New here

[H.7]

Actually been lurking for some time, taking in as much info as I can from the forums here, and just about ready to jump into GT-R ownership. Finally drove one (new Black Recaro demonstrator) last weekend and was pretty impressed with it, although it was quite a bit harsher than I expected. That might have been just a suspension setting, but I don't know.

Question that I haven't found an answer to, or opinion on, here though is: what are they like to live with day to day? Is the suspension constantly hard (the suspension on the one i drove felt harder than my old Gp4 rally car!)? Or is there a comfy (well, comfier ;-) ) setting to deal with our less than perfect roads?

Thanks in advance,
Brian.

[KingOfTheGT-R]

What was the model year? I imagine the sales man put it into race mode because he wanted to blow your mind with the performance hoping you would forget about comfort and focus on power

[CT17]

If you ditch the runflats and go for other tyres the ride is better.
They do have a hard ride, as a lot of high performance cars have and the run flat tyres don't help.

I used to be forever flcking the car into comfort mode and still thinking how hard it was, but now I don't have run flats I don't put it into comfort mode at all 90% of the time.

I find the car has more feel now too. As it has a bit of movment in it with softer tyres I can feel what it's doing better.

[H.7]

Demonstrator was brand new (so, MY12/13?) with less than 2k miles. You might be right about the Race mode I guess trying to ensure that the first impression was memorable (which indeed it was).

I like a firm ride - I have a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 with Tein coilovers, and a Volvo S60R with the 4C electronic suspension which, in Advanced mode, is probably stiffer even than the GT-R, but too uncomfortable for road use (good on track though).

What's the recommendation for replacing the runflats? Can the rims take 'normal' tyres or would they need to be replaced too?

[CT17]

Stock rims.
Most popular non-funflats at the moment are the Michellins, available through Litchfield Imports who sponsor this forum.

I run Yokohama Advans, which are good but ultimately lose a little outright grip for far better wet performance over the stok Dunlops. (which are terrible in the wet).
The Michellins look to be the best all round tyre if you want to move way from stock.

[CT17]

Also worth adding I'd be very surprsed if they used race mode for the suspension during a test drive, but normal and comfort are hard compared to other cars.

Using race mode on the public road can lean to some interesting side effets which could be quite dangerous on a test drive with someone who does not know the car. Being so stiffly sprung you could find the car taking off mid corner if you hit a bump or pothole...

On my test drive I was told they were not allowed to use it for exactly that reason. It's far too harsh for road use. Mind you, I found comfort mode harder than anything I'd driven up to that point.

[H.7]

Originally Posted by CT17

Also worth adding I'd be very surprsed if they used race mode for the suspension during a test drive, but normal and comfort are hard compared to other cars.

Mind you, I found comfort mode harder than anything I'd driven up to that point.

Didn't pay enough attention to what he set the switches to. Will have another test drive before I make a final decision so will pay more attention next time

Thanks.

[H.7]

Now in a bit of a quandary. Do I buy from a dealer and get the year's Nissan Cared4 warranty, or buy a well-looked after similar car from a private seller for £3.5k less? Adding a third-party warranty brings the price difference closer but what would you do?

[goldgtr35]

Originally Posted by H.7

Now in a bit of a quandary. Do I buy from a dealer and get the year's Nissan Cared4 warranty, or buy a well-looked after similar car from a private seller for £3.5k less? Adding a third-party warranty brings the price difference closer but what would you do?

I would go straight to a main dealer but screw the price down as far as you can. Back street dealer can be here today and go tomorrow.
On the ride front there is quiet a difference in suspention setting but the comfy setting is still very stiff.

[H.7]

Well, collected my GT-R this morning from AF Noble HPC near Edinburgh 2009 Black in black, 12k miles, Milltek system, Cobb AP. Excellent service from them, btw. 130 miles today and I have to say I'm pretty impressed. Mrs H thinks it's a bit noisy but that's mostly exhaust resonance at certain speeds. Can't say it bothers me, but I have other things to take my mind off that

I think I'm going to enjoy the experience

[Ja5on]

Welcome to the forum

[KaizerMotor]

Welcome to the forum, enjoy your beast (the exhaust resonance at certain speeds is probably a non resonated pipe and easy to change to a resonated one)

[H.7]

Originally Posted by KaizerMotor

Welcome to the forum, enjoy your beast (the exhaust resonance at certain speeds is probably a non resonated pipe and easy to change to a resonated one)

Thanks. I'll need to put it up on a lift and see the extent of the system. The noise doesn't bother me, all part of the experience, but worth knowing if it can be turned down