Photo by Mary Seelhorst
Slightly over shadowed by all the drama surrounding the Vanishing Point Dodge Challenger, Car and Driver competed in the 2008 One Lap of America event behind the wheel of a stock Nissan GT-R. Typically a magazine editor going for an extended joy ride in a pre-production sports car isn't expected to severely push the vehicle's limits, which is why Tony Swan cruised to a decent 11th place overall finish in the event. Not a bad placement, but also apparently not good enough for some, as interested internet anti-fanboys have taken the opportunity to criticize the car based on its performance in the vent. However, the negative commentators neglected to take into account the seriousness of the top vehicles and their veteran drivers.
After spending one-on-one quality time with the GT-R, Mr. Swan also sings a slightly different song than some. He agrees that it is blistering quick, but maybe not as easy to drive as some have lead you to believe. The wide open track at Road America let Nissan's lovechild stretch its legs, but scaling down the venue did not directly translate. The Bridgestone run flat tires and inherent low speed understeer were a handful in wet and tight corner conditions. Perhaps it might have behaved the same way at the autocross venue, but lack of cone dodging experience (or more likely the lack of cones to dodge) led to a DNF for the car in the parking lot event. The drag strip also unveiled the GT-R electrical system's lack of launch control intuitiveness, as quarter mile staging methods interfered with the system's engagement. Despite a few difficulties, in the end the car was praised for its comfort level and ample luggage capacity for the week long journey. Thanks for the tip, Rexhavoc!
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Fooman @ May 15th 2008 6:17PM
hmm interesting, i want to know more about the easy to drive complaint, as everyone else says it is a great DD. Also I though the launch control was easy to use... wierd
Proud Japanese @ May 15th 2008 11:20PM
The haters will latch onto anything to bash the GTR. They ignore that the GTR was the fastest bone stock car on the road course and hang on to every out of context quote to find any flaw in the GTR.
Proud Japanese @ May 15th 2008 11:26PM
The GT-R finish ahead of every other stock car in this event. What else do you want from the GT-R? It seems the corvette fanboys can't stand seeing the GT-R do so well and beating the Z06 around every track tested as well as beating it for best value for money. Can you hear those excuses? I remember when Z06 first came out, the vette fanboys were defending against exactly the same stuff from other fanboys. But now that GT-R beats the crap out of the Z06, those corvette fanboys resort to the same dirty, childish, underhanded tactics to undermine the performance of the GT-R. Just you wait till the V-Spec comes around.
Scott @ May 16th 2008 10:10AM
Dude, did someone non-Japanese drop you on your head as a child?
Unknown @ May 16th 2008 10:24AM
Maybe some of you haven't been to the strip before but the way it works is you have two light beams that you have to stage the cars front wheels between. There are two lights at the top of the tree that assist in staging between the beams. If you are the last person to stage then as soon as you stage the lights start to drop. You are left with very little time to bring up the revs and get your brain ready. My guess is after getting the car staged there wasn't enough time to do the steps to engage the launch control before the lights would drop. I never do the silly burn outs on street tires. I just drive around the water and then stage as fast as possible so I have some time to think and get my revs up. Then I just sit at the lights relaxing as the other guy with street tires blows a few dollars doing a burn out and over heating his tires. :)
Who ever was running the lights at this event should have given the GTR a few seconds after staging to engage the launch control.
James Sonne @ May 15th 2008 6:21PM
A moment of silence for the death of the adverb.
tekman94 @ May 15th 2008 7:33PM
Sorry, I'm horrible with grammar, can you explain that.
why not the LS2LS7? @ May 15th 2008 8:57PM
I didn't pick up on the adverb thing but the spelling of event "vent" really struck me. Next big thing is the huge spate of commaitis in the first paragraph, probably brought on by the rather lengthy sentences. The first and last commas are logical while the 3 in the middle are optional at best.
tuna @ May 15th 2008 6:23PM
All of the supposed short-comings sound more like user error to me.
Franz @ May 15th 2008 6:44PM
Ditto. But at least it should put to rest some of the nonsensical notions that this car can "drive itself", the Bridgestones are "the stickiest street tires available" (you listening Naggs?) and that it's trick awd system will magically overcome ham-fisted inputs from novice drivers. In the hands of a good driver this car is amazing, but in the hands of a novice it'll be slow as hell. Still, 11th overall ain't bad.
why not the LS2LS7? @ May 15th 2008 8:20PM
The tires are the stickiest street tires available. They're not R compounds, but they're VERY aggressive street tires.
It has this much grip because it needs it. Even though the tires provide a ton of grip, the weight of the car magnifies any mistake so you can still overcome the tires without having to to anything that is too stupid.
andrewgto @ May 15th 2008 8:27PM
"In the hands of a good driver this car is amazing, but in the hands of a novice it'll be slow as hell" Excuses, excuses. You can apply this statement to many vehicles. Although it's a fantastic car, it's a bit over-hyped.
I strongly feel that things like launch control, and other electronic nanny gadgets should be out. Let the driver do the driving.
Franz @ May 15th 2008 8:42PM
@ andrewgto:
Are you kidding me? This is probably the only car on the planet that doesn't need anybody making excuses for it. And sure, my statement can be applied to any car... but we're not talking about any car right now, are we. This article is, after all about the GT-R.
I dunno what you've been reading, but finishing 11th in an event with a field of 77 cars... ahead of every other stock car in the event, is nothing to be making excuses about. And if you actually read my post, you'd realize that I wasn't making excuses for it. I was merely pointing out that all the people who say it can "drive itself" have been proven wrong. Come to think of it, you're probably one of them, hence your totally flawed interpretation of my post.
No reason to be all critical and getting your panties in a bunch. And for the record, saying that my statement is an excuse, and then saying that it can apply to any car sounds kinda contradictory, doesn't it? If it can apply to any car, it applies to the GT-R. All you've done is helped to cement my point.
andrewgto @ May 15th 2008 9:07PM
Dude, from your post it sounds like your panties are in a bunch, especially at your immature derogatory attempts at me. I also said electronics should be left out you yet you say I feel I believed the car can drive itself? If you read my other post below, you would know that I was saying that this car is not infallible as some like you believe it is. No car is.
You're upset cause I pointed out that this car like all have some weaknesses. I'll call you a wah-mbulance.
Franz @ May 15th 2008 9:24PM
Whatever dude. My first post wasn't aimed at you and you decided to yelp like I stepped on your toes. I just pointed out in my rebuttal that you misinterpreted my first post. As for me making attempts to be disrespectful, you misunderstand. It's just a little sarcasm and humor. Lighten up. You guys take this blogging thing so serious sometimes. Jeez...
tuna @ May 15th 2008 10:17PM
@ Franz
A car that drives itself? who the hell would want that? Idiots who can't... Oh yah, never mind.
No one reads and none are smart enough allow themselves the chance to be pursuaded. So let's just leave it there... ;)
tuna @ May 15th 2008 10:24PM
@ andrewgto
Overhyped? Sounds like you're tired of the GT-R.
Well guess what? by talking about it you are adding to the hype. So if you're tired of it, why are you talking about it?
andrewgto @ May 15th 2008 11:02PM
Franz: It's all good brotha, if we all agreed, we'd be driving the same car.
Tuna: Me saying a car is over-hyped adds to it's hype makes as much sense as a Gallardo with a trailer towing a motorcycle. :P Your assumption is incorrect, I am far from tired of this car. We do agree on cars driving themselves is lame. They should remove all that stuff, and rebate the new owner a Skip Barber gift certificate. Can't wait to go back again next year.
Dan @ May 15th 2008 6:35PM
Godzilla drank 87 by accident. It made him sick.
IK47 @ May 16th 2008 12:17AM
my neighbor puts 87 in his gallardo
doesn't even know the difference