Nissan GT-R: The arguement

2 of the last 4 vehicles I featured on my blog [LF-A and 911] made mention of the Nissan GT-R. The GT-R is no doubt an important car as it represents Japan's return to the supercar market since the death of the NSX. The GT-R first showed its face in 2001 as a concept [that no one expected to be built] In 2005 they showed another prototype that looked more probable. Finally it was released in the winter of 2007. Before its release I fell in love with it. Claims of besting the 911 Turbo [aka the lazy 911] in performance and price was promising, but shortly after release, it slowly started becoming a shady character in the automotive world. Lemme jus list some reasons why I don't like it.

• The hype before release: Nissan was so confident with the GT-R that sales begun even before pictures of the final vehicle was released. It worked, most JDM GT-R models were sold within weeks of the announcement
  
  
• The ridiculously good numbers: In the automotive world, numbers is the real measuring stick of an automobile and the GT-R had really good numbers. Some of the good numbers included 0-60 times, 1/4mile times and Nurburgring times seemed way too good for the power-to-weight ratio [the GT-R is a fatty] The Nurburgring times could not be replicated by anyone outside of Nissan and numerous sources found that the hp figures were lies [which made the 1/4 mile and 0-60 times make sense] The hp was more than advertised, which I don't mind, its almost like a Japanese tradition to do so. The price was also good, undercutting the 911 Turbo by a significant amount.
  
  
• No Manual option: All of the GT-Rs competitors have a manual option shame Nissan shame
  
  
• You can't change tyres without getting an error warning: The GT-R is a very sensitive car, filled with all sorts of sensors nannying you into doing the right thing. They all come with a black box that records speeds and stuff. It's also hooked up to a GPS that can identify if you are on a race track or not. [If you're not on a track the car can't pass 124mph, JDM models only] This car really kills the spirit of DIY, the engine control unit [ECU] is said to be un-hackable, the tyres are filled with nitrogen...... NITROGEN, where the hell you gonna get nitrogen to fill your tyres outside of the US. [don't worry Bolt's GT-R doesn't have on the stock tyres, meaning that more than likely normal air is in the tyres]
  Proof
  
  
• The transmission problem: Now a couple of months after the GT-Rs release, numerous owners were complaining about their transmission grenading under launching. Nissan found the problem to be related to the launch control system, which was deemed "violent." Despite this, Nissan refused to fix these transmissions under warranty claiming that activating launch control voided the warranty [this was in some fine print somewhere] Chevrolet quickly jumped up and poked fun at the GT-R and emphasized that activating the Corvette's launch control would not void the warranty. GT-Rs reaction to this was removing launch control for a year then replacing it with a not so violent system.
  
  
• The Spec V: A year after initial release, Nissan announced the Spec V model which served as a top of the line model. They jacked up the price [nearly doubling it] yet the hp did not go up. The weight dropped by 60kg [about the weight of a small passenger] yet they did so much modifications. It had carbon fibre body panels, no back seats, carbon ceramic brakes and an upgraded suspension. When Ferrari or Corvette does these upgrades, they don't go over 30k. [and they all use the same expensive Brembo brakes] After so much modifications no Nurburgring times were published, early suggestions implied that the times were worse.
  
  
• The NISMO package: Nissan's tuning arm NISMO, offered ECU's and TCU's [transmission control units] to both GT-Rs, this raised the top speed to 199mph and added 1.5psi to the turbos. Problem was, you only could rent them, now renting ECU's don't make no sense. They cost $3,000US and is leased over a 2 year period. After that you have to return them or pay $329 a year to keep them. In comparison, if you buy an STS turbocharger system for the base Corvette, the warranty is not void! [mainly because STS's warranty replaces the factory one]
  Proof
  
  
• Its not original or innovative: When this vehicle was being developed, Nissan pulled apart a Porsche 911 to serve as a base for the GT-R to be set on. The brakes are by Brembo, the engine by Cosworth and the handling by Lotus, even the user interface was done by the guys who did GT4. All this shows is that Nissan has money but no proper racing engineering background. Because of this, its all conservative, there isn't one thing on the GT-R that hasn't been seen before.
  
  
• No lineage: Well in defense of the GT-R Nissan decided to separate the Skyline and the GT-R projects so I won't argue as to why this isn't an inline 6. But I will argue as to why the race versions of this car has no relation to the production vehicle! Porsche and Corvette take racing seriously as their race cars are strongly related to the road cars. The GT-R however has in a V8 from the 350Z JGTC cars.....wtf??
  
  
• No lightweight materials: Thats sports car rule #4. Simplify then add lightness. And to think Lotus helped with this. All body panels are steel except the roof and bonnet which are aluminium. At least the Spec-V loses some weight [not much tho]

So summary is, the GT-R is a good car but it does not live up to the God status that so many of its fans have hailed it as. I really think even in the design Nissan has gone far into ensuring it depicts what a Japanese supercar is supposed to look like, not following any Italian shapes or what not. I say the price is justified by the fact that your movements are limited. If you are a true petrol head, you'd have gotten an original Skyline GT-R.

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