The R34 Skyline needs no introduction. The most wanted Nissan has a cult following thanks to its robust performance and not to mention the Fast And Furious franchise. With six generations, the Nissan GT-R, in addition to becoming one JDM icon— was an example of the brand’s exquisite engineering skills, with the flagship label.
The R34 Skyline saw its life begin in the late 90s, 1998 to be specific. Although it was not offered in the US then, but things have changed now. The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 allows vehicles 25 years or older to be admitted into the country. Guess what! The R34 Skyline has just turned 25 years old.
You can legally import a Nissan R34 Skyline into the United States starting in May 2023. However, you’ll have to wait to import the R34 GT-R. The process can be carried out through groups of importers. But why wait for the GT-R? More importantly, should you go Skyline or wait until the R34 GT-R is legal in the US?
R34 Skyline gets the green light, the GT-R is still a year away
Ardent fans of the JDM scene might remember that the R34 Skyline was introduced in May 1998. The GT-R arrived a bit later (January 1999, to be exact) as a more premium model in the R34 line . It is clear why the Nissan GT-R R34 is not yet part of the Import Compliance Act.
But don’t worry fellow enthusiasts, because the wait is only a few months away as of this writing. You can legally import an R34 GT-R after January 2024. But we’ll say go with the regular non-GT-R Skyline R34 if you want to save some cash. There’s a variety of trims available, which, as you might have guessed, correspond directly to the number of convenience features on board. But the highlight would undoubtedly be the R34’s RB25DET straight-six engine, available in GT Turbo and GT-X Turbo trims.
The obvious reason to choose the non-GT-R Skyline is price and convenience. The R34 GT-R will certainly be expensive, considering how desirable it is among enthusiasts, not just in the US, but around the world. Therefore, a more rational choice would be to go with the cheaper Skyline. However, you do miss out on a few things like the iconic RB26 engine and trick ATTESA E-TS with all-wheel drive. But hey! Get one hell of a car without having to pay sky high premiums. However, if price is not an issue, the R34 GT-R is definitely the way to go.
The R34 Skyline’s RB25 engine is worth it alone, but isn’t the RB26 better?
Often overshadowed by the mighty RB26, the RB25 is nothing short of an engineering marvel. It has just as good if not better tuning, excellent reliability and an intoxicating engine note. If you didn’t know, the RB25DET is a factory turbocharged version of the RB25DE, another favorite among tuners. The turbo inline-six displaces 2.5L and produces an estimated 280 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque.
Nissan made use of the RB26 engine in the R32 and R33 Skyline GT-Rs, while a reworked version was used in the R34. It goes without saying that this 2.6-liter inline-six engine played a major role in giving these cars their legendary status. A coveted item, Nissan’s RB26 engine is nothing short of a masterstroke when it comes to sophistication and longevity. Internally called the RB26DETT, Nissan developed the engine with touring car racing in mind and was intentionally a piece of hardware over engineering.
The RB26 featured a turbo inline six design. Displacement stood at 2.6 L. In terms of power, the RB26DETT generates 276 hp at 6,800 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. However, later versions produced 316 hp, with a torque jump to 289 lb-ft.
Tuners love the 2.6L Twin-Turbo RB26, but the RB25 isn’t hooked
Engines, especially Japanese-made ones, tend to be over-engineered and built to last, and the RB25 is no exception. But at the end of the day, it’s still a collection of moving parts and there are bound to be problems. Regardless, its tuning potential cannot be overlooked. Which is perhaps his greatest enemy.
To be honest, the problem with the RB25 isn’t that it’s unreliable, it’s that you take care of it. Factors such as poor mapping, lack of maintenance and over-boosting are what ruin their reputation. As for the mapping, the first stage should easily get you over 300hp, which is pretty decent for a 25 year old item.
As for the RB26, it’s also a pretty durable and reliable unit. However, earlier versions of the engine were notorious for oil consumption. However, it was less of an issue in the R34. Understand that these cars are quite old and not all of them have been that well maintained.
The robustness of the GT-R really comes down to how diligent you are with tuning and overall maintenance. With minor modifications and a good map, you can easily extract 400 hp from an RB26, which is enough for a thrilling drive.
