Used Car Buying Guide: 4car Buying Guide

Costing a whopping £54,000 when it was offered officially in the UK brand-new, importers quickly rushed to meet demand and brought in cheaper older Skylines never originally sold here. The Skyline name has a long history, having been used on Datsun/Nissan saloons and coupes back in the '60s, but the Skyline as we know it, the full-on PlayStation animation and petrolhead pin-up, was launched in 1989.

The formula of the original R32-series model has been little changed: a straight-six, twin-turbo, 2.6-litre, 280 bhp engine, manual transmission, four-wheel drive and striking appearance, including a distinctive rear spoiler and circular tail-lights. V-spec models had Brembo race-specification brakes with uprated ABS. Be aware that the Skyline's engine is easy to tune - aftermarket chips can take it to well over 1000 bhp! Make sure you know what you're buying.

The R33 (1994-99) was more aerodynamic and meaner-looking - although the 0-60 acceleration time of 5.1 seconds remained unchanged - and it also had revised suspension for sharper handling. The four-wheel-steering system was also overhauled, gaining full electronic control, and the braking system fitted to the R32 V-spec models became standard. R33 V-spec models added further-tuned four-wheel drive with an active limited-slip differential, and lower, stiffer suspension. The aficionado's choice, however, was the Nismo 400 R version, which featured a 2.8-litre engine, 400 bhp, Nismo bodykit and spoilers, massive 18-inch wheels, lower suspension with Bilstein dampers and an electronic torque-split controller.

Taking the Skyline to the end of the line was the R34-series model, the only one to be imported officially to the UK. This is more angular-looking, with more aggressive body styling and a bigger rear spoiler, as well as a stiffer bodyshell. Turbo lag was reduced, and the R34 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in a neck-snapping 4.8 seconds. It has a six-speed manual gearbox and a full Connolly leather interior. UK-market cars had three additional oil coolers and a different ECU from the Japanese ones so, again, make sure you know what you're buying. It's a monster when you want it to be, yet practical enough, with its rear seats and small boot, to be used on a daily basis and as docile around town as any mainstream Nissan. A really usable supercar - at a price. Sadly, the Skyline was discontinued in 2002, and no replacement is due for a few years yet, though Nissans GT-R concept car gives hope for a successor.

Road Test: Nissan Skyline GT-R R33
Nissan Skyline GT-R R34

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