I snagged the GT-R for the long weekend -- score! Figuring that Saturday and Monday would be bad days for L.A.'s already notorious traffic, I limited those days to running errands and running down to Long Beach to play tennis, respectively. The real quality time would be spent Sunday, taking a day trip with my girlfriend to Santa Barbara, with stops at Calabasas (for Supercar Sunday) and Camarillo (for the outlets). I got my car fix at the former (saw everything from Jay Leno's 192? Bugatti racecar to a mint '67 Shelby GT 500) and some new Nike kicks for my gf at the latter.
Right about now you're thinking "Yeah, yeah, that's all very nice...what about the GT-R?"
Here are a few of my random thoughts on the nearly 500-hp supercar:
-- Pulling away smoothly is sometimes herky-jerky (especially when the car is cold) no matter how carefully you modulate the throttle
-- The tranny has no "creep", so parallel parking requires you to feather the gas ever so gently, so as to minimize the quirk noted above. A park assist feature would be nice too.
-- The tranny is awesome, however, when you're hard on the gas, clicking off smooth shifts so quickly the fierce acceleration doesn't let up at all between gears. And there's no lag when you're flicking the paddles either.
-- This car slingshots to crazy velocity like it has an afterburner strapped to the roof.
-- Even with the adjustable suspension in "Comf(ort)" mode, the ride is just too stiff. On a road trip, I'd rather not feel the amplitude and contour of every bump in the road. I actually prefer firm suspension setups, but if you're gonna have an adjustable suspension, have some meaningful difference between Normal and Comfort settings.
-- Pronounced road noise on coarse asphalt and concrete freeways.
-- Awesome seats. Perfect blend of firm support and hours-in-the-saddle comfort. Plenty of proper lumbar support despite the absence of an adjustable feature.
-- Incredible handling capability, nothing that weighs two tons has any business changing directions so nimbly.
-- I averaged 16.5 mpg in mostly freeway driving, with some twisty two-laners and traffic thrown in for good measure.
-- At first intimidating due to its power and bulk, the GT-R proved easy to handle, and is one of those performance cars that "shrinks" around you as you explore its considerable talents.
In short, the GT-R provides plenty of emphasis on Race, not so much on Grand Touring.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor at 21,289 miles.
heartlessbstrd says:
05:22 PM, 05/26/09
Dan, I think the GTR needs one of your suspension walk-arounds.
firelicked says:
06:01 PM, 05/26/09
Yes!!! Please do a walk suspension walk around. And go Pens!
tyndago says:
06:31 PM, 05/26/09
The transmission feel can actually be adjusted by the dealer. There are 15 different settings for clutch touch point, and capacity. With a car not driven by so many drivers, you can get it tailored by the dealer to how you like it. http://www.2009gtr.com/2008/08/gr6-transmission-clutch-settings.html
carlisimo says:
07:46 PM, 05/26/09
Sucks about the harshness. Some of it is just Japanese tuning culture though. They tend to have smoother roads but do more of their fun driving on very twisty roads where thick anti-sway bars are detrimental because they tend to lift the inside rear wheel in tight turns. So they go with smaller anti-sway bars and compensate for the roll with stiffer springs.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
08:55 PM, 05/26/09
GT-R seems like the EVO IX's big brother.
sellaturcica says:
03:59 AM, 05/27/09
I believe you meant "coarse" asphalt, unless you're talking about the asphalt that they laid down on the racetrack you're running on, Mr. Editor, sir....
johnnyr3 says:
04:01 AM, 05/27/09
Hey! Screw the warranty and ditch the afterburner on the roof and get an Enterprise warp nacelle!
http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/hennesseyperformance/ListItems.php?cart=MNGKqfdV&DoThis=Nissan+GTR+(2009)&ActionReq=Where
Actually. This car is fast enough as it is.
ace47 says:
04:26 AM, 05/27/09
"GT-R seems like the EVO IX's big brother."
Its even harsher. The suspension may well have popped down a couple of viagra.
audisport says:
07:40 AM, 05/27/09
Go Pens? Warm up the golf cart Sid the Cry Baby, er Kid. Go Wings!!! Sorry firelicked, wrong forum for hockey trash talk, i'm just playin'.
brn says:
09:01 AM, 05/27/09
The GTR doesn't work out well as an every day driver? I wouldn't expect it to.
johnnyturbo says:
09:12 AM, 05/27/09
Good catch Sella, edit made.
We do tend to think of racetracks rather fondly around here -- an enthusiasts' slip, if you will.
mikeolan says:
03:40 PM, 05/27/09
I saw one today in a gun-metal color. From a distance in my rearview mirror it looked like an EVO. Up close it looked sharp- almost like it was made of folded paper (the color + cloudy day helped.)
Definitely a good looking car in person.
hollowtek says:
10:32 PM, 05/31/09
My sister, who is a stout V8 advocate, couldn't help but awe in the presence of the GTR. She originally wanted a corvette, but after seeing the GTR in LA (and me giving her the detailed specs on the car), I think she's made the change over for good. In my very humble opinion, pictures simply do not accurately portray the true beauty of the GTR. It's just one of those things you'd have to see (and drive) in person.