+1. Problem is most people only know of the GTR's lineage from reading. In the States, maybe the first iteration was the R32 brought by Private Importers and the R33 and so on and so forth. In Blighty too I guess.... But where I come from...no one and nobody underestimates the power of the GTR. Established are the GTRs in Malaysia/Singapore and Thailand due to the JDM access and of course, RHD. We had access to even the pre-R31 series and all through their generations of iterations they're very open to tuning and freaking reliable to boot as long as it's within 'sane' levels..... Ugly as fugly say the detractors but for outright street cred and ballistic firepower...it's hard to beat..make that very hard....
NO. I was referring to the sinking feeling you get when the car has depreciated greatly, they start getting leased by the ghetto crowd... and there you are, with a car you paid $90,000 for... that is now owned by Felonius Punk with spinning dubs & chrome fender trim, on lease, paid for with welfare checks. See my above statement about riff raff.
But I feel like you shouldn't be put off by a car because you are put off by the other people that drive it. I mean you are the one that is driving it, who cares what people think about you, if you enjoy the drive you enjoy the drive. I actually feel sorry for the people that buy Ferraris for the reason that the "ghetto crowd" will never be able to access that kind of wealth; you are paying for the image, not the experience. I love ferrari and I love these boards, but it seems like far too many people get wrapped up in that. I will also say I am probably sticking up for the GT-R because it is much more likely that I will ever be fortunate enough to make 70-100k car money than it is likely that I make Ferrari money. That is if I am ever fortunate to make enough money for either of those ranges. But because of that fact I probably have a bias in believing that the GT-R is a good car. You are allowed to have your opinion and I am allowed to have mine though and we obviously just feel differently about the subject. Granted you are speaking from experience in owning a Ferrari and the only car I have ever bought is a Passat but what do you expect out of a freshman in college? And thank you Lung just trying to throw an opinion out there. haha
I was hoping to be a riff raff with you Lung. We could leave our 430S's in the garage and see what it felt like for people to look down on us. But now that this is clarified we will have to look for something lower on the food chain. Maybe my Evo X?
Hello from sunny Greece! My name is Kostas and i am studying in the National Technological Univercity of Athens (NTUA) Naval Engineering... I am in the 2nd year of my studies and i have another 3. So, on the topic, much have been said so far....and with some of you i agree and with some i disagree to a point. (sry for my poor English ,i'm working on it) Even if i am not an owner (ofcourse) of an exotic,like a Ferrari(so i am not the best guy here to talk about driving capabilities/performance etc...) i believe that you buy what you pay for. At this point of view a car tha costs a million $ cannot compare to a 100.000$ car. It's on a different class.(the 1m$ car) So, i believe the GTR doesn't have the quality standards that on the other hand a F car provide ... Also, you cann't claim you made a sports car that can go from 0-62mph in 3secs {(example)} if you haven't taken aerodynamics seriously.. And my belief is that Ferrari mfg,is on aerodynamics the 1st. Just my .2$ Regards, Kostas
False analogy. The right one is Cold Filtered Vodka from a mass brand like... Stoli and Cold Filtered Vodka from Caviar House. One is 50$ and another 150$.
THANK YOU, so im not the only one who noticed this. The GTR in the last comparo was much slower past 100 then the Z06 and Turbo, and the weight? 3800 lbs is ridiculous and to be calling it a "track" car is just hilarious. I must say one thing, they got their awd and electronics right, prob what 40k worth to get the car to do a fast 0-60 and hide its piggish weight around a track, or does it? BTW as another guy mentioned, the 911's especially GT car's take a familiar driver to extract it's capability, that test with Steve Millen driving was OBVIOUSLY biased, and the r comps in 30 degree weather on the GT3 sure didnt help it!
Rain, I heard in England you will have a lot of rain, thats hard because you have to use a GTR or Audi then, mmhh
Thanks for the snaps tubor. I do think that everyone arguing magazine specs is missing the point. It's all about the entire ownership experience; C&D's 1/4 times and 0-60 times, above a certain point, don't really matter in the real world. Otherwise, we'd all be driving Z06s (soon to be traded in for GTRs, LOL). For those who opted for a Z06 and are made happy by this car, more power to you. I sampled a few and found the 997 GT3 much more compelling to look at and to drive, so that's what I bought. --------------------- Another way I tend to look at sports car choices, is to try to identify cars that are 'greater than the sum of their parts.' This is hard to do, but eventually, with enough seat time in various cars on and off the track, you begin to appreciate the subtleties of certain designs and execution. Case in point, the E36 M3. A brilliant car that outperformed its spec sheet and still today is one of the most heavily tracked cars on the planet due to its many attributes. This is why I still own one today for track use. Another great was the first Gen GTi. And the Integra Type R. Cars that had magic beyond their spec sheet. Does the GTR have magic? Time will tell. But I think, generally speaking, the best drives are those with minimal or transparent help from AWD and an onboard supercomputer that manage each contact patch for the driver. It's tricky to synthesize an automobile with this much driver's aid technology yet still bring purity to the driving experience. Transparency. 3-6 months into a car's ownership, the raw performance of every sports car I've owned has taken a back seat to other things, things that tend to get ignored when you get jacked up based on Road and Track's glowing articles about a car. Things like throttle response, interior quality, exhaust sound, and most importantly, chassis dynamics and communication including steering precision. These are the things that keep a car in my garage after the new car syndrome wears off. Anyway, I'm sure my odd way at looking at The Sports Car De Jour doesn't resonate with very many, partly b/c it cannot be quantified. Back to our regularly scheduled program. EDIT: one thing to add that is a bit more Ferrari relevant to the original question. . . I don't own an F430 but did a 360. Whether driving, washing, or watching one of these cars in motion, they bring a certain sense of occasion that it hard to replicate. When you open the garage Saturday morning for a drive, my heart felt like it skipped a few beats just seeing it unveiled by the door. This is an important part of ownership IMO. A car that makes you go 'GAAAWDAMN that is a beautiful machine' cannot be underestimated. Will a GTR do this? For me, doubtful.
Oh come on now. I have two Japanese vehicles and they sit in the hot Florida sun practically all day. Nothing melts. I highly doubt Nissan would make a less robust interior even for this car. Look what happens when you leave a 355 in the sun. RMX
It is about time the Japanese manufacturers finally built something that can run the 'ring. After all these years of ricers shooting their mouths off at the 1/4 mile strip, maybe we might have something that can actually run with the big dogs. If it is so fast/cheap/reliable, why doesn't everyone drop their cars to run them? There most be a reason right?
LOL... well put. I am probably borderline riff-raff to you (since I am only about halfway to the $million$ salary), but I actually feel the same way. Its why my wife and I REFUSE to own a BMW or a Lexus (or an Acura or God-forbid, a Caddilac). Or a Mc-Mansion (I have a small, OLD house). I HATE cars that are psuedo status-symbols and just within reach of welfare moms and 23 year old waiters still sprouting their first pubes. Which is part of my hesitation of buying a P-car (and part of my fascination with F-cars)... yet at the same time, I like something about the F-YOU image of knowing I make a pretty decent living yet CHOOSE to drive cheap cars.. like I am turning the tables on the "riff-raff"... All of which is stupid and makes me a shallow fool... I know that. I am embarrassed that I have become such a prick.. oh well. And yet, part of me still wants a new Evo X (instead of a P-car or F-car) ? Maybe I need to spend my money on a therapist instead of cars....
When ur Scud in? Mine is June. Will probably sell the E55 and keep the GTR. I cannot believe I just said that hahaha
So wait, you hate people who buy car's as status symbols, houses that are big and other similar comparisons. But you wont buy a Porsche because its resale dropped it down into a lower category, meaning people with lesser means are able to afford it, making you look worse? Sounds like contradiction to me, and why you are buying a Ferrari for the status instead of it's pure drivers satisfaction and heritage! How about this idea, BUY WHAT GIVES YOU THE BIGGEST SMILE. People ask me all of the time why did I get my RUF GT2 in the 360, Gallardo price range, they just don't understand the thrill and my passion for that given marque, buy what you like!
If you're wondering about performance of the GTR see 0-60 magazine where the drivers say the GTR outdoes the 997 twin turbo Porsche on EVERY dimensions, and the latest Road and Track which claims "world's best sports car: GTR", based on tests where by the GTR beats out both the 997TT and Corvette Z06. The R&T writers are obviously delerious over the GTR. They say "The Nissan'shandling balance is so spectacular that it registered 1.01g on the skidpad and romped through the slalom ... faster than the Ferrari Enzo (they'd tested previously). The go on to say that combining price and performance --- "the GTR might well be considered the most exotic car on the planet." That's it for me. I'm keeping my CS, withdrawing my deposit on the 430S, and already have motivated folks out there to find me a GTR.
I just ordered a Black on Black Premium Package GTR. I signed the contract a few days ago. I currently own a F-Car, a 600hp 930S cab, a 1k hp 993 twin turbo, A Subbie WRX, Chevy Suburban for the family and I drive a 1991 toyota pickup almost daily to commute. to work. I always wanted a GTR. A cpu tune and twin gt3071r turbo's and exhaust should give 600 plus hp.
Not a load of bull.... LOOK PAST the PHUCKIN 0-60 times... in every rag in the world the gtr looses after about 60 miles per hour. At 100mph the GTR is getting TAXED!!!! The Z06 flat out walks it! The GTR in the real world will keep up with a z06 and might even jump out a car lenght on a turbo... (depending on how you launch it and if the turbo is a tip) but the little drag race will surely change after each car changes into 3rd... the nissan will have a GREAT view of tail lights. yes Lotus's are great on the track thats what they are built for... Having owned one... i can say anyone who tries to mearly get in and out of it will atest to its race car intentions... let alone the bare aluminum floor, the lack of power steering, the lack of well everything that isn't nessecary. LOL Truely fantastic cars... Im not saying the GTR is a piece of crap... in fact I like it. but to me... this is like the japanese version of the Z06 and all of the nut swingers who can't afford ferraris lambos etc... are going to say... why would you spend 2 to 3 times as much on a ferrari when you can have a gtr... gtr this gtr that... ohh the gtr is the best car ever for everything... yes it is a hell of a performance car. it is not the ultimate nor could it ever be with a 3800lbs curb weight. As far as the light weight version of it coming out... it will be interesting to see how much weight they can actually loose on that stuffed pig. if it got down to about 3400 lbs it would be one of the best cars in the world... if it could get down to 3200... the bar would be set for years to come... however, there is no way they could manufacture a comfortable gtr that would pass crash test and customer expectations and weight 3400 lbs... my guess. the light weight gtr... might loose 150 lbs... at the most
Don't withdraw you deposit on the Scud. Its a significant car in the current Ferrari line. The GTR is a "cheap" car. U can keep both then u will have the best of both worlds. Just my thoughts...
BINGO... yeah, I have this crazy contradiction / battle going on in my head, can't sort it out. Am I really an elitist snob? Or am I the down to earth guy who doesn't care. I always think I am the latter, but then sometimes I see that really I am just as status-conscious or more so then some people I criticize. Yeah, some soul searching definitely in order.. I think I was a better person when I was making $18k per year, living in a garage (with my wife and dog) and riding the bus to work. None of which has anything to do with this thread... sorry about derailing... I'll focus on reading more and posting less.
