Z impressions from a GTR owner

Endgame

Good comparsion review; thanks for taking the time to type it up.

BTW- you GTR is SICK!

MutantChicken

Thanks for the review ! My dealer has been trying to talk me into a GT-R while I have been looking at the Z, I can afford either, or both, but it seems silly to buy a GT-R when I know I won't be able to get the most out of it, but at the same time it is a really cool, sexy car. I went in to drive the Z the other day and they finally had a GT-R in the showroom, damn it sure was nice. Has me wondering .....

fly yellow

If I could afford one or the other or both then I would be looking at something entirely different. That gives you about 120K to spend on a car. You are getting close to exotic territory there.

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A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. Mitch Hedberg

KillerBee370

Yes BUT, you would have the advantage of 2 great cars to keep mileage down on each, have different setups for track or street, save money on parts over crazy exotic prices, etc.

Myself, I would probably still take just one.... the new GT3. haha..

FricFrac

If I had endless money that's the exact set up I'd have GT-R and a 370Z. Oh and a nice 240Z and a 510 too... I just haven't told my wife the GT-R is the next car on the list... lets just hope Nissan's put 'er on a diet by the time I can afford one

Scotts-GTR

Whatever floats your boat man.

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2009 GTR
2009 370Z (Coming 6/09)
2008 X5 5.8

fly yellow

I wasn't really refering to your deal. You already have both. You must be doing well for yourself and that's cool. I was just calling some BS on those that say they could afford both, but can't decide on which one. We are talking a $40,000 car and an $80,000 car. If you like the styling on the GT-R and you can obviously easily afford it, then I don't think there is much of a choice. You definitely buy the GT-R. If the GT-R isn't your thing, but you have 120K to spend then take a look at something along the lines of a Porsche or a Corvette ZR-1. I love my Z, and it is definitely the best sports car that I can afford, but it is a relative "everyman's" car. I don't think there are too many people in the 6 figure car market that are strongly considering the Z.

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A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. Mitch Hedberg

KingDavid

Some people probably like 6spd manual Nissans. It's up to them. Just because YOU wouldn't, given the chance, doesn't mean that someone else in the 6-figure league wouldn't either. Whatever floats their boat.

Phimosis

Hi. I don't mean to be confrontational. I would just like add some insight, because I've probably lived through situations and seen things that you haven't. I totally disagree with your statement.

I'm a medical doctor, nearly 40 years old and well into the "fat" part of my career. I'm single and no kids or alimony to pay for. I can afford going into exotic territory, but I choose not to. A lot of people in southern California live to the very maximum of what they can afford so they can be flashy, be players, meet hot girls, etc. My friends drive Porsches and AMG Mercedes and tease me, saying "I bought a car that is a socioeconomic class below me." The same guys teased me about my last car, which was a Corvette, calling it my "redneck car".

The universal truth here is that cars are not an investment, they are a depreciating asset. On the used car market, you see (multiple) 2005 Lambo Gallardo's or 2006 911 turbo's for $90,000. The seller of the lambo is losing $90,000 in depreciation in 4 years. The Porsche sellers are losing $50,000 in 3 years, plus you're losing $1,000 a month to the bank on the interest for a loan that big. Then, Lambo owners are replacing the SMG clutch at like 15k miles at a cost of $7000. The total cost of 4 years of Lambo ownership (on a new car) is going to run you $120k-140k.

It will take a LOT of desire to get me to spend that much on a car. But desire is a weird thing. Like the girl that was so hot that you'd spend your entire pay check on her, just to keep her happy? If they didn't scrap the program, I would have spent $180,000 on a Lexus LF-A. I want one that badly. The C6 Corvette (ZR1) and 997 Porsche (turbo or gt3) are coming to the end of their life cycle and make them less desireable. The Maserati GT is not fast enough. The GTR is ugly and too heavy.

By buying a 370z, I get a car that is beautiful, light, great handling, has stylish interior and makes good economic sense. Even with mods on this car, I'll probably only lose $20,000 on it. And, if something new and hot comes to market that I just "have to have," like a Porsche 998 or C7 Corvette, I'm still in a financial position to do it, plus I end up having a lot more money in my bank account, which makes you feel "safer," especially when the economy is in the tank.

So don't neccesarily write everyone off as a fake or a braggart just because they say they can afford to buy an $80,000 car but choose not to. It's how their priorities are set up. Based on your comment, if you had the means, you would get an $80,000 car because that is your priority, but not everyone thinks that way.

-Phim

TX_370

Awesome review.
Thanks!

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FricFrac

The only reason I'd get the Z over a GT-R is ripping through the gears and I think I like the looks of the Z better although the GT-R is sexy looking. Its hard to say no to a super car though

spearfish25

Can someone explain the desire for hill assist in the MT 370Z? If you can hold the car with the e-brake, I don't understand the need for the feature or even how it could be implemented in a MT.

ChrisSlicks

People are lazy?

Subaru pioneered the technology in MT form many years ago. Basically it holds the brakes for you until you start engaging the clutch.

Personally I don't see the need. I never roll backwards and I don't use the e-brake most of the time, I simply roll my foot on the brake and gas.

NotmyGTR

Yeah, that sums its up. Not trying to be mean or anything, but if there is a lack of skillz than get an automatic.

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1996 Skyline GT-R LM fully tuned by Mines/2006 Nissan Titan 5.6 SE Texas Edition/2009 370 Base w Sport Pkg

antennahead

Amen ..... one of the first things I learned as a teenager was how to master a hill with a manual transmission........ without using the emergency brake!

John