CTC Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R

[Mitlov]

If a fancy stereo and a long options list makes a luxury car, the EVO MR is a luxury car.  And whadda ya know...it ALSO comes with stability control, traction control, and a dual-clutch automated manual, so it MUST be a luxury car!!!

 

I'll agree that the GT-R is a grand tourer, though a remarkably fast-around-a-track grand tourer.  But not all grand tourers are luxury cars, just as not all luxury cars are grand tourers.  A Lexus LS is a luxury car, but not a grand tourer.  A Maserati Grantourismo is both.  A Nissan GT-R is a grand tourer but not a luxury car.

[articsteve]

But not all grand tourers are luxury cars, just as not all luxury cars are grand tourers.  A Lexus LS is a luxury car, but not a grand tourer.  A Maserati Grantourismo is both.  A Nissan GT-R is a grand tourer but not a luxury car.

 

Call it a supercar at a discounted price.

[rrocket]

Call it a supercar at a discounted price.

I'd agree with that.....

[articsteve]

Check out the virtual drive on the American site.

http://www.gtrnissan.com/index.en.us.html?site=nissanusa&area=usaglobal_header#

Also check out "options", specifically "cold weather option".  "The Cold Weather Package also includes a 50:50 coolant mixture that's better suited for wintry climates"   

Can see a tragedy or two happening because of that.   Is that weird or what? 

$72K with air bags in USD

[Altima1]

This car is a Nissan, always has been and always will be.  Infiniti has cars as good or better than BMW's, not bad for the image IMO. So why make the GT-R an Infiniti? ludicrous!  Corvette owners have been getting oil changes with Cobalt owners, Viper with Neons, now GT-R with Versa.  I'll bet my son  and many others pray that a GT-R is getting serviced next time he goes in .  So judging by some nonsense(more like jealousy actually)here, the next Toyota sports car should be a Lexus Supra, because hey fack if I'm getting an oil change next to a Yaris or Corolla. 

[tpl]

Wing, how does that central display work
in the dark and
with polarizing sunglasses

It would be such a shame if you couldn't see the thing.

If one could have that display as a real aircraft HUD that would be fabulous... worth buying the car just for that.

Does the twin clutch gearbox have a neutral available on the paddles?   Like a motorcycle gearbox?   The VW does not.

Looking at the pictures and reading the review I don't think I want one.... but take a nice civilized A6 or 535xi with that display and the DSG and that might be worth spending the money for me...



As for the comment in a post about the 20 year olds with M3s   yup, seen it... it is the Number One Son thing.

[wing]

tpl, there is only a neutral on the console shifter like the VW's. 

I can see the screen with sunglasses, didn't try the polarized but it is similar to other screens I don't see a problem they have all been just fine. a HUD would be sick.

[tpl]

sick= very good ?      Us oldsters are not uptodate with the jargon of youngsters you know.

[wing]

Yes sick == awesome == good == tickidy boo

[johngenx]

I hate to say that an $81K car is a deal, but this one is.  It undercuts the next supercar by $20K!  As for the label, who cares if it's a Nissan or Infinity?  This thing speaks through performance...

[Warren Piece]

James - it'll be interesting to see if you can get the 0-60s I was talking about above ;-)

Also - any word if Canadian dealers are gouging like in the States? They are asking 70k more than msrp to get one - if that's the case a Z06 or standard Corvette starts looking like a bargain (moreso). I've been a huge GT-R fan, but pricing is (one of) its advantage(s).

[Mitlov]

James - it'll be interesting to see if you can get the 0-60s I was talking about above ;-)

Also - any word if Canadian dealers are gouging like in the States? They are asking 70k more than msrp to get one - if that's the case a Z06 or standard Corvette starts looking like a bargain (moreso). I've been a huge GT-R fan, but pricing is (one of) its advantage(s).

Give it a year and the markups will disappear.  Heck, when the new Civic Si hit the States, there were incidences of dealers marking it up to nearly $30k (it sells at $21k).  Nowadays that's simply not a problem.  I wouldn't be surprised if you could get one at under MSRP.

[wing]

One guy on S2ki got a GT-R for list in the US

[carcrazy]

The GT-R is a fast and non-luxurious sports car.  It has a spartan (though electronics-filled) interior, industrial exterior, and the cabin fills with grinding mechanical noises as you drive (or so I've heard).  

A non luxurious sports car  

This is just the radio  

Digital Bose® AM/FM/CD audio system with 11 speakers, including dual subwoofers S
9.3 GB Music BoxTM system S
MP3/WMA CD playback capability S
In-dash CompactFlash® card reader S
XMTM Satellite Radio2 — includes activation and 3 months of service S
Auxiliary audio input jack3 S
Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls S
Speed-sensitive volume S
Diversity antenna

Some NON luxurious standard features  

Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with GPS and voice recognition S
XM NavTrafficTM2 — includes activation and 3 months of service S
178 mm (7") WVGA high-resolution colour LCD touch-screen display for audio, navigation and performance monitor S
Driver-configurable Multi-Function Display system, with graphical readouts of vehicle data and driving data displayed on a total of 11 screens S
Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition S
Electronic analog instrument cluster with multi-function trip computer and digital gear indicator S
Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System S
HomeLink® universal garage-door opener S
Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control (ACC) S
In-cabin microfilter S
Power front windows with one-touch driver-side auto-up/down S
Power door locks S
Remote keyless entry with trunk release S
Cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted controls S
Tilt and telescopic steering column S
Variable-intermittent flat-blade windshield wipers S
Dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors S
Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror S
12-volt DC power outlets (2)


Slapping a luxury badge on a GT-R will not make it a luxury car, and those buyers would shun it after a test-drive

What are you talking about    The GT-R is totally pointed at the luxury sports car buyer.  TSC, DSC and the topper ....no manual trans available  

Nope, Nissan has the Z car already.  IMO, Nissan would sell more of these units thru Infinity and help boost that brand's image significantly.  Poor business decision.  

LOL, most, if not all, of the above features can be found today in cars under $25K and even more on the new compacts and sub-compacts coming up (maybe not on Toyotas  ).

[Mitlov]

Even if luxury WAS a feature list, instead of a question of driving feel, interior quality, and overall ambiance, those aren't luxury features.  Speed sensitive volume?  On a Honda Civic.  Voice recognition?  Ford Focus.  Power front windows with driver up-down?  On countless economy cars.  Auto-dimming rearview mirror?  It was a $150 accessory that came with my Legacy.  Illuminated vanity mirrors?  Find me a rental car without those.  Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel?  On the 2009 Honda Fit.  POWER DOOR LOCKS?  SOMEONE CALL BENTLEY!

[johngenx]

Yeah, most of that list can be had on a Corolla...

[Jameel]

Give it a year and the markups will disappear.  Heck, when the new Civic Si hit the States, there were incidences of dealers marking it up to nearly $30k (it sells at $21k).  Nowadays that's simply not a problem.  I wouldn't be surprised if you could get one at under MSRP.

Yah, once the hype dies down a bit you'll get it at MSRP.  But I don't think you'll ever get it at under MSRP.

[Kai]

The GT-R should be under the Nissan name.  Some people just find it hard paying that much for a Nissan... and others find it hard to put money down for a Mercedes and BMW as they can't justify the cost of the name and maintenance.  

Really comes down to what you find important in a car.  Some people like "status" and luxury and some people like all performance and will skimp on luxury.  Not everyone will use their car to the extreme - includes track and offroad.  When it comes down to physics, mother nature doesn't play favorites.  Luxury doesn't add to performance.

The North American market likes luxury.. look at the availabilty of sporty and sports cars. They are just being revived after a long time of discontinuation.  Expensive is what most people view as prestigeous and luxurious. So, that's why all these issues of it being an Infiniti.  Personally, I don't see Infiniti as a luxury brand.. neither Acura.  They are upscale brands of Nissan and Honda, but they are in the near-luxury category.  Real luxury is Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc.

No manual transmission hey?.. well, do most luxury buyers know what a twin clutch is?... it's also welcomed amoung enthusiasts as well with accurate shifts and very controllable by the driver.

[Zombie]

I can't believe that with all the cool features, stunning body lines, amazing engine, traction control system, even the F'N stereo.
The majority of the discussion is about Nissan vs. Infinity.
What is wrong with you people?

I'm going back to the Turbo vs Natural aspiring thread.

[articsteve]

A new poster came into the thread and suggest that it might have been better to market this car through Infinity rather than Nissan.  I agreed with that.  That is all that we originally said.

However, where I post, Mitlov is not far behind .....    That in turn brings a whole assortment of followers. 

Not all Nissan dealers can sell these and I can understand that.  I think from a servicing aspect Infinity dealers would be better suited.