Why my new favorite car isn't a Porsche

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

I remember the day I opened a Motor Trend, it was years ago I was working at a public library and had easy access to my form of smut. The article was only a couple pages long but it reveled to me the intricate details of the construction and tenacity of the GT3. I was young and I had fallen in love with a girl I couldn't afford.

Years go by and my love of the car grows with each of iteration. The attention to detail, from the engine internals to the suspension design to deal with the unorthodox weight distribution, they all got to me. The raspy barking sound ejected from the exhaust would send shivers down my spine, I thought it was true love, I was sure it was real.

I've always respected Nissan's Skyline GTR, through all of its marks. I thought its Playstation qualities and god like Altezza AWD system were perfect compliments to the twin turbo straight six. But just as the GT3 had be wide-eyed like 12 year old boy, Nissan's announcement of the stateside Nissan GTR had stopped me in my tracks.

The engine, a perfect combination, twin turbos fed to twin intercoolers that finally resolve at the ascetically pleasing manifold, the V6 is truly a work of art. Each motor creates unique horsepower, hand assembled in a hermetically sealed controlled environment to prevent expansion or contraction of any of the intricate parts, they have been dynoed at over 500hp off the factory floor. The attention to detail continues with the paddle shift transmission that is designed and calibrated bespoke to the engine it is mated to. Even the suspension is assembled in a rack that preloads the entire chassis in order to form a more perfect union to the road.

Within the last few weeks Nissan has released what I consider to be my new infatuation, dressed in a one-off metallic black, the Nissan GTR Spec V. This is the stripped out, hunkered down, focused version of the standard stateside GTR. With a mid-range rpm boost control and a body and interior littered with carbon fiber it was like a wet dream come true. Even the titanium plated exhaust seems as if it was created by a well worn man forming metal into a piece of artwork. I was astounded by the overall commitment to detail this car has and its ability to humble GT3s, GT2s, and Ferrari's as it whips around the Ring with simply shocking lap times. I am still hesitant to be sure if this is just a lust that would be short lived or a true romance with this car.

I find Nissan's attention to detail scary at times, and the R35 has proved to me that there is hope in the future automotive world. Even when my dad commented that for the price tag you could buy two standard GTR's, I wasn't deterred. This car in my eyes is absolute perfect and its a struggle for between the GT3 and the Spec V both are committed to their duties at the track and it's become one of the biggest dramas of my life.

Fame on, but I think it might be true love

pwd72s · 03:57 PM

You still sound like a young guy...one as fickle as a high school honey.

(edit) That said, the magazine press on the new 370Z reads nice...

Uber-fanatic · 01-13-2009, 03:57 PM

Flame on???

You should fix that...everything else about the post was so well done; photo layout, copy, etc...

Dottore · 01-13-2009, 04:18 PM

How old are you?

Still have a Play-station?

How's the acne?

dd74 · 01-13-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

(edit) That said, the magazine press on the new 370Z reads nice...

No kidding! That car seems very nice.

And the price.

You can't beat the hp/speed to value ratio with a stick.

slow&rusty · 01-13-2009, 04:33 PM

Dude...its not "Altezza" AWD. Altezza is the Japanese Lexus IS300!!...Nissan's system is ATTESA...that was funny.

Yasin

Jim Richards · 01-13-2009, 04:37 PM

Shouldn't you be looking at fabric swatches instead of cars, Matt?

Type R...you desperately need an intervention!

Vipergrün · 01-13-2009, 04:50 PM

Give the guy a break. Whether we like it or not, there are, and will be more cars out there which will kick Porsche butt....for less $$.

BTW, I am 43 and play Gran Turismo on my sons PS2 all the time.....wanna make something of it!!

HardDrive · 01-13-2009, 04:55 PM

Anyone else here notice how ugly that car is?

VaSteve · 01-13-2009, 04:56 PM

Cut the guy some slack...it looks fun.

Quote:

The engine, a perfect combination, twin turbos fed to twin intercoolers that finally resolve at the ascetically pleasing manifold, the V6 is truly a work of art. Each motor creates unique horsepower, hand assembled in a hermetically sealed controlled environment to prevent expansion or contraction of any of the intricate parts, they have been dynoed at over 500hp off the factory floor. The attention to detail continues with the paddle shift transmission that is designed and calibrated bespoke to the engine it is mated to. Even the suspension is assembled in a rack that preloads the entire chassis in order to form a more perfect union to the road.

It also sounds like a maintenance nightmare.

vash · vash's Garage

nice car...very nice.

didnt i read something about GPS on that car? i may be hallucinating, but i thought i read that the car knows (by GPS coords) that it is on a track and will change the engine mapping? or alert nissan to void the warranty...

either way, i like your SC better. you get elbow deep into that nissan motor, and you will void everything..

pwd72s · 01-13-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

Give the guy a break. Whether we like it or not, there are, and will be more cars out there which will kick Porsche butt....for less $$.

Yes, but the hottest 'Vette is better looking than the Nissan...

911boost · 911boost's Garage

The one (GTR) on Top Gear knew it was at a racetrack and turned off the 112 ish mph speed limiter standard on all cars delivered in Japan. Now, does that mean it can report back to Nissan, I honestly don't know. But that is why I will never have a GPS system built into the car, my portible Garmin does just fine thank you.

Jim Richards · 01-13-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

didnt i read something about GPS on that car? i may be hallucinating, but i thought i read that the car knows (by GPS coords) that it is on a track and will change the engine mapping? or alert nissan to void the warranty...

That would be the height of gheyness.

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

Dude...its not "Altezza" AWD. Altezza is the Japanese Lexus IS300!!...Nissan's system is ATTESA...that was funny.

Yasin

Good catch! I was writing it on my train ride and forgot to verify that word choice until after I posted it.

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Cut the guy some slack...it looks fun.

It also sounds like a maintenance nightmare.

Actually if you buy one of the Spec V's they are only sold at certain mechanics that are trained in that particular car. Pretty intense. I would agree with you but they have learned a lot from previous models, at least i hope.