Nissan GT-R vs. The World

[Demosthenes X]

Recently Edmund's pitted the GT-R against offerings from the rest of the world, to find the 'best car for any road'.  OK, not the whole world.  There are no "big-power, rear-drive supercars" like the Corvette Z06 or Dodge Viper on the list, but as Edmund's says, not "for lack of trying".

Neither Dodge nor GM would lend them a car for the test...  interesting, to say the least. 

The most intriguing - and disappointing, imo - performance was the STI.  It came dead last, and Edmund's didn't have a lot of good to say about it...

Part of the problem is the STI's awkward manual transmission that requires deliberate shifts... The STI was the only car we missed a gear in during three days of testing...  The rest of the time is down to response and precision — the ability to go exactly where it's pointed when it's asked. Compared to most other cars in this test, the Subaru lacks both... it can't put power down until later in every turn — a deficit its acceleration advantage simply can't overcome...  And then there's the understeer... We ran the STI up the hill and on the track with its center differential set to Auto and its throttle calibration in Sport Sharp. But the settings don't seem to make a difference. This car works its front tires. Period.  Ultimately, the STI isn't as universally capable as expected. It also produces the least grip of any car in this test, lowering its cornering speed and slowing its times on the track and on the road.

Little surprise, the GT-R won the whole thing.  However, the Audi R8 was very close on its heels.  It's a shame they didn't test the 911 Turbo, because the base Carerra got spanked...  heh.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=126453

[rrocket]

911 Turbo has already been spanked by the GT-R in most mag test...here and abroad.  As has the Z06.  I don't recall reading one vs. a Viper though.

[Jameel]

Yes I'm also surprised they didn't test the 911 Turbo. Also why didn't they test an ExigeS-240, instead of the Elise SC?

What's really amazing is the stopping distance on the GT-R, 60-0 in 98 feet. Wow. That's simply amazing for a  3900 lb car. I'm guess the brake discs are 15 inches.

Also it did a 74mph slalom, isn't that faster than an Enzo, if I recall correctly the Enzo was 72.xmph.

[rrocket]

Pictures of the GT-R Spec V in the new R&T.  Looks yummy!!

[carcrazy]

The "softer" Evo beats the STi (again), on the track and on the road. It shows again that 0-60 mph means very little when it comes to racing (other than drag racing which these cars are not meant for anyway).

[Mitlov]

The GT-R is not a car.  It's a cheat code on wheels.

[mmret]

I wonder if the R8 would have been able to pull out a win had it been the non-flappy-paddle version. Doesn't sound as if they like the R-Tronic gearbox all that much.

[Just Bob]

The GT-R is not a car.  It's a cheat code on wheels.

 

[Jameel]

The GT-R is not a car.  It's a cheat code on wheels.

hahahaha... Nicely worded.

[Demosthenes X]

911 Turbo has already been spanked by the GT-R in most mag test...

The base 911 was down four seconds on the GT-R on the mountain road, and the street test.  With a 155 horsepower deficit, that's not surprising.  The 911 Turbo has enough grunt to close that gap...  it'd be interesting to see if it could beat the Nissan.  Likewise the R8: with a 60 hp deficit, it came very, very close.  Be interesting to see what an R10 could do...

[ghost]

The GT-R is like the Chuck Norris in the automotive world.
It doesn't accelerate. The earth decelerates before it.

[safristi]

..Luv the Chuck No_Wrist thang!!!!

[initial_D]

Chuck Norris? Have you seen him in a Bruce Lee movie?

[Jameel]

911 Turbo has already been spanked by the GT-R in most mag test...

The base 911 was down four seconds on the GT-R on the mountain road, and the street test.  With a 155 horsepower deficit, that's not surprising.  The 911 Turbo has enough grunt to close that gap...  it'd be interesting to see if it could beat the Nissan.  Likewise the R8: with a 60 hp deficit, it came very, very close.  Be interesting to see what an R10 could do...

Yah but the R8 weighs about 400 to 500 lbs less than the GT-R, so power-to-weight is about the same thing.

[Giant Dwarf]

Saw a red GT-R in the 'wild' yesterday.  It was parked amongst the rest of the plebian cars in an appliance and furniture super store parking lot.  It's funny, despite seeing half a dozen 911s in the same afternoon, everyone of them would turn heads faster than that GT-R (as would a new Corvette even). 

While I don't for a second suggest it's anything but a super car in terms of performance cabilities, many people spending nearly $100k on a car want at least a LITTLE bit of prestige or visual status to go with their performance I'd wager.  In a parking lot of other cars, the GT-R looks no more impressive or eye-catching than a G37 or even the RX-8 when it came out.  I think the reaction from most people would be, "You spent HOW MUCH on that?!  I figured $45-50 thou, tops!"

Now... the new, orange Dodge Challenger I saw on Saturday had TONS of presence!

[Just Bob]

Are they out in Canada yet?  They aren't arriving in the UK until next year I don't think.

[safristi]

  ALL the MORE reason to be an IMMIGRUNT ...as a heads UP.....the N.W English GHETTO is nearly FULL!!!!!

[Giant Dwarf]

Are they out in Canada yet?  They aren't arriving in the UK until next year I don't think.

Of course they are.  This isn't some 3rd world country like England for god's sake!  

[Wolverine]

Are they out in Canada yet?  They aren't arriving in the UK until next year I don't think.

Of course they are.  This isn't some 3rd world country like England for god's sake!  

Talking about 3rd world, few units arrived here in Brazil, price is around 300K... One could buy a really nice house with this money, ehehehhehe.

[speed12sil]

Saw a red GT-R in the 'wild' yesterday.  It was parked amongst the rest of the plebian cars in an appliance and furniture super store parking lot.  It's funny, despite seeing half a dozen 911s in the same afternoon, everyone of them would turn heads faster than that GT-R (as would a new Corvette even). 

While I don't for a second suggest it's anything but a super car in terms of performance cabilities, many people spending nearly $100k on a car want at least a LITTLE bit of prestige or visual status to go with their performance I'd wager.  In a parking lot of other cars, the GT-R looks no more impressive or eye-catching than a G37 or even the RX-8 when it came out.  I think the reaction from most people would be, "You spent HOW MUCH on that?!  I figured $45-50 thou, tops!"

Now... the new, orange Dodge Challenger I saw on Saturday had TONS of presence!

Eh there's always Ferraris for visual status/awe-factor, or go for the cheapo' AM Vantage for attraction. I myself frankly prefer to draw as little attention as possible. Probably for the better cuz then people won't swarm around (or worse vandalize) said car when using it for more mundane tasks as shopping and what-not.

Just knowing that a GT-R can out-run/out-handle anything short of CGTs, ZR1s, GT2s, and LP640s is good enough for me