Nissan GT-R

[berz]

Spent a significant amount of time with one of these over the weekend. Absolutely stunned. Though the design isn't my cup of tea, I actually prefer it to the gamut of designs coming from Asia these days. Performance was absolutely killer. Not killer enough for me to plunk down $25k over list for the price of admission, but damn close (though I am actively exploring the acquisition of one, but not at $95-100k). I haven't been this impressed by a car in years.

Being a Euro exotic snob who often downplays Asian engineering (and outright hype), this is saying a lot.

-Berz

[richardsim7]

Nice, I am envious :)

-Rich-

[hekkyUK]

Out of interest have you also driven one of the older R33 or R34 GTRs and, if so, how did it compare??

I still prefer the look of the older ones but the new one is apparently AMAZING to drive!

[sn00pie]

I got to drive one a few weeks ago. It was one of the few in Canada, just sitting inside was like nothing before. It feels like your inside a jet-fighter or something thats about to take off. I really loved the gearbox, the way the car handles is simply amazing, but then again the next best thing I've driven is a M3 and the GT-R is a totally different species.

I've never driven any older Skylines, although I have a few friends with R32 GTRs and one who is waiting for his R33 GTR to be imported and legal to drive. I'm a RWD guy myself, but the way that 'Nissan' GT-R grips is out of this world. I was only behind the wheel for something like 5-7 minutes but it was an experience I don't think I will forget in the next few years, and the thumbs-up you recieve from everyone that passes you is enough to bring more than a smile to your face.

The exhaust tone is something I surprisingly liked. I'm a huge fan of how the VQ35DE engines in the 350z/G35 sound and initially the VQ38DETT in the GT-R was something I didn't like, but then again this was judging from all the videos I had seen of it. Hearing it in person and getting a chance to send almost 500hp rushing through your ass cheeks will totally change your perspective of what a car is. ;)

It's easily going to be one the best cars of all time. The way it sits in the parking lot gives it such a menacing look... I've never seen any other car look like a spaceship and at the same time look so beautiful.

[berz]

I've spent some time with a 1996 R33 Skyline (At least, I'm reasonably sure it was a 1996...) in the past, but it wasn't for me. For one, right hand drive on American roads takes a bit away from the experience. But mainly, I just didn't feel that it lived up to the hype. It was a perfectly competent car, but I didn't feel much of a "soul" as far as the overall experience went.

The new GT-R is special. Having owned/leased a plethora of Porsches, a few BMWs, a Benz, two Ferraris and a Lamborghini throughout the past decade, I know all about sex and style as far as aesthetics go. I've never cared for the overly-boxy, imho, Japanese designs. The interiors were also fairly "meh" to me. I do not feel that the GT-R is a game changer in this field. Save for that nifty LCD panel that I didn't get to play with all that much, the interior was snug and comfortable...but nothing to overly-inspire my senses. With that said, the design of the car grew on me...and the interior is more than functional and very well-laid out.

While interior/exterior details are important to me, it's the performance that ultimately matters. The GT-R is virtually flawless. It easily compares, if not exceeds, the driving dynamics of my 997 Turbo. In fact, I'd say that handling-wise, it blows the 997 out of the water. Being a handling junkie, I began to push it and push it. It doesn't defy physics, but comes damn close. The only negative that I experienced, which I've experienced with every F1 tranny I've used to date, was the odd shifts at low speeds (ie: school zone/residential area). This behavior is what blew out the clutch on my old Gallardo rather prematurely (<5k miles).

-Berz

[Krpano]

Man, you are so lucky....:)

If i had money, it would be my choice today.

I just saw one today while going to work.

Sorry for the crappy picts....took it with my phone and it was getting dark already...

Btw, im in Geneva/CH

[+Fulcrum Subscriber¹]

Nice Car! If I ever am in the market for a car in that price range, it'd be a toss up along with the M3 and CTS-V. I haven't seen any of those around Chicago.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

It's like the car was reverse engineered from alien technology. It looks so futuristic. Nissan has definitely delivered with this car, both in terms of aesthetics and function. Honestly, I'd definitely buy one (or two) if I had the money to spare.

[bloodrain]

all that speed and nowhere to go, what a waste.

[crazzy88ss]

all that speed and nowhere to go, what a waste.

... seriously? You may as well say that about any car that can go over 80 mph.

[wst50]

Bloodrain, it's not the destination, it's the getting there. You don't have to go fast to have fun.

[revvo]

I didn't see any yet, and I've seen nearly every expensive car that you can buy here, from Bentley's Aston Martins to Ford GT's.

My friend did though,he spotted it, took it with his cellphone

I want to hear it in person :/

[chconline Veteran]

I dropped by a local Nissan dealership about 1 month ago. They had 3 in the showrooms. It looks amazing :yes:

The AWD and DSG system are great, and while the DSG and excellent computer programming makes it a winner in performance, personally I would still prefer a manual for the fun to drive factor and more involvement in the driving process.

.: Z06 or ZR-1 for me :D

[Unto Darkness]

I didn't see any yet, and I've seen nearly every expensive car that you can buy here, from Bentley's Aston Martins to Ford GT's.

You mean Bentleys and Aston Martins. Bentley does not own Aston Martin :D

[revvo]

You mean Bentleys and Aston Martins. Bentley does not own Aston Martin :D

Woops yeah, thanks :p

[crazzy88ss]

aston martins and ford GTs aren't all that expensive.

seen a Mercedes Mclearn SLR? or a ferrari Enzo? Veyron? now we're talkin money there.

[revvo]

aston martins and ford GTs aren't all that expensive.

seen a Mercedes Mclearn SLR? or a ferrari Enzo? Veyron? now we're talkin money there.

Well to start off I said nearly all expensive cars. The SLR may be the only (or one of the very few) commercially produced expensive car that I haven't seen on the streets in this province.

I haven't seen any Ferrari Enzo's and the only Ferrari & Maserati dealership in Quebec is minutes away from my workplace. The same goes for the only dealership selling Aston Martins and Bentleys.

Veyrons in Quebec? right, that's the kind of car that you'd want with our terrible roads :rofl:

Just last week I saw a Brabus C-Class again near work at the Mercedes dealership, it sounded amazing. It had a Florida license plate and it made sense since there are no Brabus dealerships on the Canadian east coast.

[mspeak]

be careful... news is that the trannys aren't up to speed. Lots of them are blowing out with GT-R owners. Nissan is claiming they're not under warranty.

http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=25361

http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=25576

[berz]

be careful... news is that the trannys aren't up to speed. Lots of them are blowing out with GT-R owners. Nissan is claiming they're not under warranty.

http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=25361

http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=25576

I just read through this....frightening stuff.

I remember with BMW's original SMG on the M3, there was a "hidden" option for an automatic launch control (basically the equivalent of a dropped clutch start). There were rumblings about the cars recording all launches done with this feature, with the tranny/engine/? warranty eventually being voided after X amount of launches. It seemed logical.

When I got my Gallardo a few years back, there was an E-Gear launch control feature discussed in the manual - with the only warning being something to the effect of "only do this if there is proper clearance to do so" - no warnings about excessive usage. When I finally did get around to trying it, the experience was amazing, but the fairly mighty engine sounded like it was taking a huge beating. In all, I did three separate launches in a month - all at the track. Two days after my last launch, coming out of a parking lot in automatic mode, E-Gear went into limp mode. When I brought it back to the dealer, I outright admitted what I did and pointed out the manual entry. I was told that I'd be voiding my entire warranty - on EVERYTHING (!) - if it is found that I was abusing the launch control feature. Turns out that E-Gear was happy again after a software flash and code reset, but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I never could get a straight answer from Lamborghini about the issue. What does constitute "abuse"?

Why not set up a system by which this feature can only be enabled by a dealer c at the owner's request - with a full explanation that if the car is under warranty, the owner is responsible for all expenses should any damage occur? Sort of like what is done on the M5 with its mandatory break in period.

-Berz

[DigitalE]

aston martins and ford GTs aren't all that expensive.

seen a Mercedes Mclearn SLR? or a ferrari Enzo? Veyron? now we're talkin money there.

I saw a good 8 or 10 SLR's in various parking lots around Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center this summer :p

[Revolution.]

what model/year skyline? R33, R34, R35? :ninja: if you had a ride on the R35.

[MasterC]

aston martins and ford GTs aren't all that expensive.

seen a Mercedes Mclearn SLR? or a ferrari Enzo? Veyron? now we're talkin money there.

I saw a couple GTs for sale recently, and all were around $40,000. Kinda surprised me.

[xxmxx]

Go figured i have a 350 biggest piece of crap!

nothing but a lemon will never give nissan 1 more penny

[MiG-]

I just read through this....frightening stuff.

I remember with BMW's original SMG on the M3, there was a "hidden" option for an automatic launch control (basically the equivalent of a dropped clutch start). There were rumblings about the cars recording all launches done with this feature, with the tranny/engine/? warranty eventually being voided after X amount of launches. It seemed logical.

When I got my Gallardo a few years back, there was an E-Gear launch control feature discussed in the manual - with the only warning being something to the effect of "only do this if there is proper clearance to do so" - no warnings about excessive usage. When I finally did get around to trying it, the experience was amazing, but the fairly mighty engine sounded like it was taking a huge beating. In all, I did three separate launches in a month - all at the track. Two days after my last launch, coming out of a parking lot in automatic mode, E-Gear went into limp mode. When I brought it back to the dealer, I outright admitted what I did and pointed out the manual entry. I was told that I'd be voiding my entire warranty - on EVERYTHING (!) - if it is found that I was abusing the launch control feature. Turns out that E-Gear was happy again after a software flash and code reset, but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I never could get a straight answer from Lamborghini about the issue. What does constitute "abuse"?

Why not set up a system by which this feature can only be enabled by a dealer c at the owner's request - with a full explanation that if the car is under warranty, the owner is responsible for all expenses should any damage occur? Sort of like what is done on the M5 with its mandatory break in period.

-Berz

I think its due to the fact that people have a different mindset when looking at something like launch control, and dumping the clutch in a manual, when they are virtually the same thing.

If you think, the manufacturers are essentially adding a button, that is like dumping the clutch. People fail to see the link though, as they think since the manufacturer added it, the feature should be safe. Which, in all fairness, it should be. Then again, to get the fastest 60 time in any car, a bit of abuse is needed. I can't see any way to exactly make the situation better either. You either have to remove the feature, and disable the thing, which means your car is more like a snail because not being able to set off with the max acceleration the car is capable of, or put in a sturdier clutch, which imo is as good as doing nothing, because setting off at 4500rpm all the time will blow any clutch + gearbox no matter how strong they are.

If the thing was a 6spd manual, it hurts the manufacturer. Why? As the computer controlled gearbox is obviously good for an extra 0.2~ seconds off the 60 time for a competent driver with a manual. Then the Skyline looks slower, and thats not what Nissan wanted with this car. Although with a 6spd manual they could have avioded the whole situation.

It swings and roundabouts really. My main thought is that its the drivers fault. The driver should know that using Launch Control once or twice a week or even once a month will severely start to degrade the gearbox + clutch, its common sense, but seen as the manufacturer put the button there, people want to blame that.

I'll stick with the manufacturers.... although they should really be replacing gearboxes for the first few years, as the failure rate is probably not that high, with not that many people driving like nutters from every traffic light.

[wst50]

Hell, to lower punishment on their gearboxes and keep 0-60 times low, a dual-clutch should be okay, just kick the clutch, slam the selector into the next slot, and dump the clutch. It'll hurt the clutch less than launch control does anyway :D