But the GT-R has back seats.

The fact that excites me is that Nissan can get that performance with a twin-turbo V6. It shows promise for our future that gas prices may not kill performance cars, they just may evolve from the traditional NA V8s we've had up to now.

 

The Zo6 gets better gas mileage.

Not that it really matters, you don't buy a car like that with mpg in mind.

 

I realize that.
Agreed, but it shows the potential of getting V8 level performance with smaller engines.

With GM getting over 100hp/liter out of the Ecotecs, I really think smaller higher performance engines are the answer to CAFE... and that may include a smaller, lighter and higher reving V8. (Say 4.0L for example?)

Just thinking outside the box.

 

Sadly, all of Nissan's wunder-tech yields little real MPG benefits. In real-world test driving, one of the major mags recently got a dismal 10 (yes, TEN) MPG in the GT-R.

Couple that with the likely ownership nightmares of all this complexity. Only half of Nissan dealers are certified to service these cars (care to speculate, how many of that fraction will actually be good at working on them?). Just changing the OIL, requires removal of a aero-shroud body pan. Nissan has already made clear, the GT-R PCM has unprecedented new levels of anti-tampering protection... no doubt to help contain warranty costs, but also no doubt because tweaking all that complexity will be near-impossible. Want custom wheels? Forget it. Want a PCM tune? Forget it. Want to fling the car around a curve in a fun power-slide? No-no. No Thanks.

 

I would just buy a Z06 and a GT-R.

 

Nissans have never been known as fuel miserly vehicles. I wouldn't expect the GT-R to change that.

 

After your student loans are satisfied I presume...

 

the GT-R has a combination of things that make it the premier supercar value.

1) turbos - a tune and exhaust SHOULD turn this into a 10 sec at 130+ car
2) the ultimate handling
3) 4 seats
4) Exotic looks. sorry but the Z06 still just looks like any other $45K vette
5) price - 1 year from now these will be available under sticker.


Again, the potential of the turbo 3.8 V6 reminds me of the insane performance from another 3.8 turbo V6 a little over 20 years ago.

The GT500 is similar. Underwhelming numbers stock. But turn up the boost and it outpowers everything in the 1/4.

 

Actually - it has little to do with Nissan's fuel economy reputation. It has everything to do with porky curb weight, lossy AWD, and the simple physics of putting out 480 *under-rated* HP. My point being, there are lots better ways to confront our supposed "oil shortage" than by making sports cars like the GT-R.

 

It is indeed porky.

/me saves this post for future reference.

 

Looks are definitely subjective, but i have to agree with that part of the article there. The GTR doesn't look exotic AT ALL to me, it looks like any other nissan Z car with a boy racer bodykit on it.

The Z06 might look like just another vette, but the vette is a DAMN nice looking car to start. And speaking of exotic looks, i've personally witnessed a couple people do double takes of a C6 in traffic and say wait, is that a ferrari. No way you mistake a GTR for any >100k car.

 

As an all out sports car, these points are irrelevant, IMO.

Turbos generally use more fuel than NA as they run richer.

But who cares about fuel when you could have the ultimate performance car for $76 large? The car is a purpose built weapon and all the arguments leveled against the GTR are somewhat unfair (except the looks comments which is always subjective). The weight issue is moot given it runs AWD. Without AWD it wouldn't be the beast that it is.

Having said that, the Z06 is all about raw performance in the purest sense, which has its core fans... as well as detractors.

 

Haven't read much about the controls on the car have you? Good luck tuning the car.

 

Weight is never "moot". At least not from an enthusiast POV. Yes, the handling is OUTSTANDING. The braking is phenomenal. The acceleration is excellent. But it would handle better, brake faster, and accelerate harder if it weighed 100 lbs less. Or 200 lbs. Or [insert number here] less.

Weight is never "moot". At least not to an enthusiast.

 

Fixed