Top Gear: Nissan GT-R vs. Ferrari 430 Scuderia

[perrys]

http://www.topgear.com/content/magflash/0108/


"The GT-R hasn't just moved the goalposts, it's obliterated them."

"For all-round ability, I have no doubt the Nissan is the best car I have ever driven."

"The GTR turns in beautifully, whether neutral or under brakes, and grips forever - slippery surfaces seem to bring out the best in it. Time after time I left Turner (911 Turbo) behind as my four-wheel-drive system and traction control worked better out of wet corners - it wasn't just the fact that I could get on the power earlier. It was about confidence. The Nissan really is something special, and you get the impression that while a master driver could wring every last ounce of performance out of the 911, your mother could do the same in the GT-R..........................Does the Nissan's ability reduce the driving pleasure? Not at all. You can turn all the systems off if you so choose, and it's still supremely well balanced, no doubt a delight for a racing driver on a track."

[FordFella]

It's awesome that Nissan have been able to make such a very, very good car. If I was older, and even if I didn't have the money I would sell the house, move into a box of flats and buy one. Now, I wonder how good a Nismo one would be.....

[Ives]

Originally Posted by FordFella

It's awesome that Nissan have been able to make such a very, very good car. If I was older, and even if I didn't have the money I would sell the house, move into a box of flats and buy one. Now, I wonder how good a Nismo one would be.....

Nismo GT-R Z-Tune sounds great. But imagine if MiNE's get their hands on the new GT-R.

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by Ives

Nismo GT-R Z-Tune sounds great. But imagine if MiNE's get their hands on the new GT-R.

That would be nice

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by Ives

Nismo GT-R Z-Tune sounds great. But imagine if MiNE's get their hands on the new GT-R.

Or Top Secret!! I'm eagerly waiting for Smokey to post some vids of himself in the new GTR on youtube. (rumour has it he got arrested?)

[wados]

well its about time they did it again, just like in the late 80's when the gtr 32 first came out, iy was he best back then.

Now i just have to sell the house sell the car, and convince the wife its all for a good cause

[Ghiadude]

wont have to imagine for too much longer - Companies like HKS and Greddy used to get pre production cars to start making engine parts for them earlier. I cant wait to see just how much quicker it will be than the old one.

[Kenaz]

I think I read that it does the 1/4 mile in 11.7

[Lukeyson]

nice !!!!

on the next top gear episode, doesnt he also drive the new Vauxhal VE VXR8 ???

[ED Classic]

So the verdict? If your married take the Nissan if not the Ferrari will still get you plenty more

[Bent8]

Meh, the GT-R may be really fast and handle really well but it doesn't look that great IMO...especially when compared to the F430.

The Scuderia's 4.3L NA V8 now makes 510hp@8500rpm, that's just incredible... bloody awesome work by Ferrari once again.

Compare that to the 3.8L TT in the GT-R which only makes 473hp.

I wonder if Jeremy's gonna sell his Gallardo Spyder now and get one of these F430 Scuderia's...if you ask me, he should have kept his Ford GT...much better car than the V10 Gallardo.

[austyphoon]

I have found a thread with the review against the porsche.

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/upload/87...r-article.html

bit small but you can read the article.

[Lukeyson]

Originally Posted by Bent8

he should have kept his Ford GT...much better car than the V10 Gallardo.

haha would have been, when it worked properly, and when Ford werent calling him to say that his car he was driving at the time was stolen and was about to be shut down :

[Bent8]

Originally Posted by XR8fella

haha would have been, when it worked properly, and when Ford werent calling him to say that his car he was driving at the time was stolen and was about to be shut down :

yeh I think he just got a lemon GT...he should have just sold it and got another one or something...what's so great about his Gallardo? (pronounced Gayardo )

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Bent8

I wonder if Jeremy's gonna sell his Gallardo Spyder now and get one of these F430 Scuderia's...if you ask me, he should have kept his Ford GT...much better car than the V10 Gallardo.

Depends on how you define better. His Ford GT was very unreliable. In fact, on Top Gear he mentioned that he had never made a full round trip in it. Go somewhere, but not be able to come back...

The Audi-developed Gallardo doesn't do that. And they're very similar performers (competitors whilst the GT was in production) anyway.

http://www.fastestlaps.com/index.php...=459a81146aa04

As you can see based on the track times, they're pretty close....

And if you replace the Gallardo Spyder that Jeremy has with its Coupe sister...

http://www.fastestlaps.com/index.php...=4585764d0f9c7

Its even closer, with majority of track victories going Gallardo's way. Then of course there's the Gallardo SE (which shares its engine with the Spyder... and has 513hp to the regular Gallardo Coupe's 493hp - Ford GT is 550.) If you look at thatone...

http://www.fastestlaps.com/index.php...=459a99408d99e

Consistantly beats the GT on lap times. Ford GT is a typically American car. It has the acceleration and top end to play with the likes of the Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT, Pagani Zonda F etc... but it does not have the braking or cornering ability to even compare. Case in point it's 7:42 on the Nurburgring against the 7:28 and 7:27.82 of the Carrera GT and Zonda F respectively.

Anyway on to topic, I really like the new GT-R. Its a top car. And I'm the guy who hates Jap crap. Except the GT-R is about as Japanese as a meat pie and sausage roll. American derived chassis, French engine, German gearbox, German AWD, tuned and set-up on a German race-track. Love the direction Renault is taking Nissan.

[Fev]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Anyway on to topic, I really like the new GT-R. Its a top car. And I'm the guy who hates Jap crap. Except the GT-R is about as Japanese as a meat pie and sausage roll. American derived chassis, French engine, German gearbox, German AWD, tuned and set-up on a German race-track. Love the direction Renault is taking Nissan.

it may have foreign parts(mostly) but only the japs.. nissan could create such a monster.. and for only $160,000!! if i had kids id sell them for one!.. give me a few years and ill own one.. after i turn 25.. lol.. imagine insurance on one if you were under 25 :P

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Fev

it may have foreign parts(mostly) but only the japs.. nissan could create such a monster.. and for only $160,000!! if i had kids id sell them for one!.. give me a few years and ill own one.. after i turn 25.. lol.. imagine insurance on one if you were under 25 :P

You do know the level of involvement of French, German and American engineers in this project was massive don't you? This car is as Japanese as a Big Mac. That's why it's so good!

[Fev]

Originally Posted by Bent8

Meh, the GT-R may be really fast and handle really well but it doesn't look that great IMO...especially when compared to the F430.

The Scuderia's 4.3L NA V8 now makes 510hp@8500rpm, that's just incredible... bloody awesome work by Ferrari once again.

Compare that to the 3.8L TT in the GT-R which only makes 473hp.

I wonder if Jeremy's gonna sell his Gallardo Spyder now and get one of these F430 Scuderia's...if you ask me, he should have kept his Ford GT...much better car than the V10 Gallardo.

dont worry about the looks mate, just wait until Veilside have a go at it!

forget MiNES, wait for tommy kaira and Top Secret!

[Ives]

Haha that was funny when he was ranting about what's wrong with his Ford GT.

[Creampuff]

I was personally connected to the Dolomite Sprint, it was even the same colour as mine...brought back memories.

[GT-E]

I am glad that Top Gear think it is an awsome car. You could buy 3+ GTR's for the cost of the F430, so it shows the true value of them.
It is a pity we have to wait another 15 months before we see them here.
Nissan are still very cagy about who will be able to sell them.
My dealer does not know if they will even be able to sell me a car. They had to send all the orders to Melbourne.
Feels weird ordering a car that has no details about specs, pricing or delivery.

[DivHunter]

Originally Posted by ZapXR6T

I am glad that Top Gear think it is an awsome car. You could buy 3+ GTR's for the cost of the F430, so it shows the true value of them.
It is a pity we have to wait another 15 months before we see them here.
Nissan are still very cagy about who will be able to sell them.
My dealer does not know if they will even be able to sell me a car. They had to send all the orders to Melbourne.
Feels weird ordering a car that has no details about specs, pricing or delivery.

This is actually good news, it means that GT-Rs will be importable from the time it is available in Japan and not here.

[Fev]

hehe.. i cannot wait to see one screaming up the F3

[irlewy86]

Cosworth tuned engine
Lotus tuned suspension


Pure gold

[Dave_au]

I agree that the GTR is still a Japanese car. It's built by Nissan in Japan, with a Japanese engine. Simple, it's Japanese. Also most global brands have some form of international design analysis, it's good to see that the new GTR is no exception.

Steffo, for your comments, the new Corolla was styled by Toyota's french skunkworks - does this make the new Corolla french? What about an Ipod? Their made in China but designed by Apple in California!

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate...119_902449.htm

Global Design Inspiration

Two years ago, Ghosn and Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's chief creative officer, directed the three design studios in Europe, North America, and Japan to dream up the next version of the vehicle, which will go on sale in June, 2008. "The GT-R is unique because it is not simply a copy of a European-designed supercar," says Nakamura, a spry man behind thin, rimless glasses. "It had to really reflect [Japanese] culture," he adds.

"Japan owned the name, the rich heritage," agrees Bruce Campbell, Nissan's vice-president for design in the U.S. "But we were much more rebellious, and the Europeans were not so reverent of the vehicle's long history." So while the new version retains some of the elements of the original GT-R (e.g., the rounded tail lamps), the final design was an international affair.

In an era of supercars from Aston Martin and Ferrari, with their swooping forms and organic lines, the new GT-R is unabashedly boxy, with thick, chunky rear haunches and flared front-wheel well arches. According to Nakamura, the inspiration for the model's square lines and high-tech vents came from Gundam, the Japanese anime series featuring giant robots.

American designers contributed a more rounded set of contours on the rear three-quarters of the vehicle, softening the stark, flat trunk lines drawn in Japan. The European designers, meanwhile, influenced the roofline of the car, adding a hard kick in the C-pillar unlike in any other current Nissan vehicle. "It was truly a global event," says Campbell of the design process. "We honored the [car's] Japanese DNA, and now it's a global offering."

[Fev]

hehe awesome they took styling cues from Gundam.. should have gotten them from Neon genesis evangelion.. that would have been cooler

[perrys]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...08_nissan_gt_r

Quote:
Overall, the GT-R's exterior design pays homage to modern Japanese culture. Hasegawa admits to harnessing his countrymen's fixation with all things futuristic and high tech-such as Sony's Aibo robotic dog and "Mobile Suit Gundam," a popular Japanese cartoon about giant robot warriors. "The 'coolness' of machines like Aibo and Gundam comes from the fact that they're inorganic, yet made to show movements of something truly alive," clarifies Hasegawa. "We wanted to infuse something similar into the design of the GT-R, which is also a machine."

[perrys]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Vel_Satis
-Nissan-sourced 24-valve, 3.5-liter V6 (also used in a variety of Nissan models including the Altima, Murano, 350Z/Fairlady, and Infiniti G, M and FX series))

[MITCHAY]

Who the hell cares who made the engine? Fact is it is an awesome car and the majority will always consider the GT-R to be Japanese.

[XR Martin]

The problem with Clarkson's Ford GT was not the car itself, it was the security/alarm system that had to be installed for it to be insurable in the UK. He said himself that was the undoing of the car, and all the problems related to that.