So I just went for a ride in the R35 GT-R (jesusmobile)... [Archive] - Sports Car Forum

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04RCSTI

08-07-2008, 10:47 PM

Yes, I did in fact just had a first hand experience with the Jesusmobile. Flat out acceleration and hard cornering.

Power:
First impression...the acceleration is mind-blowing, spun all four on cold tires. The way this thing goes fast is kinda weird. It accelerates just as hard in every gear till 4th when we got off it because we were on a public road. Its just seamless, the shifts feel like little blips that just make the car go faster. It has no lag, it almost doesn't feel like a turbo car in any gear and it pulls ridiculously hard from very low RPM's. If it weighs 3800 pounds, then it hides it damn well. Its, dare I say it?, physics defying. The last time I felt acceleration like that was on an Ariel Atom 2, the supercharged one. The speed felt very similar, but while the Ariel felt like free energy was pushing it along, the GT-R felt like there was a giant invisible hand pushing it from behind. Like big big power pushing something with mass.

Transmission:
Seamless, as good as they say. Its just so fast and the downshifts are blipped perfectly. Imagine thinking about changing gear and being on the next gear already. It almost feels like you are accelerating again before the needle gets down RPM on the next gear up. On sport, it was a big jerky on the starts from dead stop, but in confort it was just brilliant. Like steptronic smooth for starts.

Handing:
WTF? The ride is compliant, maybe a little bit stiff at times, but very confortable. I noticed a tiny bit of lean when entering corners, but once settled it stood flat all the way through. The tires, needless to say, are very very sticky. I could stick my nails into them when completely cold.. Set the suspension to R and wow, it stiffened up, roll was gone, it felt overall more responsive.

Now here's the area of debate...can a 3900lb car really do what people say it does? My answer to that is that the weight seems to dissapear. You know its there, you can feel it on turn in, but then it discipates and never comes back. Theres a combination of mechanical grip and technobox grip that I've never really felt before. We were nowhere near the limits of the cornering, but it was SO poised and in control when getting pushed around that I could feel you could never slide on the street. Its one of those cars that you need a track to have any sort of sense of where the limits are.

Brakes were great, interior was bearable. The seats held you in nice and snug, they are nice without being buckets. The Exhaust note wasnt there, but I hear it sounds like an F1 shrill with some exhausts. The owner of the dealer was telling me that his frined showed up the day before in his GTR with exhaust and it sounded amazing.

Keep in mind this guy has driven just about everything, he owns an exotics dealership. Before we went for a ride he said he knew it was good but it was too expensive for a car like that. After we got back, before he even got out of the car he said "Ok, I'm going to buy one, right now."
We went inside, he told his people there to find him one and buy it right that second. There was one for sale in Georgia for $95k and he said "no problem, call him right now" so we called the dude, but it was sold already :(

So to all the non-believers, RC and company. While its definitely not the fastest car in the world, it is definitely effin good and VERY VERY fast.

Some iphone pics..
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k361/04rcsti/randomstuff/IMG_0309.jpg
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k361/04rcsti/randomstuff/IMG_0314.jpg
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k361/04rcsti/randomstuff/IMG_0315.jpg
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k361/04rcsti/randomstuff/IMG_0311.jpg
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k361/04rcsti/randomstuff/IMG_0312.jpg

RC45

08-07-2008, 11:17 PM

The tires, needless to say, are very very sticky. I could stick my nails into them when completely cold..

Glad you made a point of checking the 80 wear rated (I believe) tyres out. Remember this point.

Theres a combination of mechanical grip and technobox grip that I've never really felt before.

The computer systems rely on the above noted grip to allow braking, traction and side loading at the very limits of traction to be translated into the performance you felt.

This "hides" the weight - until the tyres go off, then the car will slow down as the computers are setup to keep the car at the very limit of adhesion/grip - and this grip-life-span is what the weight will affect - no getting away from this fact.

So to all the non-believers, RC and company. While its definitely not the fastest car in the world, it is definitely effin good and VERY VERY fast.

We never said it wasnt fast, we simply pointed out that in order to manage the weight and apparent lack of power, the tyres must either be super-sticky (which it turns out we were right on the money) and the power is most likely higher than the claims Nissan is making (and this might also be true) - and the test cars provided for early tests were Nissan ringer - and the Nurburgring car was for sure a ringer ;)

The laws of physics are rigid and unforgiving - if you have the weight present, you have to deal with the kinetic energy you have stored up each time you try change direction/slow/accelerate - and the tyre takes the "heat" (literally) for doing this job ;)

The novelty of tyres/brakes/parts will get old vey quickly for anyone except the wealthy trying to live with car if you ever hope to exploit the potential.

Which is pretty much what we have said since last year.

Glad you enjoyed the car, sure its fast, but a heavy fast car is expensive to keep fast. I men, what good and how much fun is a 1 lap time-attack car ;)

k24hybrid

08-08-2008, 02:05 AM

:cool2: nice review :thumbup:

yg60m

08-08-2008, 02:33 AM

Thanks for sharing dude. Nice experience !! :-)

marcefer

08-08-2008, 03:38 AM

Excellent review. :thumbup:
So clear I felt like I was in the car :-D

styla21

08-08-2008, 03:45 AM

Thanks for sharing RCSTI. Felt like I was reading one of the first non-biased, honest opinions of this car.

fordgt84

08-08-2008, 04:07 AM

so does this make you the first mw member to get a ride in the r35? if so congrats, and good job on the review :thumbup:

the GT-R felt like there was a giant invisible hand pushing it from behind.

i guess that would explain the lap time at the nurburgring :mrgreen:

unwilling

08-08-2008, 04:49 AM

so does this make you the first mw member to get a ride in the r35? if so congrats, and good job on the review :thumbup:

i guess that would explain the lap time at the nurburgring :mrgreen:

Well, keep in mind that the Nurburgring is a bit longer than this test drive, I think :-), and constantly being pushed to its limits on that lap. I'm just thinking about brake fade and heat soak.

Great review! Thanks :thumbup:

Woohoo

08-08-2008, 07:24 AM

Glad you made a point of checking the 80 wear rated (I believe) tyres out. Remember this point.

Well,I believe the Bridgestones have a treadwear of 140 and the Dunlops a treadwear of 280.

I read that somewhere,will try to find the link again.

pagani

08-08-2008, 12:07 PM

Well, keep in mind that the Nurburgring is a bit longer than this test drive, I think :-), and constantly being pushed to its limits on that lap. I'm just thinking about brake fade and heat soak.

Great review! Thanks :thumbup:
I wonder if the brakes from the bugatti veyron could fit on the gtr?
And i think the gtr is awesome daily driver and road course and whit mods a fun track car.
Maby fitting tires whit a higher tread wear rating is the option?
:-):thumbup:

graywolf624

08-08-2008, 12:37 PM

Well,I believe the Bridgestones have a treadwear of 140 and the Dunlops a treadwear of 280.
Actual manufacturer tread wears are not comparable in any way shape or form. They are not industry standardized. After the road and track article the autocrosser from the article wrote that the tires on the car were of a type he would use to run auto crosses with and going from the optional dulops to the bridgestones moved the gtr from way faster then the Z06 to within a few tenths.

srfairladyz

08-08-2008, 01:15 PM

Glad you made a point of checking the 80 wear rated (I believe) tyres out. Remember this point.

The computer systems rely on the above noted grip to allow braking, traction and side loading at the very limits of traction to be translated into the performance you felt.

This "hides" the weight - until the tyres go off, then the car will slow down as the computers are setup to keep the car at the very limit of adhesion/grip - and this grip-life-span is what the weight will affect - no getting away from this fact.

We never said it wasnt fast, we simply pointed out that in order to manage the weight and apparent lack of power, the tyres must either be super-sticky (which it turns out we were right on the money) and the power is most likely higher than the claims Nissan is making (and this might also be true) - and the test cars provided for early tests were Nissan ringer - and the Nurburgring car was for sure a ringer ;)

The laws of physics are rigid and unforgiving - if you have the weight present, you have to deal with the kinetic energy you have stored up each time you try change direction/slow/accelerate - and the tyre takes the "heat" (literally) for doing this job ;)

The novelty of tyres/brakes/parts will get old vey quickly for anyone except the wealthy trying to live with car if you ever hope to exploit the potential.

Which is pretty much what we have said since last year.

Glad you enjoyed the car, sure its fast, but a heavy fast car is expensive to keep fast. I men, what good and how much fun is a 1 lap time-attack car ;)

Just stop already. Your not changing any ones minds about this car. And too tell you the truth I don't think anyone is even listening anymore. :thumbdown:. Go create a Vette thread and complain all you want about the GTR, or heavy sports cars.

RC45

08-08-2008, 01:24 PM

Just stop already. Your not changing any ones minds about this car. And too tell you the truth I don't think anyone is even listening anymore. :thumbdown:. Go create a Vette thread and complain all you want about the GTR, or heavy sports cars.

This is a DISCUSSION forum.

I am not interested in CHANGING anyone's mind, just DISCUSSING.

I dont GIVE A CRAP if you listen - because you not listening doesnt make me incorrect, it just makes you less informed ;)

Maybe all you want is a series of threads where all you read is people agreeing blindly and stroking each others egos and back slapping etc.

Well, sorry to say, this is not the "Yes Man Forum" - this is the "Motor World Forum".

Live with it.

:)

haro

08-08-2008, 01:33 PM

Just stop already. Your not changing any ones minds about this car. And too tell you the truth I don't think anyone is even listening anymore. :thumbdown:. Go create a Vette thread and complain all you want about the GTR, or heavy sports cars.

I agree with srfairladyz about this - Your not changing any ones minds about this car. And too tell you the truth I don't think anyone is even listening anymore, but it's RC45 thoughts about R35 GT-R, and no one will change them.

RC45

08-08-2008, 01:37 PM

I agree with srfairladyz about this - Your not changing any ones minds about this car. And too tell you the truth I don't think anyone is even listening anymore, but it's RC45 thoughts about R35 GT-R, and no one will change them.

Whats different? You can never change the fanboise mind -- evah... and before the R35 even went on sale the GT-R fanboise stopped listening to reason.

I bet the day the magazines stop printing the hero-worsjip articles because "the next newest thing" has come along, the fanboise will call the magazines liars and haters ;)

Tell you what, when I get to drive the R35 I will report back and tell you what it feels like - but that still wont change the reality of what it is and how it achieves it.

I find it amusing that you all mistake my objective observations as hate ;) This is quite far from the thruth - I am the consumate "car fan" and have drivena nd enjoyed a fair variety on the street and the track - I guess being objective is most often taken t omean "ahte" when you dont dance to the fans-tunes.

haro

08-08-2008, 01:51 PM

The novelty of tyres/brakes/parts will get old vey quickly for anyone except the wealthy trying to live with car if you ever hope to exploit the potential - i dont think this is very objective because you can say it about all cars not only R35 GT-R.
Tell you what, when I get to drive the R35 I will report back and tell you what it feels like - but that still wont change the reality of what it is and how it achieves it. I will wait for your report :)

RC45

08-08-2008, 02:02 PM

The novelty of tyres/brakes/parts will get old vey quickly for anyone except the wealthy trying to live with car if you ever hope to exploit the potential -
i dont think this is very objective because you can say it about all cars not only R35 GT-R.

Actually, that is very objective - because the GT-R is relyingon the electro-gizmos to meter out and manage the use of the available mechanical grip for you - so it's important to know and understand this in the context of the available performance.

Unlike many other vehicles that are simply lighter to reduce the stress and strain on the brakes, tyres and suspenion... Like the GT3 as an example - the consumate trackday weapon ;)

Tell you what, when I get to drive the R35 I will report back and tell you what it feels like - but that still wont change the reality of what it is and how it achieves it.
I will wait for your report :)

And I will report back, objective as ever ;)

srfairladyz

08-08-2008, 02:09 PM

ZZzzz... Zzzz... Next forum.

Woohoo

08-08-2008, 02:10 PM

Actual manufacturer tread wears are not comparable in any way shape or form. They are not industry standardized. After the road and track article the autocrosser from the article wrote that the tires on the car were of a type he would use to run auto crosses with and going from the optional dulops to the bridgestones moved the gtr from way faster then the Z06 to within a few tenths.

I know that. I was just saying that the treadwear wasn't 80.

RC45

08-08-2008, 02:14 PM

ZZzzz... Zzzz... Next forum.

Quite the hater I see.. ;)

This is your best effort at participating in a discussion forum? Your loss.. ;)

LOL I will be sure to post up my R35 fun and games in a format that you will be sure to ignore...

pagani

08-08-2008, 02:18 PM

Quite the hater I see.. ;)

This is your best effort at participating in a discussion forum? Your loss.. ;)

LOL I will be sure to post up my R35 fun and games in a format that you will be sure to ignore...
I agree whit you on this one but still love the r35 gtr

haro

08-08-2008, 02:27 PM

Actually, that is very objective - because the GT-R is relyingon the electro-gizmos to meter out and manage the use of the available mechanical grip for you - so it's important to know and understand this in the context of the available performance. (Think about Ferrari ;-))they are doing the same as GT-R, and in the true i just understand that GT-R maybe isnt so fun to drive because electro-gizmos ruins Ferrari, so if something can ruin Ferrari than it can ruin enything:crying:

Woohoo

08-08-2008, 02:43 PM

5vz-fe

08-08-2008, 02:46 PM

If computer can't save you.....most likely not, you won't be able to save the car once it goes beyond the limit.

haro

08-08-2008, 02:59 PM

If computer can't save you.....most likely not, you won't be able to save the car once it goes beyond the limit.

Sadly it's true

pagani

08-08-2008, 03:06 PM

If computer can't save you.....most likely not, you won't be able to save the car once it goes beyond the limit.
No car is idot proof.

5vz-fe

08-08-2008, 03:25 PM

No car is idot proof.

Everything is relative.

RC45

08-08-2008, 03:32 PM

(Think about Ferrari ;-))they are doing the same as GT-R, and in the true i just understand that GT-R maybe isnt so fun to drive because electro-gizmos ruins Ferrari, so if something can ruin Ferrari than it can ruin enything:crying:

Ferrari use the techno gizmos to enhance the available performance, not manage the excess weight.

In the F-Car your tyres and brakes will cook off due to ungodly speeds reached while lapping.. the R35 will cook off the brkaes and tyres because they are being over taxed by the excess weight.

All that kinetic energy has to go somewhere....

04RCSTI

08-08-2008, 10:44 PM

All that kinetic energy has to go somewhere....

TEH KERS!!!

But seriously, I didn't want this thread to turn into the same old shit. The car felt extremely solid and stable at speed. What else can I tell you all about it, I wish someone would find some other angle to talk about other than the same thing over and over. I'm sure I'll get a ride in a ZR1 sooner than later... We took a Carrera S (997) out for a spin too. What an amazing daily driver...just perfect.

RC45

08-09-2008, 12:09 AM

TEH KERS!!!

But seriously, I didn't want this thread to turn into the same old shit. The car felt extremely solid and stable at speed. What else can I tell you all about it, I wish someone would find some other angle to talk about other than the same thing over and over. I'm sure I'll get a ride in a ZR1 sooner than later... We took a Carrera S (997) out for a spin too. What an amazing daily driver...just perfect.

Only turns into the "same old shit" because some folks can't stand that other people have differing opinions ;)

5vz-fe

08-09-2008, 12:17 AM

Damn, 95k is alot of markup for a mass production car.

04RCSTI

08-09-2008, 02:25 AM

Yeah, I dont get that either. It's part of life... You simply cant agree with everyone.

We know it's heavy though, and we know the tires will take all the heat, and that its a one lap wonder. We know all that, im just trying to give you all a more organic review.. So we can discuss the things that it does well and the things it doesnt. I dont see why every time the GT-R comes up, we have to start talking about fanboys and weight and sticky tires and computer gizmos. I think it's kinda sad that people get caught up on those things and don't realize, for example, the achievement that is its transmission and the engine that nissan fit into that car. If we didnt get caught up in this same crap then we might know other things about it..

fordgt84

08-09-2008, 10:02 AM

nthfinity

08-09-2008, 10:35 AM

RC45

08-09-2008, 02:57 PM

If we didnt get caught up in this same crap then we might know other things about it..

Not really - we have seen this before. Without the "interaction" all you see are self-praising backslapping self-gratifying posts and no-one questions anything.

The result? False and exagerate information promogates to all corners. ;)

This way all the information is exposed, and readers can make up their own minds.

:)

04RCSTI

08-09-2008, 05:23 PM

Not really - we have seen this before. Without the "interaction" all you see are self-praising backslapping self-gratifying posts and no-one questions anything.

The result? False and exagerate information promogates to all corners. ;)

This way all the information is exposed, and readers can make up their own minds.

:)

Yeah but you're not letting people make up their own minds, youre telling them what to think. I'm definitely not denying that what you say is true, and I'm not about to turn this thread into fanboi heaven, but there are other aspects that need to be considered.

I'm not saying lets all agree and lets not "interact" (I dont know who you're quoting with that btw) but lets talk about other things perhaps?

As far as false and exaggerate information, you know I wouldn't agree with someone for the sake of agreeing, but rather because something makes technical sense and its a fact-backed statement.

The information you want to expose, HAS been exposed several times. Almost seems like you're on a crusade to expose it on every single thread about anything remotely linked to the gtr. I dont think you like the car and being the opinionated person you are (nothing wrong with that) you cant allow the discussion to turn into anything else.

It has been established that this is not the greatest car ever made. NO one in this thread is saying it is anything other than what it is. Everyone in this thread should already know that the car has its flaws. Just let it go, if its so heavy and so bad then there should be some really good factors making up for the shortcomings in order for it to perform the way it does.

Like I said, there are many other angles to look at that youre clearly ignoring in light of the stuff you usually point out. Frankly I'm not even interested in discussing this car anymore, its pathetic that this forum cant get past the same fkin issue. Over and over again.

I know you dont like misinformed people, aka fanbois who love the car but dont know why. I understand where you come from, but you cant save everyone..

RC45

08-09-2008, 08:19 PM

All hail the mighty R35. :)

DeMoN

08-09-2008, 10:10 PM

I just came back to the US 2 weeks ago and on the airport I saw some magazines with the Vette the 911 and some had the F430 being compared along with the GTR. All of those reviews placed the GTR in first place. I read through them and none mentioned that after testing the GTR on the track they felt it was going to let go. I am not convinced yet that it is a 1-time marvel around tracks. I guess we will have to see when and if they are used in races like LeMans or those Japanese reviews.

RC45

08-09-2008, 10:13 PM

DeMoN

08-10-2008, 11:35 AM

They already race them... as RWD V8 light weight cars ;)

what was the outcome? Which show/magazine did this?

and lol @ RWD light

Yaroslav WRX

08-10-2008, 11:58 AM

Thank you 04RCSTI
Great review.
Hope I'll somehow have a chance to drive one of these :-D

04RCSTI

08-10-2008, 04:37 PM

Thank you 04RCSTI
Great review.
Hope I'll somehow have a chance to drive one of these :-D

Youre welcome, nice car btw. Hows that meth treating you?

79TA

08-15-2008, 05:20 AM

Power:
First impression...the acceleration is mind-blowing, spun all four on cold tires. The way this thing goes fast is kinda weird. It accelerates just as hard in every gear till 4th when we got off it because we were on a public road. Its just seamless, the shifts feel like little blips that just make the car go faster. It has no lag, it almost doesn't feel like a turbo car in any gear and it pulls ridiculously hard from very low RPM's. If it weighs 3800 pounds, then it hides it damn well. Its, dare I say it?, physics defying. The last time I felt acceleration like that was on an Ariel Atom 2, the supercharged one. The speed felt very similar, but while the Ariel felt like free energy was pushing it along, the GT-R felt like there was a giant invisible hand pushing it from behind. Like big big power pushing something with mass.

If you got anywhere near the numbers it runs in the magazines, it's going to feel dang quick. That would make for a fun ride! While I'll stand by the underrated hp theory, remember that this car has an aggressive 3.70:1 gear ratio. There's a reason hot rodders refer to a gear ratio change as "waking a car up." With it comes compromises mostly in that you lose low rpm highway cruising. I find it kind of funny that this sort of compromising "yestertech" found its way into the car that has come to symbolize speed through technowizardry.

Spatizzle

08-16-2008, 11:41 AM

I didn't know they made ones with left-hand drive.. (everything on the left side) ... well now i know, lol...

04RCSTI

08-16-2008, 08:59 PM

I didn't know they made ones with left-hand drive.. (everything on the left side) ... well now i know, lol...

oh is that what left-hand drive means?