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some journalists wanna be the guy who "goes against the grain", the GTR has such great reviews, so its the perfect target.

criticising the GTR for being too easy drive fast is like criticising a women for cooking and cleaning too much.

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Boy - a bunch of experts here...

Can I see a show of hands of people who have actually driven one?

Driven a C63? Driven a Cayman? Driven a GT2? Driven a Brumby?

I agree completely with what he says in the article.

Every complaint and issue he has with the car is valid - as is every praise of the car warranted

.

It is fast, but it is heavy. It is very clever, but surely a dipping mirror, reverse camera and parking sensors could have been included on the car. It is wonderful on a racetrack and absolutely pointless on speed-restrained roads. It does sound shit, it does clunk and make funny noises, it does remind you that at the end of the day - it's still a Datsun...

But I love it. Every time I drive it I just want to keep going. It's so stupidly and accessibly fast, but that's part of the fun.

Does the car have a soul?

There's no emotional connection like you have with a Ferrari, there's no feeling that your are driving decades of history and development like in a Porsche, there are no stupid quirks that you would have with a Brumby ute - but there is undeniably personality. It's more Astroboy than Billy Elliot - and that doesn't make it wrong, just different.

Anyway - read the article again. His decision is based on a fair and reasoned analysis - my decision is based on my own interests and passions.

Who's verdict is correct?

J

Well said James :blink:

I read the article online and added the link to the first post in this thread. I think it's pretty important to point out that an article that is this scathing of something with such a large following will get a lot of attention.

There's something strange when a motoring journalist completely misses the point of a car in such a massive way that you cannot explain away using the "it's subjective" reasoning.

It's a great way to drum up web traffic...

I have the R35 as an everyday car...and yep if I was to write a review after taking it for a tottle down to the shops, grab the kids from school and then back to my desk job...I would say it is uninvolving. Auto mode has you shifting to 6th gear before 60km/h. You start depressing your foot in automode and guess what....nothing. The gearbox response in auto mode is for fuel economy and you get much better response from a turbo falcon...or my wife's X5 turbo diesel. Even if you give it a squirt on the streets it is still a little dull, because if has no body roll at street speeds, it has no hint of letting go, it has no risk factor, it is like boy in the bubble.

The 335 BM I had was great for the streets, at street speeds I could get it sideways, drift round a round about, all the fun things. I could plant the accelerator to the floor and use that speed for fun. In the GTR I get to stab quickly at the accelerator and boom 120km/h is on the dial. There is awe at the speed....however it is not involving on the street, you cannot come anywhere near any of it's limits. It even seems to float at low speeds, the steering is ordinary and the runing circle is quite big.....however you can certainly use it as an everyday car....I do.

On the track however is where you get to use the cars special abilities. I liken it to Clarke Kent and Superman. Clarke is nothing special, he is very ordinary, however put him in the situation and you have the man of steel.....same with the R35.

In short...R35 is capable on the road...but the fun in driving it everyday is in its potential and in the responses you get from other people....where this car is out of this world is on the track.

Don't take this review to heart....look at the reviewer and where it was reviewed, then appreciate where it should have been reviewed and by a decent journo.

Cheers,

HEAHEAH the article is hilarious. The guy is such a prune. He's one of those jounalists that didnt get his toy from his mummy this week! hehaHEHA. He should be a journalist for antique motoring hehahe. But in all fairness he is entitled to his own opinion. But like my mum told me "if you have got nothing good to say then its best to keep your mouth shut"!!! He doesnt seem to appreciate technology today in cars. If so drive around an antique car and see how it goes . you know he is saying japanese cars has no soul or smn like that but he is driving a subaru?!! go figure mate its just to vent his complaint about the beauty of evolution which he does not appreciate. I guess there always has to be a down side to every up side. And he is definitely a downer!

Pop quiz:

Who was the Australian journalist that interviewed the Porsche 911 product chief, August Achtleiner, and subsequently published a scathing article which accused a certain other manufacturer of fabricating lap times and created one of the greatest shit storms in all of automotive history?

Boy - a bunch of experts here...

Can I see a show of hands of people who have actually driven one?

Driven a C63? Driven a Cayman? Driven a GT2? Driven a Brumby?

I agree completely with what he says in the article.

Every complaint and issue he has with the car is valid - as is every praise of the car warranted

.

It is fast, but it is heavy. It is very clever, but surely a dipping mirror, reverse camera and parking sensors could have been included on the car. It is wonderful on a racetrack and absolutely pointless on speed-restrained roads. It does sound shit, it does clunk and make funny noises, it does remind you that at the end of the day - it's still a Datsun...

But I love it. Every time I drive it I just want to keep going. It's so stupidly and accessibly fast, but that's part of the fun.

Does the car have a soul?

There's no emotional connection like you have with a Ferrari, there's no feeling that your are driving decades of history and development like in a Porsche, there are no stupid quirks that you would have with a Brumby ute - but there is undeniably personality. It's more Astroboy than Billy Elliot - and that doesn't make it wrong, just different.

Anyway - read the article again. His decision is based on a fair and reasoned analysis - my decision is based on my own interests and passions.

Who's verdict is correct?

J

Fair enough that he thinks that the GTR has no soul, personality, heart, brains, pussy, blond hair etc etc, and that it's not the car for him. But once he starts dribbling BS and using double standards then that's when his credibility goes out of the window. For example, he whinges that the GTR doesn't have sat nav and parking sensors. "Cars that are $100K+ should have sat nav and parking sensors". Do i see Ferrari Enzo, GT2, Zonda F have those? Enzo doesn't even have power windows for christ sake! and that car is a lot lot lot more than $100K. I'm sure he wouldn't be bitching about the Enzo or Zonda F not having power windows, sat nav or parking sensors.

He goes on to complain that the GTR's turbo spools up too slow. Yet, the turbo on the 911 turbo and GT2 spools up even slower.

He nitpicks that the GTR has a diff temp display, but it's in fact the transmission temp display that is shown and is vital when tracking the car.

He discredits Quin from winning the Targa Tasmania inferring that Quin was simply due for a win since he's been driving in the event for 11 years and that the GTR has nothing to do with it. So if Quin was driving a Brumby Ute, he would've won also? - simply because he was due for a win?

There's more contradictions and double standards in his reviews that other members have pointed out. This guy is a complete douchebag and it is clear that he is one of the GTR haters. He is pissed off that Nissan has made a car that has annihilated his beloved Porsche 911 turbo (for under half the price), and it's showing in his review of the GTR. This Moron should retire from motor journalism in shame.

Edited by skyline_man
Just finished reading a review of the R35 in Fridays Herald Sun. Is this the most scathing review on the car ever.

He really goes to town on the car, his biggest critism is the weight, too much technology and that the car has no soul.

He gives it credit for being fast, but simply not very involving to drive.

Owners views????

http://carsguide.news.com.au/site/news-and...t_r_test_drive/

Herald Sun...

You have to remember Gover struggles to get a decent car writing gig these days.....

Copying Jeremy Clarksons 'doesnt rouse my wedding vegetables' tack may get him a little more noticed amongst editors as the 'Anti GTR guy' :)

Thats all it comes down to

the defenders of the faith have missed the whole point of the review - he's not doing a racinng /rallying suitability assessment - he's doing a daily driver assessment- so ask yourself this question: does anyone in their right mind really think a R35 GTR would be any good as a daily drive in Australian suburbia with our awful roads etc? ..........apart from the few R35 s sold for racing and rallying the R35 gtr will be bought just be a status symbol in most cases ..........on utilitarian criteria he was spot on ............and was right that the 370Z would be a far better option for most drivers............but hey, there are persons who may desperately need to (over) compensate for ego/dick size handicaps and we would all agree they should definitely buy the R35 GTR - lol - :)

I've never driven an R35 GTR, so I cant comment.

But I did own an R33 GTR with 450rwkw and an S15 with 250rwkw, both at the same time. The GTR previously had HKS 2530's and made 370 rwkw, I suppose thats what most on here consider a perfect set up for the streets.

I continually found myself driving the S15 more than the GTR, to the point where I put 220,000kms on the S15 in 7 years of ownership.

The S15 was more fun, the GTR was capable of destroying anything on the street, much like the 35, but I was always drawn more to the S15.

The fastest most powerful car is not always the best to drive. The S15 was a scalpel, the GTR a sledgehammer.

People like different rides, hence why there are so many different cars on the road. I think Glover is entitled to an opinion. Until I drive one, I cant agree or disagree.

*puts on flame suit*

What I "think" the journo is saying there is a "fun" car and a "great" car.

The GTR clearly falls into the "great" car category, as does everything staggeringly well (maybe perfect???) and for a decent price.

A "fun" car is more of a personal feeling, it does not have to be necessarily something that is technically superior by any means, be it a paddock bomb to a million dollar car (including some of the bad ones out there) - it's all in the feeling of what a person defines as "fun".

I've never driven an R35 GTR, so I cant comment.

But I did own an R33 GTR with 450rwkw and an S15 with 250rwkw, both at the same time. The GTR previously had HKS 2530's and made 370 rwkw, I suppose thats what most on here consider a perfect set up for the streets.

I continually found myself driving the S15 more than the GTR, to the point where I put 220,000kms on the S15 in 7 years of ownership.

The S15 was more fun, the GTR was capable of destroying anything on the street, much like the 35, but I was always drawn more to the S15.

The fastest most powerful car is not always the best to drive. The S15 was a scalpel, the GTR a sledgehammer.

People like different rides, hence why there are so many different cars on the road. I think Glover is entitled to an opinion. Until I drive one, I cant agree or disagree.

Well said. As most of you have also made true and positive comments. I guess you are all right in some way. This journo has also expressed everything that we here have said. Never in the history of motoring has any car caused such a stir. Yes it is fast, only a fool would deny that. Yes it is heavy, no denying from me. It's looks ?, well, that to is subjective. Does anyone remember the release of the Honda NSX many years ago and the same outcry it caused among the Porsche and Ferrari fraternity ? Here was a car that had no power and idled like an electric motor. It was whisper quiet and fantastic on fuel, yet it lacked that fire breathing noisy, smelly, tingling alive feeling you would get from an Italian car. Yet it was just as fast or faster.

Yes, you are all right. If you like it, buy it. If you can't afford it, admire it. If you don't like it, look elsewhere. My real concern is it's afford ability to those who may quite conceivably wrap it around a gum tree at a speed that would rival the space shuttle explosion for shock value. Now move that vision along another couple of years when these cars are now $70-$80,000 and see who may be driving them. For all the power lovers and fast car drivers out there look back to the Phase 1V falcon GTHO's of 74'. The government canned the whole project. I see a dim future for turbo cars when this occurs. We might get away with one or two fatalities but at three or four I can only see misery for us all.

Nothing grips the road like a GTR R35, true. But nothing will hit a gum tree harder when some idiot eventually finds it's limits

Edited by skylinecouple

Every negative I have read about the GT-R has been fraught with contradiction. The general theme seems to be..it's abit too dull..followed by its too good, too fast! Top Gear Aust magazine this month tested it aginst the Cayman S and BMW M3..and they too bagged the GT-R..once again they say it's dull..but it's too fast!..weird.

Both reviews you can tell from the onset that the journo's are looking to 'shock' readers. Whilst Paul Gover probably makes some valid points others would say they he is nit picking, and he really lays it on thick in order to get a reaction..or in his case, an over reaction. So he prefers to be scared witless by the more 'hairy' dynamics of a 911 Turbo or Merc C63 AMG..and accuses the GT-R of lacking soul..but then he says it's too much of a good thing...what a load of bollocks!

I say judge the car for what it is, Pagani Zonda R performance, Porsche 911 Turbo levels of engineering, Ferrari F430 levels of look at me factor and all for up to $20K less than an M3 or a Boxster with a few options....oh it it won't kill you becuase it's probably the most forgiving supercar in history! Basically they are bagging it becuase it is too good! bzzzt FAIL!

As for Paul Gover, well let me put this way. On his motoring segment on Melbourne radio 3AW about 2 years back, a caller asks for his advice. He has $90K to spend..but doesn't want another BMW 5 series or Merc E-Class, he asks what about the Alfa Brera?. Gover's reply, "it's a beautiful car but you'll take a bath on re-sale..so my advice is that you buy a top of the range Saab 9-3 or 9-5"

I nearly fell off my chair! Based on resale value he advises this guy drops $90K on a Saab!! Nothing against the Saab, lovely cars..but re-sale is in all probability WORSE than an Alfa.....this is from motoring expert Paul Gover...

the defenders of the faith have missed the whole point of the review - he's not doing a racinng /rallying suitability assessment - he's doing a daily driver assessment- so ask yourself this question: does anyone in their right mind really think a R35 GTR would be any good as a daily drive in Australian suburbia with our awful roads etc? ..........apart from the few R35 s sold for racing and rallying the R35 gtr will be bought just be a status symbol in most cases ..........on utilitarian criteria he was spot on ............and was right that the 370Z would be a far better option for most drivers............but hey, there are persons who may desperately need to (over) compensate for ego/dick size handicaps and we would all agree they should definitely buy the R35 GTR - lol - :)

Well ask yourself what the Nissan R35 GT-R is, it's a supercar, and of the R35's natural supercar competitors is it the best daily driver? Lets see the competition...

- Porsche 911 GT2, Turbo, GT3

- Ferrari F430, F430 Scuderia

- Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, Superleggera, Murcielago LP640-4

- Lotus Exige

- Elfin MS8 Streamliner/Clubman

- Corvette Z06/ZR1 (available as grey import)

- Ford GT40 (available as grey import)

- Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series

Amongst it's supercar competitors the GT-R comes first as a daily driver, daylight comes second, moonlight comes third and then we can begin to talk. For it's intended purpose it's a bloody revelation! and I'd imagine out of the list above the only car you'd really want to take for a long drive, and even take your kids and even your Golf clubs in the boot. You won't be deafened or have to put up with a stripped out carbon fibre interior with no radio. If anything it's much more understated than its competitors and wears a Nissan badge..if you needed to stroke your ego (as you suggest) you would buy a car with a Nissan badge in the first place!

I agree the 370Z will be a better daily driver (although with two seats and much smaller boot, actually less practical than a GT-R!)..having seen the 370Z in the metal, outdoors (at Nissan HQ a few weeks back) it's a stunner..and from all the road and track video reviews I've seen, this car could prove to be a bigger thorn in the side to Porsche than th GT-R. Boxster and Cayman buyers will be much more price senstive and in tough economic times and a car that offers 90% or so in terms of looks, performance, spec and dynamics may prove to good to pass up esp when you are looking at half the price and less. At the moment I think Nissan have what is probably the two most profilic sports/supercars on sale in our market.

the defenders of the faith have missed the whole point of the review - he's not doing a racinng /rallying suitability assessment - he's doing a daily driver assessment- so ask yourself this question: does anyone in their right mind really think a R35 GTR would be any good as a daily drive in Australian suburbia with our awful roads etc? ..........apart from the few R35 s sold for racing and rallying the R35 gtr will be bought just be a status symbol in most cases ..........on utilitarian criteria he was spot on ............and was right that the 370Z would be a far better option for most drivers............but hey, there are persons who may desperately need to (over) compensate for ego/dick size handicaps and we would all agree they should definitely buy the R35 GTR - lol - :)

I think you might be wrong about why "most people" buy an R35. I know a couple of people who have them, and they are primarily interested in track results first and foremost. Real posers just don't a Nissan, trust me. There are far more credible six figure badges which are much more socially palatable.

Writing a review like that, which puts the fair majority of the analysis on how it drives on the road is stupid. It's like judging your supermodel wife on how she cleans the dishes. Dumb, and besides the point entirely.

So if that was his intention, it was misplaced and just inappropriate. Especially considering this car has just reset the benchmark for some of the worlds most iconic sports cars. And just to echo something others have raised, you barely see Lambo's and GT3's etc written off because they just arent as engaging as a Subaru Brumby when gong to fetch the milk. Good son of rajab. This guy has a (not so) hidden agenda against GTR's - simple as that. Do some research into past GTR ramblings. :D

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