You may recall this most excellent dispatch re: sourcing a new Nissan GT-R at list price. It was penned by TTAC car reviewer and bon vivant Jay Shoemaker. Since writing the epistle from the "budget supercar front," Shoes managed to source the beast. As the headline attests, it all ended in tears. At my request and considerable risk to his rep, Jay has allowed us to publish his email on this abortive venture. [Note: no flaming the rich guy.]
"I was successful in finding a way to acquire one of the first US GTR's at MSRP. I had to pull strings to accomplish this, but I suppose that is what strings are for. Anyway, Nissan USA gave me a nice letter of introduction and I flew to Tokyo last week to see and sit in the GTR (I did not get to drive it). As a prospective owner, I hated it; the external appearance is too boy racer and the interior is pretty much basic Nissan with one or two extra leather pieces. It gave me claustrophobia to sit inside it and was terribly uncomfortable. So after all I went through, I came home and cancelled my order. I suppose I should regret that I will not have the opportunity to drive one of the first U.S. GTRs, but I have never liked Nissans, don't like V6 engines, don't like turbocharged engines in general and definately don't like the idea of 20-inch run flat tires. Next month, I am off to Germany to pick up my Audi R8 at the Neckarsulm factory and drive it on the Autobahn to console myself."
Aw, sounds like he’s gonna make it!
I completely agree on the looks. It’s like a cartoon character, only with wheels. With each generation, the Skyline got progressively more cartoonish. I don’t know, for me a car that looks understated is better than one that tries too hard with huge wings, air scoops, etc…
Robert – Jay’s making it hard on us! Gotta agree with the comment on looks – the dimensions just don’t seem right for a “supercar”, but I applaud the engineering. Jay – enjoy the R8! Sounds like a great lead up to a review for the denizens of TTAC….
LOL..he sure makes it hard to feel sorry for him. He certainly has a long list of hatreds in there.
Yes, one more GTR for me!!!
Wait…
No…
One less Audi R8.
I weep.
^ That needs to be a QOTD. Best lower price super car…
Flame? I think his emails should be regular features.
poor jay … cry me a river.
The thing is so massive. Never to mid 90s Skylines it looks like its done in 3/2 scale.
Jay, if it will make you feel better, why don’t you send me the equivalent cost of the GTR in cash. I need it – Audi or Nissan don’t.
Or at least let me drive the R8. Either/Or.
Congrats! I had a similar(poor man’s) experience. Go sit in a 350Z, then an RX8(cringe), then go sit in a TT. Hello! Then again I’m 6’5″ and have no interest in plastic swords.
Well, for all those who seem to dislike Jay, let’s say that he works in the food industry, which in my list of “I dislike people richer than me” is a helluvah lot better than working in finance.
At least, my palate gets to enjoy the results of his good work.
Keep up the good work, Jay, and I look forward to a long-term review of the R8 (he already reviewed it a while ago), so I can dream of another car I can’t afford ! ;-)
I’d rather have the boy-racer than the girl-racer.
But I hate Audi, so I might be biased :)
To me it is the next step up from a Lancer Evo and that is about it. And for that much money I would take the Evo, spend a bit on performance mods, and keep the rest for something civilized.
And if you can afford an R8, I don’t even think there is a question in my mind that I would take the R8.
Imagine my disappointment after I flew to the Longbridge plant in Birmingham to pick up my new Rover 75 yesterday.
“Shoes”, here’s what I don’t get: All the stuff you hate about the car was knowable before you ever sat in it. Engine, tire specs, interior pics… Perhaps a bit more research would have been in order?
Samir,
I agree with you to a point, but seeing, sitting and interacting with a car in person is usually quite different than over photos.
My experience with this has been the Pontiac/Holden G8. In pics, I was impressed, but at the auto show, it seemed to be another let down from the Pontiac boys.
I dunno how much stock I put into this account.
I looked inside a GT-R at an auto show, didn’t sit in one, granted, but it looks like if you can fit in a G35/37 you’ll be okay in a GT-R.
Then he’s going to buy an R8? I don’t know how much space is in one of those but I know its not a lot.
And too boy racer? Please don’t tell me its the wing because I’ve seen more egregious examples on 911s.
The more I think about this, the more I want to call bullshit.
Sounds to me like someone didn’t know what they wanted. With the GTR, you get performance while sacrificing a nice interior, and brand prestige. With the Audi, you get the brand prestige and a great interior, but performance is not even close. Exterior styling really is a subjective matter. The GTR looks plain to me, whereas the R8 is “HEY LOOK AT ME!!! I’M COMPENSATING FOR MY SHORTCOMINGS!!!!” In this regard, the R8 looks much faster than it is and will get its doors blown off by your average “boy racer”… where the GTR looks understated and may just be the fastest thing on the road/ track. He chose looks, hope he can live with that… I just hope for Shoemaker’s sake, he doesn’t get run down by one of the many highpowered german wagon’s/ sedan’s/ suv’s while trying to console himself on the autobahn…
Too “Boy Racer”? Come on. The R8 looks like it was designed by a committee. Pep Boys gets the front end, J.C. Whitney gets the side, and everybody else gets to add doo-dads to the tail end. It may be a fabulous driver’s car but you’d have to wear blinders getting in it or only drive it at night. Think Pontiac designers Gone Wild. YUK
Wow, such problems to have – the R8 certainly is a nice consolation prize, however. But I’ve never been convinced of its looks; the nose is just too stubby for my taste. Give me the V12 diesel though, and I might change my mind about the looks. :)
A trip to Detroit in January probably would have been more cost- and time-effective than flying to Japan to look at the car. I touched the GTR during the press preview and snapped a ton of pictures of it at the NAIAS and was afforded no special privileges. I’m sure with the letter of introduction, Mr. Shoemaker could have sat in the car there.
R8 is a posers car, a brand builder, R8 has no supercar soul. Even the engine isn’t uniqe or special world-first for Audi, it has been used for couple of years in a 4 door sedan. Any true supercar is built around its engine, the engine has to be very special and extraordinary, a fresh introduction and a landmark technology achievement for the car company.
GTR is a racetrack legend and has history to prove it, everything about this car is unique. GTR has street credibility and racetrack cred. A true supecar. Engine is unique, Gearbox is unique, 4WD system is unique, suspension setup is unique(different settings etc.), worlds first 4WD with gearbox placed near the rear axle etc etc. R8 has nothing on the GTR :) R8 is the most un-unique supercar wannabe – basically built with the pieces from the VW-Audi already existing parts shelf. A supecar by nature is something very unique, not a platform for sharing existing parts (technologically important parts which contribute to the car’s nature) from lower positioned cars from the same company.
Come on, the readers and writers of this site are the sharpest edge of automotive fanatics in the english speaking world today, if anyone than you should understand what I’m saying :)
Boy racer is probably an accurate description. This is the 2nd instance where I’ve heard the interior left a lot more to be desired. Hard to believe this mythical legend is falling already.
But Jay, if you grew up with Sony Playstations and Honda hatchbacks you’d love this ride!
I’m still skeptical of the GT-R and the import-tuner style doesn’t appeal to me, but I’ll know for sure when someone compares it to a C6 Z06. Neither car has the interior to put Porsche on notice, but (for now) we do know the Z06 blows its competition in the weeds.
Falling already? GTR’s interior uses same grade materials than other similary/high priced Nissan/Infiniti models.
Evo Magazine R8 chasing GTR on the road:
What of the R8, the dynamic benchmark for mid-engined cars? “I’d probably have had an accident if I’d tried any harder to keep up” says a grim looking Meaden.
In fact, you find yourself short-shifting or soft pedalling the throttle to give the Audi a chance to catch up so you can see how hard it’s trying. The game has moved on.
Autocar UK:
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjwJl4t-DF8
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzEivL1Kruo
Baby Veyron:)