National Geographic was given unprecedented access to Nissan development during the creation of the GT-R. Here is the resulting 45 minute video, in three parts courtesy of YouTube:
Seems that some GT-Rs are breaking their transmission by shearing the teeth off of first gear. Allegedly, "launch mode" is the culprit. Several people have had to pay for the new transmission (with the attached rear differential as well as the AWD center diff) without warranty coverage. Cost is unknown, but is certainly ungodly. The units cannot be repaired at the present time. The transmission is designed and manufactured by Borg-Warner.
Nissan has released further video of their heroic record-setting run in a standard production GT-R on the Nurburgring. Perhaps now Porsche will shut up and get back to work on improving their own product.
Ultimately, Nissan will come up against a wall given the size and weight of the GT-R. Just as Porsche is already at a near stop because of it's dead-wrong engine location.
That's the big question this week. Follow the link in the title of this post to the complete set of reports of Edmund's experiences with their GT-R - good and bad (shown). Wholesale replacement of parts to track down a bug that can't otherwise be found is not a good quality statement.
Are their problems representative of all GT-Rs, or are they just an isolated incident?
The following picture is their GT-R a few days ago with the fuel tank and entire rear suspension/transmission/diff removed for replacement. Be sure to click on the picture in their blog to get a high-res image.
Edmunds.com has untaken a test of the GT-R versus several other cars, both on the Streets of Willow Springs and on back roads outside of Los Angeles. This is a very valid test, because this is exactly what driving enthusiasts do with their cars - take them to the track on some weekends, and alternately drive them hard and fast on back roads on other weekends. Cars like this would rarely get a rest... that is their fate in life.
The comparees are the 2008 Audi R8, 2008 Lotus Elise SC, 2008 Porsche 911, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR and 2008 Subaru WRX STI. Dodge and Chevrolet declined to participate so that their cars wouldn't have to go up against the GT-R. A Racelogic VBOX was used to gather the test results.
The overall test, as you might expect, was won by the 2009 Nissan GT-R ($75,925 US) with a track time of 1:25.68.
2nd place in both tests was taken by the Audi R8 ($134,545 US) with a track time of 1:26.92.
3rd place will surprise you : the 2008 Evo MR ($38,940) won third in both tests, with a track lap of 1:29.02. And note that's the MR edition, with the TC-SST transmission, Bilsteins, and Eibachs. Above the standard Brembos, Recaros, and torque-proportioning rear diff.
4th place will also surprise you: the 911 Carerra ($85,765 )with a track time of 1:29.25.
The Lotus SC was next @ 1:29.49, followed by the STI @ 1:30.05.
Don't go to a Posche Club of America event with the MR - those snobs will all hate you when you pass them in the middle of turns. Or if you do go, mark "not sure" on your application form where they ask you what you will be driving. Ye olde 911 is a car that's happy to rotate, but at the wrong place in the turn. Perhaps Porsche will put the engine in the right place someday, but then that's what the Boxster and Cayman are for. While the 2009 model year's direct injection and dual-clutch tranny will undoubtedly make up the .23 seconds difference, that fact that there isn't already an enormous gap between the 911 and the Evo is very telling.
The GT-R remains the ultimate track day vehicle, as long as you're willing to spend in the $70-80k range. And assuming you can even get one at list from the dealer - which for the first year will probably be impossible.
The STI continues to dissappoint. It badly needs an automated dual-clutch manual (which is two years off, according to Subaru) and a torque-proportioning differential (no word yet, but it's an expensive peice of work to develop).
Edmunds.com has untaken a test of the GT-R versus several other cars, both on the Streets of Willow Springs and on back roads outside of Los Angeles. This is a very valid test, because this is exactly what driving enthusiasts do with their cars - take them to the track on some weekends, and alternately drive them hard and fast on back roads on other weekends. Cars like this would rarely get a rest... that is their fate in life.
