[polarbearit]

How practical is to use a Skyline every day?

I'm not expecting big MPG, but are they reliable enough to drive 20k per year in a mix of motorway and A road driving?

The other thing which worries me is that I don't know of any skyline specialists nearby, are there any in the Southwest? Preferably near Bristol or Swindon.

Over the past year my current car which is a slightly modified Jap import WRX has only been off the road one day apart from regular services when I cooked the clutch... Can expect similar from a good R33?

Thanks,

Jon

 

[wrx.co.uk]

Hi Jon,

I am looking for the same advice as you for the R32.

I saw an article at: http://www.autospeed.com/A_0556/P_1/article.html

which does worry me a bit. The comments below are not enthusiastic about the GTR, and I wonder if any other owners agree with them:-

To give you a typical real-world comparison, a WRX shopping-trolley with simple exhaust and boost mods can easily bully this "performance benchmark". And, of course, then there're Lancer GSRs,

Certainly, anyone stepping into a GT-R from a constant 4WD will wonder what the hell's wrong with it

The steering chatter - oh, God! Drive an R32 GT-R non-stop for more than an hour and the relentless tramlining and steering kicking and bucking is incredibly draining (the R33 model isn't nearly as bad). Over B-grade roads in the '32, you have to hang onto the wheel so tightly your knuckles glow white enough to light up the whole cabin! It's just plain crazy

Then, of course, there's the size issue - especially in the R33. These GT-R suckers are so big they're literally impossible to park in city spaces - and that turning circle is a shocker.

What does every one else think?

 

[Emre]

wrx.co.uk...

dont pay too much attention to what julian edgar has to say about the gtr... he has got a habit of coming on too strong and controversial and some admire him for that saying that he is not biased... but at the end of the day all is his opinion which seems to differ from the majority... i don't think you guys would make a decision on person's word...

i drive my 33 gtr everday and everywhere and haven't got nothing bad to say about it... i admit that i dont have to put up with any congested traffic but i dont think it'd be any worse than the wrx... no performance car will have the ease of the auto box and the comfy suspension settings of a 4 door family sedan but in my opinion that autospeed article is highly exaggerated...

polarbearit...

a slightly modded gtr would be just as reliable as a slightly modded wrx... in fact i think the gtr is a bit over-engineered so it'd be more reliable... you just gotta make sure that you are purchasing a good example to start with...

 

[skyline501]

R33 GTR as a daily drive

Hi Polarbearit & Wrx.co.uk

I have done 11k miles (A-Road, motorway, trips abroad, trackdays etc.) in my GTR 33 V-Spec in the last 12 months. It is utterly reliable at 400 bhp. Ok under some circumstances, (mainly B roads), a sorted wrx or evo could beat you point to point but how often do you need or want to drive like that.
The sense of occasion each time you climb aboard is still there after 12 months. I have a daily round trip to work of 70 miles and I probably see between 6 and 10 scoobies and evos (mixed) on the journey but it is so rare to see a Skyline.

I've averaged 21 mpg over the period. I don't find the tramlining a problem. I do, however, agree about the turning circle... shocking!

As for Julian Edgar,s article... do you really want a shopping trolley for a car?

The acid test: Put a Scooby an Evo and a Skyline into a car park and see which pulls the crowd.

Regards
Vincenzo

 

[polarbearit]

R33 - Love it!

I am more than happy with the way the R33 drives, but was worried that there are no skyline specialists in this area... Suggestions are particularly welcome.

21 mpg sounds great for a car with 400 bhp... I was thinking of a boost controller so I could run low boost on the motorway and in traffic and high boost on quiet roads. Has anyone done this, does it make much difference?

I'm after something a bit more challenging to drive than the WRX, and yes I see them all the time and GTR's are much rarer, which is also appealing. But I certainly don't want an auto box, not too worried by size, i have a decent private car park opposite my house, so no problems parking. Insurance is even sensible - barely any more than the WRX Infact the only things which seem really dear are the tyres! Are they really £200 each, I have an unfortunate habbit of :smokin: them

Jon

 

[woosh & go]

R33 use

Hi

Have you checked out www.gtrowner.com ? Might give you some more insight. I looked at this sight and this register for tips and guidance. Can't give any guides on using a Skyline daily, cos I walk to work! [Helps pay the petrol bill] . However my wife will drive it if she has to, and doesn't have any problem with the turning circle as it's easy to drive. Being only 5 foot tall she has problems depressing the clutch fully, with the seat fully forward. Argh shame means I get to drive it more often!!!!

Rgds Ian

 

[stu]

Specialists

Try the links page if you're after Skyline specialists. Something I hark on about all the time as I was travelling over 130 miles to a 'specialist' before i found this site. Mark and Tony at Abbey motorsports are a good bet as is Gary at GT-art (Brighton).

 

[ChrisStatham]

R33 for daily use ?

Yeah, no problem.

Bought mine new in 1997, upgraded to 400bhp in 1998.
Now done 42,000 miles, averaging 20mpg (mostly 'A' roads and a lot of traffic)
I'm on my second set of tyres, just had to buy my second headlamp bulb (not cheap at over £100 each!!!)
Clutch is nearly ready for renewing.

Only regret.............
buying a registration number for a VSpec (V5 SKY) and not buying another car for it. Plate is for sale, any offers?

Chris

 

[Phil]

£100.00 for a bulb???



Where you buyin' from mate??

Phil

 

[Fuggles]

Daily use - no problem

Polarbearit,

I live in central London and use my GTR33 every day. I have no problem - sure there are a few roads I have to avoid because of the exceptional speed-bumps - but I have had the car lowered. As for getting stuck in the dips in the road that can also be a bit of a mare, but you get used to avoiding it.

The biggest problem is turning circle. Because it's been lowered and now has much wider wheels it's very limited. But then all you have to do is work out your approach.

Why do I drive my car every day?
- Why not! If you have a car you enjoy driving why buy something else?

Stick with it - you'll enjoy it

John

 

[Skylining]

Daily use

Jon,

I live in Frankfurt and work in Heidelberg Germany, this time last year I used my R33 GT-R everyday. The journey is about 90Km each way in mixed town and autobahn traffic.

In the 3 months of continuous use, I used only normal amounts of oil, tyres, etc and it never missed a beat. Not many cars can cope with 170mph runs daily with that kind of mileage without problems.

You might want to buy a regular spec as the Vspec suspension is a bit to hard for most people for daily use.

Separts (www.separts.co.uk) are in the Bath area they have some Skyline experience.

Chris,

Take a look at the AP racing clutch

Paul.

 

[polarbearit]

Paul,

Thanks for the info on the garage, strange that someone is Germany is fist to tell me who my local garage

It's good to know people can and do drive skylines big distances daily... I will probably end up with another AP clutch, I've been impressed with the one in the impreza. Are they good enough for 450 bhp cars?

Jon