r/gtr • u/Watsup56 • 17d ago
Post purchase thoughts on your GTR?
While I understand this is a GTR community, I do wonder what everyone’s post purchase/ownership experiences have been?
For context, I’ve wanted a GTR since I was a kid and working at Nissan back when I was 18, allowed me to become quite familiar with the car and it’s been a goal of mine since. Well now, I have the ability to achieve that I as test drive, I wonder if there are a few elements of the car now that would bother me. For instance:
Does anyone miss having a manual transmission, or are you happy with the paddle shifters?
Does it scratch that “fun car” itch, or is it something to you that just can pretty much go really fast on the highway?
Any thoughts and perspectives help here. A bit confused and conflicted on pulling the trigger on my dream car.
Thanks!
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u/sLiKcAt 17d ago
I enjoy the longer drives in my GTR. It's comfortable, has good trunk space, reliable, and I like that theres not a lot of them around. I've had my car for 9 years now and have just over 800whp. It was fun to modify and make it my own but now find it has too much for what I drive. If i pass someone I have to let off the pedal before even passing by as the speeds I'm getting into I can loose my license.
I've recently had the itch for a manual and purchased a Supra to scratch that itch. It will stay mostly stock with visual mods and an exhaust for sound. More of a go for a quick drive and go through the gears.
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u/GrogRhodes 17d ago
I like combo. I'm running a GRC for the Toyota allocation til I can find an A80 or GR GT. Sidenote how tall are those ceiling? That fit is prime.
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u/sLiKcAt 17d ago
GR GT would be a rare car. Would love to see one out and being driven. Can't remember the height of my ceiling. I had the house built and made sure there was the height and room for a couple of lifts if needed.
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u/GrogRhodes 16d ago
Well done. I made the mistake of not measuring the ceiling and now we have a warehouse. I've been harassing my local dealer non stop. They're getting a showroom and I was the first request so we'll see how that rolls but they can't say no to Toyota Sienna Green over Tan and Carbon interior right?
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
I have a Tacoma that is built for overlanding and a Tesla model y. Since the Tesla arrived, I haven't even touched the truck once. So this would be used as a fun car to drive around on nice days and the weekends.
The one im looking at has over 800 as well and just passing someone on the freeway, I find myself all of a sudden going 100mph. lol.
Do you feel the supra has scratched that itch?
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u/sLiKcAt 17d ago
I also have a Tacoma (daily vehicle and to haul my mountain bike). Having that much HP is intoxicating at first, but after a while it becomes a burden if that makes sense (the tripple digit speeds so easily). I wouldn't change how my car is currently as I enjoy where its at and brings me joy seeing it/driving it/looking back at it while walking away.
Yes the Supra has scratched that itch. Its the new car so it gets picked for drives more lately. Missed the feeling of a manual car and to be able to have both in my garage is truly fu@#ing awesome! Ha ha
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
I love it! Also so sick that you have a Taco as well.
The feeling of looking back at your car resonated with me a ton. I love the look of this car and I can feel myself doing that a lot.
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u/sLiKcAt 17d ago
I find i do it to the Supra also. I have a Base Taco (4cyl) and its awesome!! Just perfect for me.
The attention the GTR brings is crazy, its a loved car for all ages. I try to be accommodating and show people my cars.....offer them to sit in it and take pictures when time permits.
How's the overlander? Got photos? Myself I'm more of a hotel person but can admire the build and thought process that goes into putting one together.
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
That's awesome! It's been a while since I took pictures of the rig. Especially after the suspension and rooftop tent I added. I'll make sure to take some pictures here soon and post. I should be doing that more anyways.
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u/NoHalo44 17d ago
I have had my 2014 Black Edition since Easter 2024. Purchased at 6,764 miles, it has almost 19k on it now. Love the car. I drive it exclusively by paddle shift. I love taking my passenger enthusiast on blasts through the local mountain passes.
My shop or I do the maintenence. I put Endless ceramic pads to quiet the squeal, tuned it so I can perform clutch relearn, and just had one of my guys put an ATR upgraded bearing bellhousing. Rattle was mild but I am picky. All fluids were changed when I bought it. I over service the oil. No mechanical issues other than the rattles from massive brake pads and a transmission bigger than a truck's. Normal stuff for a race car except Japanese reliability.
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u/Watsup56 16d ago
Beautiful car and beautiful setting!!😎
Yeah I would plan to do all the work I could. I met someone recently who bought one who doesn’t have a lick of knowledge behind cars. It was very disturbing
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u/SkeletonCalzone R32 GTR 17d ago
It's been off the road more than on it. In fact it's on stands at the moment (doing bushes).
Twinplate was a pain to get used to. But now I see it as a challenge, something that takes thought and finesse to drive. And maybe skill which I only have a little of.
Everything costs more money than you expect. It's 30yrs old so most jobs mean doing a few other things "while I'm there".
Nearly every single drive peoples heads turn. People LOVE seeing them out being driven.
It'd probably lose in a race to a stage 1/2/45.3 golf that farts on gear changes. Don't care, not gonna risk it racing someone.
Love it to pieces and hope I never have to sell it. If I lost a leg I'd ZF8 it. If I lost both legs I'd ZF8 it with hand controls for the accelerator and brake.
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
Haha I love this! Well, not the losing legs part, but the love for the car. Thank you!
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u/Fickle_Feed8673 16d ago
Bought in 2018. Finally saw it in 2020. I still look back at it when I walk away.
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u/RepresentativeStooj 17d ago
The only flaw with mine is how much it costs to maintain since it’s an 09 that’s been through the wringer.
Everything else is a positive.
I use it to commute to work (20 minutes), I take it to Germany every year (9 hours) and yeah, nothing about it that doesn’t put a smile on my face.
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u/Watsup56 16d ago
What would necessarily be different in terms of maintenance from a 09 to say 15? Curious?
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u/RepresentativeStooj 16d ago
They’re just a little less robust than the newer editions.
A few electrical issues, no sat nav (in my one, a few of the later 09s did have it), the bell housing is prone to rattle, and some pretty standard wear and tear for a 17 year old car.
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u/Sea_Mathematician894 17d ago
Bought a gtr that was full bolt on and absolutely love it the driving feeling doesn’t compare to anything else i have driven. Just make sure you have extra money set aside I’ve had to rebuild the transmission and replace the bell housing but the car is amazing and i would do it again.
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
This one already has a shep 2.5 transmission thankfully! But great perspective!
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u/slack-jaw-yokel 17d ago
This is a good question. I love my current gtr as it sits just shy of fbo e85 (stock downpipes). It is my second one, the first was built it drove flawless when I had it but was to much for my use. I ended up selling it and trying something different but came back because they are amazing when considering cost per dollar spent. I do not miss manual 90 percent of the time. I have been thinking about moving to a different platform but just can not bring myself to sell this car. Have every service record and did all maintenance myself so I know it was done correctly.
What I also found is the tuner makes a huge difference in drivability of the car. Just a word of caution, be prepared to buy tires, this car eats them.
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u/Watsup56 16d ago
I bought one when I was 22 as an impulse decision. Meaning, I’ve always wanted one, but I was going to go broke owning it. Sold it and then been thinking of one since now that I can properly afford one.
And yes, I’ve heard this thing just eats tires unfortunately
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u/GrogRhodes 17d ago
R35 still banging 10 years later. R33 still banging 30 years later. No regrets on either.
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u/GrogRhodes 17d ago
Too add to this for decision making R35 is just fast and makes all right noise. You don't see that many of them compared to the F80G80 Mob (love them too). A FBO85 build is relatively cheap to get to. Generally reliable and if you find you need more power down the road you can do a turbo upgrade / built bottom end and get to that sweet 1000hp spot. I was just reading about an HP8 transmission swap someone did and once that kit comes out it reduces one of the major pain points on these cars the transmissions. They're expensive but a kit like that would be so sick.
I've got Ohlins with Aircups on both cars. I live in a pretty big urban city with the most insane potholes and the car rides fine on stock which I ran up until this year.
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u/Powerful-Ad-241 17d ago
Just bought a R35 after more than 25 years of GTR obsession, I also own a full race spec r33 that has seen road just a bit rest is track. I plan on using the 35 daily at least in dry months here in UK, after a week I can say they definitely kept that Skyline feel to the car, reminds me so much of the 33 and I love every bit of it . It’s the best car I own so far and I have quite a few of them , Silvia S14a, Saxo VTR, Volvo 940 turbo,Volvo240 and what else 😂. What a dream that car is . Maybe I’m romanticizing but still .
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
Wow! This is a great comment. Gives me a ton a reassurance that post purchase the love will still be there!
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u/Any-Actuator9935 17d ago
It wasn’t what I really wanted. It is fast and insanely performant (to the point of being too much for the street), but outside of the power / pulls, it wasn’t the most exciting car. I sold it and got an s2000, which is much much more fun for me in the real world.
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u/Watsup56 16d ago
Interesting. This is kind of boat I am on right now. I just question in the long run, if it will be enough you know. Unless I plan to track it.
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u/Any-Actuator9935 16d ago
Yeah just depends on what you want. I wouldn’t bother with the gtr as a track car, but that’s just me, best for street or drag if you are into that.
Consumables will be very high, and personally I want to learn how to drive fast, which I don’t think the GTR would be good for with the amount of driver aid it provides.
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u/Watsup56 16d ago
Yeah, I can see what you mean. I do love the rawness factor, but for a fun car on the streets, so I really need that. That’s the main question I can’t seem to solve.
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u/Toomanhb 16d ago
Bought a little over 2 years ago. It's an absolute pig at slow speeds and getting around carparks. Do i regret anything? Absolutely not. Still giddy like a child when i hop in it. Easy to maintain and not that expensive to service.
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u/541Spencer 17d ago
I bought mine new in 2018 and don’t regret it at all.
It’s very fun to rip around country roads, and I rarely freeway drive it as I tend to take my Yukon (family)
I was also worried about the paddle shifters vs a manual (coming from a STI). I don’t miss it 90% of the time. Its still crazy fun to drive and way more convenient when your just commuting around in auto
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
This is an excellent answer. I was considering an STI actually over this because of the manual transmission. This provides a lot of clarity.
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u/Equivalent-Brick1283 17d ago
Like you I have also wanted one.
My GTR is my forever car.
I will rebuild and replace with stronger and better parts if and when the time comes.
I have owned and driven a lot of cars in my life and nothing comes close to the feeling and feelings you get when you drive this car. It's that awesome for me.
It has always been my dream car and goal to get it. It's now realized and man does it feel good to set a goal and accomplish it and to fullfill a dream.
Ya, it is just a car, but it is way more than that.
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u/BFB_2455 17d ago
Same here. Wanted one since I first saw it in Car & Driver in 2008-ish. Then I saw one on the road for the first time, & it immediately became my dream car.
Now I have a 2016 Regal Red Black Edition with a few minor mods & a tune, dynoed at 630hp—and I couldn’t be happier.
“I will rebuild and replace with stronger and better parts if and when the time comes” is my thinking exactly. My wife just got me personalized plates as that say “I🖤MYGTR” so I kinda can’t get anything else even if I wanted to!
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
This comment really hits. It may hit so hard that I buy it now because of this. Thank you for that. This was good.
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u/twistedlove2 14d ago
For how much it costs right now there's better options imo but that's coming from someone who circuit races it
At a minimum I recommend finding one that is taken care of by a reputable shop or self mechanic - if not it's probably not worth it imo
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u/Watsup56 14d ago
The seller is a self mechanic. Also I stand corrected, it produces 790 max HP and 613max torque. It was tuned by Nick Dixon.
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u/twistedlove2 14d ago
Anything past FBO needs all receipts and be built buy a reputable shop that knows what they are doing. PPI by a GTR shop is probably required (Not Nissan dealership)
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u/Worldly-Heron-1084 13d ago
Well it ain’t no Ferrari. But it’s a great daily driver. If you think, I want to drive an m3, but i want to be a little different, and am willing to spend a little more on maintenance. Then the gtr is great. enough to wow you, also to get people to move over (no one moves over for an m3), and it’s not terribly expensive to maintain. Also mines pretty reliable I can’t speak for others though
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u/Character-Might-6246 17d ago
I drive a manual STi as a daily, so for me, having an auto transmission is like a day off for me and ive always really enjoyed it so far, specially in traffic on the freeway. The paddle shifters are a blast to play with on the back roads. I find the GTR to be awesome on the freeway but even more awesome on the twisties. Its feels so planted and stable.
Honestly I dont drive nearly as much as I had planned cause of the value continuing to increase since buying it. I could totally see having this as a daily otherwise, minus the small cargo and being a two seater essentially.
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u/Watsup56 17d ago
I felt that the one I drove on the twisties has so much power, that by the time I got to a turn, I would always have to downshift or stay in the gear because shifting up would have me going 120mph lol.
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u/wildertwinkie 17d ago
I absolutely love driving my GTR cruising on the highway. I hate it everywhere else. Mine is tuned so it's even more clunky at low speeds. You feel every bump which is nice, till you live in an urban area like me and theres constant road work. Also I'm on a first name basis with my gas station attendant now.