Showing posts with label R34. Show all posts
Showing posts with label R34. Show all posts

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Velocity Motor Show Pt 2

Here is Part 2 from the Velocity Motor Show. Unlike the previous post, this is all Nissan. Quite a nice show up. Enjoy.

NISSAN

Skyline GT-R


Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) - Stock


Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) - Stock


Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) - Heavily Modded


Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) - Heavily Modded


Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) - Stock


Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) - Heavily Modded

Silvia


Nissan Silvia (S14) Kouki - Stock



Nissan Silvia (S15) - Modded


Nissan Silvia (S15) - Modded


Nissan Silvia (S15) - Modded

Nissan Fairlady Z

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Fast and Furious - Nissan Skyline GT-R

Last on my Top 3 list of JDMs that appeared on screen from the Fast and Furious series, would be the Nissan Skyline GT-R. At the sight of the title, everyone would remember the silver R34 from 2 Fast 2 Furious or the beautiful, blue R34 from Fast and Furious. However, this list would include all the GT-Rs in all movie that is driven by cast members chronologically.

The first GT-R that came up in the franchise is the R33 driven by one of Dominic Torentto's friend/accomplice in the first The Fast and The Furious (2001). Leon was seen driving along Letty, Vince and Jesse in the beginning of the movie and with Dom when they were pulling off the heist.



In 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Brian O'Conner was called for an illegal race and arrived in his first car of the movie, the R34. This is the car that he drove recklessly and jumped over a bridge and made one hell of a slide the moment he won. Cops soon show up and Brian tried to make a run for it but was arrested thanks to Electronic Disruption Device on a grappling hook.


Remember when Sean asked Han, what does he drift for in The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) ? Han then drives the Veilside RX-7 into the streets and spotted a purple and silver R33. Spotting the GT-R, Han made donuts around the car and later when he got the phone numbers of the 2 girls driving the R33, Sean finally knew the reason Han drifts for. I would do that too if I could drift. I am not sure whether you realized it or not but the car that Sean chased in the RX-7 was actually a blue R34 (although it was shown for only 2 seconds). 



I am not sure whether you realized it or not but the car that Sean chased in the RX-7 was actually a blue R34 (although it was shown for only 2 seconds). Here is the proof below. Sorry it is blurry.



5 years after the first movie, the now FBI agent, Brian has stumbled upon a case involving, you guessed it, illegal car races in Fast and Furious (2009). This time with the FBI's impound lots' help, he has a wide choice of cars to used in his attempt to infiltrate the race but he only has one car in his mind: the R34 although we see him pull up some R35 from the database. We even get a seen of him modding the GT-R before racing it. The car gets blown up by Dom and Brian switches to the Subaru WRX STI. In my opinion, the blue paint suits the R34 more than the silver in the second movie. 


Brian's pick from the impound lot
Time to start work !
All the sweat and blood pay off. Sweet Ride
After busting Dom out of prison transport bus, we see the gang retreats and hides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to avoid the authorities in Fast 5 (2011). As the audience already know, Brian can not be without a JDM ride but have to blend in, not to mention the scarcity of JDM in Brazil. So, he drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R C10 coupe. Not so flashy, gets you to where you need but still wearing the GT-R badge. Although I do not know much about the C10, I do know it is the first GT-R.   


After successfully pulling off the greatest heist in Rio, we find our heroes all instant millionaires and Brian settles down with Mia in a nice, quiet beach side property in the end of the movie. I could have guessed Brian would spend his new wealth on a new R35. It is weird that you could get a R35 but could not get any parts to mod the R35 because it is like a virgin. 


Furious 6 (2013) started with a race between Brian's R35 and Dom's Challenger along some windy roads. It turns out, Brian was just rushing to the hospital because Mia was delivering their baby and decides to have a little fun with Dom on the side. It is presumably the same R35 we see at the end of Fast 5.


We only get to see the r35 again at the end of the movie back at the Toretto house. This time it is a modified R35 with the special Bensopra Body Kit with a huge GT-Wing. This is when the heart warming scene where the whole team celebrates their freedom and pardon from their crimes and becoming rich. They did not mention who was the owner but we can all just assume it belongs to Brian.  


From this point onwards, there might be spoilers. You have been warned !
Netizens were writing online that there was a R32 in Furious 7 (2015) and I remember opening my eyes wide to spot all the JDM present in the movie but I failed to find the R32 mentioned. So, I did some digging and I found my evidence. It was a black R32 in the background during Han's funeral scene. Dom spotted Deckard Shaw in the cemetery and rushed to get in his car to chase the bad guy. I have always like the R32 especially since it came out the same year I was born. 


Later in the movie, the main characters were all gearing up for the final showdown. We see the rather stock looking, blue R35 and Brian putting on a bullet proof vest from the boot along with some guns. It was rather badass looking the way he gears up, gets in the car and heads to where the danger is. I guess the Bensopra R35 we saw at the end of Furious 6 was sold and replaced by the mini van we saw Brian taking Jack to school in. In the midst of actions, the R35 was blown to pieces by a missile. What a waste !!



Lock on Target & Boom goes the R35.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The Super Craze Part 2

I feel proud of what Nissan has accomplished through the GT-R R35 by bringing Japanese sports car to a whole new level and making it recognizable. Back in the days, JDMs where famous but were never enjoying the same fame and prestige like the Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Everyone from tuners to enthusiast to fanboys to critics, almost everyone loves the new GT-R but I am afraid to say that I am not one of them. I remembered when the first few R35s reached the country, it carried a price tag of around RM 700,000, which I think is at least 2.5 times the price that R34s were selling when it first reached Malaysia. Having an increase in engine capacity, increase in power output, extra gadgets, a new luxurious interior and a change in status, certainly calls for an increase in price tag but it certainly is out of reach by most people. Also because it did so well against other more luxurious European Supercars as mentioned in Part 1, the price tag of RM 700,000 seems cheap because you get a car as fast as the European rivals but the reliability of a Japanese car. What a bargain ! Another issue for me is the road tax as I have mentioned in other posts. The previous generation GT-Rs used to have the 2.6 liter, RB26 engine with affordable road tax and the new 3.8 liter VR38 engine's road tax is in a higher bracket and most people will stay from it but then again, if you can afford one, the road tax seems like nothing.

The amount of money you have to pay extra, annually
I think one major factor that makes the R35 such a popular sports car not only among the GT-Rs but also among other makers is the availability of JDM sports car. Since the mid 2000s, with every JDM sports car ceasing production one by one, there were not much choice left if you want to buy a JDM sports car. Although around that time Nissan had the Fairlady 350z, which is due for replacement and the Skyline 370GT, which is boring and Honda had the Civic Type R FD2 but that was it. While the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX STI were still going strong but these 2 do not exactly fit the 2 door coupe category. So, when the R35 was launched, it shook the world. It is the fastest JDM and is not even 1%, boring. It became everyone's dream car and seems perfect in every way. So, it became the obvious choice to buy and certainly on the roads of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it is really easy to spot one. Especially since used ones are getting cheaper where you could buy one with just under RM 200,000 now. Heck, even my buddy have one and I predict more R35s would be seen driving down the road.
Various JDM and their Launching Date
Personal opinion time ! When I think of the GT-R R34, I have an image of a brute, muscle car with a strong, square jaw for a front bumper. It really makes me feel like its fast and furious and maybe that is why the late, Paul Walker (R.I.P.), loves it so much. However, when I think of the R35, I felt it has a softer design, giving it a more luxury feel especially with the interior. JDMs are famous for having the most basic interior with only what is necessary. Despite having said that, I think it looks great especially the facelift in 2012 but it is just not my style. I am also not a big fan of the dual-cluth gearbox and wished there is a 6-speed manual variant. I guessed you had to have a dual-clutch gearbox to handle that power, have quick shifts and join the Supercar club, since other Supercars are using dual-clutches too. I think I sound like an old dinosaur that is not capable of following new innovations but as the saying goes, enthusiasts drives with 3 pedals. In conclusion, the sight of a R34 makes me giggle like a small girl but a R35 would just make me go, "Oh look, a R35". Definitely would take a R34 anytime over the R35 for me and I look forward to getting a manual ride for my next sports car.

Basic but functional and completed by the sight of Manual Shifter
No offence to women and other transmission drivers