Skyline GTR V-spec

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Discussion

moleamol

Original Poster:

15,887 posts

263 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
quotequote all
Right, I'm thinking of chopping the Lancia in for something a bit less tempramental, however, I want something as quick. I don't really want a Scooby or an EVO although I may consider them if things don't pan out.

The question is, what do people think of the R33 Skyline GTR V-spec. It is a 2.6l I6 twin turbo, that produces 286 bhp (choked for Jap regs) and 271 ft/lb of torque (these are the official figures, believed to be higher. It will do 0-60 in 4.9 and go on to a limited 155mph. All this and it has a fancy 4wd system to help in the corners too. 450bhp is easily acheivable and that will still keep it very reliable.

What I want to know, has anyone actually drove one? I've heard they are quite boring to drive because they correct any mistakes for you. It is undeniably fast with the potential to go much faster, but is it a proper drivers car or would it bore me after the Lancia experience?

Cheers for any help and advice PH peoples

granville

18,764 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
quotequote all
John,

I guess few cars (EVO VI & VII aside) will deliver the manic cackle of the Integrale; the Skyline is now considered a too passe and bloated for serious consideration...er, whatever!

I can only rave enthusiastically about the R34 variant which is simply astonishing: jacked up, these babies will nail almost anything and they deliver the killer blow with such delicious brutality and yet commensurate strength.

Indeed, I was just telling the great Domster of Helms Deep how highly I regard this unfashionable lout.

You would simply DESTROY the moorland by ways - so have a gander; it may be a worthy successor for the rally special.

Good hunting.

Mon Ami Mate

6,589 posts

268 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
quotequote all
I had a standard R34 when I was living in Dubai. It is simply awesome, but very clinical and uninspiring. You don't drive it, it drives you. And it is better than you can ever hope to be...

moleamol

Original Poster:

15,887 posts

263 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
quotequote all
Oh, I've been demoted to Jap chat I'll never get any replies now

I'm going testing a midnight blue R33 on Saturday with a full Middlehurst history. I'll let you know what I think, more replies though please

clubsport

7,258 posts

258 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
quotequote all
I would have thought an EVO V1 would be a natural replacement for an Integrale out of the newer jap cars.
It even has short service intervals,so you will get to know the service department...

Annoyed

38 posts

262 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
quotequote all
"You don't drive it, it drives you"

Quite the opposite in my experience. They are very rewarding cars, and certainly don't "drive themselves" in the way an Impreza does.

smifffy

1,987 posts

266 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
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yawn yawn, let's slag off Imprezas again.

:stop:

Mon Ami Mate

6,589 posts

268 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
quotequote all

Annoyed said: "You don't drive it, it drives you"

Quite the opposite in my experience. They are very rewarding cars, and certainly don't "drive themselves" in the way an Impreza does.


What I meant was that the electronics make the car feel unrewarding because you soon ecome aware that what feels like approaching your own personal limit is nowhere near the limit of the car. Perhaps you are just a far better driver than I am - I never felt that I was doing my R34 justice!

funkyboogalooo

1,844 posts

268 months

Tuesday 4th February 2003
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Well i've never driven one but they look well fookin ard.
Thats my say.

NikB

1,834 posts

265 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
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Have a look at the GTR owners club:

www.gtr.co.uk

It's worth asking if anybody knows the history of the car on here, there are so few that somebody is bound to know it.

Cheers

Nik

Mr E

21,616 posts

259 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
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I've just bought a Celica ST205 GT4.

Different. Very, very quick. Lots of fun.

Probably a bit tame after a 'grale though.

What was the R33 like?

moleamol

Original Poster:

15,887 posts

263 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
quotequote all

Mr E said: I've just bought a Celica ST205 GT4.

Different. Very, very quick. Lots of fun.

Probably a bit tame after a 'grale though.

What was the R33 like?
Don't know yet, I'm only looking at it on this Saturday. I can imagine that evn the Skyline will feel tame after my grale, quick, but tame.

The car is at Middlehurst at the momnt so I am going to ring them and ask them what they think of it, maybe if they will let me go and have a peek at it there too, get them to give me a quick show around. Should be a bit like a free professional inspection

>> Edited by moleamol on Wednesday 5th February 11:55

funkyboogalooo

1,844 posts

268 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
quotequote all
yeh thats the way to do it. When I was buying my Grale the guy let slip where he had the work done so I rang them and got the low down.

funkyboogalooo

1,844 posts

268 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
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Quick question. Whats the difference between An R34 and an R34 'V' Spec?

Mr E

21,616 posts

259 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
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V spec has widescreen and surround sound?

TheLemming

4,319 posts

265 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
quotequote all

Mr E said: V spec has widescreen and surround sound?


Pretty much

There were several models of the R-34 Skyline.

IIRC (And this may not be complete) the basic model was the GT (was this rear wheel drive?)

The GT-R added all manner of toys.

The GTR V-Spec was the daddy.

There was also a Nismo model as well as an Estate and a 4 door saloon.

The estate and saloon were limited run models snapped up relatively fast so you are very unlikely to see any around in the UK as was the Nismo special.

IIRC there were some differences between the officially imported R-34's and the Japanese models. Mainly an additional oil cooler and some other minor mods.

BarryG

91 posts

269 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
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In the R33 models the main difference between a standard R-spec and a V-spec are that the V-spec has an Active Limited Slip Diff (Active = computer controlled).

The only other differences are that the V rides 10mm lower and is therefore worse to drive on normal UK roads. I used to have an R-spec car (actually a Le Mans special edition), and this was much nicer on public roads than my friend's V-spec.

So it depends how much you use you car on the track. If you use your car every day, save some money and buy an R-spec.

However, after 2 years and a number of track days I thought that the computers were in control too much - I wanted to know whether the good "lap times" were down to me or the car. I now have a much more traditional front engine/rear drive car - much more rewarding and cheaper to run.

By the way, the GT models have a 2.5 single turbo engine and tend to be rear drive only.

Johnny G

101 posts

256 months

Wednesday 5th February 2003
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There's no GT R33 AFAIK - the GTS is 2.5L non-turbo rear-drive, the GTS-t is 2.5 single turbo rear drive.

J

funkyboogalooo

1,844 posts

268 months

Saturday 8th February 2003
quotequote all
let us know what its like then?

moleamol

Original Poster:

15,887 posts

263 months

Sunday 9th February 2003
quotequote all
I will but I'm only going looking at the bugger tomorrow. Had a busy weekend but finish early tomorrow. I'll let you know how the beasty is then