It's pretty rare that I'll get one of our high-demand long-term cars for a weekend. With a milestone birthday on the horizon, I requested the GT-R almost a month ago and Keymaster Schmidt came through. I wanted something that would recharge my batteries, so to speak, and this Nissan supercar did the trick.
According to the figures, this thing makes 480 horsepower -- and I felt every single one of them. I've driven a bunch of high-horsepower cars, but I think the GT-R makes the best use of everything it produces -- evident in its noticeable absence of wheelspin. Images of my youth and my favorite rollercoaster, "Montezooma's Revenge," came to mind. This rollercoaster boasted an aircraft carrier-like catapult system to launch riders with gut-compressing acceleration. The GT-R restored that youthful and maniacal grin.
Over the weekend I felt like an amusement park ride attendant, shuffling thrillseekers through the queues and ensuring they were properly cinched down in their seats. After feeling the initial rush of acceleration, nearly every passenger responded in a Tourette's-like litany of expletives. In the tight canyon roads above Malibu, I experienced levels of grip that I last felt in an open-wheel racecar with wings. Yeah, it's fair to say I love this car. So much, that this is now on the top of my list as a replacement for my current sports car. Thanks GT-R, you'll be one of my deathbed memories!
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor @ 22,643 miles
jeepsrt says:
01:49 PM, 06/22/09
I had the same reaction when I took friends and family for a ride in a Viper, although that had to do with massive wheelspin as well.
desmolicious says:
01:59 PM, 06/22/09
I thought the CHP was crawling all over Mulholland this weekend? I gave up on that and hung out at the RedBull skateboarding event in Venice Beach, showing the kids how I roll...
wobbly_ears says:
02:04 PM, 06/22/09
..and that is the reason why people love cars like these. Zero practicality but full of life.
My ideal vacation would be road tripping through the country for about a month on backroads in a GT-R or a ZR-1.
I wish I could afford a GT-R.
Sigh.
huyracing says:
02:27 PM, 06/22/09
Its fun, but I enjoy taming the mighty bull that is a high powered RWD. Kind of reminds me of rally racing.
I had a 400whp WRX with STI transmission and upgraded differentials, which was fast on the road, but ultimately too easy. You dive into a turn, floor it, and steer your way out.
In the dirt, it was a blast and you never really knew exactly what the car was gonna do, so you had to be constantly correcting. Big power RWD is kind of like that, except far easier to control. Not talking about drifting by the way.
ddoouugg says:
09:01 PM, 06/22/09
"Tourette's-like litany of expletives"- nice description.
fuhteng says:
07:52 AM, 06/23/09
I think I would take an R8 over a GT-R or a ZR1 for my road trip, but any of the three would be fine. I'm glad you had a good weekend with Godzilla. I'm jealous.
langjie says:
08:34 AM, 06/23/09
happy birthday
felonious says:
09:50 AM, 06/23/09
Yes, happy birthday! And thank you for this post, reminding us that the GT-R really is as good as we fantasize it to be. Screw the maintenance posts, let's keep the dream alive! :)