2012 GTR Runs Top Gear Track In 1:17.8

[991GT3]

Originally Posted by erhanh

1200-1500 M3s a year? I think it is 10x of that.

I think the current gen. M3 has had lackluster sales but the E46 M3 was in the 7000-8000 per year range in the US.

[1MOREMOD]

i thought the sales numbers were over 5000 with sedan being about 1000 and vert 1000 and coupe 3000?

[ChrisK]

No offense to anyone who owns or plans on purchasing this car...but the GTR does nothing for me from a design standpoint. It looks like a Mitsubishi Eclipse.

[SUB-ZERO]

Originally Posted by -=Hot|Ice=-

That's right around how many M3's are sold yearly.

I am 100% certain that BMW ships out way more M3s than that per year. However, I am trying to look for the data now.

-SZ

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by 997GT3

I think the current gen. M3 has had lackluster sales but the E46 M3 was in the 7000-8000 per year range in the US.

The e46 M3 was a lot less expensive.

[SUB-ZERO]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

No offense to anyone who owns or plans on purchasing this car...but the GTR does nothing for me from a design standpoint. It looks like a Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Looks are totally subjective. We are simply discussing performance levels and the ability of either BMW or Porsche to offer a product than can actually compete at that level for a comparable price.

-SZ

[erio]

Originally Posted by stefan

Awesome video.. I really like the candid expression from these guys. Where did you find this one?

http://transmission.blogs.topgear.co...e-nissan-gt-r/

[mPlasticDesign]

The GTR is a total monster for sure!

So we have to go all the way down to # 62 before we see a BMW?

1:15.1 - Ariel Atom V8 500
1:16.2 - McLaren MP4-12C
1:16.8 - Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
1:17.1 - Gumpert Apollo S
1:17.3 - Ascari A10
1:17.6 - Koenigsegg CCX (with Top Gear Wing)
1:17.7 - Noble M600 (cold)
1:17.8 - Nissan GT-R (2012)
1:17.8 - Pagani Zonda Roadster F
1:17.9 - Caterham Seven Superlight R500 (cold)
1:18.3 - Bugatti Veyron 16.4
1:18.4 - Pagani Zonda F
1:18.9 - Maserati MC12
1:19.0 - Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce
1:19.0 - Enzo Ferrari
1:19.1 - Ferrari 458 Italia
1:19.5 - Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
1:19.5 - Porsche 997 GT2
1:19.5 - Ariel Atom 2 300
1:19.7 - Nissan GT-R
1:19.7 - Ferrari 430 Scuderia
1:19.8 - Ferrari 599 GTO
1:19.8 - Lamborghini Murciélago LP640
1:19.8 - Porsche Carrera GT
1:20.4 - Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 (damp)
1:20.4 - Koenigsegg CCX (without Top Gear Wing)[2]
1:20.7 - Ascari KZ1 (damp)
1:20.9 - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
1:21.2 - Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
1:21.6 - Audi R8 V10 (damp)
1:21.9 - Ford GT
1:22.2 - Porsche 997 Turbo Cabriolet
1:22.3 - Audi R8 V10 Spyder
1:22.3 - Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
1:22.3 - Porsche 911 GT3 RS (996 mk.II)
1:22.4 - Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06
1:22.5 - Noble M15
1:22.8 - Lexus LFA (wet)[3]
1:22.9 - Ferrari F430 F1
1:22.9 - Porsche 911 Sport Classic
1:23.0 - Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series
1:23.1 - KTM X-Bow (Not Shown on TV)[4]
1:23.1 - Porsche 997 GT3
1:23.2 - Ferrari F430 Spider F1
1:23.3 - Jaguar XKR-S
1:23.7 - Lamborghini Murciélago (retested)
1:23.8 - Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3 (partly damp)
1:23.9 - Aston Martin DBS
1:23.9 - Koenigsegg CC8S
1:24.0 - Ariel Atom 1 220
1:24.2 - Veritas RS III
1:24.3 - Prodrive P2 (concept)
1:24.4 - Audi R8 (damp)
1:24.4 - Aston Martin Virage
1:24.6 - TVR Sagaris
1:24.8 - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-400
1:24.8 - TVR Tuscan Mk.II
1:24.9 - Bentley Continental Supersports
1:24.9 - Porsche Boxster Spyder
1:24.9 - Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
1:25.0 - Noble M12 GTO-3R
1:25.0 - BMW 1 Series M Coupe* (damp)

[1MOREMOD]

damn time for an ariel atom

[E92TTKING]

wow! what is the ttrs?

[JonnyM3]

Throw in a few bolt ons and whoa. What an amazing machine.

[991GT3]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

The e46 M3 was a lot less expensive.

Less expensive than what? A GTR for sure but its pretty close to the current gen M3 if you throw in inflation. I remember dropping over $60k in 2004 for an M3.

[ScotyH]

Originally Posted by erhanh

AFAIK, GTR has a trick awd system, and massive computer help to go with it.

That massive computer is also called stability control. Every car has it for 2012.

[e92_m3]

Just wow! It improved it's lap time tremendously over the old GTR...

Thanks for posting.

[attila]

well, most of these times are from the "old" Stig. So they are difficult to compare.
Very impressive time, though!

[Blip Bavarian]

anyone wanna buy an '08 M3 for $90k?

[Straight Dave]

Im seriously doubting now if I will go with next gen m3, the gtr is intriguing.

[armystrong]

This might end up going on my wish list. Loving the style and performance.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by SUB-ZERO

I am 100% certain that BMW ships out way more M3s than that per year. However, I am trying to look for the data now.

-SZ

I may be wrong. It's something I read awhile back. Please feel free to correct me.

[adc]

Originally Posted by SUB-ZERO

The GTR is nuts! (...) I just don't understand how Nissan can make a pig of a car perform to the extreme level that the GTR can perform to.....really mind blowing.

It's actually quite simple - Nissan went for the numbers. They sought out (and found, obviously) any possible efficiency in putting power to the ground - at the expense of the driving experience IMO.

I truly, really, honestly, don't care at all about the GT-R. I drove my friend's and it did absolutely nothing for me. I'm much happier with my M3, no matter how slow it is by comparison.

To me, stepping "up" doesn't involve running GT-R lap times, but rather enjoying a better driving experience. A 997.2S is a step up from the GT-R in my worldview. I imagine a GT3 would be 2-3 steps up.

[bholloway]

Originally Posted by adc

It's actually quite simple - Nissan went for the numbers. They sought out (and found, obviously) any possible efficiency in putting power to the ground - at the expense of the driving experience IMO.

I truly, really, honestly, don't care at all about the GT-R. I drove my friend's and it did absolutely nothing for me. I'm much happier with my M3, no matter how slow it is by comparison.

To me, stepping "up" doesn't involve running GT-R lap times, but rather enjoying a better driving experience. A 997.2S is a step up from the GT-R in my worldview. I imagine a GT3 would be 2-3 steps up.

I completely agree. The GTR is insanely fast especially for the price you pay for it, but it was engineered to be ruthlessly efficient and incredibly fast.

To me the GTR is in no mans land in terms of what you would use it for. On the street or as a weekend car its rough riding and not as engaging as an M3, Porsche, or any other drivers car, so I wouldn't really want one for that. Its also not that big so it would be tough to use it as a DD. As a track car it would be fast, but I'm not a big fan of taking stock cars right onto the track because 1. It would get beat to hell 2. I would void my warranty. I might get a slightly faster lap time with a GTR, but I mainly go to the track for the thrill of driving fast and not to get the fastest lap I can possible get.

Its a great car and in a few years when I can get a used one with low miles and an extended warranty for 60-70k I would consider it just to be in a car that is so crazily fast.

[GotM]

I read an article recently that there were ~17000 M cars sold, 10000 were M3s in one year. 10x is pretty close to correct.