The GT-R is the blind date everybody’s been telling you about for months: incredible body, second in her class at Harvard, fabulous conversationalist, star athlete. Then you meet her. Yes, she has obvious “assets,” but nobody mentioned the halitosis. She graduated with a B.A. in accounting. She’s a great conversationalist, but her voice sounds like run-flat tires with three-inch sidewalls running over a concrete-aggregate rumble and tar-strip slap. She's an athlete, but a grunting shot-putter, not a Sharapova. In short, the GT-R is SO not a supermodel.
I spent 1,450 miles inside a Nissan GT-R in early April, flying through the deserts of Nevada and central California. I didn't notch 193mph, the GT-R's top speed. But I (or you) could have done so with ease. I decided not to approach this limit to preserve my license. In fact, the Nissan coupe plants itself on the road better than any car I've ever driven.
Stretching the GT-R’s legs on an open Nevada two-lane road was so simple that my 28-year-old daughter could repeat the process a few minutes later while I lazed in the right seat. When we passed opposite-direction tandem tractor-trailers on these empty highways, it was as though the GT-R slipped by a Smart. With a Cd of .27 and just enough downforce in all the right places, aerodynamics are apparently a lot of what allows this car to go so fast so easily.
If there's anything to criticize about the GT-R's handling— I also spent an afternoon with the car lapping the mickey mouse Reno-Fernley Raceway— it's the steering. While the helm’s quick and precise, it’s strangely numb and electric-feeling. The Japanese still have a lot to learn from Porsche here, but the GT-R is ridiculously nimble for a two-tonner (with driver and gas).
Two of the car's most highly touted features baffle me, though. One is the endlessly configurable instrument display, called-up via the nav screen. Nissan readily admits that it “was inspired by videogames.” It’s not what you’d call useful– unless you're intent on studying steering-wheel deflection, slip angle, transmission-oil pressure and brake-pedal position while late-apexing an off-ramp. It's the geek equivalent of the complex chronographs of the 19th century: pocket watches that read out everything from the tides to your mistress's menstrual cycle.
The GT-R’s fiddly “launch mode” for maximum acceleration (meaning turbo spool-up) is also a curiosity. It will amuse those who haven't an ounce of mechanical sensibility who don't mind abusing machinery. Actual GT-R owners will use it a few times to amuse the neighbors, and then will realize that they're still making payments on the $70,000+ appliance they're brutalizing. Even Nissan told me to only use it "once or twice."
For me, the car's tires are the biggest turnoff. Quick! Name a single benefit to run-flats. They're noisy, expensive, difficult to repair and can only dismount with special machinery. I don't have a spare in my 911 either, since a fuel cell fills the trunk, but I use Ride-On to seal its tires permanently. (No, Ride-On has nothing in common with Slime or Fix-a-Flat.) The Bridgestones on the GT-R are so loud they negate the Bose sound system; a Costco Kenwood would have sufficed amid the din.
Obviously, this car's numbers– whether we're talking racetrack lap times, zero to sixty or MSRP– are stunning. We all know that GT-Rs are lapping the Nordschleife faster and faster, that they out-accelerate Porsche Turbos and ZO6s and cost $69,850 (plus “market adjustment fees…”). There's a lot to like about this car, but is it the ultimate, the Godzilla, the Nurburgring killa?
Who cares? Acquiring a supercar, rather than fantasizing about one, faces the buyer with a decision with vastly more to do with real-world attributes than with video games, bad movies and teen fetishes. (Admittedly, the last video game I played was Space Invaders.) It fascinated me that nobody in Nevada or California noticed the GT-R, other than carwash attendants, 14-year-olds with mullets and every parking valet in Vegas. The rest of the world walked on by, assuming they’d encountered a new Toyota Supra.
Seventeen years ago, the first Japanese supercar arrived in the States: the Acura NSX. Fabulous numbers, a half-price Ferrari, buff-book craziness, slavering car writers, rumored to be the benchmark for the McLaren F1, development work by Ayrton Senna… So where did the NSX go? Ultimately, it became the orthodontist's car, when the world went back to buying Porsches and real Ferraris. Care to take bets on what will happen to the GT-R?
Bottom line: the car world may have gone cuckoo for Coco Puffs over the GT-R but it’s ultimately a pointless, nerdy, twin-turbo, electronics-laden technological curiosity.
111 Comments on “2009 Nissan GT-R Review...”
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I agree…
The GTR has a lot of appeal right now but I doubt it will age well, as it is an unmistakbly Japanese design. A lot of the appeal is in the technological prowess, but that will soon be outdone again by other cars with more appealing looks and brand names.
One thing though…it’s McLaren, not MacLaren.
JJ:
One thing though…it’s McLaren, not MacLaren.
My bad. Text amended.
I’m kind disappointed. I drove the first (R34) Skyline. And while it was the hardest riding car ever created (128i excepted), it was FUN! I think the range was just over 100 miles, but WTH.
Also read (and watch) Dan Neil’s review, where he elaborates a bit more on what makes a Porsche GT2 special to drive and the GT-R a bit, well, boring.
The GT-R inspires no lust from me. It’s just too ugly to be desirable. Nissan should spend their time by putting a V8 in the G coupe and going M3 hunting; at least the G37 looks the part.
Sounds exactly like my kind of car:
I don’t listen to the radio nor music much at all. Radio not needed.
The run-flats are easily replaceable, no?
I’m a computer geek.
Now if only it was actually purchasable….
Nissan is Pretty Fast Now A Days with this
GT-RRRRRRR.
But they sacrifice something?
The way it LOOK.
Shame… I had higher hopes for it.
Not the review we’ve been reading everywhere else.
Great job, Stephan.
I don’t usually like to sign on with the hype, and the GT-R has had nothing but hype for months and months, but I still kinda love it. Mostly because I think it’ll do the same thing for upper-end performance cars that the WRX did for the $25,000 set – force supercar manufacturers to rethink their products in order to compete with this bargain basement speed demon. Regardless of whether it has the cachet of a Porsche or Ferrari, it’s sure as hell faster than almost any car out there so them snobby big boys better start scrambling to turn oup the heat.
Interesting. To me, this reads like a pretty scathing write up yet you still have it 4 out of 5 stars.
I am wondering, is it that the performance is just that undenialble or did you really enjoy the car and are just being polemic in your review?
And I believe the parallel you’ve drawn to the NSX is flawed. Just because both are pricey sports cars from Japan does not mean they are similar. You might as well compare a DB9 to a Exige. They are both from the UK, so why not?
Here is what I mean. Say what you will about the NSX. It was a fabulous car and I am big fan of it, but you really had to love a $100k exotic that could have barely beaten a 300ZX Twin-turbo from a stop. The GT-R is not this. The MSRP at most is $76k (before the dealers decide to assault your check book), and it will consistently embarrass owners of cars 3 times its price almost anywhere and anytime.
Looks? I like it, a lot. And I am not 14 years old. I am 27. You want a car that attracts the attention of Goldiggers and sycophants? That’s what Porsches and Ferraris and Lamborghinis are for. I’ve known people like that and I don’t care for them. I think there is something to be said for anonymonity in car that is so effortless.
I find it amusing when a Japanese automaker puts out a design that is unmistakenly Japanese and then is chastised for it, but then offers a design that is more in keeping with American and European conventions and then is accused of plagiarism.
I’m glad you don’t care for it. Which is what I love most about its looks. Japan’s automakers will never achieve the “prestige” of the European premium brands and I don’t think they have to. To me the GT-R is Japan and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Gee, I didn’t think it was a _scathing_ writeup, I was mainly commenting on its chances for market success. The car’s pure performance is so stunning that it would be ridiculous to fault it by giving it three stars, say.
Nor did I mean to draw a parallel to the NSX in terms of the machinery–just the concept.
Somehow I think that the comparison with the NSX is off. The more proper comparison is the Corvette. The corvette is America’s supercar for cheap, Godzilla is Japan’s unlike the NSX that was ultimately underpowered and overpriced. The GT-R on the otherhand has the right power and handling for its price.
As for the runflats… if that’s the only thing… change-em…
Nice writeup. But I’m also going to pile on the NSX comparison. It sounds like a bit of revisionist history, I think. Part of the reason the world moved on from the NSX is that the NSX caused the supercar industry to raise its game, and for whatever reason Honda/Acura were content to never really update the NSX accordingly.
It will be interesting to look back at this period of automotive history in about 30 years or so. I suspect we’ll see the NSX and GT-R as bookends in some way. But bookends to what?
Unless you have access to a track, just where are you going to use this car’s potential? Risk your license on a regular basis, i don’t think so. other reviews have described a rock hard ride, so you have to put up with a stiff ride, high insurance payments, the nerdy interface, etc 99% of the time, with the occasional blast through the hills as compensation. you don’t even get the pleasure of a great exhaust note. i’d rather have a cayman with a true 6 speed and enjoy it every time i went for a drive.
“…, I was mainly commenting on its chances for market success.”
I understand that. But the circumstances are not the same. Part of the problem with the NSX was value for money. The Honda didn’t have very good value for money and, as someone has mentioned, wasn’t continually improved upon. It seems Nissan is committed to not rest on its laurels with this one ( http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/did-nissan-cheat-gt-r-nurburgring-record/ ).
@Phil,
Nissan already makes something you want. Check into a 350Z. Sounds great and can come with a 6-speed.
Stephan – nice review but I would have to disagree with the GT-Rs market prospects. Nissan will sell every one it makes and buyers will pay MSRP or more for them. Also given Nissan history with the GT-R they will continually refresh it unlike Honda with the NSX. Unlike the NSX, I would also expect that we’ll see a lot of the GT-R and the V-spec on race tracks around the world giving it a much higher profile – particularly if they win.
A more fitting analogy would be to say that the GT-R maybe is to performance cars what the LS400 was to luxury cars – it won’t put a large dent into either Ferrari or Porsche but it will develop its own market niche and loyal following.
So, you give it 4 stars out 5, but have nothing really good to say about the GT-R other than acknowledging stellar “numbers”, which in the real world are meaningless anyway. Sorry, but I don’t get it.
pointless, nerdy, twin-turbo, electronics-laden technological curiosity.
Sounds great! Seriously, for the Nintendo generation, what’s cooler than that screen? I’m getting a boner just looking at it.
Fire up your post deleting skills I think you’ll need to do a lot of them.
Actually the fact that the GT-R isn’t “Supercar” pretty and “Look at me” like a Lamborghini is a good thing. Its function over form, like the big ass wing on an Evo or STI, sure they look a tad stupid but at high speeds they are there for a reason.
Once had a guy tell me who drove a 911 and an M5 that he loved everything about his cars except the badge. To the world at large BMW owners are pricks and Porsche owners are bigger pricks; obviously not the case but the stigma remains, it’s why you have to worry about people messing with your car even if the Tahoe next to you costs more.
The GT-R is not for everyone, it’s not for posers or badge snobs it’s purposely built to perform at exceedingly high levels for half to a third of the cost of the competition. As Goshn said, the GT-R is an everyday supercar for everyone; true enthusiasts realize this. I give credit where credit is due.
Now if Nissan could just make a mini GT-R say with 350hp, 3,500lbs, AWD, 4 seats and DSG for about $35k I’d be all over it. Either that or grow 2 more seats in the 370z (G37 is to heavy).
My personal best was 160mph. [ED: professional driver, closed course.] I decided not to go any faster purely to preserve my license.
Law enforcement on the closed course? Damn, they want revenue!
I agree it probably won’t be a super hot seller… but that actually makes it a little bit more appealing to me. I love the 350z, but around here, you see more than its fair share. Nice review.
RayH:
My personal best was 160mph. [ED: professional driver, closed course.] I decided not to go any faster purely to preserve my license.
Law enforcement on the closed course? Damn, they want revenue!
You know what? That was lame– although it gave you a nice underhand pitch to knock out of the park. I’ve removed my snide asides.
Great review Stephan. As blatantly ugly as this car is, I have to wonder if Chris Bangle’s been moonlighting over at Nissan. It’s sad, as the performance numbers are stunning, and Nissan has quite obviously put a great deal of time into making the car behave in supercar fashion.
The NSX reference is somewhat oblique, as its primary failing was that the Acura nameplate could not attract the gold-chain crowd. Also, in typical Honda fashion, they worked diligently to make it so that it actually functioned as an automobile while looking like art. Whether it did well in the marketplace or not, it definitely influenced the folks in both Stuttgart and Maranello.
Finally, I really wonder if we haven’t all lost our collective minds with respect to staggering horsepower numbers and real-world driving. I’m driving a 335 these days and find that 98% of the time there is just no where to use the measly 300 hp; even a base 435 hp Corvette would be even more frustrating. And when I take the 335 to the track, I’m reminded of a modern liter-bike; the vehicle is simply capable of more performance than 99% of its drivers. I suppose if we were all sensible, we’d be driving Mazda MX-5’s…
OK, time to pile on some more here. The NSX is NOT a good comparision simply becuase the NSX did NOT out-perform any of the European exotics of its day.
On the one hand the NSX was a great car, on the other it was a “so what” car. Aside from some excellent engineering under the skin and its mid-engine layout the NSX did nothing to truely standout in the crowd. It had good power, but nothing to get a hard-on over. The looks were also a bit “so-so”. Aside from adding a whopping 20hp HOnda did basically nothing to improve on this project over its 10+ year life. In all honesty Honda’s use of aluminum for the chassis was a big mistake, it made the car too expensive and made it too difficult to make changes to the design. Im sure hindsight would have Honda devoting its resources to a v8 and forgone the aluminum chassis. The irony of the NSX is that Porsche took a boxster, made a Cayman that cost far less and yet out-performed the last NSXs to come from Honda.
The GT-R on the other hand is the second coming of the Porsche 959. Considering all of the cars on the market today the GT-R is undeniably special. It is a technological tour de force and also is putting up performance numbers that ARE shaming the likes of $150,000+ Porsches and Ferraris. The GT-R shows us just who has actually doing the real serious R&D in the world of sports cars lately. Put into perspective the GT-R makes the engineering that went into the ZR1 look like a aftermarket project and it also makes the Veryon look like a silly exercise in over-kill.
The GT-R serves as a big fat victory not only for Nissan but for the entire Japanese auto-industry. It reenforces the fact the outside of their different missions in the marketplace the “so-called” high-end euro brands have NOTHING over the likes of Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and even Mazda when it comes to making high-performance cars.
@carguy
Your analogy is flawed as well. The LS400 put MB and BMW on their ears in terms of quality, performance, luxury, and sales. The LS400 took a huge chunk out of the S-class, E-class, 7 and 5-series sales. It also set the demise of American luxury brands.
The GTR won’t be doing the same. The NSX analogy makes sense to me…except instead of going after the 348/355, the GTR is gunning for the 911 Turbo.
The NSX showed that the Japanese can build a true sports car (midengine, lightweight, excellent handling, exotic materials at the time) and beat the Europeans at their own game, while costing a bit less.
The GTR is doing the same, but the game has moved on from 1990-91 as well. It takes more electronics and safety nets to please the enthusiast with deep pockets, because those items give the numbers that look so good in bold print on the cover of Car & Driver or Motor Trend.
Yes, we’ve had a little inflation in the past 17 years, but the NSX was originally priced around $75k…correct?
I guess, at 25, I should be in love with this car. But, I’m not. It’s too much, it’s too heavy, and it’s too boring. Give me a Superformance Daytona instead.
Stephan,
Before we go any further into the GT-R, there is one pressing issue which you seem to have omitted from your review. Could you please enlighten us to the button depicted below the instrument screen labeled “CARWINGS”. It can clearly be seen in the photo provided.
I don’t care about the MSRP, 0-60, run-flats, or how it compares to its German competitors. I don’t care if this car is living up to its hype. We all need to know about CARWINGS.
@ N85523
We all need to know about CARWINGS.
Didn’t the 135i in “The Ramp” have CARWINGS?
CARWINGS is an integrated SatNav Bluetooth dohickey from Nissan.
http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/13/nissan-launches-carwings-bluetooth-based-telematics-systems/
Interesting review, Stephan. I’d like to hear you describe the acceleration from 0-60, with AWD traction and both turbos spooling…what is that sensation like?
John R,
So it’s On-Star with blue teeth? I was expecting something a little more Bat Man. What a let-down.
Thanks for the info, though.
I think the tech. goodies in this car are fantastic and aimed squarely at a younger crowd. The Japanese especially seem to be much more embracing of the newest bleeding edge technologies than Americans or other countries. A nav screen inspired by Gran Turismo? I love it.
Anyway, the Nintendo NES was released in 1985, so if you were old enough to enjoy it at the time, say 10 years old, then you’d be in your early 30s now. These are the same people making lots of $$$ with their own software/tech companies with plenty of disposable income to drop on a GT-R. These same people probably wouldn’t be as interested in a Ferrari/Porsche which are more ‘traditional’. These are also the same people who’ve known the Skyline GT-R from all the video games its in.
Anyway, I think Nissan is without a doubt aiming at the younger demographics and I think they absolutely nailed it with all the cool tech toys in the car.
Can anyone say nitpicking!
Robert
I love this site, i read it every day but I need to point this out:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/edmunds-gt-r-blog-reckless-driving/
“I didn’t notch 193mph, the GT-R’s top speed, but I (or you) could have done so with ease. My personal best was 160mph.”
“Stretching the GT-R’s legs to 160mph on an open Nevada two-lane road was so simple that my 28-year-old daughter did an easy 150mph a few minutes later while I lazed in the right seat.”
I could care less about Nissan. I know there are fans of this car just like back in the day with the NSX. I agree this model is a step above the NSX, but it is the same initial wow factor that is only present at the moment for me.
It is a ‘nerdy techy playstation’ car for those who love it. I still think it’s a small niche of the market. I wouldn’t spend money on a NSX nor this GT-R. I don’t even drive the car in any console games and I love driving games.
cgraham
Robert I love this site, i read it every day but I need to point this out: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/edmunds-gt-r-blog-reckless-driving/ “I didn’t notch 193mph, the GT-R’s top speed, but I (or you) could have done so with ease. My personal best was 160mph.” “Stretching the GT-R’s legs to 160mph on an open Nevada two-lane road was so simple that my 28-year-old daughter did an easy 150mph a few minutes later while I lazed in the right seat.”
You're absolutely right to point this out. I've removed the references above and regret their initial inclusion. I will also use this editorial misjudgment as a basis for our podcast intro today, so that others may comment on the changes without hijacking this thread.
While it may be disappointing to some that their latest acquisition is not attracting the stare of every pedestrian as they cruise by, but for others like me its a bonus. I don’t buy cars for the admiration or jealousy that they inspire in others – I buy cars because I enjoy driving. While the GT-R will not win any beauty contests it does what every performance car should – go like hell around a race track, be usable in real world driving and cost half as much as their Italian and German counterparts.
Nitpicking.
What’s your point?
I think his point was, as plenty of others have pointed out, that it seems like you were working overtime to find things to slam the car for…
Cutting the speed references was lame Farago
Once again, TTAC is pandering to the Politically Correct. How fast do they (safely) drive on the German autobahns? Oh, yeah, but it would be a big moral (enviro) faux pax to drive like that in the land of the Puritanical… Ma guvnment says it just ain’t safe.
Or is it the fear of legal repercussions? Free speech doesn’t apply to pointing out ignorant government restrictions?
Wolven:
Cutting the speed references was lame Farago
Once again, TTAC is pandering to the Politically Correct. How fast do they (safely) drive on the German autobahns? Oh, yeah, but it would be a big moral (enviro) faux pax to drive like that in the land of the Puritanical… Ma guvnment says it just ain’t safe.
Or is it the fear of legal repercussions? Free speech doesn’t apply to pointing out ignorant government restrictions?
I see you posted this comment both here and on the blog about Edmunds’ GT-R review. So I’ll do the same…
I can see both sides of this debate. Easily. Personally, as well as professionally.
I just don’t think it’s a good idea for a website– a “mainstream” car website– to encourage illegal activity.
I’ve just amended Stephan Wilkinson’s GT-R review to reflect that opinion. But the fact that I put it up in the first place shows how deeply inured I am to the idea of serious speeding.
Take that as you will.
This car is incredible. I would love to drive one.
That said, there is no reason why a car shouldn’t have both incredible performance and good looks. Owning a good-looking car is not all about attracting attention, some people that drop $70k on a toy expect it to appeal to them aesthetically as well. While being understated might be a virtue (although I think it is one that is vastly overrated), being ugly is definitely not.
Performance and styling shouldn’t be either or. Especially at $70,000+ you should expect to have your cake and eat it too
Bottom line: the car world may have gone cuckoo for Coco Puffs over the GT-R but it’s ultimately a pointless, nerdy, twin-turbo, electronics-laden technological curiosity.
I’d beg to disagree…
technology trickles down…
if you’re going to actually believe this last comment in the article, then every performance car that costs over 75k$ is also a pointless endeavor…
(which many would probably agree with) – except for profits for the automaker…
Also, how does driving at 160mph (or even 120 mph) preserve your driver’s license compared to pushing the 193 mph limit…
I just don’t think it’s a good idea for a website– a “mainstream” car website– to encourage illegal activity…
…But the fact that I put it up in the first place shows how deeply inured I am to the idea of serious speeding.
Take that as you will.
I can understand the delicate position condoning illegal behaviour puts you in. But if you recall, our country was founded by people that condoned and encouraged illegal behaviour. (Ben Franklin and his Poor Richards Almanac). I hate seeing a “free” press cave in to politically correct standards.
I think his point was, as plenty of others have pointed out, that it seems like you were working overtime to find things to slam the car for…
The car ultimately didn’t do it for him. He’s working overtime to explain why.
If anybody ever happens to read my Conde Nast Traveler article about this car and our drive in it–it’ll be in the September issue–you’ll see that I point out that driving 160 on a dead-straight Nevada highway with about 20 miles visibility is about as difficult for a reasonably experienced high-performance driver (which my daughter is, and I hope I am, after doing this for 33 years) is about as difficult and dangerous as going down a bunny slope on a garbage-can lid.
I don’t know what Edmunds sez–didn’t read it.
In a nutshell…
I hated this car when I saw it in magazines.
It looks stunning in person (saw it at NYAS)
I would love to drive one on a track
I would never want to own one. Too conspicuous and I hate stoplight challenges with douchebags in Civics.
I point out that driving 160 on a dead-straight Nevada highway with about 20 miles visibility is about as difficult for a reasonably experienced high-performance driver (which my daughter is, and I hope I am, after doing this for 33 years) is about as difficult and dangerous as going down a bunny slope on a garbage-can lid.
Exactly, they do it every day in Germany. And BIG KUDOS for telling the truth!
You can probably pick up a good used one in a couple of years with low, low miles. The owner spent all his time parked in his driveway playing (games) with the computer. So, the battle lines are still drawn: BMW, Porsche, etc. owners are posuers, pricks, etc, etc. Generalities shape up to class battles and it is a shame. This is, of course, not limited to performance car sites. I live in the SF Bay area and owners of pools and hot tubs are under attack for ‘wasting water better used for other purposes’. We all love performance cars and work hard all our lives to be in a position to afford the Porsches, BMW’s etc. that we own and enjoy. Why does that make us pricks/posuers to the younger commentators? This is deeper than the obvious I can and ‘they’ can’t. (yet) Well, just wonderin.
One interesting piece of GT-R trivia, by the way: I kept reading references to some “$1,000 inspection” that has to be performed if the car is run on a track, in order to keep the warranty in force. Turns out it’s true, but only in Japan.
JDM cars are speed-governed to 111-112 mph (depending on who at Nissan you talk to). Their GPS system has a database of every known track in Japan, and if it detects the car’s presence at any one, it cancels the speed limiter. But it also essentially voids the warranty until the car is officially inspected, and it does cost something equivalent to $1,000.
this car does nothing for me. i will never own one if i had the means, though i was excited to purchase it in Gran Turismo last week. which is kind of ironic in a way.
i want to see Porsche build an Elise. a sub-Boxster no excuses car. with the VW partnership i think the 2.0T would be a great candidate to stuff in there.
Do 350Z owners really feel that their cars aren’t fast enough? Seriously when was the last time you got the tail out on a public road. This car is a waste of money unless youre a track day multi millionaire. For everyday use its overpriced Nissan Z with a cheap interior and disposable electronics worth a few dimes. You poor interested speed freaks should buy motorcyles instead. At least there’s less chance your speed mongering will kill others. High performance was reasonable when in the hands of a few, the overall theme of this car is then in some way irresponsible. Great review. There are many cars that will provide much more enjoyment for the same $. The review should have given 3 stars BTW.
Coming from a 911 owner, the tone of this article makes sense. Say, from a Z06 or Evo owner I guess the attitude would be different.
quote: pointless, nerdy, twin-turbo, electronics-laden technological curiosity.
So GT-R is exactly like 911 Turbo, but with half the price. 911 Turbo is the showcase of Porsche’s dailydriver-supercar technology. Nissan beats Porsche in this game by offering more advanced technology with less price. But still GTR remains true to its roots by being unique in its own Japanese way, not copying the Germans.
GTR had, has now and will have street cred among the enthusiasts, because of the racing roots – history/victories. Tuners/aftermarket community will make new GTR a legend, like they did with the previous versions. NSX never had that background or suitable technology for acheiving this status.
GTR has that potential underdog appeal – a Japanese player in the German game with half the price, to challenge expensive cocky class bechmarks. Sounds like Stallone and Rocky 1976? :) People love those kinds of stories/this kind of image, people that are car enthusiasts with nessecary means to buy the GTR.
I assume the author is 50+ of age – reading your review I feel that you don’t understand the background and attitudes of today’s 30+ successful automotive enthusiasts who can afford such cars.
I guess you also like the the posing factor of your 911 because you were dissapointed when basically nobody noticed the GTR. That is kinda funny.
GTR is victim of the hype. No car can fullfill 100% all the expectations that have been put on this car. Especially for grey-haired Porsche guys who first heard about the GTR a few months ago from their 10-year old grandson.