New Nissan Skyline GTR..0-60mp/h in 3.3sec..Vid!

[slow&rusty]

This car's performance is mesmerizing...it will be handing out alot of humbling sessions once its out on the street. I need to see it in the skin to figure out how much I like its lines.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=124017?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1

Yasin

[Komenda Fan]

This would be my car if I had the money for it. Problem with the Porsche is that everyone thinks you bought it to impress everyone else. The most common comment I hear when I take anyone for a spin? Not "Oh, its fast", or even "Oh, it smells like oil", its " Everyone is looking at us..." implies to me that I bought this beast for the status. A Nissan that kicks the ***** out of a 911 really appeals to me. Plus the GTR has all the race pedigree and engineering I respect about Porsche, just without the baggage of the snob badge.

[Mule]

You mean drifting pedigree. That's not racing.

[96740]

Everything IS very awsome...Except it looks like a big turd. At some point, looks are important.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by Mule

You mean drifting pedigree. That's not racing.

I guess it's time to once again lead the old horse to the water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Skyline_GT-R#Motorsport

[TGTIW]

Nissan was the first car to defeat the Porsche 962 in IMSA's GTP category. Nissan won the IMSA constructor's championship in 1989 and 1990 and 1991, the JSPC in 1990, 1991, and 1992, and I believe Nissan still holds the Le Mans lap record with the chicanes in place.

So aside from their popularity with drifting, I's say they have quite a respectable racing pedigree.

[bell]

i can't wait to watch the guys on top gear test it

[dewolf]

more importantly, which would come off better in the 'crunch' test, Porsche or Nissan. Because there are going to be plenty of them 'crunched'.

[rouxroux]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Indeed, those are impressive numbers. But, it doesn't look very good at all...

-Wayne

Sort of in the same way an A-10 or B-52 does not look very good!

[aigel]

Looks like a 2000 eclipse! I just didn't grow up dreaming that one day I will drive a Nissan! But seriously, you would think that they'd hire a better design team to build their "supercar".

George

[SlowToady]

Cue all the clueless chiming in with how it's just "rice"....

3....2....1....

[stuartj]

No racing cred? Geez, In the early 90's I knew the jig was up when I saw a GTR pass the first seven cars on the grid off the line with two slick shod wheels ON THE GRASS in the Australian Touring Car series. They were banned from the series afert that season having slayed everything.

The GTR is called "Godzilla" round here.

[dd74]

Nice car. I don't understand all the steps it takes to prepare it for a 1/4-mile launch, but I imagine it's necessary. Style-wise, it's good looking. Price wise, it seems like a bargain. I wonder where this leaves manufacturers like Porsche and Ferrari as it seems the GTR, as well as the Corvette, can offer performance at a 1/4 less money?

Or will/can status and name continue to trump value?

[livi]

Originally Posted by dd74

Or will/can status and name continue to trump value?

In a sense, yes, I believe it can. But I also think there is much to be said about taste in the shape of the car, the interior etc. Many people will still not like those aspects of the Nissan. No matter how fast or cheap it is.

I know I would never get one. It simply does not appeal to me. Even if it was twice as fast as the quickest Porsche and a tenth of the price.

[aigel]

It isn't all about performance. I like the Corvette's performance and the older Z06 is cheap. I still didn't buy one over my "slow" and overpriced 993. It just doesn't do it for me. I think that's true for a lot of Porsche people. New Porsche buyers worry about status as much as performance, especially in Europe. Of course it will leave a stain, if a Nissan smokes you at the light in your 150k+ car. I hope that the performance numbers of these "budget" cars will help push the highline manufacturers into making their cars even better and possibly making a bit less profit - couldn't hurt in Porsche's or Ferrari's case.

George

[dd74]

I agree with both of you. My issue is that at the day's end, the Porsche is about exclusivity as is the Ferrari, and that such exclusivity comes from various forms, including "price of entry," to performance. The new Subaru STi will also smoke nearly all new 911s, and almost all older ones. But what is one left with? A rather homely-shaped car that can border on the endearing, but nonetheless something that truly lacks the pedigree of a Porsche, Ferrari or even a Corvette. I just find it odd that automotive journalists are compelled to lump in stalwarts within performance motoring as good comparisons to any car that can accelerate reasonably fast and turn a corner without turning itself over. The video suggested how the GTR beat the 911 Turbo in this test and that, which left me with the thought the GTR truly wants to be a 911 Turbo, and the GTR engineers might rather want to work with Porsche than Nissan. Who knows? Regardless of mechanical prowess of this car against a Porsche, I still don't believe there's adequate grounds for comparison. The Porsche shield (like the prancing horse) carries an immense amount of power and stature.

[Hoffmanmotors]

I dont care what anyone says.....Its spectacular!

[Pingo]

Performance = OK, looks = crap.

[TGTIW]

A good number of the most spectacular cars are "visually challenged."
Lancia Delta
EB110
Quattro Sport

Looks can grow on you, poor performance will always be poor.

[RickM]

Impressive performance. I too cannot get over the older Eclipsed-Mustang look.