I have a passion for GTR's, in Canada we can import them after they are 15 years old, so there are quite a few R32 GTR's around. My father-in-law in Tokyo has owned them as long as they have been around, his last was a white R34 GTR, and he is to get (already received?) one of the first 20 production GTR's. They are fantastic machines, and every bit as capable as the hype suggests. Remember, the GTR was the first production car to break the 8 minute mark around the Nordshliefe.
Sadly, I am not sure the GTR will do well in NA. The GTR started getting a following in NA because of games like GranTurisimo 4, and I am not sure the demographic matches that of guys willing to part with $70k for one. Having said that, Nissan is only bringing 1500 cars for 08, so it might do ok. Such a shame, because in most respects, it is a superior car to the 997TT that sells for so much more.
I was disappointed that it weighs in a 3858 lbs, but even more disappointing to me is that only comes with a flappy paddle gearbox. I know they are faster, but buying a car like this should be about fun, and I'm sorry, anything without a clutch pedal is just not as much fun. The real reason manufacturers are going to these semi-auto boxes is because the computer controls the driveline and therefore they can reduce warranty claims.
I have my fingers crossed that the 2009 V-spec model will have a proper manual gearbox. It is said to save 300lbs of weight, which would be pretty astonishing.
2008 GTR
R34 GTR
R33 GTR
R32 GTR
KPGC110
KPGC10
