Is the 2021 Nissan GT-R Still a Budget Super Car?

Is the 2021 Nissan GT-R still relevant in a market full of double-clutch transmissions and turbochargers? Does it still wow us the way it used to? Zack went to Colorado to find out.

This 2021 Nissan GT-R Premium still has the same foundation as the first one: a 3.8- liter V6 packing twin turbos anda 6-speed dual clutch sending power to all four wheels. The body is a mix of aluminum, steel, and carbon. For 2021, Nissan got rid of some trim levels, added a color, and changed a few other things but fundamentally it's the same car. A ground-up refresh would be nice but Nissan isn't exactly flush with cash these days.

#cars #NissanGTR #thesmokingtire

Follow us!
T: @thesmokingtire @zackklapman
IG: @thesmokingtire @fakezackklapman

Check out our PODCAST! Over 100,000 listeners and counting!

NEW SHIRTS!

[DopetheWind]

If you pull up to a 2008 as opposed to a new one, you will know instantly because it'll have a body kit, a wrap, and the distinct smell of corn.

[jayr]

WTF who told y’all to update the production value… nice visuals, editing and sound… keep it up good video

[gunsandcommissions]

Me and my kids are big into the drag racing scene, particularly the no prep "street" type events (but not on the street, at the drage strip). Events like TX2K and FL2K. The GTR is a legend in these circles and you see them in every single flavor possible.

Almost every time we're at one of those events, my kids ask me "if you could have any supercar, what would it be?" My answer is always the GTR, not because it's the best, but because I could take them with me.

[Official_MikeyT]

I'm a time traveller from 800 years in the future. The first batch of R36 press cars have just begun to make their way into the hands of reviewers and Nissan VIP clients.

[dan.r]

It's most impressive that 14 years later with almost no changes it's still as good of a performer as it is. When you build something so good to start with what's the logic in building something different? it's hard to replace it when it's still punching above it's weight over a decade later.

[rockervdrive]

I remember hearing when the GTR came with 20" wheels from the factory. That was huge back in the day for a Japanese car! Now a Civic Type-R has factory 20" wheels.

[GNXperimental]

Still looks modern to me, hell even the R34 still looks pretty modern to me.

[ThatRosco]

Glad you found one of the good local roads, gotta love Colorado

[m.j]

Great review. I have had 2 R35s now. Current one is a 2017 track edition with upgraded GT3 turbos and carbon ceramics (800HP). The back skips out in turns and is an absolute adrenaline rush. Still attracts a lot of attention.

[larssonk]

Has it really been that long!? GT-R aged well

[unbll]

Imagine if Porsche was still making 997.1's and keeping a straight face trying to sell them to us.

[simonwatling]

the fact that your actually comparing a 2008 chassis to a new BMW comp is testament in it self... ive never liked the style personally... but that it even holds up is just mind blowing to me :)

[kylem]

I tend to look at the GTR now not as a budget alternative to a 911 turbo but as the platform to build a durable 1200hp car for a 1/10th what it would in a Porsche. It’s a thrill seeker platform.

[VaunShiz]

People are spending 100k just on a M4 ... Gtr looks like a bargain now

[STRGHTSXBNZ]

My first memory with the GTR was during my internship at a Dutch car magazine in 2011. That was after the first facelift. I was given the privilege to return the GTR to Nissan Netherlands. Mind you; I just turned 20 then, so 550hp was quite a bit... When they gave me the keys the told me: "Be careful. Don't be "that" intern, ok?"
I did two regular launches from a stop light, but nothing crazy, as I was terrified of breaking or crashing a +120k € vehicle.
However, after I returned the vehicle and got back to the office, my manager told me that Nissan Netherlands immediately put the car on a scanner and found multiple error codes and overheating history. Turns out they had to replace the complete ECU afterwards to be able to fix it. And they were pretty mad.
So I was immediately suspect, as I was the inexperienced kid who drove it last. Luckily for me, I had an older colleage with me during the return and he could testify that we did not do anything out of the ordinairy.
Later that afternoon another colleage, who actually had the car for testing that week, mentioned that he put it on a dyno session to see if the car really put out 550 hp or not. Unfortunately the dyno session was during a severe heatwave and the car put on a shitload of warning lights afterwards. After a couple restarts they managed to reset those lights and they never thought anything of it, until Nissan Netherlands went to read the log of the vehicle...
Still; special place in my heart that car. Fastest accelerating vehicle I've driven to date.

[SaveTheManuals]

The R35 was so far ahead of everyone else when it came out. It represents everything I can't stand about modern cars but you can't deny this car was a leader in the industry.

[DylanTK]

the car was $75k when it came out; inflation adjusted, that would put it at ~$99k today.

however, as said in the video it is now $114k which is a decent bump in price for a 14 yr old vehicle. Sure, it's had revisions and upgrades to try to modernize, but yeah overall I'm not sure it's very compelling.

[tommygeary]

When you said the base price went up 14 grand in the last 14 years, you meant 40 grand right? Because it used to be a $70k car now it starts at $110K

[charlesshamseldin]

As always Zach, succinct, well spoken, well thought out.
I keep saying it but I've been preferring you over Farah and to think I used to skip any videos you did in the beginning.
I feel a Zach binge watch coming on.

[doctasimon]

maybe its just me, but i would love if you would keep it more "one take" with the view of the road ahead and the driver in splitscreen. as a viewer i think that you then get a better impression of how the car behaves on the road. still, best car content on youtube :)