Both cars have good brake systems, including large four-piston
calipers at the
front end and an effective ABS system. The Brembo calipers
in the GT-R are widely used in performance circles, but
ultimately it will be pad selection that determines which
of these cars pulls up best.
As for the gearboxes, the Nissan may have fewer ratios,
but it provides a somewhat cleaner action through the stick.
Both boxes are pretty good, but the Getrag lets itself down
by being a little 'clunky' and exhibiting signs of internal
lash. Its lever action is nice and short, however.
When you pause at traffic lights to ponder your surroundings,
the l(t)airy leather of the LM smacks you fair in the face.
The normal 'landlord' grey interior of the R33 GT-R is shocked
by the electric blue inserts added to the leather Recaros
in this particular car. Other than that, the interior of
the GT-R is fairly much standard Nissan fare, save for the
NISMO white-faced instruments installed into this car. Ergonomically,
the Skyline is excellent. Controls fall nicely to hand,
but it's no
great work of art. The
R34 interior is certainly a great step up.
The Toyota is an odd thing from inside. Plenty of
room is wasted, as its designers made a point of being extravagant.
The swooping dash structure tries to convince you that the
Supra is some kind of aircraft. Add to this mass of plastic
the less readable instruments and goofy analog clock that
looks like it was robbed from a Public Enemy necklace, and
you begin to get the pictures. When you realise that the
Supra was designed with the American market in mind, it
becomes much simpler to get your mind around. At least the
seats are comfortable and supportive, covered in material
that looks like it has been picked straight from an SS Commodore.
Supra Man will always be quick to point out that it's a
design whose time is yet to come.
Regardless of whether Skyline Man borrows Supra Man's
Arnettes or if Skyline Man starts sipping short blacks,
these cars are always going to be two different animals.
Our means of choosing depends on a far more simple set of
rules. If you
need to drive a car every day, and your Japanese sports
hero is going to be your only car, then you cannot ignore
the Supra. It doesn't matter how hard you convince yourself
otherwise, the Supra outguns the Skyline on a liveability
level. Plus, there's nothing wrong with Barry White.
If it's pure, unadulterated performance that lights your
fire and you have a spare set of wheels for weekdays, then
look no further than a GT-R. It is dynamically superior
to the Supra in every performance category and richer in
motorsport history, which is something Skyline Man is always
quite happy to talk about - just ask him.
©
High Performance Imports
