Drove the GTR today.

[JAAY]

Well I took my car out today for a nice ride around the island. The car feels great with the 3.4 in it. I met up with my buddy who just got a GTR. He didn't care if I drove it. Off we went. In full race mode. Tranny, suspension and motor. The most amazing car I have ever driven. It is like playing a video game. It shifts like nothing else. 16" rotor all the way around is quite something also. Fastest 0-60 and the fastest 60-0. I tested it all. Launch control with traction control on is OK at best. We did not turn off the traction control because if you break something it voids your warranty. I got back in the 986 and I felt like I was driving a dodge caravan If you get the chance to drive a GTR do it.

[CRCGuy]

But would you really say it was more fun than your Box? I guess it's very subjective...

I've never driven one but have heard many others say--yeah, the car can do amazing things but it's just not as engaging as a Boxster. It's too clinical---and as you said--like a video game. The engine/exhaust doesn't have that soulful sound and it has so much power you would rarely get to use much of the engine range anyway. And little real connection between driver and car.

I guess I should drive one, if anything, just for the experience.

Go test drive a MY09 Boxster S with PDK and come back to us with a comparison, that might be interesting. It won't have quite the 0-60 acceleration (but 4.1 seconds ain't slow!) but would love to hear your thoughts on how fast the shifts are relative to GTR. I drove PDK a month ago and I think it's impossible for any tranny to shift faster than this one.

[spine911]

Originally Posted by JAAY

Launch control with traction control on is OK at best. We did not turn off the traction control because if you break something it voids your warranty. I got back in the 986 and I felt like I was driving a dodge caravan If you get the chance to drive a GTR do it.

JAAY,

to the experience of driving one of the world's premier Supercar.
I'd definitely would love the chance to test drive the "Godzilla".
I'd take your word with the "Dodge Caravan" feel....LOL

Some HEAVY, and SCARY excerpts from Autocar/Wikipedia

" With a manufacturer claimed lap time of 7:26.7 on the base model's Dunlop tires[35] and previously 7:29 min on standard Japanese market tires, the GT-R is currently one of the fastest production cars to lap the Nürburgring circuit,[36][37] although Porsche accused Nissan of falsifying those claims in September 2008.[38][39] Porsche claims to have conducted their own test of the GT-R using no modifications and stock tires and achieved a best time of 7:54. Nissan officially disputed Porsche's claim in October 2008.[40][41] The German magazine sport auto achieved a time of 7:50 on the Nürburgring- with a car supplied to them by Nissan,[42] while independent testing by Drivers Republic of a GT-R and GT2 in stock form resulted in times of 7:55 for the GT-R and 7:49 for the GT2 respectively.[43] Both tests were conducted in partially damp conditions and by automotive journalists rather than professional track drivers.

Autocar released a video comparison of the GT-R with the Porsche 911 GT3 and BMW M3. Driven by test driver Chris Harris the GT-R was the fastest of the three.[44][45][46] Evo tested the GT-R alongside the 911 GT3 at the Bedford Autodrome circuit, the GT-R ran a 1:21.7 lap time compared to GT3's 1:22.6 time.[47] Car and Driver compared the GT-R on Reno-Fernley Raceway with the Porsche 911 Turbo and BMW M3, the GT-R's lap time of 1:26.7 made it the fastest on the track.[48] Road & Track was able to achieve quick lap times with the car on Buttonwillow Raceway, clocking in at 1:56.9 just over 5 seconds faster than the Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 and Porsche 911 Turbo.[49][50] On Willow Springs International Motorsports Park, Edmunds was able to achieve lap times of 1:25.09 compared to the Corvette ZR1's time of 1:23.87.[51] In an earlier Edmunds 6-way test which included the Audi R8 on both the Streets of Willow and an improvised mountain road, the GT-R was quickest.[52] On the Las Vegas Motor Speedway infield road course, Motor Trend were able to achieve lap times with the GT-R that were almost as fast as the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and Porsche 911 GT2 and 3 seconds slower than a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.[53] The GT-R currently holds a lap time of 1:19.7 around the Top Gear Test Track, equaling that of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia.[54] On Top Gear Australia's test track the GT-R posted a lap time of 1:07.06, putting it in second place 0.14 seconds behind the Porsche 997 GT2. Top Gear laps are conducted from a standing start. "

[blue2000s]

For me, fast lap times are about as meaningful as what Paris Hilton has to say.

If I raced the car and had a reputation or career that depended on it, yes. But at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with miles of twisty, rising and falling roads calling and no stopwatch running, I want a car that I can enjoy near the speed limit, not at 3x the limit. A chassis and steering that are responsive and communicative, but limits that aren't herculean lead to a more rewarding and entertaining drive to me. If the car doesn't "wake up" or show much personality until 100mph, and I don't live at the race track, I probably wouldn't enjoy it.

The video game comment really turns me off. If you've got the car doing all the work and you just sit there and turn the wheel, I'm not interested. By the way, I'm not saying the Boxster is the end-all for me either. I've got a 1st gen Rx-7 that has the Boxster easily beat at driving entertainment (as do the old 911s). What I am saying is that the enthusiast community, including the magazines, put way too much emphasis on a car's track prowess, where real world driving is what most of us do.

[JAAY]

I have driven every p car except for a cgt. My friend kinda runs a porsche dealership . As for the nissan having no soul. It is just a different thing. You are very connected to the car in ways a boxster could never be. Anything you want the car to do it does. As for not being able to use all the power..... LOL I used it all over the place. The car only make something like 420-470 to the ground but it is tuned amazingly and when you shift it on point. The twin clutch tranny is amazing when you upshift or downshift. The harder you drive it in race mode the better it reacts to any little bit of input you give it. I am taking it out tomorrow again I will try and get some video from in the car if anything I will get some good shots of it. We are going to a meet out in sag harbor if you are local. Arriving there around 915 am.

[CRCGuy]

But is it the electronics that allow the car to do whatever you want it to do? I think that's the part that would take the fun out of it for me. But as I said, it's all subjective and to each his own. I will test drive one soon to see.

I don't want a CAR to do everything I want it to do.

I need the DRIVER to make the car do what I want it to do.

No need to learn how to drive fast if the computer takes care of it for you I guess

Probably not for me. I need the back end to pass me by every now and then to remind me I'm the one controlling the car and need to polish my skills, not the other way around I guess...

[CRCGuy]

I wonder how Nissan decides whether you are "worthy" to test drive one?

I can just imagine the number of "kids" that must walk in there to give it a shot and get turned away.

Can't hurt to try I suppose.....tho I never see them out in the lot--they're always tucked in the showroom. And would be willing to bet they wouldn't let me drive one alone!!

[spine911]

Originally Posted by CRCGuy

But is it the electronics that allow the car to do whatever you want it to do?

I don't want a CAR to do everything I want it to do.

I need the DRIVER to make the car do what I want it to do.

No need to learn how to drive fast if the computer takes care of it for you I guess

Probably not for me. I need the back end to pass me by every now and then to remind me I'm the one controlling the car and need to polish my skills, not the other way around I guess...

Sounds just like the Porsche PDK to me, or the Nissan GTR DCT ; which are both types/variations of the twin-clutch gearbox, double clutch transmission.

Welcome to the New Era of Automobile Engineering.....

[blue2000s]

How do you define connected? What's the oldest Porsche you've driven?

Originally Posted by JAAY

The twin clutch tranny is amazing when you upshift or downshift. The harder you drive it in race mode the better it reacts to any little bit of input you give it.

That's another turn off, you couldn't get a clutch if you want it. What fun is letting the car shift for you? I've driven the F1 transmission in the Maser GT, maybe good for Michael Schumacker, but LAME to me.

Nah, cars are getting heavier, less involving and doing everything for you. The Elise and Miata are the only real sports cars left for sale in the US.

[JAAY]

Whether or not the computers are driving or not P cars only handle as good as they do because of r&d or technology. As for the oldest p car I have driven is irrelevant. New technology is great and the gtr is a amazing car.