The R33 Skyline
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The R33 Skyline was produced from 1993 to 1998, except the GTR, which didn't
take over from the R32 until 1995. The R33 range underwent a facelift in 1996,
with a re-designed front spoiler and rear wing. The facelifted model also got a passenger airbag and some interior changes; and in 1997, Xenon headlights. Personally, I think the R33 coupe looks
the better for the facelift. The sedan however, is another story...
Once again, there were a few different flavours in the range. I believe there was still a GTS, with the 2 litre RB20DE, as well as the GTS25 , with the 2.5 litre RB25DE. Then there was the GTS25t with the lovely 2.5 litre turbo RB25DET: 184 yummy kW at 6400 rpm, and 294 Nm (though I've also seen 274 mentioned, but I'm pretty sure 294 is the correct figure) at 4800 (and quite a flat torque curve it is too, from the graphs I've seen). Clearly, the most interesting of these is the GTS25t, with that lovely turbo: whoooooshhhhhh! (Of course, there was also the GTR - from 1995 - but as I said, this site isn't about the GTR.) I've gone thru a number of phases with regard to the R33: I liked it, then really went off the shape; preferring the R32 instead. It just seemed too fat and porky. I've come back to it though, and I've seen some beautiful examples that don't look at all fat. Anyway, 184 kW out of the box can't be bad! | 
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Compared to the R32, the R33 certainly is bigger; weighing an extra 80 kg on
its 105mm longer wheelbase. For a list of the specs in table form, click
here
, and to compare with the R32 GTSt, click
here
. The extra weight means that despite the additional power compared to the R32
GTSt (184 kW plays 160), it's not much faster in a straight line. In addition,
the combination of greater weight, longer wheelbase, and greater width (by 25
mm), means that the R33 is a bit less agile (apparently - please note this is
not at all from personal experience, more's the pity) than the R32. It tends toward understeer,
but the greater torque means power oversteer is easy to get when the boot goes
in exiting a corner. Thankfully, given the increase in weight, the brakes are
also a little bigger. (Interestingly, in the GTR; the R32 had drilled disks,
but the R33 went back to
solid
disks, which I find a bit surprising.)
The interior of the R33 is quite different from both the R32 and R34 models. It's less overtly sporty (not that the Skyline has ever looked like a rocketship inside), and somewhat more roomy. The biggest problem I have with the inside is the pig-ugly airbag steering wheel, though that's obviously not too hard to fix. |