Excitement fills the air as Bobby shares the journey of finally receiving his R34 GTR after a long wait. From the anxiety of shipping logistics to the emotional moment of seeing the car emerge from the trailer, the episode captures the thrill of car ownership and the bond formed through adventures in Japan. The hosts discuss the car's condition upon arrival, the challenges faced during transport, and reminisce about memorable experiences in Japan, making this a heartfelt episode for any automotive enthusiast.
This is the episode years in the making. In this installment of the Right Hand Drive Guys Podcast, we tell the full story of finally receiving the R34 GT-R I bought three years ago and stored in Japan until it became federally legal.
Over that time, I traveled to Japan six different times, driving the car the way it was meant to be driven and putting over 13,000 kilometers on it overseas — learning the car, bonding with it, and experiencing it in its natural environment before it ever touched U.S. soil.
Now, the wait is over. The paperwork is done, the car is legal, and the R34 has officially made it home to Maine. We talk about the emotional side of the wait, what it’s like to own a dream car before you can import it, and why the journey mattered just as much as the destination.
🎙️ Years of patience, thousands of miles, and one unforgettable moment — this is what the R34 dream is really about.
"...You order a GTR and it shows up a Chevy Impala. Right."
The Nissan GT-R is a fast sports car that many people admire. It's famous for its speed and technology, making it a popular choice for racing fans.
The Nissan GT-R is a high-performance sports car known for its advanced technology and powerful engine. It's often associated with racing and has a strong following among car enthusiasts.
"...You order a GTR and it shows up a Chevy Impala. Right."
The Chevrolet Impala is a big car that many families use because it's comfortable and has a lot of space. It's not as sporty as the GT-R, but it's a reliable vehicle.
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size sedan known for its spacious interior and comfortable ride. It has been a popular choice for families and as a fleet vehicle.
"...we got the big double trailer for the two cars and I have my truck."
A trailer is something you can attach to a truck or car to carry things. It's like a big cart that helps you move stuff from one place to another.
A trailer is a non-motorized vehicle that is towed by a motor vehicle. It is commonly used to transport goods, equipment, or vehicles, and can vary in size and type depending on its purpose.
"...my truck has the plow on it. And I'm just like, dude, I don't want to deal with taking off, putting back on a plow."
A plow is a big tool that attaches to the front of a truck to push snow out of the way. It's used to keep roads and driveways clear during winter.
A plow is an attachment for a vehicle, typically a truck, used to clear snow and ice from roads and driveways. It can be mounted on the front of the vehicle and is essential for snow removal in winter conditions.
"...I have a frigging Yukon that's diesel like it's it's made to tell it's like, yeah."
The GMC Yukon is a large SUV that can carry many passengers and cargo. It's good for towing trailers and driving in tough weather.
The GMC Yukon is a full-size SUV known for its spacious interior and towing capabilities. It's often used for family transport and off-road adventures, especially in rugged conditions.
"...I have a frigging Yukon that's diesel like it's it's made to tell it's like, yeah."
Diesel is a kind of fuel that some vehicles use. Diesel engines are often more efficient and powerful, especially for heavy-duty driving.
Diesel refers to a type of fuel used in diesel engines, which are known for their fuel efficiency and torque. Diesel engines are commonly found in larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs.
"...I go I get the toy hauler trailer from U-Haul."
U-Haul is a company where you can rent trucks and trailers to help you move your stuff from one place to another.
U-Haul is a company that provides rental trucks and trailers for moving and transporting goods. They are widely recognized for their do-it-yourself moving services.
"So when I went up on there, dude, it just peeled the bottom diffuser or front, you know, just peeled it right upside down, dude, ripped it right off."
A diffuser is a part of a car that helps it stay stable and stick to the ground by controlling the air that flows underneath it. In this case, it got damaged when loading the car.
A diffuser is an aerodynamic component located at the rear of a vehicle, designed to improve downforce and stability by managing airflow. In this context, it was damaged while loading the car onto a trailer.
"...I was not willing to let his fiance go into labor while we're picking up an R34 GTR."
The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 is a famous sports car that many people love for its speed and technology. It's known for being a great car for racing and is very popular among car fans.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 is a high-performance sports car known for its advanced technology and racing pedigree. It features a powerful RB26DETT engine and is highly regarded among car enthusiasts and collectors.
"It has a surge brake, which sucks because it's kind of violent. Like the way that it operates, it feels like, I don't know, it feels the dragon."
A surge brake is a system that helps slow down a trailer when the vehicle it's attached to stops. It can feel a bit harsh because it works by pushing back against the car when you brake.
A surge brake is a type of trailer brake that activates when the trailer pushes against the tow vehicle during braking. While effective, it can sometimes feel abrupt or 'violent' as the speaker describes.
"...and so I was like, 25 year old car, 25 year old car."
A '25 year old car' means the car was made 25 years ago. These cars are often seen as classic or vintage and can have special rules for registration and insurance.
A '25 year old car' typically refers to a vehicle that is considered a classic or vintage, often subject to different regulations and insurance considerations. In many regions, cars over 25 years old may qualify for classic car status, which can affect their value and how they are treated in terms of emissions and safety regulations.
"And so I'm like, I need to get it on the lift. So we throw it on the lift and because of the side skirts, like I can't get the lift to like really lift..."
A lift is a tool that lifts cars up so you can work on them underneath. It's like a big platform that raises the car high off the ground.
A lift is a mechanical device used to raise vehicles off the ground for maintenance or inspection. It allows mechanics to access the underside of a car more easily.
"...because of the side skirts, like I can't get the lift to like really lift because I'm just crunching the side skirts every time."
Side skirts are parts that go along the sides of a car, usually near the bottom. They help the car look sporty and can make it more aerodynamic.
Side skirts are aerodynamic components attached to the lower sides of a vehicle, designed to improve airflow and reduce drag. They can also enhance the car's appearance.
"...I'll expect this to kind of have these little surface rust things, nothing crazy, you know, the..."
Surface rust is the first sign of rust on metal. It looks like brown spots and can be cleaned off if caught early, so it doesn't damage the metal underneath.
Surface rust refers to the initial stage of rust formation on metal surfaces, often appearing as a reddish-brown discoloration. It can usually be treated and removed before it causes significant damage.
"...pinch welds bend, you know, just the things that happen over 25 years,..."
Pinch welds are the spots on a car where the metal pieces are pressed together. They help hold the car's shape and can get rusty or bent as the car ages.
Pinch welds are the areas where two pieces of metal are joined together in a car's body structure, typically at the seams. They are critical for the structural integrity of the vehicle and can be prone to rust or damage over time.
"...it just looks like a, you know, all original, unrestored, like very good car."
An unrestored car is one that hasn't been fixed up or changed from how it originally was. Some people like these cars because they show the true history of the vehicle.
An unrestored car is one that has not undergone any significant repairs or modifications to its original condition. This can be valuable for collectors who appreciate the authenticity of a vehicle's original parts and appearance.
"...everyone always brings that up. Well, what about the strut towers? What about like all that, right?"
Strut towers are parts of a car's suspension that hold the struts in place. If they rust, it can affect how the car handles and rides.
Strut towers are structural components in a vehicle's suspension system that house the upper ends of the struts. They play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the suspension and can be prone to rust or corrosion, especially in older vehicles.
"Like Garajashita makes them. And then I think there's a couple others."
Garajashita is a company that makes parts for cars, especially older models. They help keep these cars running well by providing replacement parts.
Garajashita is a company that specializes in manufacturing aftermarket parts for various vehicles. They are known for producing high-quality components that can help restore or enhance older cars.
"You were having flashbacks to Fuji Speedway and the battery dying in the car park. Yeah. I still don't necessarily know."
Fuji Speedway is a famous racetrack in Japan where many car races take place. It's known for its beautiful views and tough turns, making it a popular spot for racing fans.
Fuji Speedway is a renowned motorsport track located in Japan, known for hosting various racing events, including Formula 1 and endurance races. It's famous for its challenging layout and scenic views of Mount Fuji.
"MFD started fucking smoking. Like it was while I was driving. I'm like, hey, dude, I like came in immediately."
MFD means Multi-Function Display, which is a screen in cars that shows important information like maps and car status. If it starts smoking, it usually means there's a serious problem with the car's electronics.
MFD stands for Multi-Function Display, which is a screen in a vehicle that shows various information such as navigation, vehicle status, and entertainment options. Issues with the MFD can indicate problems with the car's electrical system.
"...it was overcharging. I guess the alternates have like a regulator built in and that was that had gone bad."
Overcharging happens when a battery gets too much electricity, which can hurt the battery and even cause it to leak or swell. This usually happens when parts like the alternator don't work right.
Overcharging occurs when a battery receives more voltage than it can handle, which can lead to damage, reduced battery life, and potential safety hazards like leaking or swelling. It often results from a malfunctioning alternator or voltage regulator.
"...the alternates have like a regulator built in and that was that had gone bad. And it was overcharging the system."
The alternator is a part of the car that helps charge the battery and power the electrical systems when the engine is running. If it fails, it can cause the battery to drain or overcharge.
An alternator is a crucial component in a vehicle's electrical system that generates electricity to power the car's electrical systems and recharge the battery while the engine is running. It converts mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy.
The Nissan Skyline GT-T is a version of the Skyline that is sporty but not as powerful as the GT-R. It's a good option for those who want a fun car without the extreme performance of the GT-R.
The Nissan Skyline GT-T is a variant of the Skyline series that offers a balance of performance and comfort. It typically features a less powerful engine compared to the GT-R but still maintains sporty characteristics.
"But I mean, getting it to GTR festival would be dope. Yeah, I mean, I guess we'll just see."
The GTR festival is a gathering for fans of the Nissan GT-R car. People come together to show off their cars, race, and enjoy the community.
The GTR festival is an event that celebrates Nissan's GT-R sports car, featuring car shows, races, and community gatherings for enthusiasts. It's a great opportunity for fans to connect and showcase their vehicles.
"Yeah, grid life is close. That would be cool, but it's like a different scene."
Grid Life is a fun event where car lovers come together to race, listen to music, and enjoy car shows. It's a mix of motorsports and entertainment.
Grid Life is an automotive festival that combines motorsports, music, and car culture, featuring events like time attack racing, drift competitions, and car shows. It's a popular gathering for car enthusiasts.
"Yeah, the Lime Rock Park. Yeah, but it'd be cool just to get it down there."
Lime Rock Park is a racetrack in Connecticut where people can watch car races and participate in driving events. It's a fun place for car fans.
Lime Rock Park is a road course and motorsports park located in Connecticut, known for hosting various racing events, including sports car races and track days. It's a popular venue for car enthusiasts and racers.
"...sneak in to a Tokyo underground meet with Jesse on the top level, like main, main space with that Nissan hyper,..."
A 'Nissan hyper' probably means a really fast and powerful car made by Nissan. They make some exciting sports cars, and this could be one of their top models.
The term 'Nissan hyper' likely refers to a high-performance or hypercar model from Nissan, although the specific model isn't named here. Nissan is known for its performance vehicles, such as the GT-R.
Select text to request an explanation
Hey, and welcome back to the next episode of the Right Hand Drive Guys podcast.
The podcast for guys who like right hand drives.
I'm Bobby.
This is Aaron.
There you go.
And this is episode 168.
And if you tuned into the last episode, then you know, live on the pod, Alvin Miles loaded
my car into an enclosed trailer.
Yeah.
That was super cool.
That was crazy timing.
Yeah.
Literally.
It was pretty wild.
And so that was exciting.
You know, we did it on the podcast and then, you know, so prior to that, what had kind
of happened was I'm leaving town on January 3rd and you're also having a child right
around the time of January 3rd.
So there was a lot of anxiety around like, okay, well, if this car doesn't show up before
I leave, there's a possibility you're not here to receive it.
And that's like a problem because besides heart sock, there's who lives like, you know,
quite a ways away.
There isn't anybody that I would really trust to inspect it just to make sure I'm not getting
left a car that I didn't expect, right?
That stuff happens.
You see, you hear whatever the horror stories.
Right.
Right.
You order a GTR and it shows up a Chevy Impala.
Right.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Third gen though.
It was a third gen Impala at least.
But no, it's like, so yes, that was anxiety.
You know, the process at top rank took longer than I thought.
All of a sudden it is like literally 11 days until January 3rd.
And Brian's like, yeah, I don't know, dude, like you're in like a blackout state.
Like you're like in a place which I already knew, like I've been living here.
I've had car shipped to me.
I know the whole deal, right?
But he, you know, and I'm like, yeah, dude, okay, Brian, tell me something.
I don't know.
What are we going to do about it?
Type thing.
And so we both went to work trying to find somebody that could get it here by the 3rd.
Dude, it's crazy.
Just going north of like just going into Maine, right?
Because they have nothing to pick up.
It doesn't even make sense for them.
They don't want to do it.
So what I end up doing is, you know, we have a buddy CJ down in South Boston and I'm like,
all right, dude, if I need to get this car shipped there, can I just do it so that it
can happen before my deadline?
And he's like, yeah, dude, of course.
So then I throw it out to Brian and I'm like, hey, you know, we can have this picked up
and rain him Massachusetts or dropped off there.
He's like, all right, I'll put it in.
Like within minutes he had somebody that picked it up just because it was Boston.
And so it's not that far.
Like it's kind of crazy, like so much trouble to try to get it to here as soon as you put
it one out to Boston.
It's like, they see Maine and they keep scrolling down the jobs.
They see Boston.
They're like, oh, shit, I already got this going there.
Yeah.
And so, okay, cool.
They tell Brian it's going to be in Boston in three to four days.
I'm like, dude, three to four days like this is sick.
Yeah.
And, and okay, this is last Monday, like afternoon, kind of like morning for them.
He's like, yeah, they'll be here in three hours.
I'm like, what?
I'm like, they'll be there in three hours and it's going to be three to four days.
Like, dude, this is Monday.
By the time they pick it up, it's like Monday, five PM Pacific time.
And I'm like, dude, I'm going to have this thing like what?
Like Thursday night, like Friday morning, you know?
And so, you know, I talked to, I don't know if it's a dispatch or whoever.
And he's like, yeah, like it's going to, it's going to be Friday in the evening.
And I'm like, dude, this is crazy.
I was not expecting to have it until after the new year, right?
After the new year.
And all of a sudden I'm getting it like the day after Christmas.
Like, oh my God, you know, like, and so anyways, Friday turns into Saturday, right?
Which seems more realistic, you know?
Okay.
They tell me Friday at six PM.
So crazy storms and stuff happening just south of us.
Yeah, there is a bunch of snow and ice in it.
Yeah.
And we're not in it.
We only know when we're getting hit with it, right?
So basically, I'm like, okay, whatever, I'm working with it, Saturday's cool.
You know, we got the big double trailer for the two cars and I have my truck.
But like that trailer is huge to be dragging down to like Boston.
And then my truck has the plow on it.
And I'm just like, dude, I don't want to deal with taking off, putting back on a plow.
Like we are literally, Aaron and I are here in the garage and we're like, dude, what?
It was on two different occasions.
Dude, we came out here with just brainstorming.
Just beating the shit out of a brains dude trying to figure it out, right?
Right.
And so so I'm like, OK, I'm like, all right, I could I could rent a U-Haul trailer.
They got those new toy haulers and I could just screw it.
Just run it with the plow on it.
Because originally you threw out there, dude, just drive it back.
Like it would be, you know, whatever.
And I'm like, and I was like, yeah, OK, you know, like and I'm really thinking about it.
But they got hit with a storm like the other day.
And dude, you should have seen the roads down there.
They were white ambers.
Like, dude, are there still is there still snow on the roads?
And I was like, no, that's just how much salt that they put on here.
That's like in and it's like cloudy almost from all of it getting kicked up constantly.
But anyway, so I'm like, all of a sudden I'm like, dude, I have a frigging
Yukon that's diesel like it's it's made to tell it's like, yeah.
So I go I get the toy hauler trailer from U-Haul.
I strap it to the Yukon.
I am ready to head down.
I'm like, hey, just double checking for 6 p.m.
Yeah, no, it's not going to be it's going to be tomorrow.
And so at this point, you know, I start getting really paranoid
because just of all the different stories, right?
I just start getting paranoid like, dude, no, like, am I getting like
let on and then screwed or what?
You know, because that's what like 3000 and some change miles from coast.
Yeah, like a lot can happen or whatever.
Yeah, that's a lot of time.
Yeah.
So I'm like, so I just try to block out the negativity.
I'm like, OK, cool.
All right, man, you know what?
I'm going to go down there.
I'm going to spend the night.
I'll meet you first thing in the morning.
Yeah, I do just that.
I wake up this morning.
I have a text from him and I'm like, and he's like,
he's like, yeah, and this is a text that was at like 6 30.
Yeah, he's like, yeah.
So I'm at a gas station and the line's really long and it's it's been a while.
So I probably got to push it an hour, you know, I'm going to be an hour late.
And I'm like, dude, is this the next?
You know, it immediately creeps back into my mind.
I'm like, I'm getting screwed, you know?
And but I say positive.
I show up to CJ's house and, you know, I pull in his driveway, get the trailer
already, just pull it on.
And the dude shows up and I'm like, I'm like, dude, thankfully.
Right. Yeah.
He pops open the trailer.
There's like a there's like a quad, like a four wheeler.
Yeah, like a Banshee.
Yes, it was like a 250 R.
I think it's a smaller one for like, you know, whatever, teens or whatever.
And I'm just like, and it's really dark in there.
And that's all you can see.
And I'm like, ah, that's not my car.
And he's like, no, yeah, it is.
And I'm like, you know, halfway joking with him, right?
He pulls that thing out.
It's got flat tires, dude.
And they're literal flat on one side.
So he's pushing bricks down his trailer.
And I'm like, all right, dude, I'll help you out.
Like this is this is embarrassing.
You know, anyways, and he he has his own race ramps.
He throws him on there.
It's like a bumper pole, two car trailer.
Yeah.
And mine was at the front and he he backed it out.
And it was like, dude, there it is.
Like, you know, from that first night that we showed up in, you know,
Chiba at top rank, global, Japan, whatever.
And, you know, walking into there at that time, not even renovated.
Just this kind of beat.
Dude.
Warehouse, right?
You know, top rank, like that place.
Yeah, they really had a glow up.
Let's just say that for sure.
They did a great job on on that.
But like, yeah, so from walking in that first time and seeing it there,
like waiting for us to go explore Japan and then through all of the trips
and events and, you know, all of that stuff to seeing it back out of this
trailer, like in the United States, it was just like a, like a damn,
like this is crazy, you know, like, like it's finally happening.
Yes.
And I can't say, and, you know, maybe it sounds like, I don't know.
I'm sure there's a word for dudes who have sex with cars, right?
Just hear me out, right?
I know that the because the world is so messed up.
I know there's a word for that.
And I'm not trying to drop it in the comments.
Fresh and yeah, give us that this is who I am.
But like, you know, I have never had like a quote unquote relationship
with a car, right?
Like in the sense of not like, you know, the thing is for your mechanical.
And I think that a lot of men, real men have like relationships
with some sort of mechanical, you know what I mean?
Whether it be their chainsaw, their car, quad, whatever,
snowmobile, four wheeler, you know, those whole things.
It's like, you know, I can say like I've had cars that like I loved, you know,
it's sweet, but not like a cross the globe relationship that like brought us
on so many different, you know, just adventures to then being here
in like the next phase of those adventures, you know, and whatever.
It's just like it's pretty wild.
I've never had that type of feeling about a car.
You know, I'm like, damn, okay, cool, like sweet.
So yeah, so it was him backing it out.
And I'm just like, yeah, like, don't hit shit, dude.
Like I'm watching you as you know, I'm watching you, but so he backs it out.
And like, I'm like, cool.
I'm going to get this thing right on the U-Haul trailer, which, you know,
those toy hauler U-Haul trailers, they're actually like pretty cool compared
to the old like vehicle haulers, like our vehicle, whatever that they called it.
These are much more thought out.
These are definitely more modern.
Yeah, they don't have like, I don't know, I feel like the older trailers,
like did not have that much room.
They had high sides where you couldn't open the door.
Like it was just a pain in the ass.
And it was like open in the middle.
And it was like two lanes for your tires to go into.
So like, and they had little lips on each side so you couldn't drive off.
Right.
So that made it so low cars could not use them because that lip
on the inside would always do Amber and I try up in Bangor, trying to load
in super cold like this, trying to load my 35 GTR on the trailer.
I'm picking it up.
I think it was like March or something.
I was so excited to drive it.
Yeah.
And like at that time, I was definitely inexperienced.
So like the way it was was the trailer and the truck were kind of at a downward slope.
And then I was trying to load it from a flat slope.
So when I went up on there, dude, it just peeled the bottom diffuser or front, you
know, just peeled it right, flipped it right upside down, dude, ripped it right off.
And I'm like, dude, I'll never use a U-Haul trailer again.
Never.
And that's why I didn't even think of it the other day.
And then I remembered, well, how do you frigging say this?
Jalopnik, Jalopnik, Jalopnik.
That's how he said it.
They did it.
Jalopnik.
I don't know.
Jalopino whatever.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's so they did.
I remembered like, oh, yeah, they did a article that U-Haul was upgrading their
whole fleet of trailers, like whatever.
Yeah.
And I hated how they had the tire strap.
That was the way you had.
Remember, you'd have the web that would go over and like if you had a low car.
It's impossible.
Yeah.
So this, you bring your own straps.
It's like a flat trailer for the most part, but it's got these little
wheel wells that are drive over for like, you know, trucks.
Yeah.
Things like that.
If you're that wide, which, you know, it's also made for race cars.
You can get up on there without touching those.
Right.
Comes with eight foot ramps.
It even comes with a third ramp for your.
In the center.
Yeah.
Well, you know, the spider bikes or the Polaris slingshots.
I don't know.
Whatever that claims, the free tricycles.
Yeah, yeah, free tricycles.
So, um, yeah, it was, it's a sweet setup.
I throw my race ramps underneath.
Like we're good to go, um, Amber, my wife, and then our buddy CJ, they're
trying to guide me on and you know, we're doing all right.
The problem is, is like I said, it just snowed down there.
So there's like that thin, plowed cover of snow over the tar that's like literally
just skate, right?
You're just skating.
So, you know, I'm trying to pull this up on.
I get on the race ramps.
My front tires get on the actual trailer ramps, but what happens is my tires start
spinning a little bit, like the tiniest bit from that snow cover, but then when
they catch it shoots the ramp out from underneath like the, the race ramp, right?
Which not a huge deal because that's only lifting it like six inches, right?
So we're not like hanging off the side, but I'm completely unlevel and like in
this situation, right?
So all of a sudden the trailer, the truck driver, it's not a trailer truck, but
truck driver comes running over like he's going to help, like we're in distress,
right?
When like my idea was like, okay, it's got to be on level.
I'm probably just going to back this off.
Try again.
Like as long as my front's not going to get peeled off, like I'm going to back
this thing down, like let's reset the ramps, try again.
Truck driver comes running over with both his race ramps and like I can't see
what he's doing.
He's on the passenger side.
Like I got two other people who aren't experienced at loading these
type of cars period, right?
And so don't feel, don't listen, don't feel bad.
Listen, Aaron would have been there.
He can't come.
I wouldn't let him come because I was not willing to let his fiance go into
labor while we're picking up an R34 GTR.
Dude, it would have been triggered immediately.
Oh man, it would have been done.
His car would have been for sale next week.
I'm just kidding.
No, but we wouldn't want to risk that.
So Aaron had to stay behind.
So, um, we, I may do with what I had.
So anyways, this guy comes in, he's shoving his ramp somewhere, right?
And like, dude, I don't know.
Cause my foot's on the brake.
Like I'm where it was just sliding and it's off-counter.
I'm not trying to like just get out, right?
Like I'm just like, oh, this doesn't make sense.
I should have.
But anyways, he had shoved them underneath my side skirt in front of my rear tire.
Right.
And so, okay, I guess, uh, I don't know what he thought that was.
So they had me go forward, right?
Dude, I go forward, the fucking wheel spins the ramps out and lodges it under my rear
spat, right?
And then the car, because the car went up on the ramps and then down off the ramps,
it like falls back down on, onto the U-Haul ramp, right?
And that like cracks my rear spat.
And I'm just like, and we're just like, oh, and I'm like, what just happened?
And she's like telling the truck driver like, no, no, no, he's like trying to
rip it out from underneath it, which is going to just destroy it.
You know, and, and so, you know, CJ goes and gets his jack.
They lift it up, you know, we do what I originally said.
I back off, we get it back on there.
The problem was I needed to come with more speed.
I couldn't really come with more speed because I didn't trust the people helping
me. So like, I was afraid if I came with more speed and I hop up on that trailer
and all of a sudden I'm closer to one of those wheel wells, stepped wheel wells
that I'm destroying my front lip, my front bumper wheel, you know, so my confidence
was low, but the truck driver is just like, you know, I don't know where he's
from, but he was like, you need more speed.
And I was just like, all right, dude, whatever.
And I just like closed my eyes and just
no, I didn't, but I hopped up on the wheel.
Yeah, pretty much I hopped up on there.
It did work.
We didn't have any more issues.
We got it on the trailer.
Yeah, I strapped it up and got out of there as soon as possible.
Like I was like gone, dude.
So, you know, that that was great.
The Yukon pulled it good.
It was a decent trailer.
It has a surge brake, which sucks because it's kind of violent.
Like the way that it operates, it feels like, I don't know, it feels the dragon
that activates.
Yes.
And so like, right.
So when you hit on the brakes hard enough, it like, like clicks in, it's weird.
The surge, you like feel it.
Yeah, it's weird.
That part was whatever, but made it back very, you know, minimal junk on it from
the road.
Yeah.
I, I sprayed it down.
This was like an hour and a half ago.
I sprayed her eight down, got her cleaned up, you know, just sat in it a bit and was
like, oh yeah.
This is it, huh?
Yeah.
She's home.
She's home.
So then, you know, the side skirts make it a little hard to get on the lift.
If you're watching YouTube, you can see it on the behind us.
Um, that was the first thing I really wanted to do was just like in Japan, I
could never see underneath it.
Oh, right.
Yeah.
All the times, all the miles and kilometers you've driven.
Yeah.
Never been under it, huh?
And that's 13,000 kilometers that I drove in Japan throughout all my trips.
So that's a decent amount to not have the opportunity just to throw it on the lift,
on a lift.
I probably could have, but like, you know, honestly, like when we went to
Japan and when I went, you know, it was like, I want to just enjoy it for the most
part, you know, I mean, of course, like I invested a lot of money and like, I don't
want to crash it.
I don't want any issues, right?
I want, I don't want to like beat the shit out of it, but also I want to take
every opportunity to drive it there that I can, whether it's in the rain, it's on
the track, it's, you know, whatever, as long as I'm not sliding off the road in
Hokkaido or something, you know, but so is like, you know, there are a lot of
little things with it that just nothing mechanical, but just little stuff, right?
And so I was like, 25 year old car, 25 year old car.
And so I'm like, I need to get it on the lift.
So we throw it on the lift and because of the side skirts, like I can't get the
lift to like really lift because I'm just crunching the side skirts every time.
So I end up having to use some extensions and, you know, unscrew the pad and like
rig it, but we got it up there.
And, you know, I have the 33 and I know what that looks like underneath.
And I know that that's, you know, five years older, right?
Five years older.
But that's kind of what I used to, to, you know, like, okay, I'll expect this to
kind of have these little surface rust things, nothing crazy, you know, the
pinch welds bend, you know, just the things that happen over 25 years,
especially when, you know, maybe somebody who's less experienced or doesn't
appreciate as much owns it sometimes, right?
Things happen, you know, it's what it is.
So we lifted this thing up and it's like pretty men, like it, like for, for what,
for 153,000 kilometers, I feel like I expected just more rock chips, more
surface rust, more dense, little scrapes, you know, just the stuff, right?
But no, I mean, it was decent.
Like there's nothing under there that really had any red flags in my eyes.
Like it just looks like a, you know, all original, unrestored, like very good car.
Yeah, for sure.
I mean, yeah, there was nothing crazy.
There was some little orange, you know, spots where just surface rust was occurring.
But like in some spots that you would expect, but overall, like it just needs
like a good clean, a good spray down, a good, a good clean.
But so I was pretty excited about that just because it's, you don't know.
Like, because yeah, we, you don't know.
And like with the 34s, that's the thing with them is like everyone always brings
that up. Well, what about the strut towers?
What about like all that, right?
And yeah, I mean, it looks mint in that sense.
And, and, you know, yeah, there's strut towers could, could be rusty.
Like I would know, but I'm not super worried about it currently.
You know what I mean?
I mean, I mean, they're making the parts.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
And it's, I feel like that's something that has came, came back around.
And they're like, there's other companies making the parts too.
Like Garajashita makes them.
And then I think there's a couple others.
Yeah. Yeah.
I mean, anytime you figure something out, somebody right, right, right.
But it's good. Yeah, give us some options.
Yeah. So yeah, that's, that's good.
Like, you know, and of course, everything else looked exactly how, you know,
when, when I left it the last time, which was
will be a year ago on January 15th was the last time I saw the car.
So yeah, it's crazy.
Time flies, but yeah, still the same.
It was so, you know, it was in California, obviously.
And then do drives across country get over here and it's like zero degrees at night.
Right. Yeah.
So there's like a cover on it in the trailer.
He takes it off.
He gets in there.
That's cool.
Yeah. And I'm like, and it's like,
you know, like not wanting it like you see the lights and they're just like dimming.
And I'm like, oh, oh, you need my jump pack?
Yeah. I'm like, CJ, do you got a jump pack?
And like, dude turns it off,
tries again and it starts up and I'm like,
because that's like notorious, right?
Like JDM cars after being imported, the batteries are just small.
Yeah. So and then when I got here, it started up just fine.
So yeah, that that was a little old.
Yeah. Yeah. I was just like, oh, shoot, like, what am I going to do?
Like, is he going to have to push it out of the trailer?
Like, oh, man, you know, like, because that's all this stuff that's running
through your mind, like when this thing, it's like the anticipation and, you know,
anything that happens, right?
You were having flashbacks to Fuji Speedway and the battery dying in the car park.
Yeah. I still don't necessarily know.
They never really told me what the problem was, but we, you know, I haven't had it
since, but if you didn't hear it on the podcast, we were running the car at Fuji
Speedway and pretty much like battery light came on.
MFD started fucking smoking.
Like it was while I was driving.
I'm like, hey, dude, I like came in immediately.
I'm like, you're out of gas.
Oh, and the battery lights on.
Yeah. Yeah.
So I guess maybe what happened was like,
it over, it gave too much to the system, right?
It was overcharging.
I guess the alternates have like a regulator built in and that was that had gone bad.
And it was overcharging the system.
So everything was getting too much power.
Thanks for thanks for letting me know.
I'm like, yeah, I don't know what it was.
You're like, hmm, actually, yeah, because I was shitting my pants, dude.
I'm like, oh, drive this guy's car once, dude.
Yeah, of course I was driving it.
I'm like, come on.
Yeah, I mean, unless you crash it, like if you're an owner, right?
And you
you let somebody drive your car, if you're an owner, you let somebody drive your car
beyond like crashing it from negligence.
Yeah, you kind of got to expect that, like,
you know, something may happen and it could have happened while I was driving it,
like, you know, whatever, right?
So, you know, you can't really go back on it and be like, oh, dude, you owe me this.
It's like, dude, that alternator is freaking 23 years old.
Like, what do you mean, dude?
Like, it's just I woke it up, dude.
Yeah, no telling when the last time the car was ran like that.
Oh, yeah, you know, actually like going through the paces, you know, over and over again,
especially on a place like Fuji where that long straight and you're just like
we can only do 115.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
I mean, so, yeah, it's like, you know, after that, I was like, oh, no.
But yeah, no issues like the car's good, you know, my experience with top rank
overall, you know, was great, you know, the Japanese side just because of
you were in Japan and going to Japan felt amazing, you know what I mean?
And I didn't get to go to Cyprus and actually like meet with top rank US.
And, you know, I know the guys, but like different experience, right?
But overall, like no complaints at all.
If if it was the situation, I would for sure purchase another vehicle from them.
If it if it made sense, you know, but yeah, dude, it's here.
If you're not watching YouTube, you should hop on there.
You'll you'll be able to see it.
Yeah, dude, it's in the flesh.
It's kind of crazy.
Yeah, maybe we can in this video, maybe we will insert a little b-roll or like
some of the memory pictures of it from when we were taking it in Japan.
Yeah, I mean, do Tokyo Auto Salon twice, our meetings twice,
ours meeting twice, what we also did Tokyo Underground meet.
Yeah, yeah.
Donkey Hote, dude.
Yeah, we became donkey boys, you know what I mean?
And yeah, so and then just like we said,
dude, like parking it at Ebisu and like being up on a North course.
Yeah, like that was cool for that.
The Spring Motsuri.
Yeah, that first year that was that was pretty cool.
That was wild.
Yeah, I mean, I took it back.
I took it to Nagano to where they did the Olympics.
Like I took it, you know, like, so it's like, yeah, now, dude, here it is.
And now I'll hardly drive it on main roads.
I'm just kidding.
I will drive it.
The hard part is just, yeah, the roads kind of suck.
Yeah.
And like.
But what do you mean, dude?
You're going to be gone for the winter.
You'll come back and it'll be ready to drive.
Yeah, no, you're right.
That's why I'm not doing nothing to it, but I'm not getting it like halfway apart
before I leave and then I come home to like, don't do that.
Yeah, no, I'll do an oil change when I get back and she'll just be good to
like actually enjoy and I can't imagine here, though.
Dude, it was pretty crazy, like just driving down the highway.
Yeah, how many people are honking, waving like just, dude, I'm just like, OK,
like, you know, I get the cupped hand wave going and I just keep it going.
No, but it's insane.
How many people notice it?
Like, dude, I'm just I'm trying to load it on the trailer and and people are like
trying to drive by CJ's just like, what?
Yeah, and I'm just like, holy crap.
Like, you know, especially up here, like nobody has ever seen that.
No, no, like I mean, I'm 99 percent sure I'm the first guy in Maine with a 34 GTR.
I think so.
I've seen like one GTT.
Right.
Yeah.
So like, I believe I haven't actually seen it.
So, yeah, I mean, might be the first one.
Yeah, most likely, most likely.
So pretty cool.
Yeah, that's cool, I guess.
Like is when I pulled it across the state line was at the first time one had
like, yeah, like, whoa, you know, like,
not that any of those things matter, but it's fun.
But yeah, so now I have it and I got the 33 and I got a bunch of parts for the 34
that I guess I'll either slowly work on them or wait till another time.
Yeah, I don't know, you know, besides like the front little lip,
like nothing's like a, you know, a rush, like I'll just take it easy.
And the exhaust, though, that would be cool.
The exhaust would be cool.
Yeah, the least spec.
Yes, the least spec, which he will be on an upcoming episode.
So we can ask him questions about all of that and see
what he thinks his exhaust will be like on a completely stock 34.
Yeah, I think it'll be cool.
So do you have anything else in mind that you want to do next year with it,
whether it be attend whichever events or drive it to whatever places or
what what do you got in the works?
I mean, import alliance is like, you know, for sure.
I mean, that makes sense.
And then, I mean, yeah, I'd love to, I'd love to get to events,
but we're going to drive so far, you know, so that's the hard part.
But I mean, getting it to GTR festival would be dope.
Yeah, I mean, I guess we'll just see.
I mean, grid life is close.
That would be cool, but it's like a different scene.
Yeah, the Lime Rock Park.
Yeah, but it'd be cool just to get it down there.
Um, yeah, it'd be cool to take it down to Tommy's spend a day or two, you know,
just whatever, having convinced me to spend $60,000 on a something.
Yeah, right.
Like I can't, but like still, yeah, that's what I try to do.
But yeah, man, I'm excited.
I mean, I'm pumped.
Finally, everything's in one space.
What do you think your like most memorable moment was in Japan with it?
I mean, all of it was pretty fricking epic, dude.
Like, I mean, really, like, dude, being able to sneak in to a Tokyo underground
meet with Jesse on the top level, like main, main space with that Nissan hyper,
whatever concept, and then like, yeah, just being.
Yes, like in that space was like super cool.
You know what I mean?
Or whatever rolling into ours meeting with Kenden and like all the Colorado guys.
Oh, right. Yeah.
I mean, even just like
ripping across the country with like the GTR and the van or not the van,
the camper, just getting to our next destination and like.
Because yeah, I mean, we went from Tokyo to Osaka that first trip.
And thinking back, that's like a long ways.
That's pretty decent.
Yeah, it is. Pretty wild.
Yeah. So it's like, you know, there's there's a ton there and I'm hoping I can
make, you know, some here, but it it will be hard to be like in the motherland.
You know, getting that JDM gas and just like, you know what I mean?
That like, yeah, just running over to a pit and spraying it off and like buying shit.
I don't need like, yeah, dude, like, you know what I mean?
Like, yeah, we can go on for hours about it.
Yeah, right.
Like pulling and pulling into the gas station and trying to like just like
premium like top shelf like the good stuff.
Yeah, I mean that that stuff is, you know,
yeah, that's great.
Like just being able to do that and then bringing it here, I think really makes
the experience completely like full circle and like even more memorable.
I guess you could say like it's like and you know, I try like this is just my
opinion because this is what I went through.
But like, you know, buying the 33 here, right?
Like love the car. It's cool.
Like, you know, but yeah, like completely different experience.
Just being able to buy a car and just immerse yourself in it.
Yeah. Like in in the place where they came from,
like it's just like, I can't explain it.
Like the words really just sound like you're bragging.
Yeah, you know, but that's not it.
It's just like that is that will make it so I'll never sell this car.
Right. If like I would sell the 33.
You want a 33 hit me up.
But I would sell that 95 V spec.
Yes, exactly.
But, you know, because there isn't that like if I got in like some crazy pinch
somehow, like I would hide this 34 and not let myself get to it.
Yeah, this shit would be on the front lawn with a for sale sign.
You know what I mean? Like and I love the car.
It's just like it's different.
I don't have that with it.
You know what I mean?
It's like a it's like a friend or something.
So but yeah, that's that's the real truth.
Have you ever get the chance to do it even if it's a whatever base model,
whatever, but if you have a chance to buy one in Japan and like truly enjoy it
and in like experience Japan in it, I recommend that nine times out of 10 over
buying something locally that's more expensive and maybe cooler, but you don't
get that experience, you know what I mean?
It's just, yeah, it's priceless for sure.
But now I just I want to like sit in it and hang out, you know,
you know, my family's having dinner in it tonight.
You know what I mean?
Do you think that's a mongeree?
Yeah, they'd left it in the trunk for me, dude, yeah.
All right, cool.
Thank you guys for listening.
This has been an episode all about the 34.
We appreciate you listening.
You can find us online at our HD GUIS.
As always, I'm Bobby.
This is Aaron. See ya. Peace.
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