Here’s What Makes the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 The Ultimate Japa…

Over the years, there's been a select few cars that can be classed as generation-defining. When these cars come around, they set a new standard for the future of the industry that inspires the next generations of cars down the line. One of these cars is undoubtedly the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34. Despite the car being released back in 1998, it's still one of the most sought-after sports cars, even compared to the countless sports cars that have entered the market since.

With so many reasons for the car being so loved, whether that being due to the unmatched feel behind the wheel or simply how stunning the car is, its impact on the automotive industry is still present today and is sure to be for years. Here's why the Skyline GT-R R34 is the ultimate Japanese icon, 25 years after its release.

One thing that everyone who's driven the GT-R R34 instantly falls in love with is the unforgettable driving experience the car provides. Nissan clearly designed and built the car with the intention for it to be the ultimate driving machine, especially in comparison to its JDM rivals of the time. From the handling down to the engine, the car comes seamlessly together wherever you drive it.

When driving it on roads, the car feels super light despite its fairly heavy weight for a sports car at the time. Its responsiveness on the roads alone is something to marvel at for a '90s sports car, so when it's taken onto a track on Japan's famous winding mountain roads, the R34 grips the tarmac, providing a wonderful balance around every corner. Despite some of the greatest supercars of all time being produced during the '90s, the R34 was able to provide just as much thrill.

The car's legendary RB26DETT 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six provides the ideal amount of power, with the R34 still feeling incredibly fast even by today's standards in the sports car world. The engine is just as responsive as the handling, giving the driver all the confidence that the 276 horsepower is there whenever it's needed. At the time of its release, the R34 was considered the best of the best among the '90s JDM cars, with none being able to match the special feeling of the most iconic generation of the GT-R.

Like many other JDM cars of the '90s, the R34 GT-R is one of the easiest cars to tune, making also one of the most desirable cars for such tuners. The performance of the car when stock is enough to leave you grinning from ear to ear, with modified R34s carrying enough power to compete with the top-end sports cars of today.

Due to the U.S. having different rules and regulations, specifically regarding the environmental impacts of cars, the R34 GT-R was banned from being imported into the states. There have been ways to manage to import an R34, but only if the car is used for specific reasons, such as a show car. However, the car is not road-legal. There are a few reasons why, such as the sheer speed of the all-wheel-drive sports car being seen as too dangerous, and the car simply not being able to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in the U.S.

Being so difficult to get your hands on an R34 GTR, only made the car more desired. Especially as the years went by after its release with the car developing into an automotive legend, the idea of owning a car that is so ahead of its time was at the forefront of the minds of both collectors and JDM fans alike.

Luckily for both groups, however, due to the 25-year rule, the R34 GT-R will be eligible for import into the U.S. from 2024 onwards. However, due to there being a fair few different specs of the generation, those looking to grab a top-of-the-range R34 such as the V-Spec will have to wait a little longer as the car moves past it's 24 birthday. The allowance is sure to excite so many across the country, with both stock models and modded beasts sure to hit the road, Stateside in the coming years.

The 1990s are widely regarded to be the best years of the Japanese domestic market, without a doubt being the golden age of JDMs. Throughout the decade, different manufacturers like Mazda and Toyota released cars like the RX-7 and the Supra MKIV, which are definitely iconic in their own right, but none could quite match the impact the R34 made.

The R34 also came at the perfect time for the JDM scene, being one of the last cars to be released in the decade. By being such a technical achievement across all fronts, the R34 was the perfect car to round off such a successful and important decade for not just Japan, but the automotive industry as a whole.

Nissan continued production of the R34 until 2002 with the Nismo R34 GT-R Z-Tune, with this model being the last GT-R featuring the 'Skyline' nameplate. Rubbing shoulders with the European heavy hitters at the time, the R34 also set the standard for both JDMs and sports cars worldwide moving forward. The driving experience that the car provided was too good to push the R34 aside.

When it comes to cars that have a sense of nostalgia among the biggest crowd of gearheads, very few cars can be mentioned with the R34. Appearing in some of the defining Pop Cultural media, most notably in the Fast and Furious franchise as Brian O'Connor's trademark car, millions around the world, were introduced to the R34, gaining a massive fanbase which ultimately led to the JDM scene as a whole gaining the dedicated, passionate enthusiasts it has today.

Alongside Fast and Furious, the R34 GT-R appeared in some of the most iconic car-focused video games like Gran Turismo, and Need For Speed Underground with an entire generation of gamers still holding the love they had for the R34 when they first drove it in the game. Being at the forefront of some of the biggest Pop Culture releases in the automotive world tells everything you need to know about the car, representing what the thrill of driving is supposed to be all about.

Considering that the Skyline R34 hasn't been road-legal for so long, the price of the car is expectedly high, especially in comparison to other JDM cars of the '90s. Due to the car being 25 years old with quite a few different specs, the condition and rarity fluctuate the value of each car considerably.

On average, an R34 GT-R fetches anywhere between $120,000 - $250,000. While nowhere near as affordable as some of its '90s JDM competitors, the high price tag makes the R34 that much more exclusive, helping maintain the legendary status that it's held for so long. With the car becoming legal in the States, imports are expected to increase which will definitely cause a shift in the market. However, with so many enthusiasts hoping to finally get their hands on the JDM icon, its exclusivity will remain for many years to come.