1999 R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R vs 2023 Nissan Z Proto Spec // THIS vs THAT

Get ready for an epic showdown in the latest episode of Hoonigan This vs That! We're pitting a legendary R34 GT-R against a brand new Z in a drag race. With the Z boasting a 400 hp rating, we know this won't be a walk in the park. But we're not ones to back down from a challenge, especially with the R34's iconic 280 ps rating. And the best part? It's only two months until the first R34 GT-R turns 25 and becomes legal to import to the US. Don't miss out on the adrenaline-pumping action!

So what happens in real life, when Hoonigan asks you for a "stock" R34 GT-R to race against a new Z? 280 hp, all wheel drive, vs 400 hp rear wheel drive? Well if you are me, you don't want to bring a stock R34. Something closer to 400 hp would be better, after all I don't go racing to lose. I do always try and research anything I am racing against. One of our customers had this R34 in town. It was displayed wrapped at the Grand Turismo industry event, it was at the Motor Trend JAI in Monterey. It shot a Yokohama tire commercial. So it got around while it was visiting.

So it looks like it had some donwpipes, an exhaust. On a R888 tire, which isn't a drag tire, but is/can be sticky. Z was a manual which on an unprepared surface like a runway is difficult.

Can not confirm or deny the hat

My joke about these cars is always the 280 ps - 276/hp "gentlemans agreement" for any of the 90's Japanese cars. So since they wanted to race a 400 hp car vs a "stock" R34 I chose to stick to the 280 ps figure. I never dynoed the car, I don't know what it actually makes, but I could guess. In theory a new Z is anywhere from a low 12 second, to a high 12 second car stock. Motor Trend said 12.9@107. Car and Driver said 12.6@115 mph on 93. With exhaust and tune, it could easily be an 11 second car.

Prior to the race, we were sitting down with the owner of the Z, George from Sac City Auto Parts. He was a big Nissan guy, and we had a nice talk. I probably bought some used parts from him before. It was pretty hot that day, in the 90's. Not the best for turbo cars, but both are on the same field. The race itself was interesting. First race heads up. We just rolled up to the line, no prep, no burnouts, nothing. Just rolled up, stopped. Brad went through his motions, and dropped his arms. I wasn't 100% ready the first pass, but the car made up for my lack of readiness. It was a bit of a botched launch for me, but I still pulled on the Z in first. Continued to stay in front for the quarter. Boost was 1 bar.

Is that a Stagea 260RS out there?

Next pass, since I won, was his choice. This time he got the leave. Basically no arm drop, both get ready, then I go when he does. This time I was much more ready, and got out on him just about straight away. He missed a shift, and I went 2 for 2. That pass, I turned it up a little as I wasn't sure how hard I would have to run him down. They wanted to do a third run, this time from a roll. I agreed to the roll race. This takes most of the all wheel drive advantage away. Its all hp and weight.

Ernie Fixmer drove the Stagea as the support vehicle.

Third roll race, I also won when he missed a shift. Overall a fun day out playing with cars. Drove the GT-R out and back. Ran it. 91 octane. New vs old, the old wins.