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      05-29-2009, 06:12 PM   #1
zacbol
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Test drive of the GTR and subjective comparison to the M3

Finally managed to wrangle a test drive on a Red 2009 GTR. Was being sold under warranty with about 10K on the odo for 75k from a local dealer. Apparently, they normally do a credit check prior to giving test drives, but since I rolled up in an M3 they skipped in. In any event, here are my subjective thoughts:

Exterior:
Still not a fan of the exterior styling. In fact, I was kind of vacillating between love and hate when I first started seeing it in pictures. I assumed that when I finally saw one in person I'd be blown away in the way that pictures did not capture the M3. Not so much. It still looks awkward and, as one reviewer put it, 'how a 7-year old might imagine a car'. Just not a fan at all.

Interior:
I don't think the car I drove had the Premium package, but I didn't check that carefully. It did have a leather stitched dash, etc. It was a decent enough interior, but beneath the leather and GTR badges, it still seemed a little econobox to me, reminding me of my old WRX. When I first peered into a locked car with white leather seats, I thought the interior was nicer than the M, but after spending a bit of time in it, I don't really think it's even close (For reference, my M3 is extended black novillo with carbon fiber trim). Bose sound system was alright, but not as good as the premium one in the M3.

Driving:
So, here's where I was trying to focus. Unfortunately, though I tried to pick a time at which I thought the highways would be lightly trafficed, it ended up that there was a shit ton of traffic. That meant I couldn't really take the twisty on ramps at ludicrous speeds and only able to accelerate full bore for very short bursts (Plus the fact that cops in the Seattle area are tough and I was in a big red GTR). In any event, I found the ride a bit better than expected. At high speed it was completely tolerable and I thought the road noise was acceptable. As with the interior, it reminded me a bit of my old WRX. The steering was reasonably communicative but I just felt disconnected from the car. Not as bad as the C6 I drove a couple years ago, but significantly worse than the M3. Also, in automatic (and I have manual and have never driven a DSG M3), the car hesitated in upshifts. This also occured in manual mode and the hesitation was somewhat annoying to me, particularly in city driving (it may have been in the wrong mode as the salesman probably knew less about hte car than I did). The one area in which the car did blow me away was straightline acceleration. Quite simply, when I shoved my foot into the gas, the thing felt like a land missle. The M3 feels like a turtle in comparison. Perhaps my thoughts would be different if I'd had the chance to exercise it, but I'm happy I had the experience at all.
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      06-09-2009, 12:56 PM   #2
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Nice Comparison, but simply put, the M3 is a real drivers car and the GTR is a video game...but one hell of a video game.
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      06-09-2009, 01:06 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jojogoya88 View Post
Nice Comparison, but simply put, the M3 is a real drivers car and the GTR is a video game...but one hell of a video game.
very good summary.
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      06-09-2009, 01:07 PM   #4
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I would love to test drive a GTR. Which dealership was it?
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      06-09-2009, 01:11 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jojogoya88 View Post
Nice Comparison, but simply put, the M3 is a real drivers car and the GTR is a video game...but one hell of a video game.
Have you driven a GTR? Why is it like a video game? Because of its precision? Because of its AWD? Because of its electronics?
I'm just curious. I own one and don't think its like a video game. It's blast to drive.
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      06-09-2009, 01:31 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rapistwit View Post
Have you driven a GTR? Why is it like a video game? Because of its precision? Because of its AWD? Because of its electronics?
I'm just curious. I own one and don't think its like a video game. It's blast to drive.
Because of its gauges


But seriously, I rode in one of these and I was thoroughly impressed at the acceleration and the lighting fast gear changes.
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      06-09-2009, 02:13 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimh103 View Post
I would love to test drive a GTR. Which dealership was it?
Eastside Nissan.

They have (or had) 4 GTRs. One new 2009, one new 2010, and two used 2009 (I drove one of these). One of the used ones was bought back under lemon law and I was told 'has a completely new transmission', though I'm not sure I'd consider that a selling point.

Just as an FYI I think they're pretty miserly in allowing test drives unless they think you're serious about possibly purchasing a car. As stated above, normally they run a credit check and I was told the GM hadn't even driven the GTR though I saw him pull out in it after mine.
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      06-09-2009, 03:49 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zacbol View Post
Eastside Nissan.

They have (or had) 4 GTRs. One new 2009, one new 2010, and two used 2009 (I drove one of these). One of the used ones was bought back under lemon law and I was told 'has a completely new transmission', though I'm not sure I'd consider that a selling point.

Just as an FYI I think they're pretty miserly in allowing test drives unless they think you're serious about possibly purchasing a car. As stated above, normally they run a credit check and I was told the GM hadn't even driven the GTR though I saw him pull out in it after mine.
new transmission..lol

wuta joke
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      06-09-2009, 05:04 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boosted335 View Post
new transmission..lol

wuta joke


Go troll elsewhere
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      06-09-2009, 05:05 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by anthony @ eas View Post
Because of its gauges


But seriously, I rode in one of these and I was thoroughly impressed at the acceleration and the lighting fast gear changes.
where's the "Game Over" image when you turn off traction control?
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      06-09-2009, 05:09 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by anthony @ eas View Post
Because of its gauges


But seriously, I rode in one of these and I was thoroughly impressed at the acceleration and the lighting fast gear changes.


It's better than iDrive.
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      06-09-2009, 05:17 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rapistwit View Post
It's better than iDrive.
A nail in the eye is better than i-Drive. Christ I hate it.
The GPS is useless too. I have an old Garmin I thought was only ok until I got this car and tried to use it. Now I think the Garmin is perfect.
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      06-09-2009, 06:06 PM   #13
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If you end up going with the GT-R and are still unsure about the exterior, I would suggest checking out this site:

http://www.gt-rr.com/

-Hunter
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      06-09-2009, 07:24 PM   #14
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The GT-R is a very special car, even though I haven't driven one yet. I was seriously considering a new '09 GT-R, especially since many '09 GT-R's are selling without the premiums that dealers used to charge on top of the MSRP. Now you can easily get a new '09 for MSRP. At the end, I felt that I would be more happier with an M3, even though it doesn't match the GT-R's performace #'s.....But one day, I hope to own a car as special as a GT-R.....One day.
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      06-09-2009, 07:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BulletproofM View Post
If you end up going with the GT-R and are still unsure about the exterior, I would suggest checking out this site:

http://www.gt-rr.com/

-Hunter
Yeah that thing is so sick!!!!!! It surely is a bad ass car but I will not buy until they offer good maintenance programs like the ones BWM offers, that been said. BMW FTW
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      06-09-2009, 11:54 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boosted335 View Post
new transmission..lol

wuta joke
He must have turned VDC off. Tsk tsk...
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      06-10-2009, 10:25 AM   #17
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The GTR is Epic. It's just a shame it has a Nissan badge. Thats why I bought an M3
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      06-10-2009, 11:05 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rapistwit View Post
It's better than iDrive.
Doesn't Nissan have a nice forum...go troll that one
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      06-10-2009, 11:10 AM   #19
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I test drove a GTR a few months back.
Straight line acceleration was awesome.

Where the M3 lacks in performance it makes up in comfort and practicality. After driving on NJ roads my kidneys hurt...The thing is stiff!
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      06-10-2009, 11:15 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rapistwit View Post
Go troll elsewhere
Quote:
Originally Posted by rapistwit View Post
Have you driven a GTR? Why is it like a video game? Because of its precision? Because of its AWD? Because of its electronics?
I'm just curious. I own one and don't think its like a video game. It's blast to drive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rapistwit View Post
It's better than iDrive.
Seriously dude! good for you that own a GT-R.

Now, dont get me wrong. They are sick cars...but tell me why the fuck anyone with a quarter of a brain would buy one when you LOSE your warranty if:

-you take it to a dyno
-you take it to a track
-you turn off traction control


It would be great if you had a good response to that...again..Im not hating on the GT-R, coz I actually like it, but when I read that stuff; I was completely turned away from the GT-R.
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      06-10-2009, 11:47 AM   #21
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+1,000,000,000............... ∞
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      06-10-2009, 11:50 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slammedm3 View Post
Seriously dude! good for you that own a GT-R.

Now, dont get me wrong. They are sick cars...but tell me why the fuck anyone with a quarter of a brain would buy one when you LOSE your warranty if:

-you take it to a dyno
-you take it to a track
-you turn off traction control


It would be great if you had a good response to that...again..Im not hating on the GT-R, coz I actually like it, but when I read that stuff; I was completely turned away from the GT-R.
A very big +1
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