top gear!!

[Chesterfield]

I know whats being said. I'd love a GTR, but I wouldnt get rid of the fezza for one. Sure the GTR would whoop the 430 on a track, even on the public roads and twisties the GTR would show the 430 a clean pair of heels, and if thats all you want from a car in that budget, then fine the GTR has very little if any competition.

 

The GTR has a better lap time than the LP640 - which is more than double the price, but Id have the LP640 in a heartbeat. Its just bonkers, not the fastest car on the planet, but it emobodies a supercar for me. Its the car I would upgrade to from the 430 if I had the option, however Im in the position where its a second car.

 

 

Now, if I were to reduce to one car that needed the practicality of a boot, some extra seats that may come in semi useful, and there was no option of having a "weekend" car - then the GTR would take some beating - in fact it would be the car I had.

[rtbiscuit]

I hope this kind of proves my point

 

 

yes the smart car might cost less, and be faster than the ferrari, but i know which one i would take home. the ferrari (and i don't even like ferrari's )

 

i would rather drive/have/own a jag/porsche/merc/bmw/audi/ferrair/lambo etc over the nissan, it might be faster but these days where do you really get to do that aprt from on the track; as a day to day car the differences are negligible.

 

i know this is the wrong form to voice this opinion, as this si a nissan forum after all, but its just the way i feel, and i'd be lying to myslef if i follwed the masses and swooned over a car that i don't actually like. (and there are lots of mainstream sports cars i don't like with posh badges on as well) if it makes you all feel better

 

i don't like ferrari's as they don't sound right

i don't like most BMW's as they look far to common ( i see them as the new mondeo)

most audi's are dull

i've tried to like skoda, but i just can't even though they are great cars

 

and to prove i am a complete freak of nature

 

i still hold out hope that peugeot are going to one day come back with another great hatch

i have a yearning for alfa that is unnatural even though they don't build anything that actually challenges any of its competitiors

i like old jags, 30 years before i actually should

 

need i go on. its just another fact of life, different horses for courses

[Sarnie]

I know whats being said. I'd love a GTR, but I wouldnt get rid of the fezza for one. Sure the GTR would whoop the 430 on a track, even on the public roads and twisties the GTR would show the 430 a clean pair of heels, and if thats all you want from a car in that budget, then fine the GTR has very little if any competition.

 

The GTR has a better lap time than the LP640 - which is more than double the price, but Id have the LP640 in a heartbeat. Its just bonkers, not the fastest car on the planet, but it emobodies a supercar for me. Its the car I would upgrade to from the 430 if I had the option, however Im in the position where its a second car.

 

 

Now, if I were to reduce to one car that needed the practicality of a boot, some extra seats that may come in semi useful, and there was no option of having a "weekend" car - then the GTR would take some beating - in fact it would be the car I had.

 

What your talking about is emotion, which can't be measured or reasoned with.

 

I REALLY like the GTR, but I just can't find a way to LOVE it..........

 

I've wrestled with buying a GTR for about three years, but I've never even gone to look at one because there is no uncontrollable emotion driving me to do so. Just a fast four seater that I could get the green light from the Mrs for, just because a pram would fit in the boot......if she said go buy a Gallardo again, it would be on the drive by the weekend

[rtbiscuit]

...but a 60k car with a nissan badge regardless of how amazing it is, even if it could drive on the ceiling un aided will still have a nissan badge on it. just taking the badge on its own, its one of the ugliest badges i've ever owned...

 

...but the zed for me was the worse car i've ever owned, and part of that was down to nissan, the dealerships the head office, and the car. and at the end of the day, if i was spending that kind of money, i'd want Porsche standard customer service and sales, not nissan service and sales.

 

 

Are you really serious? You're saying that the GTR is worthless because it was made by Nissan? That's crazy...anyone who has seen my Z has either been into cars enough to know that the Z is awesome regardless of whether 'the same people' made the Micra or they have known so little that they couldn't even deduce that it was a Nissan with the Z badges on it...Either way, who cares?!

 

If anything, I prefer it to be made by some clever people at Nissan and be a Nissan. It is unpretentious and is loved for what it is, not for the complete BS that most cars similar represent. The Z actually has some character.

 

On the Nissan parts / aftersales etc...again...who cares? If I had the money to buy a car like the Z new then I wouldn't care about those costs...but I don't. So, I enjoy being able to take my car to people who are passionate about cars (Japex for example) where I know the car will be looked after better than it would at a dealership anyway.

 

The badge is a piece of metal...the GTR is just genius.

 

i bought and owned my Zed when they were expensive, when it had a warranty, when i didn't have a choice but to use the nissan numpties. they might be able to build them, but they sure as hell can;t employ many people to fix them properly.

 

and yes i do take my cars to specialists; i do a lot of work on them myself, but anything i don't have the time for goes to a garage that build race cars/touring cars/ endurance racers and purpose built track cars.

 

i'm not arguing about the 350 or the 370

 

and basically what sarnie and chesterfield have said summed up what i haven't been very eloquent about saying

[Husky]

 

What your talking about is emotion, which can't be measured or reasoned with.

 

I REALLY like the GTR, but I just can't find a way to LOVE it..........

 

I've wrestled with buying a GTR for about three years, but I've never even gone to look at one because there is no uncontrollable emotion driving me to do so. Just a fast four seater that I could get the green light from the Mrs for, just because a pram would fit in the boot......if she said go buy a Gallardo again, it would be on the drive by the weekend

 

^ this makes sense to me

[Chesterfield]

Thats exactly it. Its just the same with the Mclaren Mp12-4c. Its an incredibly capable car, its performance for the money is phenomenal. But I agree with what Clarkson said, its just missing something. It just doesnt tick that emotional box for some reason.

 

I saw a Jaguar XJ220 at a meet recently, and although it would be trounced by many more modern sports cars, and blitzed by the GT-R. It was still just a great car to behold, even for someone who has a beef with Jaguar, I found myself imagining owning one, its an icon, rare and brilliant.

[DP7657]

We'll have to agree to disagree here then.

 

I love the Z because it gives me so much more than I should ever be able to get for its price tag. Also find it funny that it's a Nissan more than anything.

 

Totally understand where you're all coming from but I think crushing the Zs or the GTR over simply a branding issue is madness. Both cars look awesome and are simply brilliant. If you ask me, the mainstream sports / super-cars are boring, Nissan bring some personality back into it with theirs.

[geoff-r]

i bought and owned my Zed when they were expensive, when it had a warranty, when i didn't have a choice but to use the nissan numpties. they might be able to build them, but they sure as hell can;t employ many people to fix them properly.

 

Amen to that, I have been at the hand of Nissan's complete and utter incompetence when it comes to fixing their cars. They are truly useless, in fact words cannot explain how useless they are. I would be better at their jobs if I had no arms I got rid of my 350 because they butchered the gearbox to buggery...and I still went and bought a new 370, I am face palming as I type this but I do love the 370, I just dread any time it has to go near the dealers and it really shouldn't be like that.

[Chesterfield]

Thats it though, I get that buzz from the Z. I love it, its great and it has that emotional box ticked. The GTR just doesnt tick it. Weird, but true

 

I would like to know what its like to have what I believe is about the pinacle of engineering (with the exception of Mclaren or even Veyron money), but I dont "want" for one.

[geoff-r]

I want one when I see it on Top Gear but when it comes down to it I don't find myself attracted to it, it's not a looker that's for sure, but then I don't think that's ever been what the GTR brand is about, it's about function over form.

[The G Man]

I want one, some of you don't. The point being it is THE best car for the money and even if I had the fat couple from Largs £161million, the GTR Enhanced would be top of my list.

 

There would be others on it for sure, but that would be the top of the list.

 

Oh and Waitrose?? What's the matter with Harrods, they do deliveries and if you have one of their charge cards, you get free use of their toilets and left luggage facility

 

All you need is farmfoods Well that's where I'm shopping until I can afford a GTR

 

Soul? It has it in spades (IMO)

 

Oh and as for dealerships, name me one that's even half good nationwide, so far, Vauxhall, Honda, Mazda, Seat, Ford, Volvo, BMW, Toyota and Nissan have let me down, it can't all be the same people changing dealerships when I change car and being pish in them all now, can it?

[Sarnie]

I want one when I see it on Top Gear but when it comes down to it I don't find myself attracted to it, it's not a looker that's for sure, but then I don't think that's ever been what the GTR brand is about, it's about function over form.

 

+1 but it's form that gets you into the showroom

 

You know when your hooked on a car when you make ridiculous allowances for it's shortfalls. Take Chris' LP640 example:

 

Stupidly low mpg, emotional response to yourself/your Mrs: I'll scour a 25 mile square radius to buy Super unleaded 1p cheaper than the local garage to make it 'affordable'

 

Only two seats; I'll buy a 15 year old shed to ferry my most prize possessions (my family) around in. Whilst the lambo sits there unused.

 

It's too low to get over local speedbumps; I'll carry planks of wood in the boot or I'll drive 20miles around the long way to avoid them.

 

It's too loud for the neighbours; I'll buy us a new house in the country.

 

You'll use up our life savings on a car; It's only money, I'll earn some more.

 

Servicing costs are expensive; I'll drive 200 miles to an independant to save £50.

 

 

You get the idea

 

I know that if I had a problem with the GTR that was going to cost me a few grand to rectify, I'd all out of love with it instantly and sell up.

 

If the same happened with a car I was really in love with, I'd forgive it anything

[The G Man]

There's no pockets in a shroud Sarnie When I had my RX8, I loved that car, it made me feel special everytime I sat in it, even its flawed technology (Mazda have tried hard but the rotary is not technically possible in longevity terms with todays technology), I nearly cried the morning I chopped her in for the Z, I fell out of love with a car I was in love with

 

It took me 6 or 7 months to feel the same way about the Z, but I will as will everybody, no matter what they own, fall out of love when something better comes along. I think that the GTR is a special occassion car, the Z is a daily drive, if you see what I mean

[bronzee]

i'd take the jag, the interior is nicer the bodywork is nicer the image is better.

I just love it simply because its not a badge and the fact that its a Datsun that destroys most other car's for a fraction of the cost.

 

its cheap for what it is (some may not see this as a disadvantage) but to me that says

its been built to a price, so nissan are building to the extremes of what they can achieve within their budget, anything that is done to the extremes in manufacturing is never going to be the best. i don't mean the whole package, but i'm referring to individual components.

 

isn't that launch control limited to only 3 uses before needing a new gear box?

doesnt it need servicing at minisule intervals, meaning it will be in and out of the garage.

it lacks class

it has a nissan badge on it. (nothing wrong with nissan; but at the end of the day it shares its badge with a micra)

 

the car may not be as expensive as the jag, but i bet the nissan parts are.

Who cares about image. If you're paying for an image, you're paying for a badge, doesn't mean the car whatever it may be is any better. Look at how fragile some super cars are. If you consider the differential of price between say a new Z or R35 or any perceived top of the line supercar, you've paid considerably more for said supercar, and thusly would expect a far higher quality of interior, although it doesn't necessarily follow.

 

The R35 engines are hand built, like most other super cars.

 

Servicing on many Euro's including Jag's as they have been mentioned can be horrendous. A good service on some of our Euro's, past and present, a good service, might get away with 2k, a bad one, 6-8k +. Parts can be very expensive.

 

 

 

That's just it - it wasn't 'built to a price' they took a huge hit in the development and every sale

 

still wouldn't have one

for one reason only it has a nissan badge on it

 

but a 60k car with a nissan badge regardless of how amazing it is, even if it could drive on the ceiling un aided will still have a nissan badge on it. just taking the badge on its own, its one of the ugliest badges i've ever owned. and then take the fact that the same badge is driven around on 6k cars it kills any kudos the GTR whould have.

 

i liked my zed and i still like them, they are pretty to look at; but the zed for me was the worse car I've ever owned, and part of that was down to Nissan, the dealerships the head office, and the car. and at the end of the day, if i was spending that kind of money, I'd want Porsche standard customer service and sales, not Nissan service and sales.

So the question being, if Ferrari or any other super car, had a Nissan badge on.............................. following my drift? Customer service at some high end dealerships often is no better than your local Toyota, Honda, or any other flavour of Japan/Asian manufactured car.

 

 

 

That's it though, I get that buzz from the Z. I love it, its great and it has that emotional box ticked. The GTR just doesnt tick it. Weird, but true

Totally understand that! Big, heavy aesthetic v more svelte looking lines of it's little brother.

 

 

Ultimately each to their own.

[Chris`I]

As Liam and Chris say its all about emotions. Just look at people defending their choices of cars - Rich and his Jag, Chris and the Fezza and Liam and his old Lambo. I can appreciate its all down to personal preference. IMO I would have a Lambo or Fezza in a heartbeat if I could afford to run one as a fun car. Personally wouldnt take the Jag over my 370z - but each to their own

 

I think for me I would have to drive both the GTR and Jag before I could say which I would want (money no object). GTR on paper, but as the others have said - it doesnt really have the soul that a Jag may have. But if it were my money it'd be the GTR if I had to just because it does cost so much less. For that Jag money, I'd be looking at a lightly used Fezza or Lambo

[Husky]

Funny that he commented on the Jag having uncomfortable suspension, it really doesn't feel like it to me. My zed is a rougher ride on it's teins and they are really subtle. I guess compared to an XJ yes but still seemed a silly point to make.

[rtbiscuit]

So the question being, if Ferrari or any other super car, had a Nissan badge on.............................. following my drift? Customer service at some high end dealerships often is no better than your local Toyota, Honda, or any other flavour of Japan/Asian manufactured car.

 

you could stick a nissan badge on a ferrari, but it would knock £100k off the value of the car.

 

Oh and as for dealerships, name me one that's even half good nationwide, so far, Vauxhall, Honda, Mazda, Seat, Ford, Volvo, BMW, Toyota and Nissan have let me down, it can't all be the same people changing dealerships when I change car and being pish in them all now, can it?

 

toyota lookers chelmsford - were brilliant, had playstations to play on, comfy chairs, fit reception staff, tv to watch, internet browsing to pass the time, free tea and coffee (this was over 5 years ago, but back then they were good)

 

Honda in stoke were pretty spot on

 

marshalls volvo seem pretty good, dealing with them at the mo.

 

i suppose i've been lucky with most other makes and dealers.

 

just out of 5 nissan dealerships i dealt with the service was... horrific, i think marshalls nissan were they only decent one and they were an HPC.

 

As Liam and Chris say its all about emotions. Just look at people defending their choices of cars - Rich and his Jag, Chris and the Fezza and Liam and his old Lambo. I can appreciate its all down to personal preference. IMO I would have a Lambo or Fezza in a heartbeat if I could afford to run one as a fun car. Personally wouldnt take the Jag over my 370z - but each to their own

 

not defending so much in one of my original posts out of what was on offer i'd take the jag, but if i was spending that much in real life i wouldn't have it, i'd take the maserati GT MC stradale again its got bundles of soul.

 

like some porsches the GTR is just too clinical; i think it would remove the reward of driving when it becomes so easy to drive fast as the computers do all the hard work. i want a car thats a challenge, and that when you master it you feel rewarded for it.

[Chris`I]

like some porsches the GTR is just too clinical; i think it would remove the reward of driving when it becomes so easy to drive fast as the computers do all the hard work. i want a car thats a challenge, and that when you master it you feel rewarded for it.

I'll not argue with that. One of the reasons it was straight off my list when I got the 370z the others being too expensive to run and wont fit in the garage! Its just too easy to get upto whatever the speed limit is and stay there. Hell even the 370z is more clinical to me than the 350z - although I think bits needed replacing in the 350z handling department on my old car. Went to Goodwood with a mate and we took the Zed down a local road I used to have a blast in my (and mates) old Clio's and Pug's, but it was no fun in the Zed as you could sit at 60 around each and every bend and then no acceleration down the straight.

[ioneabee]

Slightly off topic I am also very proud to say my grandfather was a spitfire pilot thoughout the whole of WW2 including the battle of Britain as is still alive (95) drives a BMW325 !! Proper old gent.

Sorry for the indulgence....

 

 

it just struck me - does he know you sell Jap cars - LOL

 

only kidding

[The G Man]

Oh and as for dealerships, name me one that's even half good nationwide, so far, Vauxhall, Honda, Mazda, Seat, Ford, Volvo, BMW, Toyota and Nissan have let me down, it can't all be the same people changing dealerships when I change car and being pish in them all now, can it?

 

"toyota lookers chelmsford - were brilliant, had playstations to play on, comfy chairs, fit reception staff, tv to watch, internet browsing to pass the time, free tea and coffee (this was over 5 years ago, but back then they were good)

 

Honda in stoke were pretty spot on

 

marshalls volvo seem pretty good, dealing with them at the mo.

 

i suppose i've been lucky with most other makes and dealers.

 

just out of 5 nissan dealerships i dealt with the service was... horrific, i think marshalls nissan were they only decent one and they were an HPC".

 

 

All the dealerships I quoted had all these "goodies", apart from the playstations, it was the initial contact and the lack of expertese that mostly spoiled or let me down. Trying to get past some of the receptionists was a nightmare, calls not returned, charging for courtesy cars, ordering the wrong, out of spec parts etc, etc.

 

You can sit and drink coffee and watch the plasma/surf the net all day long but if the wrong part/diagnosis happens, then you can poke the coffee

 

You must be very, very lucky, either that or I'm very very unlucky

[Chris`I]

Gman you are just very hard to please

[docwra]

Out of interest, how many people calling the GTR "clinical" and "boring" have driven one???

 

And properly driven one, as hard as you like?

 

I think you have to take into account the package with it, the initial cost, depreciation, practicality, running costs, ease of use and on those its not a direct competitor for Fezzas, Astons or Lambos, its never going to be as evocative as they are as its not as flawed in the above respects. Compare it to a 997 or an R8 though ....... both of which have left me pretty cold in the past.

[spursmaddave]

you could stick a nissan badge on a ferrari, but it would knock £100k off the value of the car.

 

So you wouldn't bang Megan Fox if she was wearing a Primark outfit?

[350 Russ]

you could stick a nissan badge on a ferrari, but it would knock £100k off the value of the car.

 

So you wouldn't bang Megan Fox if she was wearing a Primark outfit?

 

 

 

hahaha quote of the year!!

 

 

i dont care what badge my car has on it, even if the GTR was made by TATA or whatever i would still want one and wouldnt care what people thought. its my money to spend on what i want and i wouldnt let a badge or image put me off.

[Lexx]

you could stick a nissan badge on a ferrari, but it would knock £100k off the value of the car.

 

So you wouldn't bang Megan Fox if she was wearing a Primark outfit?

 

 

 

hahaha quote of the year!!

 

 

i dont care what badge my car has on it, even if the GTR was made by TATA or whatever i would still want one and wouldnt care what people thought. its my money to spend on what i want and i wouldnt let a badge or image put me off.

 

After all, the Ferarri F1 car has a Fiat badge on it....