I just got delivery of my new GT-R and would like to offer a few (brief) comments.

Handling: When driving the GT-R you feel that you are in complete control. The car feels better planted on the road than my 997. The GT-R is a much heavier car, but you will never be able to tell by the way it handles and how quick it moves.

Power: Of course there is no comparison here. The GT-R has so much more power that it makes the 997 feel sluggish.

Interior: The 997 interior is much more refined. But if you are into gadgets, the GT-R will win you over with all the available displays (G-forces, acceleration graphs, etc). BTW, the GT-R comes with complete iPod integration. Plug in your iPod and see everything displayed on the nav screen (why can't P do that? )

Eye-Catching: The GT-R gets lots of "thumbs-up" and looks from younger people. Crowds can gather quickly around it. Older people probably don't even notice it (they probably do not know what it is!). The 997 does not get those kind of looks anymore (too many on the road already) but I am sure that it gets noticed by young and old (everyone knows that it is a P car!).

In summary, these are two very different cars that are likely to have different appeal to different people. I am very impressed with what Nissan has done here. I am keeping both for now.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and impressions.

While I am not a fan of the GT-R's looks and wouldn't even consider buyign one so long as a proper manual tranny is not an option, I readily tip my hat to Nissan for offering one hell of a performance car at any price. Factor in the MSRP and you have a simply astounding value.

Good on Nissan for making every car maker revisit their product line.

 

I guess I am old, I think that the GTR is one of the ugliest cars I have seen. Quoting someone on another thread, the GTR looks like a bad kit for an ugly car!

Performance wise, can't argue with the numbers.

Enjoy it.

 

Very nice, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've driven both a 997C2S and GT-R as well and although a 997TT would be a better comparison, this was my same impression. Pcar is slower, but looks better and higher quality interior, GT-R is brutally fast, but not easy on the eyes (most people agree). I sold my GT-R to buy my 997S, I don't regret it one bit.

 

I forgot to mention about the transmission. My 997 has a manual transmission. I have driven loaners from my P dealer with the tiptronic. There is NO comparison between the tiptronic and what Nissan has in the GT-R.
I'm talking night and day here! I still prefer a manual transmission because I like the feeling of complete control, but I could never switch gears manually faster than the GT-R. A wicked fast transmission.

 

Which 997 do you currently own nicoff?

 

I have a 2005 C2 Convertible (Black)

 

try the PDK and compare to the GTR...

 

Good idea!

 

Yeah- the PDK has 25 years of Porsche experience behind it, it should prove to be stellar (although the push/pull paddle thing is a bit odd).

Thanks for sharing the GT-R info, drive it like you stole it!

Keep in mind that JDM cars are the "New" hotrod and cool class of car for the younger crowd. Just as 20 years ago American muscle cars and European sports cars were the spotlight. Go to any high school or college and count the JDM cars, then look for DTM cars. See many?

Times / tastes change. I still love my pcar.

 

I have to admit, a GT-R is brutally fast. Saw one in black, and it looked menacing. I think it looks quite nice. Not as shapely or sexy as the 997, but it does have character.

The one I saw was going 100 mph+ on the highway weaving in and out, followed by an S2000, and a 997TT. Don't know what they were thinking going that fast and all, but it caught my attention .

 

I have not driven the Gtr but I like it a lot . I saw one the other day in gray color and it was stunning but beyond its looks it's a very sophisticated car and i would consider it as a second ot third vehicle . I have to drive it to share more --but I do wish to do so .

In 1990- 1993 I did have a modified 300zxtt and the description was similar to yours . At that time it was touted as a "Porsche beater" . It was fast, reliable, and very well made yet small details of refinement needed improvement . For example the car had an awful blind spot . The interior had to be customized . Service was a nighmare . In fact it was so bad in my area that i had to drive two hours north where I found a Nissan dealership service drive which was OUTSTANDING . The strange thing is that the service advisor who did a fanstastic job in the early 90's is NOW at a Porsche dealership .