Your right...the base care is just shy of $50K; the supercharged version is just shy of $65K...still not "main stream" if you are going on affordability for most of the public (even with 0% financing!).

 

It's hard to believe the GTR is still eligible for the 2009 award. Seems like it's been out so long already.
It's not a bad pick and certainly worthy of the award but it's not a mainstream vehicle. Obviously with a high pricetag the better the car and so it's hard to compare a Honda Fit to a Nissan GTR or Jaguar.
But this years field is lacking in a solid mainstream car as it seems only the Nissan Maxima would fit. -which would've been a better choice IMO.

 

ZR1 is too expensive and doesn't offer the innovation of the GTR, that's true, and for those two reasons I wouldn't vote for it to be COTY.

GTR also garnered lots of press coverage, more than any other car this year, so it makes sense.

 

Initially, yes. But not in the course of ownership. Its maintenance costs are orbit high, and it requires servicing where other cars do not.

It's sort of like Gillette selling its shaving set for $20, and then charging $3 per replacement blade.

 

I remember that issue, and that got me pissed off too.

Genesis should've gotten it for sure, but everyone is going to buy the GTR issue.

 

I agree that the GTR is the rightful car of the year. I don't suppose you think that Cadillac is a perfect car, do you? Is there any perfect car?

Cadillac did something, and it did it well. CTS is a revolution for Cadillac. Why do you have a problem with it being COTY?

 

It's also funny how people will accuse other people of things they themselves are guilty of.

It's the internet, you hanged out on it long enough to discover what it is and what it is not. You've been on this message board long enough to see and experience bias.

You just can't be fighting bias with bias, that's hypocritical.

 

As I understand it, the performance oriented maintenance services at 1,000 miles than again at 12, 24 and 36 months are all free.

Oil changes are not free but not orbital.

All in all, I doubt maintenance costs for the GT-R are going to be any more onerous than any of the vehicles it's designed to compete against.

I think you'll find the primary "expense" of the GT-R is going to be tires; since it's an all-wheel drive car, the tires are critical and it's recommended that if one is changed; they all be changed...if you are used to buying one or two tires at a time that can be a shock.

I recall that when the C4 "Vette came out, tire expense was a big issue as well - they were very expensive in their day.

 

What's so significant about Genesis? Are you referring to the sedan or the coupe?

 

Your retort doesn't exactly show my observation to be wrong.

In any case, everybody has biases and opinions are opinions and don't necessarily need "facts"; but a little consistency shouldn't be too much to ask for.

 

Nope!

 

I would agree that the GTR is on top of the contender list if:

- You could get one for MSRP (or within 20k of MSRP even).
- You could get one at all.
- Consumer version performed at the level of the ringers that got sent out to the car mags and the Nurburgring.

Since none of those things holds... I'd have a hard time giving it an award... it's a limited edition exotic that looks like 'bang for the buck' kind of design but doesn't deliver on the promise.

 

What about the $1000 trip to the dealer if you "race" your GTR?

As for tires, they should have more even wear because of all-wheel-drive, I wouldn't expect the tires to be roasted more than that of another powerful sports car.

I don't know who buys one tire at a time. Definitely not owners of high cost sports cars. Maybe if the person drives an econo car...

 

I don't defend bias against the GTR. I pointed out yours in favour of it. I feel I give credit where it's due and my bias is minimal.

 

We consistently prefer domestic (and, in particular, GM) cars over imports.