Nissan GT-R Nismo | Spotted
Nissan hit a home run with the base GT-R - all that was left to do was perfect it
It’s easy to forget just how important the R35 Nissan GT-R was. Here was a car brimming with computers, tyres plump with nitrogen and, with gentleman’s agreement on power outputs between Japanese carmakers now dropped, a thermonuclear twin-turbo V6 under the bonnet capable of truly ballistic power with some light fettling. Supercar-like performance ensued, in even standard form, with an original asking price of £56,000 in 2009 making it the bargain of the century.
Of course, what made the R35 so mesmerising is that it could leave all but the most focused of track cars in its dust, despite lugging around 1,750kg of computing power. A string of limited-edition models brought more performance, notably the ultra-rare Track Edition that stripped out the rear bench, while virtually every tuner under the sun played a part in extracting silly horsepower numbers. But we all knew that when Nismo got its hands on the R35 platform would we see what the GT-R was truly capable of.
That day arrived in 2013 and, honestly, it looked a tad underwhelming in light of the mad creations coming out of the aftermarket. New Recaro seats, deletion of the stereo’s active noise control system and various carbon fibre bits could only shave off 17kg. And while Nismo stuffed in the turbochargers from its GT500 racer, power crept up from 550hp to 600hp. A decent jump, but not nearly as colossal as the £120,000 price tag – nearly double that of the base car. As is the case with the standard model, however, the GT-R Nismo is all about marginal gains. Factor in bespoke Bilstein dampers and an aero kit that generates up to 100kg downforce, and the ten-second lap time improvement around the Norschliefe starts to make sense.
Then, in 2019, it released the car you see here. This isn’t just the old car with new bumpers and a refreshed interior, with Nismo following the same principles as the original by running over every component with a fine tooth comb in the hunt for performance. New turbos were fitted, this time from the GT3 racer, while the old steel brakes were ditched for carbon ceramics. Crucially, though, it was a fair bit lighter than the old car, with a carbon roof, revised carbon bumpers and wings plus new lightweight components shed 30kg. This had a drastic effect on the suspension set-up, leading to a considerably better ride over its predecessor.
Nissan has since revealed yet another update to the GT-R Nismo, but just like the 400Z and various other Japanese new performance cars, it’s probably not coming to the UK. Darn. So that means the car we have here is the most extreme GT-R you can buy in Britain – and your only chance to pick up a facelifted Nismo at the time of writing.
It won’t come as a huge surprise that Nissan didn’t shift many in the UK, with HowManyLeft putting the number somewhere in the 40s. That obviously wasn’t helped by the giant premiums over the standard GT-R, which was hardly a slouch in the first place. The good news is that this car at £169,995 is cheaper than it was when new. Okay, so only by £10k or so, but that just goes to show that it looks to be a safe place to put your money. Not that you’ll want to part ways with it after leaving the dealer, mind.
SPECIFICATION | NISSAN GT-R NISMO (MY21)
Engine: 3,799cc V6, twin turbocharged
Transmission: six-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 600@6,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 481@3,600rpm-5,800rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2019
Recorded mileage: 11,000
Price new: £180,000
Yours for: £169,995
I struggle to remember my name most days, but can still vividly recall a long drive I had in one of these, many moons back. First time I (unwisely) pinned it, The whole car just went mad.
https://www.dsf.my/2019/10/nissan-gt-r-engine-is-b...
That said, if you keep them relatively standard, accept that it will do 15 to 25 to the gallon, pay the top rate VED and insurance, are they actually that needy ? Tyres, brakes and servicing wont be cheap but if nothing breaks, and they seem pretty solid. Then if you buy one at say 35/40k, I cant imagine the depreciation will be savage by any means.
Lease a new Diesel A4 it will cost you the best part of 20k for 3 years (4k deposit and £400 a month) and I dont think a 40k GTR will drop to 20k in that three years, I know we dont compare new with used and most A4 diesel people cross shop GTRs but just illustrating at the end of the day, nether is cheap but the GTR may actually work out cheaper. Its called Man Maths....
I blow hot and cold on GTRs, well getting one as it seems almost too much car for me, too big, too powerful and too fast, but then say "f
k it", get one, you only live once.Sure the Nismo one is amazing but not seeing 80 grands worth extra over a standard one from my point of view but I guess you need to drive them and maybe had a stadard one to appreciate the improvements better. I expect if you can run to the Nismo and tie up that much, its probably not going to lose money.
(in fact only 1 in all that time)For me the Nismo is about the cache of having a Nismo, a bit like the GT3 RS etc, it isn't because the extra money makes it that much better it is because there are so few.
If I had the money I'd have one in a heartbeat, but then I'd say that about the GT£ RS as well
i came close to buying a normal GTR R35 in around 2017 for 30k! absolute bottom of the market high'ish miles, might have even been a write off/repaired. wish i'd done it now, i'll never get the chance to own 1 again probably.
Loved everything about that car. Would have one again in a heartbeat.
i came close to buying a normal GTR R35 in around 2017 for 30k! absolute bottom of the market high'ish miles, might have even been a write off/repaired. wish i'd done it now, i'll never get the chance to own 1 again probably.
Loved everything about that car. Would have one again in a heartbeat.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff