Jalopnik
The new Nissan GT-R may be stirring up a lot of hype, but before the R35, Skyline lovers on this continent had to have their cars independently imported. The problem is, since the gray-market heyday of the '80s, the American import laws have been pretty dang strict. So, we decided to make our way up to Toronto, to check out how hoons in great white north do things. This particular operation, ONI JDM, has brought in everything from kei cars to fully-modded RX-7s, Supras, and of course Skylines. They offered to take us for a ride in their drift-spec R32 Nissan Skyline, so we bolted down the video camera and strapped ourselves in.
The new As you can see, the Skyline was far from stock. It started life as an R32 GTS-T, but now it's powered by a RB26 from an R33 GT-R. The ride feels brutal at first, but you quickly adjust your mindset as your expectations realize that this is a full-on stripped-out racer capable of running in the highest level of drift competition. You may think it sounds loud in the video, but that was with the silencer on, something that comes off when it hits the track.
While the shop at ONI JDM isn't particularly big, you get the sense that the business is an extension of the guys' passion. Take the guy that gave me a drive in the R32, he worked as a mechanic during the week, but was a racer and drifter on the weekends. Now, I know that many of us here at Jalopnik aren't necessarily into the tuner scene, but you've gotta admire that dual-purpose spirit of racing on Sunday then wrenching on Monday.
So, despite the free health care, we've discovered the first real reason to move to Canada: awesome JDM rides.
[Check out their website at: ONIJDM.com]
Comments
Now, if only we could figure out a way to keep the Polar Bears from wandering onto the racetracks.
I would like to see you try that in Australia...
The part that is unimpressive to me is that Skyline has a rattles and shakes than my C4 Vette. Power was impressive, but the exhaust note was far from mellifluous.
@cgarison: Yes, but keep in mind that this was a fully-stripped car with no sound-deadening material.
I just don't trust my left hand to shift correctly.
donuts in a parking lot - impressive!
Also, here's a canadian-reg'd R34
@boosted-lego-wagon: I wasn't invited even
though I'm 20 minutes away from the place!!
That made my happy parts go tingley....
awesome, $19,000 canadian is only like, er, wait, $25k us... damn it.
Reasons to move to Canada:
1. Awesome JDM Rides.
2. Zombie Prime Minister.
3. Beer with Alcohol in it.
4. Awash in oil.
5. Street racing garbage trucks.
6. More Punts and Fieldgoals.
"Take the guy that gave me a drive in the R32, he worked as a mechanic during the week"
he's not your guy, friend
I'm still not really buying into the idea that drifting is "racing". But I get it, this guy's living the Canadian 2F2F dream, eh.
Someone tell the driver that his collar is popped.
@marcgoldleaf: Actually, it's Too Fast, Too Mildly-Annoyed.
I must be getting old: I think it's a waste of a lovely car. And don't get me started on that Sylvia...
we've discovered the first real reason to move to Canada
Look, we're not all like POLAЯ. And contrary to popular belief, it's not actually illegal to be an American in Canada.
It is a misdemeanour, however. It means you get a ticket and a fine. The fine is slightly higher than the one you get for smoking marijuana, because we know, statistically speaking, it's more dangerous to be American than it is to smoke marijuana.
BACK ON TOPIC...
I have driven two Skylines... while I'm not a huge aficionado, I'm fairly certain it was an R32 and an R34. The R32 was first, and had been beaten like a red-headed stepchild. I didn't realize how badly it had been abused until I drove the R34.
I like them a lot. They are really fantastic cars, but I think the overarching power they have is that they garner respect from all crowds. Hot-rodders, eurosnobs, muscle-car-guys, tuners; I've even seen Harley riders give a Skyline "the nod". There is just something about it that earns real respect. Very cool.
what good is a shift light if you are not going to shift when it goes on?
@Pope Dearthair the Awesometh: OUCH!!
let it be said..
ITS MORONS LIKE THESE DOING DONUTS IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE YORKDALE MALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY THAT HAS GOT US TO THE 50 OVER LOSE YOUR CAR FOR A WEEK LAWS
effin IDIOT.
You want to drive like a ricer, TAKE IT TO THE TRACK.. toronto motorsports park and mosport aren't that far away.
I'd love a skyline.. however i'll never own one because EVERY COP is just looking for any reason to bust your ass.
I work for a Canadian importer, we specializing Kei Jidosha www.kei-cars.com
@WheatKing: Ahh lighten up. Let the hoons hoon.
The laws aren't there because of this.
@WheatKing: While the donut session was totally unprompted, I got the feeling that he did it just to show off for the camera, probably mot something he did regularly. I say that because I had a fairly long conversation about with the guys, and they were making the same argument that you are.
I can understand the appeal of drifting but doing donuts is a pointless waste of tyres.
@danio3834:
I know quite a few people who have just given up on cars (yes the horror) because enjoying them anymore, in any fashion other taking you slowly from point a to point b is pretty much now a crime, and the province has decided that despite the fact you own a vehicle, they can and will confiscate it and or crush it if they damn well please despite 800 years of law inheritence which renders actions like that illegal.
@DiscoQuinn: Are you serious?? I just checked out your website. I wasn't aware that it was legal to buy and drive a Kei car here! I have often been to Japan and I always envied them with their small cars. I live in Ontario. I'll try to go visit your store at some point. How much would a mint condition Cappuccino set me back?
As much as I like Skylines - and yes I do like those cars - I'm more jealous of the Canadians' ability to purchase and drive those Kei cars. I've said it before here, I would love to have either an Autozam AZ-1 or Toyota Sera as my daily driver.
@DiscoQuinn: shoot me an e-mail, I'd love to get some cute/hot kei-action
You want a Tercel with Lambo doors as your daily driver? Why?
@tentacles: Something to do with high gas prices, and those cars look, well, fun.
[www.japanoid.com]
As the only registered owner of a Mazda AZ-1 in British Columbia, Canada. I can tell you, it's a riot to drive. Fast and handles like a go-cart for real. $34 to fill up with gas prices @ 1.32 a litre. Cheapest sports car to run - and rare, only 4400 made.
@SundaySunday: There are now three lifted, bush-bar equipped, heavily fog-lighted Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 diesel minivans in town.
One is driven by an outrageously hot redhead.
Want. Want, want, want.
Oh... yeah, the minivan too.
I love my r33. I'm in florida and its my daily driver. No problems here
@Pope Dearthair the Awesometh: Yeah, those Delicas are pretty sweet too. Esp. with the bully bars and lights. Are they Montero-based? Judging by the pics I've seen, they look to be comparable size to a Montero that parks at our office.
And I just thought of another added benefit of a grey market JDM car: It would be easy to hold firm on the 'no eating in the car' rule. With RHD the norm, drive thru fast food would be a thing of the past.
If that was filmed at Yorkdale (can't watch the video right now), I'm mildly irritated I wasn't witness to this (seriously, I work 5 minutes away). Also, the Pontiac dealer across the road had some Kei action going on about a year ago (I think there's still a Figaro on the lot). It's still one of my favorite things about living in Toronto, catching the occational glipse of some oddball Japanese car.
Also, I've wanted to take advantage of that 15-year law for ages. I'd probably lean to something like a Rover 3500 Vitesse or a Renault-Alpine GTA, but the JDM stuff could be cool too.
that looks like a blast. very nice.
@Maymar: Somebody brought a Renault-Alpine GTA by work the other day. What a weird/awesome car.
But does that Supra come in P***y Magnet Yellow?
is it just me? or do the drift sequences look sped up?
I've heard Transport Canada is going to change the laws so you can only import cars 25 years and older ( instead of 15 )
What a bunch of jerks eh!
I'm amazed at how circular the steering wheel is. Usually there is at least some degree of out-of-roundness, somewhere in the surface.
Looks/sounds like someone needs to reprogram when the shift light illuminates....
I happened to see an R34 today about 2 miles from my house....first time I've seen one in person :o
I have a stupid question. If you're doing right hand drive and shifting with your left, is the gear box switched too, so that first and second are next to you (in a 4 speed), and 3 and 4 and farther from you?
@Novaload: That is a damn good question. I will take the cameraphone hunting and find out for you this weekend. There are quite a few JDM cars here in town. Especially considering this is a town of 13000 people.
@ Novaload: no dude, that would require swapping a whole lot more than just where you sit - namely the gearbox internals and position of the shift forks, rods, and gears themselves. The gearbox functions the same regardless of the position of the person driving.
And no, Australia's market automatics don't have park at bottom either.
WoW... there sure are a lot of Canadians here, eh? :D
There are many of these RHD Nissans for sale here in Montreal, for the price of a 1998 Honda Accord 4 cyl. you too can have one of the most friggen awesome cars on the planet. If you love to drive, you want it, rattles and all.
@marcgoldleaf: I suspected as much. Jeez, talk about some negative transference, us 'Muricans would be tearing up some transmissions until we got the hang of that.
If I had that car, I'd be donuts in a 7-11 parking lot. Bullocks to what anyone would think.
RHD means using your left hand.
To shift.
Feels like something else.
This crosses cultures and borders.
Actually, it's Vaughan Mills mall... I live like 5 km from there
@Pope Dearthair the Awesometh:
In toronto? I know they are all over Van-City, but I haven't seen any in TO.
Getting a Delica is next summer's project.
Oh, and make sure this vid doesn't get into the hands of the OPP. It's enough to get that skyline impounded along side the garbage truck
@Mark Arnold:
Keep us in the loop. I've been meaning to get up and see these guys for a couple months.
@Novaload: Having first and second over by your passenger gives you the opportunity for sneaky leg brushes more often, if that's your go.
@boosted-lego-wagon:
Don't call him friend, buddy
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