(*Prices are reflective of average BE FORWARD pricing as of April 2021)
Nissan Skyline R34 Nissan GT-R R35
Generations 1 (BNR34) 3 (CBA, DBA, 4BA)
Production Year 1999 - 2002 2007 - Present
Performance 280 HP - 334 HP 480 HP - 565 HP
Fuel Consumption 8 KM/L - 8.6 KM/L 8 KM/L
Drivetrain AWD AWD
Key Features Alloy Wheels, Power Steering, Keyless Entry, Power
WindowPower Seat, ABS, Alloy Wheels, DVD, Back Camera,
Seating Capacity 4 passengers 4 passengers
BE FORWARD price US$ 5580 - US$ 294,620 US$ 41,250 - US$ 105,680
Nissan Skyline GTR R34


The Nissan R34 and R35 are celebrated for their remarkable performance, with notable differences in top speed. The R34 Skyline GT-R’s top speed is electronically limited to about 155 mph (250 km/h), a restriction due to safety norms and Japan’s automotive “gentleman’s agreement.” Yet, enthusiasts have modified the R34 GT-R to exceed this limit, reaching speeds of 180-190 mph (290-305 km/h) through engine and aerodynamic enhancements. The R35 GT-R, on the other hand, offers a higher base top speed of around 196 mph (315 km/h), which varies depending on road conditions and model variant. The GT-R Nismo edition pushes boundaries further, reportedly achieving speeds of 205-210 mph (330-338 km/h), positioning it among the fastest production cars. In essence, the R35 GT-R, particularly the Nismo edition, surpasses the R34 in top speed, offering a thrilling experience for drivers.
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Interior


The R34 is a four-seater with a decent trunk that can accommodate up to 180-liters. The R34 GT-R is famous due to its performance and racing capabilities, but actually, it is also a car that can be quite useful for daily use. Its interior is simple but exquisitely designed, with its controls within reach and user-friendly. Even when cruising at about 120 km/h the cabin remains remarkably silent.
At the front, two comfortable bucket seats swathe the driver like their own skin while offering perfect side support when cornering. The rear seat doesn’t offer much in terms of space, a young adult will be okay seating at the rear, but a full-size adult will struggle.


The center console features a 5.8-inch display that provides the necessary car information such as turbo boost pressure, throttle, injector, oil temperature, and water temperature. This information can later be downloaded after the ride. Beneath this display, you find the climate control buttons followed by a standard four-speaker audio system with a CD player. Other features include power windows, central locking, A/C, and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel.

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Exterior


The R34 GTR features a long hood, a flat windscreen, and a large air dam at the front making the car look aggressive to the onlookers. The clear, narrow, and slanted headlights with the front low-lying spoiler can’t go unnoticed, as they complete the front end of the car making it look like a samurai warrior.
The car comes fitted with 18-inch six-spoke alloys, and 18-inch tires, with the recommended tires being the Bridgestone Potenza RE040 tires as they were specifically developed for this car.
At the rear, the R34 features an adjustable rear spoiler, with the V-Spec version having a carbon fiber underbody diffuser. These features make the R34 GT-R distinguishable while also aiding its high-speed stability.
Safety
The R34 GT-R comes with several standard safety features including dual front airbags, side airbags, brake assist, power-assisted ABS (on Turbo models), front seatbelt with pretensioners and load limiters, rear seatbelts with ISOFIX child seat mounts, and traction control.
The R34 Skyline GT-R comes fitted with one of the most sophisticated Brembo brake systems.
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Nissan Skyline GTR R35


The Nissan GT-R R35 is renowned for its impressive array of technologies and features that contribute to its exceptional performance. Noteworthy among these is its advanced ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system, providing unparalleled traction and stability. The dual-clutch transmission enables lightning-fast gear shifts, enhancing acceleration and responsiveness. The GT-R R35 also incorporates sophisticated aerodynamics, including an active rear spoiler, to optimize downforce and stability at high speeds. Additionally, the car features an advanced vehicle dynamics control system, adaptive suspension, and Brembo brakes, ensuring precise handling and stopping power. Combined, these technologies make the GT-R R35 a formidable performance machine.
Interior


The R35’s interior is refined with leather finishing almost everywhere. The R35 comes in a 2+2 seat configuration, with two front bucket seats and another two seats at the rear all covered in leather.
At the top of the center console, you find a multifunctional display that provides car-related information such as cornering g-forces, oil temp, coolant temp, turbo boost pressure, etc.
This 8-inch display provides the kind of data that puzzles the tech-savvy. This display can also be controlled by a rotary knob just behind the gear lever.
Storage comes in the form of a glovebox, cup holders, and door pockets.
Exterior


The GT-R R35 like the previous Skyline GT-Rs come with a conventional shape, with a long hood and its face almost flat. GT-Rs are designed to look aggressive, so are the R35s, it’s a true Godzilla. The R35 is angular and sharp, with Nissan’s V-Motion front grille that is designed to improve airflow.
The R35 comes fitted with 20-inch alloys, a rear diffuser, four monstrous exhaust pipes, and circular taillights.
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Safety
The GTR R35 comes fitted with a host of safety features such as Anti-lock brakes, Stability Control, Front-impact airbags, Side-impact airbags, Overhead airbags, Seatbelt pre-tensioners, and a Security system.
Engine and Fuel Efficiency Comparison
Nissan Skyline R34
The Skyline R34 comes fitted with the 6-cylinder twin-turbo 2.6-liter DOHC RB26DETT engine. The RB26DETT is a robust engine that comes with an aluminum cylinder head and a cast-iron block. The twin-turbo setup is fitted with two Garrett M24 turbochargers with internal wastegates with stock boost set at 10 PSI. The earlier RB26DETT’s factory power was rated at 280 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque, but when tested most cars rated at 334 HP.
Nissan kept on modifying and improving the reliability and robustness of this engine and eventually attained the quoted capability of 800 PS+ with modification support in place.
Of JDM engines, the RB26DETT has been a favorite engine for tuners for a very long time with 493 HP being easily achieved with the right supporting mods in place.
Nissan GT-R R35
The R35 is fitted with the 6-cylinder twin-turbo 3.8-liter DOHC VR38DETT engine which was rated at 480 HP upon its release in 2007. But Nissan and the top tuners knew that the block has the potential of providing a much higher power figure. Nissan kept on upgrading the engine so as to achieve much higher power. In 2010, Nissan improved the engine intake by installing a larger bore exhaust, as a result, the output power increased to 530 HP. In 2011 the engine achieved a power output of 545 HP after Nissan tweaked the ECU, upgraded the fuel injectors, and installed a new blow-off valve. The stock boost was later raised to 13.5 PSI, followed by some other few tweaks that achieved an output power of 565 HP.
The VR38 is a capable engine, for those that are into tuning, then consider the VR38 and probably you can achieve much more than what Nismo achieved with regard to power on the VR38.
Customize
Both the Nissan R34 and R35 have captured the attention of automotive enthusiasts not only for their performance but also for their potential for customization.
Popular customization methods include engine upgrades, such as turbocharger enhancements, exhaust system modifications, and ECU tuning, to extract more power and improve overall performance. Body kits and aerodynamic components are often added to enhance the aggressive and sporty look of these cars. Custom wheels, spoilers, and carbon fiber accents are also popular choices.
If you are interested in customizing your Skyline GTR-35, check out the video below starting at the 8:32 minute mark. That video shows some cool customization examples.
The Verdict
The GT-R is Nissan’s pride, it’s undoubtedly one of its most significant and successful projects, which has lasted for several decades.
With the RB26DETT and the VR38DETT engines being incredible past and modern-day marvels, featuring some of the most impressive technology regardless of their astonishing price tags, you can easily see why so many people are craving to own one, but also keen on keeping the GT-R dream alive.
The R34 played its part as the GT-R torch bearer for years, and the R35 picked up from there to the present. These are surely great cars and owning one is most car enthusiast’s dream.

I am a Telecom & ICT specialist with a career spanning over 15 years in the demanding Tanzanian telecom industry.
I am also an avid DIYer with a good knack for everything technical and a wealth of vocational skills, with automotive being the top, and here I am writing about cars.
In 2017 a guy created a WhatsApp group called MyCar for the sole purpose of members helping each other with all matters regarding cars. I joined this group in 2018, and with my enormous wealth of knowledge regarding cars, and my readiness to share the knowledge with others, I became a top contributor, and that didn’t go unnoticed, as one member thought I was a potential writer and had contacts with Be Forward Japan who were looking for writers then. Fast forward to January 2020, I began writing for the Be Forward blog with 2024 being my fourth year.
As far as I can remember, I love cars, and growing up in the farming and tourist city of Arusha Tanzania in the ’80s and ’90s, I ended up being drawn to the Ranger Rover Classic for leisure and Land Cruiser 70 pickup as a workhorse. These were tough cars then, cars that could take you anywhere any time no matter the weather.