Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989 – 1994) Review

Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989 – 1994) At A Glance

Astounding performance, traction and handling, looks the part, too.

Technically very complex and an import, so great care needed when buying, don't expect to run it on a shoestring

Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989 – 1994) Buying Guide

Good

• Phenomenal four-wheel-drive junior supercar that looks like a tricked-up coupe.
• Astonishing performance and handling.
• Three different generations of GT-R among unofficial imports: R32 (1989-1994); R33 (1995-1998); and R34 (1999 on).
• Also V-Spec models. Have been chipped in Japan to more than 1,000 bhp, but standard conservatively estimated 280 bhp (more like a true 320 bhp) is plenty.
• Nissans generally had slightly below average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 94.77 v/s lowest 31.93). Link: www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

Bad

• Very limited official UK imports
• Performance limited to get through SVA.

Watch

• Lots of grey imports about dating back to the early 1990s, so make sure you know what you're getting.
• Check for uneven tyre wear and for pulling to either side on a flat road.
• Extremely complex suspension and drivetrain difficult to get parts for, to repair and to set up.
• Make sure the car is a genuine GT-R and not a GTS-4, a rear-drive-only GT-S or, worse still, an ordinary Skyline.
• GTS-4 configuration breaks down into:
• R32 model (upto 1994/5): 4WD 2 litre turbo
• R33 model (1994/5 to 1998): 4WD 2.5L litre non turbo
• R33 GTS4 not turbo. But these are sometimes passed off as GTRs.
• Easiest way to tell is that all GTRs (whether R32, R33 or R34) have 2.6 litre twin turbos, whilst non GTRs could be:
• R32: either a 2 litre non turbo, 2 litre turbo or 2.5 litre non turbo

Running Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989 – 1994)

• Club: www.skylineowners.com