iPhone Road shot "Nissan GT-R"

I know it's been a while since I've posted, and my apologies to all my readers! Sometimes life has you pulled in so many different directions, the little things you enjoy most (like writing useless crap about cars) gets put on the side burner.

Despite my absence from blogging over the past few months, I have been vigilant in continuing to keep a pulse on the shaky Auto industry. More importantly, I've continued to keep an eye out for cool cars I spot while out and about.

After so much praise, confusion, speculation, and argument, I finally got the chance to see the Japanese Uber coupe Nissan GTR on the road. The car has a very demanding presence that I never quite realized from all the pictures and videos I've seen. It just so happened one pulled up next to me while out on a Friday night and I was quite surprised how flamboyant the car is on the road. Glancing around at other drivers stopped around us, I quickly realized how many jaws were dropped seeing this beast in person. Everyone from the hat off centered pimply faced teenager in the riced out Honda civic, to the Baby Boomer in the Town and Country... This car demands attention! To my surprise, the GT-R isn't very loud at idle (notice I had to drop the window to get a listen to that exhaust note...)

Road Test: 2009 Nissan GT-R - MSN Autos

Link to a road test review on the amazing new Nissan GT-R from MSN Autos!

Road Test: 2009 Nissan GT-R - MSN Autos

2009 Nissan GT-R

For years Nissan has been holding back it's flagship, techno masterpiece Skyline from the U.S. market. Little was known in the states about the Skyline series Nissan until the hugely popular video game "Grand Turismo" took off like a Zero in the late 1990's. Instantly the Nissan Skyline became the must have car for the playstation generation.

For years many in the U.S. begged and pleaded with Nissan to release it's previous generation Skyline (R34) in the U.S. market. Top exec's and Nissan still couldn't believe the U.S. market was ready for a 70K plus econo box with more digital gizmo's than a Las Vegas tech convention. Another problem that Nissan engineers realized was it was just to costly to reconfigure the car for left hand drive.

Finally after all these years, your dreams of a $70K+ Nissan have arrived!! And the beast from the east has affectionately been named the Nissan GT-R!! At first glance this car plays proportion tricks with the eyes. Body lines seems to abruptly start and stop at random. There are very few design hints from it's older Skyline GT-R R34 cousin. But, if you look really hard, it still looks like a Skyline. At first the design wasn't my favorite. Over time though, from when I first saw the concept drawings for this car, it really has grown on me.

The interior keeps with Skyline tradition with no over the top luxury items. Basically it's a sea of plastic, nobs and digital read outs telling you everything from oil pressure and G's pulled, to your most recent high score. Power is delivered from a rear mounted (remember the Porsche 928?) dual clutch (Audi DSG anyone?) 6 speed flappy paddle gearbox. Mated with a ultra high tech All-wheel drive system, the new Nissan GT-R is living up to it's techno showcase badge so far.

Now comes the real business of this car. Gone is the longtime inline 6 cylinder turbo from the previous R34 Skyline. Instead Nissan has elected to go with a twin-turbo, twin intake, 3.8 liter V6 pumping out an understated 480HP & 430 ft. lbs of torque. I emphasize understated because this car weighs in at over 3900 lbs! According to Car and Driver, the Nissan GT-R ran a 0-60 time in an eye popping 3.3 seconds!!!! finishing off the quarter mile in a mere 11.5 seconds at 124 mph. This is Enzo territory folks.

Nissan may have changed everything with the 2009 GT-R. If 70K can now buy you that kind of performance, it will have every fiery Italian car designer scratching their head. If your only concern is pure performance, and badge appeal with matching hand sewn luggage is not on your list of top priorities, I can't see why anyone would elect for anything other than this playstation racer dream come true!

(Thanks to Bryan for the great image from the Philly auto show!)

A great 5th Gear test video of the Nissan GT-R!

2008 Nissan GT-R - Photo Gallery - Motor Trend

2008 Nissan GT-R - Photo Gallery - Motor Trend

A nice photo gallery from Motor Trend of the new 2008 Nissan GT-R. I really like the steering wheel.. It looks very aggressive and in your face. The big red "R" beams out to remind the driver at all times exactly what he's driving.. I am still not sold on the exterior styling. I liked the old Skyline's understated appearance. Maybe this new GT-R will grow on me over time, I'm just excited to see this car finally hit the U.S. market after all these years! I'll be sure and post more on the 2008 Nissan GT-R.

"Wall Poster Classics" 1990 Nissan 300ZX

The early 1990's was an odd time for the Automotive industry. Technology was finally starting to catch up with restrictive U.S. emissions. New engine development had made it possible for cars to reach horsepower levels similar to the power crazed muscle car era without destroying a rain forest with every tank of gas.

It was time for a Car company to take a leap of faith to show the U.S. and the world what was possible in new car design. Just as they had done in 1970 with the original 240Z, Nissan kicked off another decade with the amazing 1990 Nissan 300ZX.

This particular 300ZX is a 1990 2+2 model with leather, Bose, automatic and pretty much all the options available when new. It belonged to my parents and unfortunately this old girl was sold a while back. Affectionately named "Ruby," I have many fond memories of this amazing car.

The naturally aspirated 300ZX's 3.0 liter V6 produced 222hp and 200 lbs. ft. torque. Which was quite a lot of power for it's day. When the 300ZX turbo was introduced it produced an astonishing 300hp and 283 lbs ft torque! 100HP per liter was an amazing accomplishment. At the time it was the most powerful Japanese production car ever to be introduced to the United States. The 300ZX Turbo ran the infamous Nurburgring in 8 minutes 40 seconds, 6 seconds faster than the legendary Porsche 928GT! Putting all this in perspective, its easy to see just how fast this car was at the time. The Nissan 300ZX was in a league all it's own.

Soon after the 1990 300ZX hit the U.S. market. Other car makers were scrambling to play catch up with Nissan. It Took Mazda and Toyota several years to compete with their redesigned versions of the RX-7 and Supra. It even took Chevrolet 2 years to bump the mighty Corvette up to the 300hp mark.

I have driven both the N/A and Turbo 300ZX. The 2+2 model featured in the pictures wasn't really a rocket ship off the line (weight had become an issue). On the highway was a different story. It's mid range power was fantastic and I remember leaving many cars in its dust. Driving one today is still a blast. It takes big swooping curves with ease. It makes even the most timid driver feel comfortable at high speeds. The 300ZX Turbo's performance is still impressive even by today's standards, but the 300ZX did have it's flaws. I remember the breaks feeling very weak and maintenance can be quite expensive.

Many complained that the 300ZX had become big and heavy. Some even argued it had gone so far from the original 240Z, it shouldn't even be called a sports car anymore. Well, I agree actually. It wasn't.. It was a new generation GT car and a technological showcase for the time. It was the beginning of great things to come.

Towards the end of its run, 300ZX sales had dropped drastically. Pricing was high with very little changes until it's demise in 1996. I think Nissan never made any drastic changes because they didn't have to. They took all the risk and did everything so well, it was everyone else that had to play catch up. I still love seeing these cars on the road and although many have been butchered with aftermarket tuning, there are still nice original 300ZX's around. No doubt in my mind this car will become a classic.. and it remains one of my all time favorites.

Random Rants: The 80's Sheik Digital Dash

It really is a love or hate type thing. I can honestly say I have never met someone that was indifferent towards them. The digital dash craze from the 1980's is something that today I do miss. Maybe it is just a over hyped memory from my childhood. Seeing the 3 square pods on the dash of a first generation C4 Corvette light up was like magic to me! It was as close to Knight Rider as you could get and for a 7 year old boy that was a big deal! The digital dash in the first generation 300zx was pretty darn snappy as well. I loved the big swooping tachometer on the 300zx, it was like something right out of Star Wars. (Laser power at full!! Fire! Fire!)

Looking back now I know they may seem a bit dated. The digital dash has proven a bit problematic over the years as well. I say they should bring back the digital dash! (at least as an option) With today's technology I can only imagine the light show they could put together! Everything seems so cookie cutter and generic now days. There is so much parts bin sharing, cars have lost their uniqueness on the interior.

Hey, one can dream right! A new Knight Rider remake is in the works.. Maybe it will spawn inspiration once again to the new generation of auto designers.

(Hey if anyone has a really cool picture of their car with a digital dash all lit up.. Please feel free to drop me a message and I'll be glad to post them.. Thanks!!!)