Laugh at the Challenger
I agree...what do you want? Motortrend's February 2008 issue quotes the base GT-R coming in at $69,850. In their December 2007 issure they quote Kazutoshi Mizuno, who is the GT-R chief product specialist and chief engineer, saying "...based on it's performance, our GR-R should cost over $400,000." Take what you will from that. $400,000 may be steep, but I'd venture to guess that this GT-R is worth a LOT more than what it's MSRP is. Personally, I think the same thing goes for the new Corvette ZR1...even the Z06! Besides...asking for things like different roof options on the GT-R is kind of out there. The GT-R was designed as a track car/exotic...not something that you putz around in just to be seen. Plus, some of those options seriously take away from structural rigidity and add weight...Just a few things to think about when considering the performance of a supercar
Here's a video I shot this past weekend of the Production Challenger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyIaK8aTYMU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyIaK8aTYMU
Clyde
The only thing GM screwed up on was being 2 years late....the camaro still looks better than the charger....but of course we all have our opinion. I'd put more faith in the GM drivetrain though. When everybody starts putting blowers on the SRT8 engines they will find out the $$$$ way that they do not have forged crankshafts and are missing a few other high perfomance goodies too that are related to longevity (like the beautiful but expensive connecting rods the Z06 vette has).
I agree...what do you want? Motortrend's February 2008 issue quotes the base GT-R coming in at $69,850. In their December 2007 issure they quote Kazutoshi Mizuno, who is the GT-R chief product specialist and chief engineer, saying "...based on it's performance, our GR-R should cost over $400,000." Take what you will from that. $400,000 may be steep, but I'd venture to guess that this GT-R is worth a LOT more than what it's MSRP is. Personally, I think the same thing goes for the new Corvette ZR1...even the Z06! Besides...asking for things like different roof options on the GT-R is kind of out there. The GT-R was designed as a track car/exotic...not something that you putz around in just to be seen. Plus, some of those options seriously take away from structural rigidity and add weight...Just a few things to think about when considering the performance of a supercar 

If the new top-end Camaro comes in at 3600lbs and 500 horsepower, with a really good suspension set up, limited slip, a functional aerodynamics package etc, I wouldn't feel comfortable making a bet on whether the GT-R would be able to keep up on a track. It's all-wheel-drive system is pretty trick, but a more powerful car with less weight and good suspension tuning should be able to at least keep up.
Last edited by boxerperson; Feb 20, 2008 at 09:33 PM.
A 3800+ lb track car? The new GT-R is exactly what the name says. A fast grand touring car. The laws of physics cannot be denied, a Z06 would own it on a racetrack. The Z06 owns the new 911 Turbo on a race track, and that was the target vehicle for the GT-R.
If the new top-end Camaro comes in at 3600lbs and 500 horsepower, with a really good suspension set up, limited slip, a functional aerodynamics package etc, I wouldn't feel comfortable making a bet on whether the GT-R would be able to keep up on a track. It's all-wheel-drive system is pretty trick, but a more powerful car with less weight and good suspension tuning should be able to at least keep up.
If the new top-end Camaro comes in at 3600lbs and 500 horsepower, with a really good suspension set up, limited slip, a functional aerodynamics package etc, I wouldn't feel comfortable making a bet on whether the GT-R would be able to keep up on a track. It's all-wheel-drive system is pretty trick, but a more powerful car with less weight and good suspension tuning should be able to at least keep up.
Is this the first EVER conversation about how a Japanese car is a heavy pig? I have to write this down on my calendar.
And that was NOT me sticking up for a Japanese car. For the record, I would NEVER own a Japanese brand car. I bleed red white and blue.

(now motorcycles is another matter.
)
A 3800+ lb track car? The new GT-R is exactly what the name says. A fast grand touring car. The laws of physics cannot be denied, a Z06 would own it on a racetrack. The Z06 owns the new 911 Turbo on a race track, and that was the target vehicle for the GT-R.
If the new top-end Camaro comes in at 3600lbs and 500 horsepower, with a really good suspension set up, limited slip, a functional aerodynamics package etc, I wouldn't feel comfortable making a bet on whether the GT-R would be able to keep up on a track. It's all-wheel-drive system is pretty trick, but a more powerful car with less weight and good suspension tuning should be able to at least keep up.
If the new top-end Camaro comes in at 3600lbs and 500 horsepower, with a really good suspension set up, limited slip, a functional aerodynamics package etc, I wouldn't feel comfortable making a bet on whether the GT-R would be able to keep up on a track. It's all-wheel-drive system is pretty trick, but a more powerful car with less weight and good suspension tuning should be able to at least keep up.
Clyde
Ok, so let's consider Nurburgring...since that's where automotive companies tend to go to flog...err..test, their cars. Also, admittedly Nurburgring isn't the end all. But non-official results have the Nissan GT-R lapping the Ring at 7:38....and the C6 Z06's official time is 7:42 from what I can dig up (if it's not...let me know). Those times even with 25 fewer horsepower and roughly 770 more pounds than the Z06. So, not only did it beat the Z06, but it also beat the 911 Turbo around the Ring...Some people may argue that the GT-R wasn't in final trim, but still. And I'm still going to go with it being a track car...how do you explain Nissan using satellite technology coupled with the GT-R's computer in order to limit top speed while on everyday, public roads...then electronically taking the govern off when you physically enter Nissan approved tracks? Again, if I'm wrong...let me know, but be nice about it!
The 7:38 time for the GT-R is a flat out lie. The car that did that certainly was not production spec. It's not even physically possible. Nissan is full of **** on that particular laptime.


