Inside Line performance tests the Nissan GT-R. Oh yes, it's very fast.
by Alex Nunez on Dec 19th 2007 at 7:31AM 
The Inside Line gang has just returned from Japan, where they performed instrumented testing on Japanese journo Jun Nishikawa's privately-owned 2009 Nissan GT-R. The test car had 1,500 km on the clock and was equipped the same way the US-spec cars will be. Boy, did it ever bring the goods. Zero to sixty came in 3.3 seconds, and the quarter mile flashed by in 11.6 at 120.9 mph. This, according to Inside Line, makes the '09 GT-R the quickest car that they've ever hooked their test equipment to. Some time is spent detailing the GT-R's launch control system, which involves flipping the transmission and damper settings to R mode, killing the VDC, and basically doing a brakestand. Once you let go of the stoppers, you get what IL describes as "crushing acceleration." The full test also touches on the car's predictably good braking and handling. You can read the whole thing here.
After reading it, you're left with the impression that Inside Line feels even more can be wrung out of the GT-R once they get their own tester in the States on a better surface than the Japanese airstrip they used in this case. You can bet that they'll put it head-to-head with the 911 Turbo and Corvette Z06 for good measure. Until then, know that the 2009 Nissan GT-R, at $70,000, appears set to offer drivers some utterly ridiculous bang for the buck.
Thanks to all who sent in tips!
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
NLN350 7:52AM (12/19/2007)
Godzilla Returns!
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Russell 12:19PM (12/19/2007)
No electronic gizmos substitute a good driver.
Completely stock Z06 1/4mile 10.98@129mph
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/05/10-second-stock-c6-corvette-z06-on-run-flats/
Steve_S 4:17PM (12/19/2007)
Z06 = fast 2-seater that more-or-less requires a second car for most people.
GT-R = fast, year round car you could use as your only car.
GT-R > Z06
Russell 4:35PM (12/19/2007)
If you are married with children
GT-R > Z06
else
Z06 > GT-R
Azrael4h 7:53AM (12/19/2007)
Nice. I've been waiting to see some real numbers off this car, not ones off a pre-production car with race tires on it.
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cowboy bob 7:53AM (12/19/2007)
Pretty fast. I wonder how happy the buyer will be when one of the old back alley hotrodders beats him at the drags in his $6000.00 home built rat-rod. Guys here regularly run 10's. Still, a beautiful car, obviously with attributes far in excess of any typical hotrod. I never liked getting beat in anything though........at any pricetag. Especially after spending a lot of money. This car obviously has been engineered for more than straightline stuff, but there HAS been obvious detail for the quarter.
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Azrael4h 8:05AM (12/19/2007)
At only (sic) $70k, there is a lot of cars that could hand this thing it's tailpipes with ease, on any course you want to name. Still, since were finally getting some real-world (not pre-production) times, it is impressive.
Next up: ZR1 vs GTR.
sw 8:06AM (12/19/2007)
Well the same could be said for bikes, how does a rat rodder like being shown the tail lights of a ZX-14 or a Hayabusa? You're talking about two completely different classes of cars.
Bobby 8:47AM (12/19/2007)
Going fast in a straight line is great and anyone who wins doing that should be applauded, but lets toss in some curves and such and see how the ratrod's fare against this machine, shall we?
cowboy bob 9:27AM (12/19/2007)
Right Azreal. It's all about the money. Bobby and sw- did you read what I said? "obviously with attributes far and in excess of any typical hotrod" What part of that is not clear to you?
Bungle 9:50AM (12/19/2007)
"At only (sic) $70k, there is a lot of cars that could hand this thing it's tailpipes with ease, on any course you want to name."
Modified and professionally tuned, a big "maybe..."
Stock, I seriously doubt that. Why haven't any of these cars you speak of posted faster 'ring times?
Duder 2:50PM (12/19/2007)
fast straights are for fast cars. fast corners are for fast drivers.
Pokey 8:52AM (12/19/2007)
Very impressive numbers!
I still can't get over how ungainly it looks. I just can't stand the look of this thing, makes me long for an R34 even more.
I know alot of you are going to say, "who cares what it looks like if it's fast as hell". Sorry, but people that think like that puzzle me. Sure, it's great to have a car that is very athletic, and very fast, but, if it doesn't look good, why bother.
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In2uition 8:59AM (12/19/2007)
Function over form.....
John R 9:07AM (12/19/2007)
its subjective. i like its looks. if you grew up watching anime in the 80s, like me, then you get the way it looks.
nissan was after a purposeful "gundam" sort of feel with the looks and i think they nailed it.
very japanese, nothing derivative.
they are going to be more than a fair share of IT managers and video game, software, internet entrepreneurs (you know, the nerds in high school) born after 1980 that going to dig this. including myself.
Billy 9:15PM (12/19/2007)
I have to agree, it is quite unsightly.
Still very impressive
Guenther 8:49AM (12/19/2007)
The ZO6, and soon the ZR1 are obvious comparisons. What's the fastest Porsche under 100k? To that end, I cant wait until C&D gets one out at VIR for testing that stacks up against everything else they've tested.
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avenger 9:03AM (12/19/2007)
A Cayman S with a Tiptronic and a few other features is closest in price to the GT-R.
porschedevotee 1:51PM (12/19/2007)
Fastest for the twisties? A completely base 911 GT3 squeaks in at about five bucks under $100,000. Otherwise yeah, I guess you could take a Cayman and slap some mods on it
Craig 8:54AM (12/19/2007)
"At only (sic) $70k, there is a lot of cars that could hand this thing it's tailpipes with ease, on any course you want to name "
Ok, please enlighten us, name 3 at $70k or less that can beat this on any course.
Thanks
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