Nissan: GT-R News
02-04-2008 | 04:02 PM
#1564
I'm Down Right Fierce!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,953
Likes: 40
From: Irvine, CA
Originally Posted by Bdog
Nissian Muzzles Japanese GT-R
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
$1000 after a run at the track? Wasn't the whole point of the GT-R to prove that it's an awesome track car? What the hell is the point of charging a consumer (who's already paying top dollar for this car in the U.S.) to try it out on a track?
The more I read about this car, the more I come to disrespect Nissan. The reason why Skylines (specifically the GTRs) became legandary is because of a tuner's ability to modify them past the stock output settings.
I mean, governing the ECU is standard, and even the inspection after a track run seems reasonable (although $1000 for the inspection is overly expensive) but not even allowing aftermarket wheels on a performance vehicle that they know (or should know) will be coveted by every tuner on the planet? Psh... In the words of my not so wise friend.. "redonkulous"
02-04-2008 | 09:55 PM
#1565
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 950
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by BraveDemon
What other car for $60k comes even close to the GT2? Nothing.
02-04-2008 | 10:50 PM
#1566
Suzuka Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,579
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburbs
Originally Posted by AlterZgo
C6 Z06? That car has performance (1/4 mile and Nurburgring lap times) that is on par or better than a 997 TT and 996 GT2. The 997 GT2 is quicker around the Nurburgring than the Z06 and the GTR.
02-05-2008 | 12:23 AM
#1571
Some dude
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 347
From: Chicagoland
Originally Posted by Bdog
Nissian Muzzles Japanese GT-R
The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan's version of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas -- an orgy of high-performance cars and parts tailormade for the hard-core automotive enthusiast.
The buzz at this year's Salon centered around Godzilla's attack on Tokyo; Nissan's GT-R recently went on sale in Japan and has become the talk of auto scribes and tuners worldwide, but some of the recent chatter about the car has been for reasons the company would probably rather not discuss.
Rumors abound that Nissan has effectively castrated the GT-R by restricting the kinds of modifications that can be done to the car, as well as limiting how owners could drive them. How Draconian are Nissan's controls? Word is the company didn't even want to see aftermarket wheels on any of the GT-Rs at the show.
Japanese aftermarket manufacturers are seemingly unfazed by these restrictions and consider this just another obstacle among the many a brand-new car encounters. But many Americans colleagues may have a hard time believing what Nissan Japan has apparently done.
To get the skinny on the GT-R restrictions, we consulted renowned Japanese-tuner Michizo Niikura, president of MINE'S Motor Sports, and his head engineer, Toshikazu Nakayama. MINE'S has the most experience with the new GT-R outside of the engineers involved with the program. MINE'S was rumored to have received the very first production GT-R and presently has two of the beasts in its possession, with a third on order. Here's what it found:
Japanese GT-Rs are speed-limited for the street: As has been widely reported, unless it's driven on a preapproved racetrack, a stock Japanese-spec GT-R is limited to 180 kph (111.8 mph) with the factory settings. GPS sensors in the navigation system track vehicle position and communicate with the ECU. Try to exceed 180 kph, and a warning light will appear on the instrument panel. Only shutting the car off and restarting it will get the light to disappear.
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
Some mild mods are possible: MINE'S has modified the exhaust system and a replacement air-filter element, both of which have reportedly made substantial extra power. It's also upgraded the brake rotors and switched to GT-R's suspension system to a coil-over system with no ECU problems.
But not all: MINE'S has tried replacing the factory air box and intake system with a high-flow cone-style system, but found its car will not run right. Raising the boost pressure on the twin turbos, a common way to increase power, also triggered errors in the extremely sensitive ECU.
There is hope for the hot-rodders: MINE'S is rumored to be the first tuner to crack the GT-R ECU. And though Niikura-san admits his ECU modification is a work in progress, he was able to demonstrate the following during our recent visit. MINE'S gave us a performance demonstration with two GT-Rs, one stock, the other modified by MINE'S. The modified GT-R was able to run at 192.6 mph (310 kph) while the factory spec GT-R was unable to go past 111.8 mph. Niikura-san told us he's in the last stages of overcoming the boost and speed limit as well as making it possible to make adjustments to VTC (variable cam timing system), air/fuel ratio and throttle position. Since our visit, reports have surfaced that MINE'S has just released a version of its VX-ROM product designed to override the ECU's limiter function.
More good news: For all the GT-R's stunning performance, it's hard to understand why any enthusiast in Japan would purchase a GT-R given all the restrictions and headaches. We seem to be in the clear, though; our sources at Nissan USA have told us no such GPS-based speed limiters will be placed on U.S.-spec GT-Rs, though it's unclear where we stand with the rest of the limitations.
Check back with us for more GT-R news as it becomes available.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...good_news.html
The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan's version of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas -- an orgy of high-performance cars and parts tailormade for the hard-core automotive enthusiast.
The buzz at this year's Salon centered around Godzilla's attack on Tokyo; Nissan's GT-R recently went on sale in Japan and has become the talk of auto scribes and tuners worldwide, but some of the recent chatter about the car has been for reasons the company would probably rather not discuss.
Rumors abound that Nissan has effectively castrated the GT-R by restricting the kinds of modifications that can be done to the car, as well as limiting how owners could drive them. How Draconian are Nissan's controls? Word is the company didn't even want to see aftermarket wheels on any of the GT-Rs at the show.
Japanese aftermarket manufacturers are seemingly unfazed by these restrictions and consider this just another obstacle among the many a brand-new car encounters. But many Americans colleagues may have a hard time believing what Nissan Japan has apparently done.
To get the skinny on the GT-R restrictions, we consulted renowned Japanese-tuner Michizo Niikura, president of MINE'S Motor Sports, and his head engineer, Toshikazu Nakayama. MINE'S has the most experience with the new GT-R outside of the engineers involved with the program. MINE'S was rumored to have received the very first production GT-R and presently has two of the beasts in its possession, with a third on order. Here's what it found:
Japanese GT-Rs are speed-limited for the street: As has been widely reported, unless it's driven on a preapproved racetrack, a stock Japanese-spec GT-R is limited to 180 kph (111.8 mph) with the factory settings. GPS sensors in the navigation system track vehicle position and communicate with the ECU. Try to exceed 180 kph, and a warning light will appear on the instrument panel. Only shutting the car off and restarting it will get the light to disappear.
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
Some mild mods are possible: MINE'S has modified the exhaust system and a replacement air-filter element, both of which have reportedly made substantial extra power. It's also upgraded the brake rotors and switched to GT-R's suspension system to a coil-over system with no ECU problems.
But not all: MINE'S has tried replacing the factory air box and intake system with a high-flow cone-style system, but found its car will not run right. Raising the boost pressure on the twin turbos, a common way to increase power, also triggered errors in the extremely sensitive ECU.
There is hope for the hot-rodders: MINE'S is rumored to be the first tuner to crack the GT-R ECU. And though Niikura-san admits his ECU modification is a work in progress, he was able to demonstrate the following during our recent visit. MINE'S gave us a performance demonstration with two GT-Rs, one stock, the other modified by MINE'S. The modified GT-R was able to run at 192.6 mph (310 kph) while the factory spec GT-R was unable to go past 111.8 mph. Niikura-san told us he's in the last stages of overcoming the boost and speed limit as well as making it possible to make adjustments to VTC (variable cam timing system), air/fuel ratio and throttle position. Since our visit, reports have surfaced that MINE'S has just released a version of its VX-ROM product designed to override the ECU's limiter function.
More good news: For all the GT-R's stunning performance, it's hard to understand why any enthusiast in Japan would purchase a GT-R given all the restrictions and headaches. We seem to be in the clear, though; our sources at Nissan USA have told us no such GPS-based speed limiters will be placed on U.S.-spec GT-Rs, though it's unclear where we stand with the rest of the limitations.
Check back with us for more GT-R news as it becomes available.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...good_news.html
well thats all really :ghey:
02-05-2008 | 11:00 AM
#1573
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 2
From: Lexington
Originally Posted by Maximized
The GTR has reportedly run 7:38 around the ring', but there is a lot of speculation about that run. Until a true production car is run around, I am skeptical as well. An interesting rumor is that GM tests their cars from a dead stop at the Ring'. If you watch some of the GM's official videos at the ring, this is definetly suported. Whereas, the GTR's "unofficial" time was done on a full blown start.
1. Apparently, cars all have to enter the ring at the same speed. There is no way for the cars to stop and then take off - its against the rules of the track, which the Germans (apparently) strictly enforce.
2. Why would GM bother to shoot themselves in the foot and test the car from a standstill when EVERY other carmaker tests from a flying start?
02-05-2008 | 01:21 PM
#1575
Engineer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 76
From: Boston
Originally Posted by Bdog
Nissian Muzzles Japanese GT-R
The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan's version of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas -- an orgy of high-performance cars and parts tailormade for the hard-core automotive enthusiast.
The buzz at this year's Salon centered around Godzilla's attack on Tokyo; Nissan's GT-R recently went on sale in Japan and has become the talk of auto scribes and tuners worldwide, but some of the recent chatter about the car has been for reasons the company would probably rather not discuss.
Rumors abound that Nissan has effectively castrated the GT-R by restricting the kinds of modifications that can be done to the car, as well as limiting how owners could drive them. How Draconian are Nissan's controls? Word is the company didn't even want to see aftermarket wheels on any of the GT-Rs at the show.
Japanese aftermarket manufacturers are seemingly unfazed by these restrictions and consider this just another obstacle among the many a brand-new car encounters. But many Americans colleagues may have a hard time believing what Nissan Japan has apparently done.
To get the skinny on the GT-R restrictions, we consulted renowned Japanese-tuner Michizo Niikura, president of MINE'S Motor Sports, and his head engineer, Toshikazu Nakayama. MINE'S has the most experience with the new GT-R outside of the engineers involved with the program. MINE'S was rumored to have received the very first production GT-R and presently has two of the beasts in its possession, with a third on order. Here's what it found:
Japanese GT-Rs are speed-limited for the street: As has been widely reported, unless it's driven on a preapproved racetrack, a stock Japanese-spec GT-R is limited to 180 kph (111.8 mph) with the factory settings. GPS sensors in the navigation system track vehicle position and communicate with the ECU. Try to exceed 180 kph, and a warning light will appear on the instrument panel. Only shutting the car off and restarting it will get the light to disappear.
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
Some mild mods are possible: MINE'S has modified the exhaust system and a replacement air-filter element, both of which have reportedly made substantial extra power. It's also upgraded the brake rotors and switched to GT-R's suspension system to a coil-over system with no ECU problems.
But not all: MINE'S has tried replacing the factory air box and intake system with a high-flow cone-style system, but found its car will not run right. Raising the boost pressure on the twin turbos, a common way to increase power, also triggered errors in the extremely sensitive ECU.
There is hope for the hot-rodders: MINE'S is rumored to be the first tuner to crack the GT-R ECU. And though Niikura-san admits his ECU modification is a work in progress, he was able to demonstrate the following during our recent visit. MINE'S gave us a performance demonstration with two GT-Rs, one stock, the other modified by MINE'S. The modified GT-R was able to run at 192.6 mph (310 kph) while the factory spec GT-R was unable to go past 111.8 mph. Niikura-san told us he's in the last stages of overcoming the boost and speed limit as well as making it possible to make adjustments to VTC (variable cam timing system), air/fuel ratio and throttle position. Since our visit, reports have surfaced that MINE'S has just released a version of its VX-ROM product designed to override the ECU's limiter function.
More good news: For all the GT-R's stunning performance, it's hard to understand why any enthusiast in Japan would purchase a GT-R given all the restrictions and headaches. We seem to be in the clear, though; our sources at Nissan USA have told us no such GPS-based speed limiters will be placed on U.S.-spec GT-Rs, though it's unclear where we stand with the rest of the limitations.
Check back with us for more GT-R news as it becomes available.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...good_news.html
The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan's version of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas -- an orgy of high-performance cars and parts tailormade for the hard-core automotive enthusiast.
The buzz at this year's Salon centered around Godzilla's attack on Tokyo; Nissan's GT-R recently went on sale in Japan and has become the talk of auto scribes and tuners worldwide, but some of the recent chatter about the car has been for reasons the company would probably rather not discuss.
Rumors abound that Nissan has effectively castrated the GT-R by restricting the kinds of modifications that can be done to the car, as well as limiting how owners could drive them. How Draconian are Nissan's controls? Word is the company didn't even want to see aftermarket wheels on any of the GT-Rs at the show.
Japanese aftermarket manufacturers are seemingly unfazed by these restrictions and consider this just another obstacle among the many a brand-new car encounters. But many Americans colleagues may have a hard time believing what Nissan Japan has apparently done.
To get the skinny on the GT-R restrictions, we consulted renowned Japanese-tuner Michizo Niikura, president of MINE'S Motor Sports, and his head engineer, Toshikazu Nakayama. MINE'S has the most experience with the new GT-R outside of the engineers involved with the program. MINE'S was rumored to have received the very first production GT-R and presently has two of the beasts in its possession, with a third on order. Here's what it found:
Japanese GT-Rs are speed-limited for the street: As has been widely reported, unless it's driven on a preapproved racetrack, a stock Japanese-spec GT-R is limited to 180 kph (111.8 mph) with the factory settings. GPS sensors in the navigation system track vehicle position and communicate with the ECU. Try to exceed 180 kph, and a warning light will appear on the instrument panel. Only shutting the car off and restarting it will get the light to disappear.
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
Some mild mods are possible: MINE'S has modified the exhaust system and a replacement air-filter element, both of which have reportedly made substantial extra power. It's also upgraded the brake rotors and switched to GT-R's suspension system to a coil-over system with no ECU problems.
But not all: MINE'S has tried replacing the factory air box and intake system with a high-flow cone-style system, but found its car will not run right. Raising the boost pressure on the twin turbos, a common way to increase power, also triggered errors in the extremely sensitive ECU.
There is hope for the hot-rodders: MINE'S is rumored to be the first tuner to crack the GT-R ECU. And though Niikura-san admits his ECU modification is a work in progress, he was able to demonstrate the following during our recent visit. MINE'S gave us a performance demonstration with two GT-Rs, one stock, the other modified by MINE'S. The modified GT-R was able to run at 192.6 mph (310 kph) while the factory spec GT-R was unable to go past 111.8 mph. Niikura-san told us he's in the last stages of overcoming the boost and speed limit as well as making it possible to make adjustments to VTC (variable cam timing system), air/fuel ratio and throttle position. Since our visit, reports have surfaced that MINE'S has just released a version of its VX-ROM product designed to override the ECU's limiter function.
More good news: For all the GT-R's stunning performance, it's hard to understand why any enthusiast in Japan would purchase a GT-R given all the restrictions and headaches. We seem to be in the clear, though; our sources at Nissan USA have told us no such GPS-based speed limiters will be placed on U.S.-spec GT-Rs, though it's unclear where we stand with the rest of the limitations.
Check back with us for more GT-R news as it becomes available.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...good_news.html
at this point it looks like they want you to be that guy with the Ferrari that talks a big game but never takes it further than driving into the city to go to that 5 star restaurant and impress the valet...
02-05-2008 | 01:56 PM
#1576
Suzuka Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,579
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburbs
Originally Posted by vishnus11
This was a point brought up by someone else on the GTR forums. Good find - however it was later proven to be erroneous for a few reasons....
1. Apparently, cars all have to enter the ring at the same speed. There is no way for the cars to stop and then take off - its against the rules of the track, which the Germans (apparently) strictly enforce.
2. Why would GM bother to shoot themselves in the foot and test the car from a standstill when EVERY other carmaker tests from a flying start?
1. Apparently, cars all have to enter the ring at the same speed. There is no way for the cars to stop and then take off - its against the rules of the track, which the Germans (apparently) strictly enforce.
2. Why would GM bother to shoot themselves in the foot and test the car from a standstill when EVERY other carmaker tests from a flying start?
Look at the YouTube video of the production HHR run by Heirachy. Also, its been posted on a bunch of sources that GM rented the Ring for the Z06 test.
The ZR1 will be tested there shortly and I am sure they will videotape it, so we shall see.
02-05-2008 | 02:25 PM
#1577
I'm Down Right Fierce!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,953
Likes: 40
From: Irvine, CA
Originally Posted by BraveDemon
What other car for $60k comes even close to the GT2? Nothing.
Originally Posted by AlterZgo
C6 Z06? That car has performance (1/4 mile and Nurburgring lap times) that is on par or better than a 997 TT and 996 GT2. The 997 GT2 is quicker around the Nurburgring than the Z06 and the GTR.
And yeah, its a great car, but clearly has a higher MSRP than the GTR's (initial) reported MSRP.
So again, what other car for $60k comes even close to the GT2? Nothing.
02-05-2008 | 02:25 PM
#1578
Suzuka Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,579
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburbs
I am not sure if this belongs here, but Porsche is responding to the GTR:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rsche_911.html
Should be interesting.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rsche_911.html
Should be interesting.
02-05-2008 | 03:59 PM
#1579
Engineer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 76
From: Boston
Originally Posted by Maximized
Look at the YouTube video of the production HHR run by Heirachy. Also, its been posted on a bunch of sources that GM rented the Ring for the Z06 test.
The ZR1 will be tested there shortly and I am sure they will videotape it, so we shall see.
The ZR1 will be tested there shortly and I am sure they will videotape it, so we shall see.
02-05-2008 | 04:24 PM
#1580
Originally Posted by Maximized
I am not sure if this belongs here, but Porsche is responding to the GTR:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rsche_911.html
Should be interesting.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rsche_911.html
Should be interesting.
That's it right there.
02-07-2008 | 02:32 AM
#1581
Punk Rocker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,579
Likes: 79
From: St Simons Island, GA
Nissan to place "safeguards" against gouging...
Nissan Puts Safeguards in Place as It Begins Taking GT-R Orders
Date posted: 02-06-2008
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CHICAGO — Nissan North America said on Wednesday that the 480-horsepower Nissan GT-R is now available for pre-ordering at 691 of approximately 1,400 of its dealerships in the U.S. At the same time, the automaker told Inside Line it has put a formal program in place to help prevent price gouging on the supercar, which starts at $69,850 for the base model.
"We are taking steps to let the dealers know that marking up the car is not a good thing," said Nissan North America Spokesman Darryll Harrison. "We're trying to take steps to curb excessive markups."
Harrison said the automaker is requiring dealership management staff, such as the dealer principal, to conduct all GT-R transactions. "We're not saying salespeople are bad, but management is closer to the day-to-day operations of the dealership, and they don't work on commission," Harrison noted.
Dealers will also be required to file all GT-R paperwork, such as factory orders for the GT-R, through Nissan North America's regional sales offices, which will oversee the sales prices of the car and provide "counsel" in case of price gouging. It is unusual for dealers to have to turn over orders to regional offices for oversight.
The 691 Nissan dealers who won GT-R certification are "many of our urban dealers in larger markets," said Harrison. A complete list is available at nissanusa.com. To become certified, the dealers had to have a master technician on staff who is trained in the "ins and outs of the GT-R," said Harrison. The certified dealers also had to invest in an upgrade of their facility, down to such details as providing larger lifts to accommodate the low and wide body of the GT-R.
Nissan also formally detailed pricing on the GT-R — except for the destination charge, which has not yet been set. The base GT-R is priced at $69,850; the GT-R Premium starts at $71,900. An iPod converter adds $360 to the bottom line, while carpeted GT-R floor mats add $280. "Super Silver," a special exterior paint, costs an additional $3,000. A cold-weather package is a no-cost option and bundles either all-season or snow tires made specifically for the GT-R, as well as different fluids that allow the car to operate in optimum fashion in colder climates.
Harrison said that customers should expect the pre-order process to require a down payment. But the automaker is not allowed to set that amount for the dealers. Harrison said bloggers have been e-mailing him, suggesting that pre-orders may require deposits as low as $500 or $1,000. The Web site Exhaustnote.com warns of additional charges of $25,000-$60,000 over sticker for the GT-R in the U.S. Harrison would not provide advice to consumers on how much of a down payment is reasonable.
Harrison says the company expects a U.S. sales volume for the GT-R of 2,500 units in the first full year, followed by sales of about 1,500 a year afterwards. He emphasized that the 2,500 was a sales number, not a production number. "The 2,500 number is not a production cutoff," Harrison said. "We haven't determined whether or not we'll do that [cut off sales at a certain point]."
Customer deliveries of the GT-R are set to kick off in June.
What this means to you: Undoubtedly you'll pay over sticker price for the GT-R — but how much is the key question. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Date posted: 02-06-2008
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CHICAGO — Nissan North America said on Wednesday that the 480-horsepower Nissan GT-R is now available for pre-ordering at 691 of approximately 1,400 of its dealerships in the U.S. At the same time, the automaker told Inside Line it has put a formal program in place to help prevent price gouging on the supercar, which starts at $69,850 for the base model.
"We are taking steps to let the dealers know that marking up the car is not a good thing," said Nissan North America Spokesman Darryll Harrison. "We're trying to take steps to curb excessive markups."
Harrison said the automaker is requiring dealership management staff, such as the dealer principal, to conduct all GT-R transactions. "We're not saying salespeople are bad, but management is closer to the day-to-day operations of the dealership, and they don't work on commission," Harrison noted.
Dealers will also be required to file all GT-R paperwork, such as factory orders for the GT-R, through Nissan North America's regional sales offices, which will oversee the sales prices of the car and provide "counsel" in case of price gouging. It is unusual for dealers to have to turn over orders to regional offices for oversight.
The 691 Nissan dealers who won GT-R certification are "many of our urban dealers in larger markets," said Harrison. A complete list is available at nissanusa.com. To become certified, the dealers had to have a master technician on staff who is trained in the "ins and outs of the GT-R," said Harrison. The certified dealers also had to invest in an upgrade of their facility, down to such details as providing larger lifts to accommodate the low and wide body of the GT-R.
Nissan also formally detailed pricing on the GT-R — except for the destination charge, which has not yet been set. The base GT-R is priced at $69,850; the GT-R Premium starts at $71,900. An iPod converter adds $360 to the bottom line, while carpeted GT-R floor mats add $280. "Super Silver," a special exterior paint, costs an additional $3,000. A cold-weather package is a no-cost option and bundles either all-season or snow tires made specifically for the GT-R, as well as different fluids that allow the car to operate in optimum fashion in colder climates.
Harrison said that customers should expect the pre-order process to require a down payment. But the automaker is not allowed to set that amount for the dealers. Harrison said bloggers have been e-mailing him, suggesting that pre-orders may require deposits as low as $500 or $1,000. The Web site Exhaustnote.com warns of additional charges of $25,000-$60,000 over sticker for the GT-R in the U.S. Harrison would not provide advice to consumers on how much of a down payment is reasonable.
Harrison says the company expects a U.S. sales volume for the GT-R of 2,500 units in the first full year, followed by sales of about 1,500 a year afterwards. He emphasized that the 2,500 was a sales number, not a production number. "The 2,500 number is not a production cutoff," Harrison said. "We haven't determined whether or not we'll do that [cut off sales at a certain point]."
Customer deliveries of the GT-R are set to kick off in June.
What this means to you: Undoubtedly you'll pay over sticker price for the GT-R — but how much is the key question. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
DOubt it will do much good, but at least Nissan understands there will be a huge dealer problem out there....
02-07-2008 | 11:48 AM
#1583
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 1
From: Alpharetta, GA
Originally Posted by Bdog
Nissian Muzzles Japanese GT-R
The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan's version of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas -- an orgy of high-performance cars and parts tailormade for the hard-core automotive enthusiast.
The buzz at this year's Salon centered around Godzilla's attack on Tokyo; Nissan's GT-R recently went on sale in Japan and has become the talk of auto scribes and tuners worldwide, but some of the recent chatter about the car has been for reasons the company would probably rather not discuss.
Rumors abound that Nissan has effectively castrated the GT-R by restricting the kinds of modifications that can be done to the car, as well as limiting how owners could drive them. How Draconian are Nissan's controls? Word is the company didn't even want to see aftermarket wheels on any of the GT-Rs at the show.
Japanese aftermarket manufacturers are seemingly unfazed by these restrictions and consider this just another obstacle among the many a brand-new car encounters. But many Americans colleagues may have a hard time believing what Nissan Japan has apparently done.
To get the skinny on the GT-R restrictions, we consulted renowned Japanese-tuner Michizo Niikura, president of MINE'S Motor Sports, and his head engineer, Toshikazu Nakayama. MINE'S has the most experience with the new GT-R outside of the engineers involved with the program. MINE'S was rumored to have received the very first production GT-R and presently has two of the beasts in its possession, with a third on order. Here's what it found:
Japanese GT-Rs are speed-limited for the street: As has been widely reported, unless it's driven on a preapproved racetrack, a stock Japanese-spec GT-R is limited to 180 kph (111.8 mph) with the factory settings. GPS sensors in the navigation system track vehicle position and communicate with the ECU. Try to exceed 180 kph, and a warning light will appear on the instrument panel. Only shutting the car off and restarting it will get the light to disappear.
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
Some mild mods are possible: MINE'S has modified the exhaust system and a replacement air-filter element, both of which have reportedly made substantial extra power. It's also upgraded the brake rotors and switched to GT-R's suspension system to a coil-over system with no ECU problems.
But not all: MINE'S has tried replacing the factory air box and intake system with a high-flow cone-style system, but found its car will not run right. Raising the boost pressure on the twin turbos, a common way to increase power, also triggered errors in the extremely sensitive ECU.
There is hope for the hot-rodders: MINE'S is rumored to be the first tuner to crack the GT-R ECU. And though Niikura-san admits his ECU modification is a work in progress, he was able to demonstrate the following during our recent visit. MINE'S gave us a performance demonstration with two GT-Rs, one stock, the other modified by MINE'S. The modified GT-R was able to run at 192.6 mph (310 kph) while the factory spec GT-R was unable to go past 111.8 mph. Niikura-san told us he's in the last stages of overcoming the boost and speed limit as well as making it possible to make adjustments to VTC (variable cam timing system), air/fuel ratio and throttle position. Since our visit, reports have surfaced that MINE'S has just released a version of its VX-ROM product designed to override the ECU's limiter function.
More good news: For all the GT-R's stunning performance, it's hard to understand why any enthusiast in Japan would purchase a GT-R given all the restrictions and headaches. We seem to be in the clear, though; our sources at Nissan USA have told us no such GPS-based speed limiters will be placed on U.S.-spec GT-Rs, though it's unclear where we stand with the rest of the limitations.
Check back with us for more GT-R news as it becomes available.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...good_news.html
The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan's version of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas -- an orgy of high-performance cars and parts tailormade for the hard-core automotive enthusiast.
The buzz at this year's Salon centered around Godzilla's attack on Tokyo; Nissan's GT-R recently went on sale in Japan and has become the talk of auto scribes and tuners worldwide, but some of the recent chatter about the car has been for reasons the company would probably rather not discuss.
Rumors abound that Nissan has effectively castrated the GT-R by restricting the kinds of modifications that can be done to the car, as well as limiting how owners could drive them. How Draconian are Nissan's controls? Word is the company didn't even want to see aftermarket wheels on any of the GT-Rs at the show.
Japanese aftermarket manufacturers are seemingly unfazed by these restrictions and consider this just another obstacle among the many a brand-new car encounters. But many Americans colleagues may have a hard time believing what Nissan Japan has apparently done.
To get the skinny on the GT-R restrictions, we consulted renowned Japanese-tuner Michizo Niikura, president of MINE'S Motor Sports, and his head engineer, Toshikazu Nakayama. MINE'S has the most experience with the new GT-R outside of the engineers involved with the program. MINE'S was rumored to have received the very first production GT-R and presently has two of the beasts in its possession, with a third on order. Here's what it found:
Japanese GT-Rs are speed-limited for the street: As has been widely reported, unless it's driven on a preapproved racetrack, a stock Japanese-spec GT-R is limited to 180 kph (111.8 mph) with the factory settings. GPS sensors in the navigation system track vehicle position and communicate with the ECU. Try to exceed 180 kph, and a warning light will appear on the instrument panel. Only shutting the car off and restarting it will get the light to disappear.
But can be run all-out at the track: Running a GT-R at the track requires scrolling through menus in the on-board computer and selecting the racetrack option that bypasses the speed limiter. Only then can the car be run to its full potential.
Though it'll cost you: Once the track day is over, owners who have run their GT-Rs over the speed limit are required to take them to a preapproved Nissan High Performance Center for a safety check. Failure to perform this $1000 service will void the factory warranty.
As for the wheel and tire rumor: That the factory wheels cannot be removed without sending an error code to the ECU, MINE'S has proven this myth wrong. It's been able to take off wheels, rotate them, and even change to higher-performance, non-run-flat tires. It did have to take the wheels to the Nissan dealership to get the job done at great expense; MINE'S ended up paying about $230 per wheel in labor.
Putting aftermarket rims on a GT-R is different story: Because of a sensor located near the valve stem in each wheel, it isn't possible for the car to run on aftermarket rims without throwing an error code. All blinged-out GT-Rs at Auto Salon got there on stockers and only then were the shoes changed.
Some mild mods are possible: MINE'S has modified the exhaust system and a replacement air-filter element, both of which have reportedly made substantial extra power. It's also upgraded the brake rotors and switched to GT-R's suspension system to a coil-over system with no ECU problems.
But not all: MINE'S has tried replacing the factory air box and intake system with a high-flow cone-style system, but found its car will not run right. Raising the boost pressure on the twin turbos, a common way to increase power, also triggered errors in the extremely sensitive ECU.
There is hope for the hot-rodders: MINE'S is rumored to be the first tuner to crack the GT-R ECU. And though Niikura-san admits his ECU modification is a work in progress, he was able to demonstrate the following during our recent visit. MINE'S gave us a performance demonstration with two GT-Rs, one stock, the other modified by MINE'S. The modified GT-R was able to run at 192.6 mph (310 kph) while the factory spec GT-R was unable to go past 111.8 mph. Niikura-san told us he's in the last stages of overcoming the boost and speed limit as well as making it possible to make adjustments to VTC (variable cam timing system), air/fuel ratio and throttle position. Since our visit, reports have surfaced that MINE'S has just released a version of its VX-ROM product designed to override the ECU's limiter function.
More good news: For all the GT-R's stunning performance, it's hard to understand why any enthusiast in Japan would purchase a GT-R given all the restrictions and headaches. We seem to be in the clear, though; our sources at Nissan USA have told us no such GPS-based speed limiters will be placed on U.S.-spec GT-Rs, though it's unclear where we stand with the rest of the limitations.
Check back with us for more GT-R news as it becomes available.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...good_news.html
Unfortunately I think that this driver input recording feature does not just function on the track, but all the time. It won't be too long until your driving actions/modifications to the car are monitored in every vehicle, and you have to wait until your warranty runs out to even think about modding/racing your car.
02-07-2008 | 05:14 PM
#1584
_____ like a rabbit
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,594
Likes: 12
From: Edgewater, Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by Maximized
I am not sure if this belongs here, but Porsche is responding to the GTR:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rsche_911.html
Should be interesting.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rsche_911.html
Should be interesting.
02-07-2008 | 06:58 PM
#1586
Senior Moderator
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 59,077
Likes: 11,070
From: Chicago
Originally Posted by stangg172004
i love how Japanese companies are trying to reign in their cars with computers and with all these stupid limitations and rules pertaining to warranty but here we have Porsche adding more power and taking away traction control and other computer programs like in the GT3, i find it amusing...
02-07-2008 | 07:00 PM
#1587
Senior Moderator
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 59,077
Likes: 11,070
From: Chicago
Originally Posted by charliemike
Umm, what? 
Originally Posted by stangg172004
link?
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...lexus_lfa.html
02-07-2008 | 07:01 PM
#1588
Senior Moderator
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 59,077
Likes: 11,070
From: Chicago
Originally Posted by majin ssj eric
DOubt it will do much good, but at least Nissan understands there will be a huge dealer problem out there....
02-07-2008 | 09:43 PM
#1589
Fahrvergnügen'd
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,494
Likes: 1,569
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by srika
kudos to Nissan for making efforts to stop or limit the price gouging.
02-08-2008 | 10:45 AM
#1590
GT-R Spotted in Tempe, AZ
On my way home from the gym last night I spotted a red GT-R with manufacturer plates on the Loop 101 southbound. I didn't notice him until I was already passing. Luck would have it he ended up getting behind me and got off my exit. I let him pass me going to the light and I snapped a few pictures. I kept the flash off so it wouldn't be so obvious that I was taking photos of the car so they're kind of dark and the second one I had to make black and white due to the color being thrown way off by lightening it up in Photoshop. We sat next to each other at the light. He was fiddling around with the dash computer. The light turned green and I captured the last picture of him taking off at a decent clip. That car has such a distinctive sound to it along with the super quick shifts. It was beautiful. It did appear to be slightly dirty and it had black tape over the Nissan and GT-R logo. I'm suspecting he had been testing it out at Canyon Lake in Apache Junction where they do a lot of pre-release mountain driving/testing. Anyway... enjoy.
02-09-2008 | 09:58 PM
#1599
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 950
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by BraveDemon
The C6 Z06 is $70k starting, and around $75k with at least one of the options.
And yeah, its a great car, but clearly has a higher MSRP than the GTR's (initial) reported MSRP.
So again, what other car for $60k comes even close to the GT2? Nothing.
And yeah, its a great car, but clearly has a higher MSRP than the GTR's (initial) reported MSRP.
So again, what other car for $60k comes even close to the GT2? Nothing.
So, to answer your question, there are no cars that cost $60K that comes close to the GT2 - not even the 2009 Nissan GTR. At $70K, there are 2 - the Z06 and GTR.
@ white GT-R...