Nissan Skyline (R34) review: the last Skyline, and Bahrain only gets it through import
3.5/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The R34 Skyline, GT-R or otherwise, is one of the defining Japanese performance cars of its era, and that reputation is well earned rather than internet hype. In Bahrain it is exclusively a personal-import proposition — right-hand drive, no factory support, and a parts trail that runs through Japan and specialist importers rather than a local counter. Buy it as a dedicated enthusiast car with eyes open to that reality, and verify chassis and engine numbers carefully given how much the GT-R name inflates value on lesser cars.
Pros
- RB25DET turbo straight-six is quick and well understood by tuners
- Balanced rear-drive chassis with genuine pedigree
- Strong global enthusiast and parts community
- Iconic status keeps well-kept examples appreciating
Cons
- Never sold through a GCC dealer — JDM import only, right-hand drive
- GT-R name inflates fraud risk on mis-described lesser trims
- No local factory parts or service support
- Not practical as everyday transport in Bahrain traffic and heat
The R34 closed out the Skyline nameplate's run as a standalone model — Nissan folded the sedan and coupe range into the Infiniti-badged G35/G37 story afterward, and spun GT-R off as its own product line entirely from the R35 onward. That makes the R34 the last "true" Skyline in the sense enthusiasts mean it, and the coupe body in particular has become one of the most sought-after Japanese performance cars of its generation.
Turbo six, real chassis
The mainstream GT-t and GTS-t grades ran the RB25DET, a turbocharged 2.5-litre straight-six that is genuinely quick and, unlike the GT-R's RB26DETT, comparatively straightforward and well understood by tuners without the GT-R's price premium. Rear-wheel drive and a well-sorted chassis make it a serious driver's car in its own right, not just "the Skyline that is not a GT-R".
None of that changes the practical picture in Bahrain. Nissan never sold the Skyline here new, which means every car on the road is a personal JDM import, almost always right-hand drive, needing the same registration, insurance and roadworthiness process as any other used import — plus the added scrutiny that comes with a nameplate whose GT-R variant attracts fraud and mis-described listings.
For buyers who specifically want this car, the RB-series engine family has deep aftermarket support worldwide, even without a single official Nissan part flowing through Bahrain. For anyone weighing it as a general used-car option, it belongs firmly in the enthusiast-import category alongside the Silvia, not next to an ordinary Altima or Sunny.