http://www.latimes.com/business/auto...,1476311.story

 

Amazing.

I hate Cars is going to need to clean up after reading this article ..

 

Nice.

I lol'd when it said GM warned that it would not honor the new car warranty. I wonder if they would legally have to since it's never been sold.

Only problem was the article claimed the GNX came with ported and polished heads. It only had a prom change that upped the boost a little and the same size but quicker spooling ceramic turbine turbo and a larger intercooler. Those are the only power making mods. The engine was untouched.

The f-body style rear suspension was a nice touch but it wasn't mentioned in the article.

 

I'm out of paper towels, getting into the shower now.

 

I can't believe they didn't put it on the auction block during the economic downturn to make some quick cash.

 

I LOL'd at the comment in the article about most people not even noticing it on their way to buy a four-banger Regal.

 

We are talking about Buick buyers I'm more surprised that an enthusiasts stepped foot in a Buick dealership.

 

i thought that buick was going to make a new gnx

 

Throughout the years I've owned four Grand Nationals, but admittedly the GNX never did it for me. To me it always looked a little "cartoonish". I always thought the GN and the T's looked a little more elegant and proper. GNXs are, however, arguably a piece of automotive history, and it sounds as if this one will always be cared for.




Terry

 

I don't get it. It was bought by the dealership to make money, but instead of marking it up like every other dealership did, they tried to get a highest bid, of which no one bid on it so they decided to just let it sit and absorb the cost? Odd. I never really understood the point of just letting a car like this sit around undriven (besides a measly 160 miles), especially if it's never going to be sold for big bucks. It's offically become a non-mobil work of, um, mid-80s American car design "art". And on top of it just sitting around, the majority of the clientel that comes into the dealership doesn't even know what it is, so it mainly goes unapprecaited. What a shame IMO.

 

For the owners it's probably more of an emotional attachment than anything else. They may feel differently later on, but it now probably represents the history of the dealership. Some people just feel better knowing that a car is there. And always will be.




Terry

 

Awesome!

 

I think that my Nissan dealer is gonna do this with the 2 Black 2010 GT-R's they are sitting on LOLOLOLOL

 

Overall, how are they selling in the States? I like them a lot, but haven't seen too many up here. Canadian dealers also seem content to see them nailed to the floor.



Terry

 

Nissan dealers won't move off of their mark up let alone MSRP.

 

The reason they do that is because people come into look at the GT-R and leave buying something else. You've opened up an entirely new demographic of people who would never have come into your showroom in the first place. Then once it's sat around long enough, you can take some poor sucker who is dying to have one to the cleaners on it and pocket a hefty profit. Then the cycle repeats itself.

They'll sell that car eventually. Money talks and though that guy said he likes seeing it outside his office window, people always change their wallpaper eventually.

 

I saw one advertised in Toronto awhile ago and phoned to enquire about the price. Close to ninety thousand. They didn't really sound all that interested about selling it either.





Terry

 

And honestly, the GT-R really belongs in Infiniti showrooms, where they're a bit more equipped @ selling vehicles of this caliber to upmarket clients.

 

I don't know about that. I don't think buyers stumble upon buying a GT-R. They know they are going to buy it and go to wherever it is. It would be nice if GT-Rs had their own dealerships. I think GM should do the same with Corvettes.

BTW, we totally this thread.

 

Those are the owners thoughts as well.


"Now and then an enthusiast who recognizes the GNX for the rarity it is comes by to ogle it, and once in a while someone asks about buying the car.

Willinghamhas always balked. His office window looks out on the GNX, and he likes seeing it there in the showroom every day.

"We had visions of making big money," he said. "Now it's part of our heritage."
"

 

That's OK, I always find these stories of new old cars interesting.

I was also curious how GT-R sales are doing? Despite some early negative press over the clutch problems they still get alot of positive press.

 

As of November 30, 2010 4103 R35 GT-R's had been sold in the US. Last month only 50 were sold. I think the projections were for much more upon launch. Dealers around here are ready to move on price, it's just hard to get 80k for a Nissan. My area is economically depressed compared to other places in the US. Not a big sports car culture. Most men around here own boats and are into hunting and fishing. My dealer has had 2 2010 Black GT-R's on their floor for over a year.

I suspect whatever few buyers there are for new GT-R's are waiting for the updated 2010. People who want a GT-R will pay it whether it's 80 or 90. 2011 was a short model year with only about 300 units imported with the 2012 due out soon.

Of course YMMV. You would think that a city the size of NOLA would be able to support a Porsche dealership by pure population but we couldn't. Much less 90k Nissans.

 

GNX > GN > T-Type

It's just difficult to find buyers for a new car with a feature like launch control that automatically voids the car's warranty if used, and which deems full transmission replacement as "maintenance."
I'd rather get a slower, smaller, less finicky Porsche 911 or C6 at that price point.

 

They reprogrammed the launch control to work at less RPM. They had some issues with solenoids in early 09 transmissions but they have worked that out. As an owner, I try to follow the reported problems on the net as much as I can. The 09 LC1 launched at 4500 rpm and I can see how they had problems with that. So much grip and such a shock on the tranny. I do find it disturbing that they have the places for the tranny replacement documentation in the service book.

 

Great article in last year's Wall Street Journal technology section on incredible amount of S/W in today's cars and the development and even more complicated testing of it. One of the focal points was the folks who did the GT-R S/W, it's Achilles heel as we know is the gearbox and specially the clutch. The worst case senario for the GT-R is turning the steering wheel then starying the launch control. The deflection of the front tires and weakness in the clutch cause litterally a instant failure. The S/W code was revised to dramrically reduce power if the steering wheel is not mostly centered (a few degrees is OK but not half a turn).

 

The GNX was always the "Holy Grail" to me. Growing up during my learning to drive stage (mid 80's), I always sported wood if I ever saw one, and that was not too often.

I love the GNX and GN. But with money as an issue, I preferred the subdued look of the Olds 442 of the 1987 model year (and the loud Hurst anniversary edition in 2004). Now, I'd take either one.



Thanks to Motortopia for the image.

 

This is going to be the new trend after the Stang, Camaro and Challenger throwback styling. Monte Carlo, Caprice Classic, and the other boxy styled cars will make their way onto the modern car.

 

@ 4 banger comment. Funny yet painfully honest.

I have one on layaway ..only $79.8k to go.. should be mine for X-mas '28. In the mean time, enjoy passing it on the showroom floor.

Terry likes the GT-R?!