BMW M5 e39 vs Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, do you have a clear winner?

The high-performance car segment was quite strong in 1998, as both the BMW M5 E39 and the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 were making their way onto the world’s roads. And although the value of the Japanese car has risen more than the German saloon, which one should you choose in a endurance race?

On paper, there is an obvious choice. While Nissan’s turbocharged 2.6-litre inline six-cylinder engine produces 284 CV and 392 Nm of peak torque, the BMW’s naturally aspirated V8 is significantly more powerful, producing 400 CV and 500 Nm of peak torque.

However, the Skyline GT-R R34 has some disadvantages because its engine drives all four wheels, whereas the M5’s V8 sends all its power to the rear wheels. And despite the additional drivetrain equipment, the Nissan also weighs 235 kg less than the BMW.

Nissan Skyline or BMW M5, which one do you choose?

That reduced weight and those additional driven wheels apparently have a significant impact, bringing the quarter-mile endurance race much closer than expected. In the first two runs, which start at 48 km/h and 80 km/h respectively, the German saloon pulls ahead of the Nissan. However, the Skyline’s driver insists that the BMW’s advantage lies, almost entirely, in the way it launches and its torque.

Blaming the turbo lag, he asks to start the third run in third gear at 100 km/h to help ensure that the Skyline is powered off the line. And indeed, once the turbo is spooled up, the performance between the two models is almost identical, with a neck-and-neck win for the BMW.

https://youtu.be/DiHT7AZHzGo