First Impressions From Driving The R35

[m3gtr]

The R35 is a great car for many reasons but is definitely not perfect.

My newly acquainted friend Koichi owns a white "poverty" pack version R35. He explained to me that he didn't need the Bose system and extra security that comes with the Premium edition. I wasn't going to argue with that rationale.

We met up at Hachiko crossing in Shibuya at 8pm and head over to Hiroo, which is about 30 minutes south of Tokyo in the R35 where we had dinner at a nice Italian restaurant called Stellato's.

My Initial impression of the car was that it was solidly built. The doors were weighty and shut firmly without any clunkiness, although the door handle caused a few hassles - i wasnt sure how it worked! Close the door and the windows automatically raise a little to seal off the outside. The seat was firm with lateral support being more than adequate. Across the shoulders too, there was plenty of grip from the leather clad seats. The multi direction seat adjuster switch was tweaked to allow maximum comfort.

I look around the cabin and i still don't understand the placement of those speakers between the rear seats. In my opinion its not pretty but the Doof Doof brigade will get a kick out of it, I'm sure. While the rear seats "look" comfortable i pity those that have to sit in the back. Koichi notices me looking at the back seats and says its hard even getting a diminutive girl in there. To prove a point he tries to place a hand between the back of his seat and the rear passengers seat. He struggles. To me, The R35 isn't really a 4 seater. Its closer to being a 2+2 in configuration. Having said that, Koichi is a pretty tall guy by Japanese standards ( 179 cm ) but only average in height by western standards. That speaks volumes and doesn't do any rear passengers any favors on either side of the ocean.

Having said that the build quality of the interior was excellent and the smell of fresh leather is always nice.

The R35 is very docile in and around traffic. It shifts smoothly - you hardly even notice its changing up or down the gears. We were at 65kph and the tractable motor was reading 6th gear and pulling a little over 2000 rpm on the dash readout. It really does city driving with ease.

The ride is firm and on the way to the restaurant we had the suspension set to standard mode. In this setting, the rough surfaces of Tokyo's inner city streets were noticeable but not overly so. The GTR rides it all well, but you can sense the set up is firmer and more taut than is normally the case. I was to test out the "comfort" and "R" settings later in the night.

We arrived at the restaurant and were both starving.

A good chance to ask some questions. We didn't talk about the car much at dinner but when it came up, I wasn't really surprised to learn Koichi was a Mercedes owner prior to the purchase of the Nissan and that the Mercedes, at least for him, wasn't sporty enough. Its also his daily driver. He has driven to and from work everyday since owning it, having accumulated over 4400 kilometers in the past 3 months. That was nice to know. At least he was actually enjoying the car on a daily basis instead of only being able to use it on weekends on which, incidentally, he works!

With dinner drawing to a close and Koichi producing a credit car faster than i could produce my wallet, he asks me the long anticipated question i was hoping to hear, " Adam, would you like to have a drive?"

"I'd love to."

[m3gtr]

Part 2 "What its like to drive - fast" later on.

Cheers.

[Blitz]

Ah, Shibuya 109 in the background.

Did you take him for a drink at Gas Panic afterwards?

[R338OY]

The story is in serial format?

Touche

[m3gtr]

Ah, Shibuya 109 in the background.

Did you take him for a drink at Gas Panic afterwards?

lol, yeah ..right.. gheypanic...

umm, i dont think so, Nick

I can tell you though it wont be the last time ill drive the car.

Have you driven the latest GTR, Nick? Sensational, i can tell you.

Edited February 5, 2008 by m3gtr

[m3gtr]

The story is in serial format?

Touche

Yeah, part 2 later..im hungry and thirsty.

[Owgasm]

Great Story.

[Beer Baron]

nice work, but enough story about your intimate little date and more talky about the car!

c'mon, don't make me change the title from "my first R35 GTR drive" to "impressions of my first date Koichi..... he's dreamy".

[typevu]

pardon if I missed something. But it sounds like you have some explaining to do . . .

HAHAHHAHA thats a good one

[R338OY]

Awww c'mon lads give him a break

I'm a writer and i understand what Adam's trying to do- provide atmosphere, imagery, characterisation blah blah i can go forever, in the attempt to give us a rounded picture of what i'd consider to be an experience most Skyline owners would dream of, but will never experience.

This is the equivalent of a short film, it's a great idea.

Let's not be homophobes, whether Adam is ghey or not

[Mean_R34]

Haha.

Good write-up tho Adam! I'm very impressed with the interior fautures!

I looks fwd to hearing more about the car's performance.

[m3gtr]

Thanks for whoring up my thread akeenan, Nick and Richard. Prats!

Appreciate it.

Cheers to all those who are enjoying the read.

Edited February 5, 2008 by m3gtr

[m3gtr]

With dinner finished and the Shiny GTR key in hand I head out into the freezing Toyko night air.

"How does this key work, again?"

It turns out there is no key as such. The device is a remote sensor that included door locking and alarm activation/deactivation buttons and more interestingly, you only have to have the device "on you" to be able to start the car. There is no ignition switch.

With the car primed, i hit the "start" button between the front seats and the car comes to life with a modest growl settling in at just under 1000 rpm. A few blips of the throttle and I'm starting to get a little anxious to see what it can really do. It's quiet for a car with this much power and is very "iron fist in velvet glove". Koichi tells me not to worry, as i can enjoy the car as much as i want. Well, if you insist...

From behind the steering wheel, the layout of the R35 is well designed, laid out and functional. Nissan has taken a minimalistic approach to interior design and there aren't too many buttons and switches to confuse the driver. The wheel itself is a perfect size, chunky, leather and well weighted. The ruby red GTR badge in the center of the wheel is the jewel in that particular crown. I also cant help but notice the two levers on either side of the wheel marked with a + and - sign. I couldn't wait to see what they would be like to use at speed.

I had a good look at and asked a number of questions on the information display screen in the center of the dash and i was surprised at how easy it is to navigate through. There are a number of different settings that can be changed and a number of different readouts to get information on the cars operating systems. Screens contained useful and in some cases critical information like the engine and transmission oil temperatures and pressures, fuel pressure, tyre pressures and temperatures, boost readouts, gear settings ( which are completely adjustable on the fly ), acceleration/deceleration and lateral G force graphs, lap timer data logging, front to rear torque split graphs, plus the obligatory Satellite navigation system that did a very good job switching between road information screens and all other associated car data. The fact that the GTR can do this and do it accurately without a laptop is astounding.

First things first.

With the seat adjusted and flicking the gear lever down a couple of notches into drive and then a flick over to the right to select "A" mode, i pull into traffic. The sound of the indicator clicking is actually quite annoying but I'm waiting to hear from the engine so i didn't mind it so much. I negotiate the first few lights trying to get a feel for what i had regarded as an "overweight" super car but i really couldn't find fault with the way it steered through traffic. Its a big car, physically, but from the cockpit you wouldn't get that impression. Adjusting to the physical dimensions would take some getting used to. The nose is light as is the steering and it sits flat and untroubled. It's maneuverable in tight confines and is quite happy to bumble about and that gave me some added confidence. The steering is very well weighted and was direct and precise. A grandmother in her 80's could easily drive this pussy cat of a super car around town unlike the previous generations before it. It didn't feel anything like its weight at slow speeds but i wondered about how and if that would change at higher speeds.

I needn't have wondered. Once we hit the shuto-kosoku expressway, that incidentally goes around Tokyo in a loop, i was able to stretch its legs and boy did it have some legs that needed stretching. Flicking the lever over to the right once more to engage "M" mode on the transmission and the car changed character dramatically. To signal its intent i flicked the left paddle 3 times to engage 3rd gear and from around 85 kph, gingerly pushed the accelerator. That was greeted with a whooshing, gushing linear power surge that had me backing off after hitting 160 in only a few seconds. The delivery of the power took me completely by surprise and as i went up through 4th and 5th and into 6th, i was beginning to think i needed to show the car a bit more respect. I changed gears instinctively but the GTR drew me into reaching for the redline in each change. Utterly addictive and Koichi didnt mind - he was busy typing emails into his phone - but i sensed the GTR did.

At cruising speeds, its easy to find yourself dawdling. It's a very easy car to drive at every day speeds. So simple. Change the suspension and gearing to "R", flick the gear lever over to engage "M" and push the accelerator to the floor and it is a different animal altogether. Like comparing a doting bumbling kitten to the claws of a tiger really...

Crossing the Rainbow bridge and out across Tokyo bay i encountered roadworks and here i decided to take a breather, flick back into "A" mode and change a few settings. I flick and hold the Suspension switch upward watching the "R" symbol light up red. Almost immediately, the suspension became firmer and more taut. The road undulations , bumps and bridge joins became more pronounced through the chassis and through the seat of my pants. Funnily enough, Koichi mentioned to me that he couldnt notice the difference between R, comfort and standard. I most definitely could. If you have ever raced a go kart, you will know exactly what i mean about feeling through the seat of your pants. F1 racers commonly refer to this phenomenon and it wasn't lost on me in the GTR.

Moving one switch over, I also change the Transmission switch to "R" to see what effect it has. Gear changes became sharper and much more pronounced and purposeful. The GTR takes barely milliseconds to shift up and down with no change in the rushing speed accumulating on the readout. It really chews up the road at a great rate but it doesn't make you feel like you have to hang on for dear life. It is confidence inspiring speed. Utterly and intrinsically encompassing.

After clearing the roadworks, i shift down 2 gears from 5th and with more confidence this time, judiciously squeeze the pedal. The same relentless, towering surge of power greets me but this time i was more ready for it. Shifting up into 5th and then into 6th from around 80kph takes only a few seconds. I wasn't even 100% aware i was shifting at its 7000 rpm redline, thanks to the sensory overload going on infront of me, inside me and around me but i got to 180kph very very quickly where the limiter spoiled the fun. I shouldn't even be complaining.

The delivery of the engines' power and the way the car shoots forward in a steady stream of unrelenting speed was what really got my attention and left me stunned. The R35 doesnt just cover ground rapidly. It demolishes it. The R35 doesn't mess around in getting up and shooting you off into the distance at warp speed. The whooshing of the wind and the slight whine of the turbos at 1.2 bar of boost as you're approaching the wrong side of the "law" is simply addictive. Each firm mash of the throttle is rewarded with mind numbing rapidness.

"A tailgater". I flick the peddle down into 2rd, mash the accelerator and that car became a small dot in the rear view mirror very quickly. The GTR got up and went without even so much as a wiggle from the tail. There was no noticeable movement or squirming under heavy acceleration from the rear suspension in getting the power to the ground. It just stood up and effortlessly waved bye to the guy behind me. Getting in and out of traffic has never been easier.

From the hot seat at that speed, it's all very peaceful inside the cabin apart from the fact that the scenery outside the windscreen is changing slightly slower than my eyes can keep up with. The rate, smoothness and effortlessness at which it picks up speed is amazing. Simply amazing.

The twin turbo V6 is also very tractable. A couple of times i found myself behind some lorries and with the car in 5th gear, uphill and doing around 80kph, i bury the accelerator and find the car on boost and immediately increasing in speed, without so much as a fuss or complaint - smooth, linear and consistent. I tried it again in 6th gear and the same result. It develops power and delivers it in a very precise and well mannered way. There's none of this "coming on boost like a sledge hammer and throwing you side ways at speed" stuff...its very usable and again, inspires driver confidence.

Edited February 5, 2008 by m3gtr

[m3gtr]

Part 3 tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

[wagon boy]

that is a great review! thank you from someone who will probably never drive one!

[m3gtr]

that is a great review! thank you from someone who will probably never drive one!

Ahaha, youre welcome and never say never.

Ive always told myself, if you want something badly enough...

Edited February 5, 2008 by m3gtr

[Nick_S]

Great read ... you're a lucky man. Bring on part 3 ...

[m3gtr]

Great read ... you're a lucky man. Bring on part 3 ...

Not as lucky as you according to your details. You'll have that on tap 7 days a week, you lucky sod.

Glad to be a temporary "fix" for you.

Edited February 5, 2008 by m3gtr

[Blitz]

This almost sounds like a story you'd read in the Penthouse Forum

After all the wining and dining, did Koichi put out for you at the end of the night or were you left wanting?

[Lithium]

Nice read - very cool Probably the best driving impression I've read so far, including car mags.