Monday 23rd April 2018

The Nissan GT-R in 2008: Time For Tea?

Yes, we really have had R35s in the UK for a decade - time to remember what a milestone it was

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Alright, so "R35s in the UK for a decade" requires some qualification, because it wasn't actually until 2009 that you could officially buy a GT-R over here from your Nissan dealer. However, for the truly committed, importers like Litchfield could bring one over before then, and so we really have had 10 years of them. Crikey.

It's a Litchfield import that features in this classic Autocar video, alongside an E92 BMW M3 and a first generation 997 911 GT3. It's presented by that man Chris Harris off the telly, who you might not recognise with all that hair. And a fleece.

It's a jolly good watch, too, for it's all too easy to forget what a seismic impact the GT-R had on the UK fast car scene. Here was a car that cost less than £60k, yet was faster around a circuit than the most track focused 911. It remains like nothing else in 2018, and that's with 10 years of getting used to its abilities. Back then, the way it pulled an M3's pants down for not much more money really was a shock.

We won't spoil the conclusion of the feature here - it's split across two videos - although it's fair to say the big Nissan gave a pretty good account of itself even once the stopwatch had been put back. And while the GT-R's impact may have dwindled over the decade since 2008, its abilities remain extraordinary. How much longer does this generation have to run? That's something only Nissan knows at present, and news that enthusiasts await with baited breath; whenever that car emerges and whatever it may be, the next GT-R has one heck of a legacy to live up to.

[jakesmith]

Would love to experience driving one. So tune-able too. Usually gets lots of cliched comments about playstation / dull / not noisy enough but I bet it's a fking riot to hoon

[jakesmith]

What are the typical running costs on this car? I have a Maserati Granturismo that has cost me £5k in 18 months not even including a service. Can't be worse than that surely!?

[jakesmith]

J4CKO said:

Do GTR owners see many problems if they look after them not heard of any ?

Be interesting to see what Nissan offer next, the R35 has been caught up a little (TTRS ? a bit, if not quite) if not quite, still seems other worldly, the R34 still an icon but would struggle against a Golf R.

R 36 needs to be something pretty amazing to pull the same game change stunt.

Aren't we at peak performance car now? When there is not that much between a top of the rage golf with a remap, and a lambo / ferarri, surely it's more about physics and tyre grip and friction and stuff rather than engineering?