I'm actually supposed to do this trip in 3 days, but 5 minutes after getting into our 2009 Nissan GT-R, I realize that's not happening. Granted, the GT-R's fast enough that I could probably do it in 2 days. But this is my first east-west drive across the United States -- I want to take every highway in my atlas. It's also the longest amount of time I've ever not had to share a high-end performance car.
I immediately give into nostalgia and point the GT-R toward Memphis, because about 10 years ago, I went to college there. I'd forgotten how nice the roads are here, and the GT-R's ride quality borders on compliant on I-40.
I arbitrarily decide to keep revs below 4,000 for engine break-in, but I later read that Nissan recommends keeping it under 3,500 rpm for the initial 400 miles. And until 1,300 miles, you're not supposed to use full throttle and you're supposed to keep the suspension in "Comf" mode to allow for maximum travel, says the owner's manual. It's OK, though. Even half throttle provides considerable speed, and you can still see triple digits during closed-course driving.
By the time I roll up to the midtown Memphis Holiday Inn Express (friendly staff here, by the way), my luggage is cooked. Outside temperatures have been mild, so it must be the rear transaxle that's causing every carpeted surface in here to heat up. For the rest of the trip, my backpack rides in the passenger footwell.
The next morning I stop by Huey's, hoping this hamburger joint might be open, but no dice. Huey's is a chain in Memphis, and if you get sick of BBQ, it's hard to beat their juicy burgers, which my friends and I used to wash down with a pitcher of Michelob. This is the original store at 1927 Madison.
Next stop is 450 miles away in Bloomington, Illinois, which is most definitely not on the road back to California, but a person called Mom lives here, and the GT-R is keen to see all the summer flowers in the family garden.
Besides, Interstate 55 randomly becomes a closed course on the way back south, and on its straight, flat, smooth pavement, the GT-R briefly cruises in the 130s. Not the highest speeds we've ever recorded, obviously, but it's striking how comfortable the car is at this speed -- completely unstrained.
Finally, we reach St. Louis. Although everybody tells you the Gateway Arch is the one place you must go here, that's a lie. The real place you must go is Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard, which is possibly the best ice cream-related product I've ever had. On summer nights, the line wraps around the building at the 6726 Chippewa location, but on this hot afternoon, I wait only a couple minutes for my custom cookie-dough-butterscotch-banana concrete.
One complaint: The XM Nav Traffic feature really needs Nav Construction logic. The decision to make the pilgrimage to Ted Drewe's comes last-minute, and the nav system routes me on to I-64/U.S. 40. Just as I'm about turn onto the entrance ramp, I see the cones and the completely deserted freeway with construction equipment on it. No wonder it's showing up green.
I end up taking a long, slow drive through the old-money suburbs of Ladue and Creve Coeur. Narrow roads, 25-mph speed limits and irritating drivers in luxury SUVs. At least the concrete ends up being the most delicious meal I've had all year. And break-in is almost complete.
Erin Riches, Inside Line Senior Editor @ 1,072 miles
arm51 says:
03:20 PM, 08/ 6/08
Sounds like the GTR's performance is living up to it's name. How is it when the road gets curvy? Bloomington is a nice place for roads as well as scenery.
tantan73 says:
03:27 PM, 08/ 6/08
What's with the Pyramid? I thought it was the backside of the Luxor, but you can't be in Vegas yet.
Erin Riches says:
03:32 PM, 08/ 6/08
You know, the Pyramid -- the most radical looking structure in Memphis meets the most radical looking car.
jaden82 says:
04:01 PM, 08/ 6/08
Shows how little known Memphis, TN is outside of the Mid-South region, at least besides King Elvis' Graceland. I grew up there during my childhood and I would recognize the Pyramid anywhere. It was built in 1992 as a multi-purpose arena. However, the NBA Grizzles had to get greedy and demand a brand spankin' new arena just a couple miles down the street. Last time I heard about what they plan to do with the Pyramid, it sounded like Bass Pro Shop would consider buying the building and covert it into one gigantic Bass Pro store. As for St. Louis, good choice on Ted Drewe's. I imagine you might drive through Kansas City, MO next. If you want real BBQ, I recommend visiting Arthur Bryant's. It's not far off Interstate 70. You can google it and find the directions. I guess I should mention GT-R in this post...yay for fast cars! Boo ugly design!
firstwagon says:
04:02 PM, 08/ 6/08
What's in the Pyramid? Is it a church or something?
hondacura4 says:
04:03 PM, 08/ 6/08
For me dairy prodcuts and long road trips are a no no!
Bryn MacKinnon says:
04:05 PM, 08/ 6/08
what the heck is a "concrete"?
dougtheeng says:
04:21 PM, 08/ 6/08
Great pics and storyline! Very entertaining.
Also, the GT-R looks great in white.
chavis10 says:
06:26 PM, 08/ 6/08
Your camera takes some excellent shots. That frozen custard sounds good but I'm with Hondacura4, I'd be in trouble. Damn lactose....
afty says:
08:28 PM, 08/ 6/08
The Pyramid used to be the basketball stadium for the University of Memphis and also the Grizzlies in their first couple of years in Memphis. Then the Grizzlies built a new stadium, the FedEx Forum, and now both they and the Tigers play there. AFAIK, the Pyramid isn't being used for anything now.
stovt001 says:
10:21 PM, 08/ 6/08
Wow the changes to the website are awful. I was signed in, posted my comment, then it rejected it because it signed me out when I pressed the submit button.
Original post:
If I understand the GT-R's warranty limitations correctly, you might have just voided it by going over 130. Apparently even switching the stability control off or using launch control voids it. How's that for standing behind your "Corvette killing" "Japanese cars never break" performance machine? They can charge only $70,000 for this thing (before ADMs push it over $100,000) because they'll take just as much from you again buying out-of-warranty parts for this thing over its lifetime. For $100,000+, I'd take a ZR1, R8, Aston, or Porsche any day.
firstwagon says:
10:32 PM, 08/ 6/08
"AFAIK, the Pyramid isn't being used for anything now."
Interesting.... kinda weird but interesting.
Maybe if they abandon it, wait thousands of years until the sand covers it up and then dig it up again... tourists will come to see it.
Hmmm, I need to get some sleep.
djsyndrome says:
01:17 AM, 08/ 7/08
@stovt001: you must be drowning in all of that hyperbole you've got there. Need a life preserver?
capitalfellow says:
05:26 AM, 08/ 7/08
I went to college in Nashville and my first real job was in Memphis, so I had an occasion to go back n' forth between the two. It's a shame the car was too new, the long flat sections of eastern TN I-40 right after Bucksnort, TN would have been ridiculous to open that car up.
I'll keep reading these posts to see if you're stalking me now that you stopped in the home of my parents & grandparents in Bloomington,IL. Enjoy the drive.
blankfocus says:
05:30 AM, 08/ 7/08
stov001 sounds a little grumpy.
personally, i don't know why everyone derides the looks of this car. i like it! it's purposeful and perfect for the hi-tech car it is.
1487 says:
06:36 AM, 08/ 7/08
none of the above shots is flattering to the NIssan. The back is definitely the best angle- by far.
crowb says:
09:43 AM, 08/ 7/08
Holy Crap, Erin!
If you haven't passed by Little Rock, AR yet, Let me know. My wife and I will buy you dinner if you let me look inside the GTR...dare I hope that you'll let me sit inside it?
I need a pick-me-up. A deer ran out in front of my Honda Fit last week and its in the shop (the deer lived!). I'm stuck driving a rental.
Come on, Erin. You know you want to hang out with us. We can play Rock Band back at our house and you can do a wicked burn out in my driveway if you want. My neighbor is a mechanic who does performance modification for drag cars. He'd be so jealous if he saw the GT-R parked in my humble drive way.
Come on, Erin. Make Little Rock awesome for once.
Email me if you haven't already passed us by and you want some dinner.
jrh32180@yahoo.com
Erin Riches says:
09:54 AM, 08/ 7/08
I'm already past Little Rock, crowb, so I'll have to catch you next time. Would you offer the same welcome if I showed up in a 2009 Honda Fit?
greenpony says:
09:58 AM, 08/ 7/08
Ah, to head southwest toward OK or west toward KS.
crowb says:
12:44 PM, 08/ 7/08
Erin,
For Edmunds folks? You guys are welcome at my house no matter what you drive. Even if its JRiz in Luigi's Classic Dragster. I still owe him a beer.
Let it never be said that Southern hospitality died with me.
And my neighbor can put a turbo on that Fit for you.
cjasis says:
01:12 PM, 08/ 7/08
Is that normal for a GT-R to heat up the trunk like that?
My old car (1998 NSX) used to heat up the trunk pretty good but I can understand that since the motor is there and the exhaust routes underneath it.
It seems like a pretty big miss in a front engined car to have that same malady.
stovt001 says:
10:53 PM, 08/ 7/08
I'm not being bitter or grumpy. I've seen pages scanned from the GT-R's owner's manual that state conditions for voiding the warranty, which include racing, turning off stability control, and using launch control. I'm having trouble accessing the site with my source, but once I can get there I'll post a link. This isn't hyperbole, this is straight from Nissan's mouth.
billt9 says:
10:39 AM, 08/10/08
stovt001, why are you looking at random web sites when all Nissan manuals are available at Nissanusa.com?
http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/techpubs
billt9 says:
10:48 AM, 08/10/08
...I can't find any mention of such voiding of warranties, "straight from Nissan's mouth."
Of course, the web site of your source, which has since now been difficult to locate, could be straighter than the actual owner's warranty booklet... ... ...
zpug says:
12:37 PM, 01/10/09
Agree with the Ted Drews in St. Louis. I still remember the first time I tried to get there, I stopped by a gas station and asked for direction. The guy at the gas station said, just keep going down on this road and when you see couple hundreds people line up outside a store, that's Ted Drews. And sure enough, there were more than 10 windows taking order from customers and each line has about 10 to 20 people at least.