2009 Nissan GT-R Road Trip: So Long Santa Monica

Have a fun drive.

Scott - Thanks for everything. Looking forward to future posts!

Great story idea. Amazingly fast, amazingly ugly car. It looks like it's wearing camouflage bodywork to cover it's real design.

Thats gotta be the first time I've heard the car called "ugly".

I agree, sort of...
 
As amazing as this car is—and it is amazing—I'm have a hard time getting really excited about it.
 
It all comes down to styling, which I find "trendy" and not "timeless." I just don't think in 10 or 20 years this car will be held in the same regard as any number of Euro-exotics (that have lesser performance) will be.
 
Oh yeah, people will still be amazed by the techno features, and it’s track times, but I think the styling will hurt it in the long run, as styling is often what elevates the greats into the rarified air of the super-greats—and this car is weak in that area.
 
I find that rather ironic in that Nissan and Infiniti have got some really great looking vehicles in their showrooms. Unfortunately this "halo car" isn't one of them.

I disagree with rsholland. Many great cars are/were not lookers, but their performance capabilities have made them beautiful. Of course, beauty is subjective and personal as well.

I'm also going to have to concur here, I'm not too excited about this car. I know its a technically sound car, but the looks just turn me off. I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't going bonkers over this thing. Of course, my opinion of the car would probably increase if I had a chance to drive the thing, but I still wouldn't find the styling appealing.

I agree there are a lot of ugly cars that are considered classics. I'm not saying this car is ugly; it's not. I'm saying it looks trendy, and that usually doesn't bode well for the long haul.
 
I saw it yesterday at the NY auto show, and Charlie, my partner in crime for the day said the same thing. In fact he brought it up. He thinks the 350Z is a better looking car, and I agree.

i find the styling very boring...
 
compared to the audi r8 it looks old fashined and weak..
 
i think audi has a real winner in the long run! in the beginning i didn't like the design, but as every month passes i like it better and better... let's see how the resale value holds up. i think it will hold its' value very well. not good for me as i want to buy a used one when it gets into my price range... i think the r8 will stay high for a long time to come. especially that audi isn't flooding the market with it and not subsidizing it helps the resale value and the image very much... if you see too many idiots driving it it makes the cars very unattractive!

I-10 eh? If you pass through Houston, this reader of Inside Line wouldn't mind checking out Godzilla.

White is the worst color I've seen on this car. It does nothing to help.
 
Looks better in silver.

smokeonit
 
Thank you. The Audi R8 comparison is perfect. The R8 is absolutely stunning to look at. I can't say that about the GT-R.
 
The looks of the GT-R should match its performance and spec sheet as it does on the R8, and it doesn't.

I appreciate the term "trendy" to describe the GT-R's styling. I like it well enough, but I can certainly imagine it looking dated after a while.
 
Remember the Countach? Of course you do. I loved that thing as a kid, but looking back now, I find it almost hideous. Futuristic styling was trendy then, and Lamborghini really bought into it for that design.

Well done edmunds, a great idea for a car test!! As for the continuing remarks about the GT-Rs styling: The new GT-R stands true to the styling of previous generations of GT-R. Those who've followed the GT-R have always understood that they were never "pretty" but muscular and carried a unique combination of techno/robo/japanese muscle in their lines that complement their underlying engineering. This is not a European car so why do people expect the same gentle curves and soft lines that dominate euro designs. For example, the Chevy Chevelle was never a "pretty" car but it's muscular design is timeless and in time this GT-Rs design will prove the same.

Chevelle, "timeless" in styling? Well, that's the first I ever heard that.
 
I'm fully aware of the history of the GT-R in Japan, and you're right: None of them were "pretty."

Awesome! Seems this is the last remaining complaint about the GT-R that is still standing, only because it is entirely subjective. A great hiding spot for haters that have have had their lop sided preemptive criticisms flattened by review after independent review. Fair enough, take whatever remaining scraps of criticism are left and enjoy the comfort they provide you. Godzilla is nigh!

Not a hater. Nope, not one bit.
 
Nowhere have you read by me any criticism of the vehicle's performance or spec sheet, which are spectacular.
 
What I and others have said is that the looks are nowhere near as exciting as its performance and spec sheet.

I appreciate the styling for what it is. The Skyline has always been sedan-based, which limited the design. The GT-R has always been one helluva sleeper.