, basically little clips for the lines, and replacing like for like suspension.
The original owner and i are long standing friends and now his back in Tokyo (after a short stay in Oz), try and see him as often as i can. Interesting to discuss the adventures of the car and what he went through.
just waiting for my 32 to land, but i will make a separate post on that & the 4 year road i have been through including the final tune at Midori Seibi.
The car was purchased new in 1999 by a friend (Gio) and driven straight to TS who did all the work, (it was always at the shop undergoing more mods etc or servicing and pushed the capabilities of the RB engine, hence the early development v cam that was not sold to the public being used on the car so that TS and HKS could gather data before releasing).
Final refresh by TS was in 2009 (included a detune), and i imported it in 2010, with it arriving on Christmas Eve. It is currently having a new fuel system etc (replacing all the nissan oem bits where required, basically little clips for the lines, and replacing like for like suspension.
The original owner and i are long standing friends and now his back in Tokyo (after a short stay in Oz), try and see him as often as i can. Interesting to discuss the adventures of the car and what he went through.
just waiting for my 32 to land, but i will make a separate post on that & the 4 year road i have been through including the final tune at Midori Seibi.
I cant imagine there are many Skyline owners who know the full history of their cars unless they bought them new or like you,knew the previous owners.
Being a sort of development car for some parts by Top Secret and HKS only adds to the cars history.
Looks like theres a bit of a story to tell on your R32 as well 😉
Be looking forward to seeing a bit more...
Titan2 said:
I cant imagine there are many Skyline owners who know the full history of their cars unless they bought them new or like you,knew the previous owners.
Being a sort of development car for some parts by Top Secret and HKS only adds to the cars history.
Looks like theres a bit of a story to tell on your R32 as well ??
Be looking forward to seeing a bit more...
i have been very fortunate with the history, and it is a little unique. Top Secret obviously remember the car, and was nice to hear positive comments from "Smokey" about it last year after Auto Salon.Being a sort of development car for some parts by Top Secret and HKS only adds to the cars history.
Looks like theres a bit of a story to tell on your R32 as well ??
Be looking forward to seeing a bit more...
32 - Yep there is a story to tell, but waiting on last bit of the puzzle before i start a thread on that.
bloomen said:
I'd vastly prefer a R32 over one of these. I don't regard them as worth anyway near what people ask, though that's my problem, and the 32 looks better, is lighter and will be much more revered in future.
None of them will be reliable though.
depends which one you buy. you have to factor a rebuild. its the only way, even if it's low miles (also how you drive it) None of them will be reliable though.
if you have something original then its going to be abit of an issue, because you want to keep the originality so you cant upthe oil pump gears etc pump
Have to say mine has been fine (as have my previous 34s/32s for the most part)
i am lucky to have one with minimal miles. around 3,000 on the engine itself, but that was a £60,000 build at Top Secret for the engine alone so should be a-ok.
on the 32, its why i undertook a ground up build. (dedicated post to happen on this soon)
you have to be realistic, there are alot of "cheap " options available, but i wanted to go for stability and reassurance via Midori.
purchased all the parts new etc
some may say i am crazy (cost excluding the car) was roughly the same as a new R35.
That said both cars are keepers.
Nice read . Never knew of the f-sport built gtrs.
I’ve had mine 9 years now even though it’s a garage queen . Love it always an occasion driving it and not much out there can match it for attention . I feel like a celebrity out in mine (old,young,male and female stop to take selfies ) .
I’ve had mine 9 years now even though it’s a garage queen . Love it always an occasion driving it and not much out there can match it for attention . I feel like a celebrity out in mine (old,young,male and female stop to take selfies ) .
blade7 said:
Love the looks of the R34, a 997 turbo for a lot less money is what I'd buy though.
When you think about it you could buy a 996 GT3 for the starting price of most R34's now and maybe a 997.But some people would say they are two totally different cars and markets,depends on your perspective and use I guess.
R34 GTR...the first car I'd buy if my numbers came up [quickly followed by and NSX Type-R and Lexus LFA].
Have a look at the one at www.torque-gt.co.uk to see where prices are going for these!!
Have a look at the one at www.torque-gt.co.uk to see where prices are going for these!!
BUG4LIFE]R34 GTR...the first car I'd buy if my numbers came up [quickly followed by and NSX Type-R and Lexus LFA said:
LFA would be my dream.Only ever spotted 1 on the road.
(i am sporting the PH FD t-shirt this day so maybe it was fate)
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff