This Guy Doesn't Seem To Like The Gtr Much...

[Ionos]

I couldn't find a previous discussion on this article through searching, although I'd imagine there probably is one.

http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_107739/article.html

Are the concerns presented by the author legitimate? Sounds like he was unimpressed with the 4WD system, poor turning circle and reckons a Rexy can perform similarly with a few minor mods.

I know there's a lot more to owning a GTR and legitimate gripes wouldn't deter me from buying one, but I'd like to know if it's just sour grapes or not?

[ssshonky]

Yeah he didnt really sound sold on it did he?

interesting because I know very little about GTR's ( I drive a Lard ar$$ed stagea ) but was interesting that the front wheels are not actually driven all the time.

Of course other cars can come withhin striking distance of a Stock GTR, that would be the case with just about any other performance car, but people love certain cars for specific reasons. There is a " culture " about the GTR though.

[savouryphill]

I read that before I bought my R33 GTR... Didn't stop me from buying it. He does make legitimate points, such as the tramlining and the lack of torque down low, and most of his other points are pretty much on the money too.. As for a rex having as much power with some mods? Well, out of the factory I think the GTRs have more power than claimed, and with those same extra mods the GTR wins again :-) . My GTR is mildly modded and it has around 300 hp at all four wheels (running around 14psi tho).

The issues he mentions with the 4wd system aren't really issues... It was how it was designed (in my opinion anyway). It lets you play, then keeps you off the footpath :-) .

Oh yeah, and it's true that every man and his dog decides he needs to race you if you're in a GTR... Just ignore them, then occasionally show them who's boss :-)

But yeah, overall I think the GTR is a great car, and I'm definitely much happier with it than I would have been driving an Sti or anything else below a Ferrari :-)

[TTT]

the attessa can be controlled to your liking with an aftermarket attessa controller which can be purchased by a member on these forums for about $350 if I remember..

you can go from 50/50 torque split to 100% rwd (r32 only).

I don't have a gtr and I don't think it would suit my requirements either.

also, there is no use comparing a current STI (at the time of that article which was 2000) to a late 80's or up to mid 90's GTR.

perhaps he should have compared the 2000sti to a 2000 R34 gtr.

[savouryphill]

also, there is no use comparing a current STI (at the time of that article which was 2000) to a late 80's or up to mid 90's GTR.

perhaps he should have compared the 2000sti to a 2000 R34 gtr.

Good point! I think it's a testament to Nissan that older GTRs can still hold their own against a lot of modern cars quite well.

[Ashy Larry]

He must drive a Gemini!

We all buy these cars for different reasons, I want to be looked at all the time, dont tell me you dont!!!!!

I am joking by the way!!!

FYI,

GTR was built for racing then turned into a road car, Subaru WRX was built so Prodrive / 555 Racing could enter the new shape in WRC.

Mike

[TTT]

I should add that I would take an STI over a GTR.

only because I need a 4 door.

But I'd take an EVO of the same year over any of the others... including R34 gtr.

[Bliksem]

pretty much always going to find someone who will bad mouth something...

[savouryphill]

I should add that I would take an STI over a GTR.

only because I need a 4 door

Four doors would come in handy sometimes...

pretty much always going to find someone who will bad mouth something...

Hah, so so true...

[Bliksem]

Just read it and have to wonder what this guys idea of a perfect car would be then?

He's whinging about the torque of the RB26, but then says a WRX can keep up with it, yet anyone who's driven a WRX would know how bad the torque is down low.... much less than a RB26

Then later on he wants leg room for back seat passengers... its a sports car.

Complains about boot space... its a sports car

Complains the trim is drab and boring...its a sports car

Complains its not full time AWD.... That was the idea.

etc etc...

got a laugh over the photos insulting the handling of the GTR as well... usually you see a photo like that of a SS or XR8 front page on magazine suggesting something along the lines of captivating handling or a 6L power plant that is too powerful for the rest of the vehicle...yet makes for great skids and powersildes

Edited July 18, 2007 by MintR33

[savouryphill]

Just read it and have to wonder what this guys idea of a perfect car would be then?

maybe a Bugatti Veyron?

Then later on he wants leg room for back seat passengers... its a sports car.

So true. That said, I can fit my 6 foot 6 inch mate in my back seat along with another rear passenger! Although it's a bit tight...

[gts-4 dreamer]

thats becuase you own the best non-track only gtr there was... the 33 >

to better this you only need to add a legitimate 400r then you have the best gtr with a close second by the 34's..

[savouryphill]

to better this you only need to add a legitimate 400r then you have the best gtr with a close second by the 34's..

lol... well, I have as much power (when I turn the boost back up)

[rb26stagea]

Points to note:

1) the Shannons insurance ad at the beginning of the story - they WANT you to buy a wrx/sti, so they can charge you $35K per annum insurance (go the ramraiders)

2) A Laser TX3 turbo with mild work can make a GTR look "overrated and overpriced" can you smell the crack he's smoking??

3) Some bodyroll is a GOOD thing - set up a car too stiff, and watch it plough understeer. A slammed, stiff car is only good on track-quality tarmac, which Aussie roads are anything but.

4) I would agree that a cuurent 'rex is a lot more tractable down low, but like others are saying, the gtr is designed to be driven in anger: you are expecrted by Mr Nissan to keep it on the boil. If you're unable to do that, then "sorry sir, maybe this vehicle is not for you.... I believe there is a special on Camrys at the toyota dealer down the road, and you'll sure be impressed by THEIR boot space and rear leg room..."

5) I may already have an RB26, but a stagea ain't a skyline: I WANT A GTR!!!!!

[Bliksem]

4) I would agree that a cuurent 'rex is a lot more tractable down low

Current maybe but he wrote the article in 2000

[scathing]

I think the guy's talking a whole bunch of shit.

Comparing a modified car with a stock GT-R? Chuck in a few grand at a GT-R to do away with performance-killing road legality requirements, and once again the bar gets moved. A stock GT-R is faster over a long enough distance than a modified WRX, because a stock GT-R doesn't get pulled over by the cops as often and so doesn't need to stop and spend 10 minutes getting RBT'ed and then popping the bonnet.

Secondly, the part-time AWD is engineered that way. The car pushes all its power to the rear as long as the rears can cope with it, reducing drivetrain parasitic loss, and sends no torque to the steering wheels when you need them to have the most amount of feel and lateral grip (i.e. on turn-in and to the apex).

The "permanent security" of full time AWD comes from the fact that the car would then understeer. If he wants permanent security, maybe he should stick to driving Corollas, Landcruisers, or other nose heavy econoboxes, and stay the f**k out of sports cars.

Yes, people stepping out of a permanent AWD will be a bit confused. Just like how people in FWD cars get confused when they find out that the cure for losing traction in either end of a RWD car is not to floor it, or RWD guys hopping into FWD hot hatches and learning about the joys of lift-off oversteer in nose heavy vehicles. Cars handle differently, and you should learn to respect that.

The GT-R should be driven like a RWD car that happens to have great power out grip. If you can't drive a RWD car, or be bothered to try and adapt your style to suit, then maybe you should hang up the helmet.

There's a reason why the Evo's AYC / ACD is dynamically adjustable, and why Subaru no longer uses the "symmetric AWD" slogan. Symmetric AWD is great in a grocery getter, but its ultimately frustrating in a sports car. As stated, the R32 is over 15 years old and the first generation of ATTESSA. Of course its not going to be as smooth to drive as a modern car, or an R34. The same "permanent AWD" in Evos up until the VI, and the new DCCD equipped STis, would have made them far more understeery and therefore slower to drive too.

Slotting and drilling rotors weakens them. F1 brakes are no longer cross drilled, and I don't think they're even slotted. V8 Supercars (which tend to be underbraked for their weight) also only slot their rotors. So unless you have specific need for doing it, I can't see the problem with having vented rotors with a "solid" face. The GT-R pulls up just fine and is relatively fade resistant for a car its age.

Interior-wise, he's right that its boring. Its not any more boring than most Japanese car its age, though. Sitting in a Civic, Integra, NSX, Evo, and Impreza are all snooze-fests. Only the JZA80 Supra and FD RX7 have cockpit-like interiors. I haven't sat in a 3000GT so I can't comment on that. But that's not why you're buying the car.

Big turning circle? A common problem with all cars that have quick steering racks (my 350Z's circle isn't that impressive) and front driveshafts (the Evo IX's turning circle looks like its used to inscribe crop circles that can be seen from space).

Low-end lag? A standard WRX or STi is far worse. And the guy must be pretty dim if the fact that a 3.0L engine produces more low-to-midrange torque than a 2.6L comes as a news flash.

Build quality, I've never seen a Skyline but I know what Nissans are like and so I'd agree that its probably not ideal. It'll have a bulletproof driveline and shithouse fit and finish....which shouldn't be a problem if you're after a sports car and not an econobox.

But the R33's also got 10 years on it, so a bit of rattling and squeaking and misaligned gaps should be expected of a Japanese car. Most MY95 Imprezas I've sat in haven't shamed Volkswagens in the cabin either. The R32 will be even more worn.

Grading the reviewer, I think he deserves an A+ if you want an opinion on a family car and a D- if you want suggestions for a sports car.

[Cassbo]

IMO the only thing that the WRX over the Skyline (and its even better in the Liberties ) is the nice burblily engine note of the boxer.

I make the following comments on the assumption that GT-Rs and GTS-ts are the same size, or at least similar.

That guy also states that the R33 is hard to park. Compaired to what? A WRX? Might have something to do with the smaller car :laughing-smiley-014: . Try parking a Mazda Bravo in the city, now thats a bad turning circle. Also, U turns are easy when you apply a little opposite lock .

Size of the boot? Its big enough for a swag and a bag full of clothes, so suits me just fine. Sure I can't sleep in it like my Wagon or my Liberty (folding down seats in a sedan are awesome, especially while intoxicated. Gets cold though) but is that really why they where made?

But I guess the guy is entitled to his opinions, even if they are wrong

[a20089]

Well as an owner I'd say the majority of the review is accurate. It's not particularly against the GTR.

[dnbutts]

as others have stated, majority of whats hes saying makes sence, still a pretty bias opinion imo.

Personally, I love the GTR, so therefore im being bias.

[blk180]

This guy is a funny man 3500-4000 slip the clutch where's the 8100 dump hahaha