R34 GT-R v Ferrari 360, owner's thoughts

[sentra_dude]

I found this over on FerrariChat...thought I'd share it with you guys since its pretty interesting, and nice to hear what an actual owner thinks of the cars instead of a journo. Enjoy:

" R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R vs Ferrari 360 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I got a private message asking me to compare my new 360 vs the GT-R; here's the result... Comparison: GT-R vs 360 Modena 1st I would like to say that both cars are sensational to own and drive. Both are very special and both are costly to run, insure, service and use everyday. Regarding rarity, the R34 GT-R is rare in Europe, only 80 official imports where done and approx 100-150 cars through personal imports. The R34 GT-R V-Spec is actually quite a bit rarer than 360 then, in total they made significantly less cars in total than Ferrari did. I cannot contain my excitement about the Ferrari 360 though, it is just an amazingly special car, it gets SOO much attention you wouldn't believe BUT its also more difficult to live with than the GT-R. Most people who don't know cars (i.e. the average joe in UK) thinks the GT-R (particularly in Bayside Blue like my old one) is a new Subaru or Evo which isn't particularly flattering. Doesn't really say 'prestige' but more jap rally stage special. It certainly gets its fair share of attention! Nobody EVER wants to race you when you own a GT-R The GT-R can be tuned to huge power and the interior is quite nice but not very special either. The UK cars where a lot better because they had full connolly leather seats but even this doesn't compare with the 360's interior. In stock form the GT-R feels composed but not very fast (they had 330 hp stock), as soon as you simply fit a performance exhaust, downpipes, race cats & exhaust the boost pressure automatically rises and the car becomes sensational. Its a day to night transformation, the car becomes alive, spitting and banging from its exhaust and sounding like a proper rally stage car. Day to day its very difficult to consider leaving the 360 in many public places for fear of people who are jealous (just because its a ferrari!) wanting to damage it (thats the mentality of the British, may be different in US). You also crazily cannot buy locking alloy wheel bolts for a Ferrari (!) crazy but true! The GT-R, well I did use it everyday and I did park it in public places (And yes I did have a Satellite Tracking system on it too!). The 360 style and shape is love by everyone, particularly women (I kid you not!!) and its amazing how much attention you get from them wink. I kid you not but ever since buying the 360 I've been having to beat them off with a stick Conversly the GT-R tends to be hated by women (in general) as an 'on steroids' legal street racer (which by all accounts it is!). They see it as too aggressive and have no clue how much you spent on it (tuning on the GT-R is very addictive as there is just so much stuff avaliable for it, by stark comparison to Ferrari's which don't see much in the way of aftermarket, give or take the odd Tubi!). My GT-R new cost £54,000 (approx $110,000 usd), the 360's are selling for $130k-$200k in the uk). All blokes seem to love the GT-R though, so take your pick!! hehe The 360 actually feels quicker that the GT-R in stock form but it is much harder to drive (!) than the GT-R. I feel ultimately the 360 is more satisfying as a result. The GT-R is quite easy to drive fast and any 'ham fisted' movements don't get the car out of shape, i.e. it makes bad drives look like they are really good, really flatters them!! heh. Its also a LOT of fun to drive fast, e.g. you still have to wind off the correct amount of opposite lock, its genuinely a lot of fun, unlike some other 4wd's. Tuning potential of the GT-R is otherworldly, its what has given the car such a reputation. I drove in a 650hp tuned GT-R and its quite unlike anything else, its totally amazing! Think everyday drivable Enzo! (I kid you not!) In the GT-R you feel like its a much smaller car than it is whereas in the 360 I would say it feels like its much BIGGER than it really is. (surprisingly bad visibility out of the rear for reversing in the 360, still trying to get used to it!). Controversally I'd say the metal gated manual 360 the better can than the F1. Driving the metal gated shifter for me is SENSATIONAL. I am not a big fan of the F1 auto's (I have an auto Lexus GS for my everyday car which I love, but its no sports car!). I really believe a sports car should be 'involving' and the 360 manual really is the purest form of that, I really enjoy shifting! I wouldn't say all the electronics get in the way of fun in the GT-R either (certainly not) but the 360 still has the edge. Gear shift in GT-R really is excellent too (another 6 speeder), although without that tactile and sensational click-clack of the metal gated 360 shifter. In truth I just love the 360 and would not ever consider a GT-R over it, its a much better car, it handles better, has higher prestige (and everyone's heard of Ferrari) but it can get you into trouble in more ways than one. The jealous nature of people is that if you tell your boss you bought a 'Nissan', even if it is a GT-R thats not so bad. Try telling someone like your boss you've got a 360 and they'll say they are paying you too much! This also stands for both insurance AND running costs which are WAY higher on the 360 than the GT-R. *(actually ironically the Ferrari was cheaper to insure than the GT-R) Also every day driving is taken in its stride by the GT-R, its a surprisingly comfortable car that can literally go around bends at 100mph (no joke) without feeling scary! The 360 is even difficult to get the stock power down when its damp. I find it difficult to 'boot it' without wheel spin in 2 or even 3rd. In the GT-R you can put your foot fully to the floor and be off! Ironically the 360 feels more like the racer than the GT-R does, the GT-R feel much more 'GT', more composed and civilised than the 360 does! Overall I think both are brilliant cars but by a long margin the 360 has it licked. The fact that I am comparing the GT-R with the 360 really shows how good it is (especially at 400+hp, its chassis really handles extra power exceptionally well). It really is as good as the reputation that bestow's it. I am smitten, i love my 360 like no other car I've ever owned! "

by 360trev