Whether you’re looking for comfort while driving to and from work or you need a vehicle with some power under the hood, you’ll certainly find a reason to enjoy the 2010 Nissan GT-R. The Nissan GT-R is the fifth generation of this admirable Japanese super-car, but this is the first generation that’s ever been available in the US and Canada. Well known to video gamers in this part of the world as forbidden fruit, the GT-R brings new levels of performance and technology to Nissan’s line-up.
Inside, the GT-R has more conventional appeal. Sitting in this car is like sitting down in a space shuttle. A cockpit-themed interior gives easy access to most features by wrapping the major controls around the driver. If you’re a nerd at heart, you’ll quickly fall in love with all the gadgets, displays, switches and buttons that surround you. Some critics have even described the interior of the GT-R as being something like the love child between the Millennium Falcon meets Blade Runner. Non-techies may find that this setup takes some getting used to, but don’t let that deter you from considering this car.
However, one of the major negatives is that it doesn’t offer a manual transmission. The automatic transmission makes the car’s warp-inducing acceleration easy to access for anyone in the market, but some enthusiasts prefer having full control at their fingertips – and feet. The suspension may be a bit harsh for some, although most drivers won’t find it worth complaining about. Longer rides may be problematic, but you shouldn’t experience any significant negatives when driving on a shorter scale.
The styling and design may not be for everyone, but when a $70,000 car can get you from 0 to 60 faster than most six-figure sports cars currently in production, are you really going to care how it looks? While breakneck acceleration is one of the car’s finer points, it’s on the winding roads where the 2010 Nissan GT-R really shines. It benefits from one of the most communicative and responsive steering setups to be debuted in the last five years in an all-wheel-drive car.
Standard safety features on the 2010 Nissan GT-R include anti-lock brakes, as well as traction and stability control. The 2009 GT-R hasn’t been crash-tested, but the Premium versions come with every safety device imaginable. You have front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags on all GT-R models for 2010 – not bad for standard safety measures. However, know that base-line versions don’t offer side and curtain airbags, which is likely to make them less costly for drivers who might use them exclusively as race cars.
Overall, the 2010 Nissan GT-R is unique among all the offerings available today. Some drivers may find the car bulky and they may find the automatic transmission limiting, but if you’re after quick and easy performance, the GT-R will give you more for your money than any other car you can buy at this price. It’s certainly something to consider – even non-nerds will find the combination of style and performance appealing.
