If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to own an R35, Craig Lieberman, Technical Advisor for the first two Fast and the Furious movies, who also happens to own an R35 GT-R, takes you through his experience.
The Skyline and GT-R badges have long been iconic figures in Japanese automotive culture. Over five generations, the Skyline GT-R grew more powerful, reaching its true global form in the shape of the R35 that continues to soldier on since its introduction in 2007. The “Godzilla” can still go toe-to-toe with modern supercars and remains a bucket-list car for many enthusiasts.
It’s nearly impossible to put an exact price on annual maintenance when it comes to any car. It’ll depend on a variety of factors, including usage patterns. Besides, we already know that the Japanese car community is notorious for installing aftermarket parts to personalize and improve the performance of their vehicles. And while the list goes on, this POV from an R35 owner who makes a career out of understanding cars might be the best place to start getting an idea.
Watch: How Nissan Upgraded The Engine Of The GT-R50 By Italdesign
Craig Lieberman and his 2015 R35 GT-R first united on valentine’s day in 2014 after he shelled out around $104k to gain ownership. Craig and his Godzilla have reportedly traveled around 7,000 miles (a little over 11,000 km) every year since then, including five track days annually.
Lieberman broke down his maintenance costs over the past seven years and 48,000 miles (~77,000 km) into segments. The total includes $7,700 spent on tires, $1,800 on brake rotors, $1,400 on a couple of brake pad changes, $1,600 on oil changes along with $2,700 spent on the transmission fluid, and another $2,000 on a set of shocks, bringing the grand total to $17,400, which is $2,485 annually. It’s a figure that pales in comparison to the costs to maintain other super and performance cars such as a Ferrari or even a Mercedes-Benz E63.
Read: The 2022 GT-R Nismo Special Edition Hood Is Unpainted To Save 100 Grams
Unsurprisingly, Lieberman has spent an additional sum of $19,400 over his seven years of ownership to upgrade the GT-R, which now features a titanium exhaust, upgraded fuel pumps, aftermarket wheels, a front lip, rear wing, and hood vents, to name a few. Detailing these costs, Liberman argues against the notion that the GT-R is any more expensive to modify than a Subaru WRX, BMW, or the like.
There’s more too. Today, the average 7-year-old used GT-R would cost somewhere between $63,000 and $72,000, holding between 59% and 72% of its sticker price. Lieberman claims that the car maintains its value better than its German rivals, partly due to the highly-devoted community surrounding it.
According to Craig, right now is the ideal time to purchase a GT-R, as Nissan is yet to give us a solid sign of a new generation R36. Of course, prices will differ by model year, trim, and the extensive amount of aftermarket parts that are (or not) installed into the vehicle. Granted, there’s no denying that owning an R35 will cost you much more than your average Nissan, but in terms of supercars and super saloons, the Nissan might just be the bargain option.
