I recently had a chance to take a GT-R around a track near Las Vegas Speedway. Last year I did the same thing with the Audi R8 V10.

I'm a big Nissan fan. I have a 300zx TT that I posted about a while back.

In any event, I had a few remarks about both vehicles that I thought a few people would find interesting. Oh, I should also declare that I pushed both of them pretty hard to the limit with the computer watching my every move (ie, yaw, tsc, active suspension, etc etc)


GT-R

What I liked...

This car is very friendly to someone who probably has never driven fast before. It is a technical guru around the track. Going too fast into a turn? Brake a bit and keep aiming at the apex. No worries...the GT-R will make sure the rear end stays put.

Exiting the turn with full throttle? Again, no worries...the GT-R will vector a little to the inside tires if you start to over-rotate.

Coming up over a hill and start turning into a corner? The GT-R has an answer for that as well.

What I didn't exactly like...

The car is insanely fast and powerful and an brute. It weighs 3800+ lbs and while you can feel that it is a heavy car, Nissan has done a masterful job of masking it with computers. However, I'd say that is my biggest gripe. Sure, you can work on technique and hone your skill on the track. You can dial back the traction or stability control (I didn't). At that point I question how a person will manage the weight and power.


Audi R8

What I liked...

If the GT-R is a butcher knife then the Audi R8 is a paring knife. This car is 3300 lbs. It doesn't have the sheer terrifying power that the GT-R has below 3000 RPM, but it responds very well to steering input. You point and turn and the car darts exactly where you'd like it to go. The best part? You can manage the vehicle without feeling like the car is helping every step of the way. I'm sure it is there...possibly doing something, but it isn't obvious.

I also thought the interior of the car was a bit more fitting for that level of a vehicle. I will say the price point for a Audi R8 V10 is far far higher than a GT-R, but I thought I'd mention it. I also thought the paddle shifters were a little more ergo friendly in the R8.

What I didn't like...

Compare to the GT-R, the R8 V10 feels a bit tame until the RPMs rev. Yes it is fast as hell, but has a delayed onset of acceleration as you floor it. The GT-R responds with a, "you want to go fast? I'll show you, you arrogant SOB!" The Audi R8 V10 in turn, says, "alright. let's get your shades on...turn on the tunes, and get moving. yes sir".

I had this debate with a Nissan community which was sort of pointless.

I preferred taking the v10 R8 around the track. It felt more like I was driving the car instead of the car driving me. Keep in mind the GT-R will beat a V10 Audi around just about any track you find, but that's besides my point.







I should also say my fastest lap was within 0.5-0.7s of one another.

Sounds like you had a good time. I have yet to drive the GTR or the Audi. Thanks for the driving impressions.

The fun of a GTR is when you push it to its breaking point and no it and then you work the rest of your life keeping just on the same side of that line. I have had two opportunities to go over the edge with mine (driving on a sealed track at near freezing temps makes for a fun skating rink, and taking turn 7 at TWS at ~100mph in a stock GTR causes it to exit off the track lol) and it opened up a world of possibilities with the car.

Most people find the GTR boring because they never come close to the edge of that car because driving it aggressively as opposed to any other car is boring for its computer controlled mind. But once you shift your comfort zone of what is sane and realign it with the GTR's point it becomes so much more fun.

Thanks for the review and I would love to drive an R8 on the track!

Nice review.

As a longtime Nissan guy, I am definitely a GT-R fan. I'm impressed that Nissan have made such a large heavy car so fast and so capable.

But yeah, they're noisy, have supercar maintenance costs, and will never really feel luxurious, You can clearly tell where the money was spent. Definitely have to recalibrate your expectations of "driver involvement" and how far you're willing to push, to truly appreciate them.

I think it's interesting that it has taken so many years for other manufacturers to catch up to the GT-R's capabilities at comparable price points (like the new Z06). And that Nissan have continued to improve the car with each model year, keeping a relatively old platform so competitive.

Would love to experience either one of those 2 rides.

Any pics of the R8? I have never driven the R8 but need to experience that at some point as I have progressed from my wife's old A4, to an S4, to my current S7. An R8 seems the next logical choice but wife required a backseat for the kiddos in my "fun" car!

Nice review.

I have't driven either, but would certainly want to. I have read all the articles that everyone else has.

So the GT-R seems to be the current best example of "insanely fast and way cheaper than (name a supercar here)." The Vette can't beat it, which is the Amercan version of "insanely fast and way cheaper than ()"

The GT-R is more than suitable for DD use. You might not park it 100 yards away from everything else at Home Depot. No one thinks the GT-R is great looking.

The R8 is the civilized German supercar, more so with the V10. Also suitable for DD use. Great looking too. Fast, but not insanely fast.

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The R8 is the civilized German supercar, more so with the V10. Also suitable for DD use. Great looking too. Fast, but not insanely fast.

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The R8 is a Gallardo in drag, I wouldn't call it German, more like an Italian hooker in Berlin.

I haven't driven an R8, but I've driven a Gallardo twice. It's one hell of a car, the handling is fantastic and that V10 is an angry little *******. The second time I drove it though the clutch was going out, they wouldn't let me use the paddles and downshifts took forever. They also said it was $15k for the Lambo dealership to do the clutch or $9k for a private mechanic. This had to be done every 10 events or so.

I would love to drive a GTR as well. I'm considering the driving experience at Cresson next time. Last I looked they had a GTR. I'll probably drive the Ferrari 360 and Viper as well.

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and taking turn 7 at TWS at ~100mph in a stock GTR causes it to exit off the track lol) and it opened up a world of possibilities with the car.

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What kinda times were you turning at TWS?

BTW, T7 at TWS is really fun on a motorcycle.

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and taking turn 7 at TWS at ~100mph in a stock GTR causes it to exit off the track lol) and it opened up a world of possibilities with the car.

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What kinda times were you turning at TWS?

BTW, T7 at TWS is really fun on a motorcycle.

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2:00-2:01, bone stock with ****ty stock dunlops, but I was happy.

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The R8 is the civilized German supercar, more so with the V10. Also suitable for DD use. Great looking too. Fast, but not insanely fast.

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The R8 is a Gallardo in drag, I wouldn't call it German, more like an Italian hooker in Berlin.

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That's not exactly a bad thing....

But the R8 was Quattro from the beginning, whereas the Gallardo was RWD.

It is an expensive and well dressed hooker.

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Nice review.

As a longtime Nissan guy, I am definitely a GT-R fan. I'm impressed that Nissan have made such a large heavy car so fast and so capable.

But yeah, they're noisy, have supercar maintenance costs, and will never really feel luxurious, You can clearly tell where the money was spent. Definitely have to recalibrate your expectations of "driver involvement" and how far you're willing to push, to truly appreciate them.

I think it's interesting that it has taken so many years for other manufacturers to catch up to the GT-R's capabilities at comparable price points (like the new Z06). And that Nissan have continued to improve the car with each model year, keeping a relatively old platform so competitive.

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Not to mention they simply up the boost every couple of years from 480, 510, 535hp. That car could easily make 600 and not break a sweat.

Did you know it is generating 530hp at 13psi. That is insane.

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and taking turn 7 at TWS at ~100mph in a stock GTR causes it to exit off the track lol) and it opened up a world of possibilities with the car.

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What kinda times were you turning at TWS?

BTW, T7 at TWS is really fun on a motorcycle.

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2:00-2:01, bone stock with ****ty stock dunlops, but I was happy.

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Turned 2:08's in my wife's M3 with worn out run flat tires. It was fun to turn off all the driver aides and just slide it. She only set one rule: Don't come home if you crash it. I didn't lose any time worrying about that......I need a vacation on occasion. 8>)