RE: Nissan GT-R MY14: Review

RE: Nissan GT-R MY14: Review

Author
Discussion

john banks

275 posts

189 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
That waiting for corner exit traction in the wet to avoid oversteer IS how it feels, in 2nd gear especially. I revert the mapping to standard and use a gear higher to keep it between the hedges in the wet. It is surprisingly lairy against reputation. Bear in mind there are only six gears, it won't hook up on tight corner exit in the wet until the front wheels are nearly straight, then if there is mud on the road, be careful.

Edited by john banks on Wednesday 29th October 23:22

Amirhussain

11,486 posts

162 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
NomduJour said:
RoverP6B said:
I've followed GT-Rs cross-country in vastly slower machinery without getting left for dead, watching them skipping and crashing around
Course you have.
laugh

Tell us more than.

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
toppstuff said:
Dont regard all GT-R as the same. Early ones are quite stiff and unyielding, while the latest MY14/15 versions are a lot more compliant. Also remember that tyre choice makes a massive difference. Finally, also be aware that Litchfield offer a very popular suspension package which reengineers the settings, replaces some components and generally tunes in a much more compliant, UK-appropriate level of ride quality. I would be willing to bet that a Litchfield suspended GT-R would make a very positive impression on you.
Possibly, but then, how much does the Litchfield package add to the overall cost?

NomduJour said:
Course you have.
I'm talking tight, twisty B-roads where there is simply no opportunity to unleash power, but where a well-sorted compliant chassis can make you a lot quicker. I'm sure that, on a half-decent A-road, the GT-R would leave me for dead on only half throttle.

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Wouldnt even need half throttle !


A guy I met sold his GTR as he felt the ride was too soft and preferred his Evo 10

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
liner33 said:
Wouldnt even need half throttle ! A guy I met sold his GTR as he felt the ride was too soft and preferred his Evo 10
Possibly not. My present car has exactly half the BHP of an early GTR - 242 in my 535i, vs 485 in 2007-2010 GT-Rs. The point I was making was, down some of the extremely gnarly chassis-engineers'-nightmare B-roads in my neck of the woods, a GT-R (or an Evo, for that matter) just bounces and crashes around trying to put the power down and it looks like they have a choice between back off or end up in the trees.

Batster

263 posts

240 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
I had a MY12 GTR and did nearly 45k miles in it in 2.5 years as a daily commuting car, where commute comprised bumpy B, twisty A and some dual carriageway. I used it in all weathers and the car was sensational, never failing to provide driving pleasure and engagement. The ride is hard even in comfort but it's perfectly bearable for me and my family.

For me there is no quicker point to point real world car. Had lots of other quick metal and allegedly more involving cars but the GTR does it better and with a performance envelope that is accessible and thrilling. The fact that it does the family car thing when needed and is mechanically bomb proof no matter how hard it is driven, plus you can track it , means that it unique in my eyes.

Yes they are expensive to run if you use regularly like I did but I thought it was a relative bargain at £70k, given all of the above.

If you spend time with one like I did you realise pretty soon that this is no play station drive - makes my blood boil when armchair critics say that - this is a machine that gets under your skin and has serious depth of character. Like an onion, you peel it back a layer at a time and it is well worth the effort - I was still learning new dimensions to it after two years.

I foolishly sold mine when I stopped commuting last year and miss it everyday. I feel very lucky to have owned one and will be back for more when the new one emerges.

End of sermon!

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
Possibly not. My present car has exactly half the BHP of an early GTR - 242 in my 535i, vs 485 in 2007-2010 GT-Rs. The point I was making was, down some of the extremely gnarly chassis-engineers'-nightmare B-roads in my neck of the woods, a GT-R (or an Evo, for that matter) just bounces and crashes around trying to put the power down and it looks like they have a choice between back off or end up in the trees.
Oh yes you are absolutely right, Evo's are known for not coping on bumpy surfaces very well .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AexEOHinTd4

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
liner33 said:
Oh yes you are absolutely right, Evo's are known for not coping on bumpy surfaces very well .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AexEOHinTd4
Looks like the road surface itself is OK, but notice how the driver is sawing at the wheel and constantly on-and-off-and-back-on the throttle. Not exactly smooth. Also very evidently a highly modified car. Surrey Police had Evo Xs for a while but from what I've heard they got fed up with them breaking suspension parts and mostly went back to quick Volvos, V70s with the T6 motor for the most part...

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
Looks like the road surface itself is OK, but notice how the driver is sawing at the wheel and constantly on-and-off-and-back-on the throttle. Not exactly smooth. Also very evidently a highly modified car. Surrey Police had Evo Xs for a while but from what I've heard they got fed up with them breaking suspension parts and mostly went back to quick Volvos, V70s with the T6 motor for the most part...
I think you need to actually try some a performance car before trying to form an opinion on one as you clearly havent got a clue what you are on about

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
liner33 said:
I think you need to actually try some a performance car before trying to form an opinion on one as you clearly havent got a clue what you are on about
I have... I do have a clue what I'm talking about...

andysgriff

913 posts

259 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
liner33 said:
Wouldnt even need half throttle ! A guy I met sold his GTR as he felt the ride was too soft and preferred his Evo 10
Possibly not. My present car has exactly half the BHP of an early GTR - 242 in my 535i, vs 485 in 2007-2010 GT-Rs. The point I was making was, down some of the extremely gnarly chassis-engineers'-nightmare B-roads in my neck of the woods, a GT-R (or an Evo, for that matter) just bounces and crashes around trying to put the power down and it looks like they have a choice between back off or end up in the trees.
I have the mis pleasure of the same type of horrid roads in parts of the Peak District... I struggle in the the Datsun because 1). its BIG, 2) its not a rally car & 3) i'm always worried about kerbing, hedging it... I cannot agree with the EVO statement however, my EVO 9 360 could obliterate almost any gnarly, rutted surface, in those conditions it was in its element. I don't think many cars would be able to stay with it on nasty B roads.

tjlees

1,382 posts

236 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
andysgriff said:
RoverP6B said:
liner33 said:
Wouldnt even need half throttle ! A guy I met sold his GTR as he felt the ride was too soft and preferred his Evo 10
Possibly not. My present car has exactly half the BHP of an early GTR - 242 in my 535i, vs 485 in 2007-2010 GT-Rs. The point I was making was, down some of the extremely gnarly chassis-engineers'-nightmare B-roads in my neck of the woods, a GT-R (or an Evo, for that matter) just bounces and crashes around trying to put the power down and it looks like they have a choice between back off or end up in the trees.
I have the mis pleasure of the same type of horrid roads in parts of the Peak District... I struggle in the the Datsun because 1). its BIG, 2) its not a rally car & 3) i'm always worried about kerbing, hedging it... I cannot agree with the EVO statement however, my EVO 9 360 could obliterate almost any gnarly, rutted surface, in those conditions it was in its element. I don't think many cars would be able to stay with it on nasty B roads.
+1 on Evo. My evo 6 and 7 were awesome and confidence inspiring on nasty B roads. You could feel them moving the power round to get the best grip. The only thing was not to brake too much or back off, otherwise it dis-engaged the box of tricks - definitely point and mash the throttle kinda of car.

Agree with the GTR size problem, but it was still atom quick in the dry on B roads in the Cotswolds when I drove it. It the B road degenerates to a single track then all cars are going to have a problem going fast regardless - and on that type of road you are likely to meet the odd horse, peloton of bikes or group of walkers.

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
andysgriff said:
I have the mis pleasure of the same type of horrid roads in parts of the Peak District... I struggle in the the Datsun because 1). its BIG, 2) its not a rally car & 3) i'm always worried about kerbing, hedging it... I cannot agree with the EVO statement however, my EVO 9 360 could obliterate almost any gnarly, rutted surface, in those conditions it was in its element. I don't think many cars would be able to stay with it on nasty B roads.
Knowing the kind of people who have Evos in this part of the world (mostly shaven-headed thugs who either are or hate the police), it wouldn't surprise me if it was down to their driving. Non police ones often look like they've been lowered, probably by cutting the springs rather than fitting proper shorter coilovers... this is one thing I don't like about the Japanese performance car scene, the owners seem to think that their noisy aftermarket wastegates automatically make them the next Colin McRae. That said, from an aviation point of view, McRae was an idiot too, that crash should never have happened (and he should have sought the permission of the father of the young boy he took with him, and should have had a valid helicopter license, and should have had a type-rating for that aircraft, but did/had none of those)... I digress...

Edited by RoverP6B on Sunday 2nd November 15:20

StottyEvo

6,860 posts

162 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
The point I was making was, down some of the extremely gnarly chassis-engineers'-nightmare B-roads in my neck of the woods, a GT-R (or an Evo, for that matter) just bounces and crashes around trying to put the power down and it looks like they have a choice between back off or end up in the trees.
GTRs are quite bouncy, the suspension is slow to react then a bit wallowy, feels half the way towards air suspension. The Evo comment is absolute nonsense, they absolutely eat up potholes, ruts and nasty cambers like nothing else.

E65Ross

34,944 posts

211 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
Knowing the kind of people who have Evos in this part of the world (mostly shaven-headed thugs who either are or hate the police), it wouldn't surprise me if it was down to their driving. Non police ones often look like they've been lowered, probably by cutting the springs rather than fitting proper shorter coilovers... this is one thing I don't like about the Japanese performance car scene, the owners seem to think that their noisy aftermarket wastegates automatically make them the next Colin McRae. That said, from an aviation point of view, McRae was an idiot too, that crash should never have happened (and he should have sought the permission of the father of the young boy he took with him, and should have had a valid helicopter license, and should have had a type-rating for that aircraft, but did/had none of those)... I digress...

Edited by RoverP6B on Sunday 2nd November 15:20
Christ you really chat some crap don't you.

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
Christ you really chat some crap don't you.
The bit about Evo owners or Colin McRae? The latter is the opinion of the AAIB. The former is just me telling it as I see it here in Surrey.

markcoznottz

7,155 posts

223 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
E65Ross said:
Christ you really chat some crap don't you.
The bit about Evo owners or Colin McRae? The latter is the opinion of the AAIB. The former is just me telling it as I see it here in Surrey.
I'm sure most evo drivers don't give a fig about your opinion. Unqualified opinions tend to rile people because the suspicion is that you are talking rubbish. People don't cut coil springs nowadays by the way.

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Sunday 2nd November 2014
quotequote all
markcoznottz said:
RoverP6B said:
E65Ross said:
Christ you really chat some crap don't you.
The bit about Evo owners or Colin McRae? The latter is the opinion of the AAIB. The former is just me telling it as I see it here in Surrey.
I'm sure most evo drivers don't give a fig about your opinion. Unqualified opinions tend to rile people because the suspicion is that you are talking rubbish. People don't cut coil springs nowadays by the way.
On Retro Rides it is still a well used method !


liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
I totally agree the GTR's size makes it less than easy to hustle down B road but it was claimed that a 15 year old BMW Saloon can easily keep up with one , which is total rubbish


liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
quotequote all
RoverP6B said:
liner33 said:
I think you need to actually try some a performance car before trying to form an opinion on one as you clearly havent got a clue what you are on about
I have... I do have a clue what I'm talking about...
Looking at your car history it appears to lack anything interesting at all !