Through Ian's Lens: 2009 Nissan GT-R

The 2009 Nissan GT-R was one of the most anticipated sports cars released in the U.S. this year. A couple of weeks ago, I finally got the chance to set foot inside one. In person, I was thoroughly impressed with the exterior metal, with its sleek lines and simple design folds. The rear spoiler is subtle and functional, while the round red taillights let you know what you’re looking at even from afar.

I like the way the GT-R looks while parked, but I absolutely love the way this car visually interacts with the road when it’s on the go. The tiny grille up front, coupled with an even tinier badge, makes the nose of this car look like it’s digging up the asphalt in front of it. Overall, it appears sleek but not skinny, with boxy, harsh lines that create distinct shapes in the outside panels. The exterior design bucks the conventional “supercar” forms, but it’s not without its own charm.

A full set of photos is below; tell me what you think in the comments section.

Nissan GT-R Supercar Has Strict Warranty

A story has spread on the Internet over the past week about a 2009 Nissan GT-R owner who couldn’t get his warranty to cover a blown transmission. The problem? He says he had turned off the stability control to use the car’s launch control feature. That mistake cost him $20,000 in repairs. 

We contacted Nissan about this problem — they seemed well aware of the Internet story — and were told that using the launch control feature or turning off the VDC by themselves would not void the warranty. However, if the two features are being abused and lead to damage than the warranty is void. We list the excerpted warranty below and it includes normal stipulations about modifications, racing and other changes that void warranties. 

Nissan wasn’t able to quantify how owners could use the car, meaning how many times it could be driven on a track or other hard uses. There are other GT-R owners who have complained about the transmission, but many on the original Internet forum thread attacked the original story’s author for not being a good enough driver. 

The result remains for GT-R owners: Don’t drive your 0-60-mph-in-3.5-second GT-R too hard if you’re not willing to pay for it. 

Related
Cars.com 2009 Nissan GT-R Review
Bad GT-R Transmission Thread (NAGTROC Forums)

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Nissan GT-R

Hold on to your hats … senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder calls the much-heralded 2009 Nissan GT-R not fun to drive! Can you believe it? The audacity. The sacrilege. The gall. 

Well, really he’s just talking about the daily driver’s meaning of fun. Those who live and die for track time, on the other hand, might have found the perfect vehicle for their right-footed flights of fancy. Check out his full review of every aspect of the GT-R, from track-day companion to comfortable real-world vehicle.

2009 Nissan GT-R Expert Review

Nissan Taking GT-R Pre-Orders

Nissan announced today that it's accepting pre-orders for its 480-hp, all-wheel-drive GT-R sports car.

The GT-R — priced from $69,850 base to $71,900 for the Premium trim — will be sold through 691 certified dealerships; destination and handling charges haven't been announced yet.

Nissan spokesman Darryll Harrison said Nissan expects to sell about 2,500 GT-Rs in the first year. Certified GT-R dealerships have gone through unique training in their sales and service departments to accommodate the specialty sports car.

Ready to buy your own GT-R? We're jealous, but you can find a list of certified GT-R dealerships at nissanusa.com. If you're lucky enough to reserve one, customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in June.

Related
Nissan Can't Stop GT-R Markups
Nissan GT-R News
Up Close With the Nissan GT-R

Nissan Can't Stop GT-R Markups

How long after the exotic 2009 Nissan GT-R arrives in showrooms next June will the first speculator put one up for sale on eBay in order to make a quick profit?

The guesstimate is seconds, or about the same time it will take some dealers to tack a premium on the car and sell it significantly above the sticker price in order to make a hefty profit.

Nissan says it can't stop either from happening with the GT-R, a $70,000-plus sports car powered by a 473-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 teamed with a six-speed automatic.

Video: 2009 Nissan GT-R

If you only see one car at the L.A. auto show, it better be the Nissan GT-R. We have to wait an agonizing seven more months before it comes to the states, but right now you can at least check out this video, featuring senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder giving it a thorough overview from the show floor. We can’t wait to spend 3.5 seconds in that thing on the road.

Up Close With the Nissan GT-R

• The first thing you notice when you sit in the GT-R is that the sport bucket front seats are rather narrow. The large bolsters grip your back mightily, which doesn't normally happen to me when I'm in a performance car; there's always a little space between the side of my back and the bolsters. The dash of the GT-R is a mishmash of design themes. The round air vents are in contrast with the angular center portion of the dash, which is dominated by a large infotainment screen. I didn't find the outside of the car very cohesive, either; there's just too many elements in play, like circular taillights matched with angular headlights and a slab-sided body. That said, I'm inclined to think some time in the driver's seat might change my tune. — Mike Hanley

2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Nissan GT-R

• Competes with: Corvette Z06, Ford Mustang GT 500, Porsche 911
• Looks like: A 13-year-old’s doodlings during algebra class
• Drivetrain: 473-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 with dual-clutch transmission; all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: In Japan, December 2007; in U.S., first half of 2008

The worst-kept secret in automotive history finally got its public introduction today in Tokyo. Nissan has unveiled its “supercar,” named GT-R. A famed Japanese nameplate, this beast will be unleashed on U.S. roads early in 2008 at a price tag close to $80,000. For that money, you get a demonic-looking sports car that can hit 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 193 mph.

The GT-R is not meant for the faint of heart, although it does have seating for four and a trunk, so maybe Nissan expects you to take it on trips with friends. We don’t know about that, but owners will undoubtedly be taking trips to every stoplight they can find with this thing.

Only a select number of Nissan dealerships will be certified to sell and maintain the GT-R, and the company says it will take care of all “adjustments” to keep the car running at optimum levels for the first three years of ownership. That sounds like this might be one particularly hard-to-tame animal. We’ll follow the GT-R as it gets closer to its U.S. release and official prices and dealers are announced. Of course, you can get on a mailing list now through Nissan’s U.S. website. We’d also suggest getting your name on a waiting list if you don’t mind sight-un-driven impulse buys. As always, more photos below.