Well, with the new DLC out, I changed my mind and decided to do a Nissan GT-R comparison between the Spec V and the new Black Edition. I'll see if I can't get to the Zonda sometime soon. But now please enjoy! Also both these cars are being reviewed in Stock form on RS tires.
Nissan GT-R
Spec V Vs
Black Edition
The Nissan GT-R. It's WELL known in GT5 considering how many there are, and PD has just released yet another, the 2012 Black Edition.
The GT-R has become one of the most love/hate cars in the game. Around most experienced drag racers, it's mostly the hate, but around the more "n00b" drag racers it's the love. Then you've got the people who are upset because of how many there are in GT5, and they only seem to keep on coming. But then there's the PD supporters who are happy with whatever PD gives them, including the now 4 (TC, Stealth, Special, Black Edition) DLC GT-Rs PD has released. For me, I hate the GT-R in drag racing, even though I'm no experienced drag racer, but I honestly love the car itself beyond that. I think it's an awesome car!
So we'll begin with the Black Edition. Just released today as purchasable DLC. As far as looks go.... it's pretty much the same as any other GT-R. I always thought the GT-R was a great looking car, although it's quite big. We have a GT-R in my very small city, and to me it's a real head turner. The real difference in the Black Edition is the horsepower. Mine had 552 after a oil change, 50 more than the Spec V! Yet the Black Edition does weigh 50 KG more than the Spec V. The Black Edition is also a level 11 as the Spec V is a level 12. But the Black Edition has 545 PP and the Spec V has 535 when both are purchased brand new. Take that as you wish though. So I wanted to see what that 552 HP could do out on the classic Sarthe (no chicane). And wow did it impress me. I got the Black Edition up to 199 MPH (couldn't get that last pull for the 200!) on the straight. There is a slightly noticeable understeer on the Black Edition but not enough to really effect you. But there's also the launch, which is why it's loved by many drag racers. I had no TCS on and it still had not a hint of wheelspin from the line (on RS tires). It's insane! Honestly, the car is all around, easy to drive, but fun to drive. The hardest thing I actually had with the Black Edition, was the different camera view that now "follows" your car! Since I wasn't used to it so I did mess up a few times before finally getting it right. So I finally finished and got around Sarthe in... 3:56.7. Pretty decent I think.
The Price of the Black Edition is 94,710. Only about 20,000 more than half of the Spec V, or pretty much 20k more than the '07. But factor in that you have to pay 4.00 REAL dollars, I think it pretty much evens itself out there. Personally I think it's half way worth it. I wish the DLC was price more around 2 dollars because in my opinion the only good car in that DLC pack is the GT-R (whoopie a Mini!
). However the fact it's pretty much a dollar a car I'm not too happy about since when you get down to it there's not too much different between the two.
Drag racing. It's pretty huge in GT5, and no car gets a bigger rep than the GT-R. But it depends on who you ask. Many probably say it's the "ultimate" drag car. Many would also argue it's the ultimate "n00b" car. Although I didn't tune either of these GT-Rs, I believe the Black Edition would have a higher output of HP than the Spec V, since it did to begin with. So maybe there's a new "King of Drag" or "King of Noobs" car out on the drag strip now?
So, the Black Edition is a premium car which means you get a small look at the interior of the car. Although you can't see to much I must say that I love the GT-R emblem on the steering wheel. It does look extremely high tech though from what you can see. However, I'd hate to have to sit in those back seats!
The sound of the Black Edition is actually pretty good. It's no Mark IV or really any of the classic racers for that matter. The sound you hear from the turbo in cockpit is really cool and sounds awesome!! It's really noticeable on the GT-Rs. That faint wind you hear when you downshift. There was a thread on this in the Questions section that first made me aware of the turbo sound.
DRAG RACE
So I originally was going to upload a youtube video of the drag race, but I couldn't figure it out and searched it here on GTP, but didn't find much. So instead here's a picture of the final result. Also things to know when going into the drag race.
-Both Cars are being left the same after their going at Sarthe
-Both are running completely untuned except RS tires.
-Both are running automatic transmission.
-All assists were off except ABS 1.
-I tried lining them up at the 1/4 drag strip, but my TV was all screwed up and I wasn't able to. The drag was from the start line at Indy Road Course to the end of the wall that separates pit row.
The Start!
The End!
Yep the Spec V won! It wasn't really even that close. Right from the start the Spec V ran away with it. The Black Edition held in at the very start of the launch but from then on it was all Spec V!
So now we move on to the Spec V '09 after it's win. Which should be pretty easy, since they aren't all that different. Although there are slight differences in looks they both mainly look the same. And I still love it. I bought this one in Vibrant Red, because it's the same color as the GT-R in my town that I sometimes see. I love the GT-R in red, looks really sporty! If I had to point out a slight thing that I like better, it would be the exhaust on the Spec V. Looks pretty cool compared to the more conventional looking exhaust on the Black Edition.
So like I mentioned in the Black edition part, the Spec V has a lower HP output of 502, 50 less than the Black Edition. However, it ways 50 kg less than the Black Edition... which may have been the difference in the drag race. And as I did with the Black Edition, I brought the Spec V out to Sarthe (no chicane) to see how they'd stack up against each other. While the Spec V does weigh less, the Black Edition does beat it out in top speed. By how much? 1 MPH. I got the Spec V up to 198 MPH. Can't get much closer than that! But as far as handling goes, again pretty much the same. Easy but fun to drive. And again there's the launch. The insane launch from the line with no wheelspin same old same old. Although as you saw in the drag race the Spec V seemed to get a slightly better launch. It also seemed to accelerate slightly quicker than the Black Edition. But the 1 MPH may have been the difference in the lap, as the Spec V did Sarthe in.... 3:57.1. Extremely close to the Black Edition though! And of course the most unpredictable variable in a lap is the driver, so it may have been one thing I'd done differently. Still though, pretty quick.
The price of the Spec V is quite a bit more than the Black Edition (supposing you don't count the 4 dollars you had to pay to get the Black Edition in the first place) at 157,500 cr. Kind of steep if you ask me, but for the "Ultimate" drag car Although considering you win one from getting all gold in S license, and yet another for the current time trial, price may not be an issue! So I'd go with trying to win one of those two before buying a plain old GT-R!
So you already saw the Spec V beat out the Black Edition in the drag, although I'm still not so sure how it would end up if both the cars were fully tuned. But as of this current moment, and before the Black Edition was in the game, the Spec V was the dominant car at drag races. Personally I hated going into a room and seeing nothing but Spec Vs, and I still do. I refuse to tune and drag race a Spec V! I enjoy muscle drag racing, although I'm not honestly good!
I've tried my hand at tuning cars to beat GT-Rs (well really just the ZZII) but to no avail. So I've given up racing GT-Rs, since to me it's just annoying! But no matter what, the Spec V and all GT-Rs will always be considered as one of the best. Whether it's a "n00b" car or not.
As with the Black Edition the Spec V is a premium. And with premiums you get a small look into the interior (I suppose you do with standards too, but they're all black
). It's really again, THE SAME. Except, if you look at the back seats (still small) they seem to have a slightly different texture to them. Whether that holds you're interest or not though, is not up to me.
The sound of the Spec V, is almost the same as the Black Edition but not quite. I believe the sound on the Black Edition is slightly better, but with the new "Improved Sounds" I've really noticed the turbo wind on this car too! Especially when you're standing idle in chase mode, press L1 and you can really hear it. Pretty damn cool!
So it's time to finally finish this long review. And thanks to anyone who did read this!
GT-R Black Edition 2012
Top Speed: 9/10-Even though I couldn't get up one more to 200MPH still 199 is phenomenal!
Handling: 9/10-Great! A slightly noticeable understeer but shouldn't effect your driving to extremely
Looks: 8/10-Although it's become extremely over used in GT5 in drag racing, not to mention PDs 5 or so variants, I still love the looks.
Price: 7/10-You get so much for the 94k price tag but you still have to pay 4 dollars to get it in the first place.
Rarity: 2/10-I'll give it a two since it's DLC
Horsepower: 9/10-50 more than the Spec V all from a V6!
Drag: 9/10-Slightly slower than a Spec V while stock, but imagine it tuned.
Overall: 94/100-Wonderful car. I love the GT-R and even though there are many in the game I don't think they'll get old for me.
GT-R Spec V 2009
Top Speed: 8/10-Right under the Black Edition at 198MPH Still great!
Handling: 9/10-Pretty much the same as the Black Edition. Fantastic.
Looks: 9/10-Although there aren't many differences between the two physically, but I think it looks slightly better than the Black Edition
Price: 8/10-The price is more than the Black Edition but because you don't pay real money for it I think you can see how it's a boost up.
Rarity: .5/10-So so so overused that it's just disappointing.
Horsepower: 8/10-502 still great from a V6 just not toe to toe with the Black Edition.
Drag: 10/10-Even though it may be considered a "n00b" car it's still one of the best drag cars.
Overall: 96/100-All around a great car. Both are! But the Spec V wins.
So why did the Spec V win? Because the Black Edition is cool now but give it a month or two and it will be just as normal as the Spec V. It's a novelty. Eventually it wears off and just becomes another GTR in the game. Which makes me sad, but it's true. All around though, great, great cars.
I know this was a long one and thanks to anyone who actually read it all, but I hope you enjoyed it, even if you didn't completely read all of it.
