Is the GT-R the best car in the world right now for the money?

[EvoS2i]

Depends on what you want to use it for and how deep your pocket is. In terms of performance, yes it could possibly be the best in its price range

 

[neanderthal]

AMG C63 black series (if ever they make one)

the GTR would win, but its ugly deducts so many points that its way back to middle of the pack.

 

[BlackedoutRX7LM]

Im thinking a C63 black would push the 80k range at which point the M5 wins hands down especially with the option of a 6 speed.

Personally i think there really isnt one answer because a car has different uses to each person. If you drive fast and like to hit a track occasionally, you can't possibly go wrong with a GT-R. If you need a daily driver with lots of space I would like a S4, EVO, or any WRX prior to the current model.

I have a buddy with a A6 and its absolutely perfect for an everyday car, seats 4 adults, incredible interior, huge trunk space, quattro, and enough performance to get you through a daily drive with at least a little excitement. Problem though is they run the 50K range.

 

[Philly]

I think I would nominate the Cooper S, VW GTI, Mazdaspeed3 or Civic SI. All of them offer an amazing drive and all the practicality of their "regular" base models. On top of that, each one has an entry price that most everybody can afford.

Hot hatches FTW!

 

[Tornado]

Im thinking a C63 black would push the 80k range at which point the M5 wins hands down especially with the option of a 6 speed.

The 6 speed you can get with the M5 is a terrible transmission that completely ruins the car.

 

[///M-Spec]

The 6 speed you can get with the M5 is a terrible transmission that completely ruins the car.

What's wrong with it?


M

 

[Tornado]

The electronic nannies that you can turn off in the SMG M5 cannot be turned off in the 6-speed M5. There are also problems with the engine being designed for the SMG not being as usable with the manual's wider gears.

 

[YSSMAN]

Excellent BREAKING, eh Brad?

DAMNIT!

I do it all the time. For some reason its one of the only words that I rarely get right.

How did I know a Passat Estate was coming from YSS...

It wouldn't be a "what car?" thread without me saying something about a Passat, would it?

 

[///M-Spec]

The electronic nannies that you can turn off in the SMG M5 cannot be turned off in the 6-speed M5.

Not the transmission's fault is it?

Besides, this is no longer true.

There are also problems with the engine being designed for the SMG not being as usable with the manual's wider gears.

I could make an argument that the (slightly) taller gearing makes the M5 6MT more usable.. depending on how you want to define "usable". Besides, the differences are pretty small, about ~10%-15% shorter on the SMG depending on the exact gear. Almost academic on a US-only model.

And we're not exactly talking about a peaky little S2000-like motor here, you know. Have you seen the torque curve for the motor? It's really flat and something like 85% of peak torque is available from 3,000 RPM onwards.

The big problem with the early 6MTs was that you couldn't completely disable DSC. Now that the software has been changed to finally allow it (with owners being able to D/L the newest version), the 6MT has finally become the car it should have been.


EDIT: Oh, by the way... I was just thinking to myself: "You know what GTP really, really needs? Another GT-R thread."


M

 

[Tornado]

Not the transmission's fault is it?

That isn't really relevant, though.

Besides, this is no longer true.

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for clearing it up.


The wider gear problem was something I had only heard about (apparently it isn't as bad as I was lead to believe), and I agree that the DSC problems were really the main issue with the manual.

EDIT: Oh, by the way... I was just thinking to myself: "You know what GTP really, really needs? Another GT-R thread."

Was that in reference to something I said or...?

 

[G.T]

Simplicity at its best.

 

[///M-Spec]

Was that in reference to something I said or...?

No, no.. just an afterthought. I was going to make the same sarcastic remark yesterday as a stand alone post, but thought better of it.

Replying to you here gave me a back-door in.


M

 

[JCE]

Simplicity at its best.

I would completely and utterly agree ... IF the C63 didn't exsist.

 

[G.T]

I would completely and utterly agree ... IF the C63 didn't exsist.

Which is nearly double the price? 💡

 

[Joey D]

I think I would nominate the Cooper S, VW GTI, Mazdaspeed3 or Civic SI. All of them offer an amazing drive and all the practicality of their "regular" base models. On top of that, each one has an entry price that most everybody can afford.

Hot hatches FTW!

While I love the Cooper S it can't be the best car for the money mainly because it's so expensive in relation with the performance and space you get. Really all of those cars suffer from the expensive price tag that seems to plague hot hatches/sport compacts now. They are all good cars but still fall a bit short when looking overall.

 

[Tornado]

Really all of those cars suffer from the expensive price tag that seems to plague hot hatches/sport compacts now.

I dunno. The Mazdaspeed 3 is pretty good considering how much it costs.

 

[Joey D]

I dunno. The Mazdaspeed 3 is pretty good considering how much it costs.

Hmm for some reason I had it in my head it started at $25,000 instead of $23,000 which makes it a far better deal. Honestly I really can't think of a hot hatch on sale in America right now that's better then the Mazdaspeed3 for that price. And as I've said, as much as I love the Cooper S, anyone looking for sole performance would be making the wrong choice to have it over the Mazdaspeed since they basically cost about the same.

I know the Mazda handles quite well too and has a good amount of space. Really I would easily place it up there as one of the best cars for the money right now in the world.

 

[Tornado]

How much is the Cobalt SS going to cost when it comes out? I know it can't quite compete with the Mazda in the quality department, but if they price it at the $20,000 area that it was before it will still be quite a performance steal.

 

[Joey D]

How much is the Cobalt SS going to cost when it comes out? I know it can't quite compete with the Mazda in the quality department, but if they price it at the $20,000 area that it was before it will still be quite a performance steal.

Per the Chevy website it starts at $22,995, which isn't that much less then the Mazdaspeed3 although given the state of GM right now there are probably rebates attached to the SS.

I have a friend right now who's trying to decided whether he should get the Caliber SRT-4 or the Turbo Cobalt SS, which I found to be a tough decision because both are crap. With the Mazda at least they started with a car that's good in it's own right, but the Caliber and Cobalt are rather meh.

 

[Tornado]

Well, the Cobalt is at least fast (its faster, lighter and lower to the ground than the Mazdaspeed 3). The Caliber handles like a conversion van from the 70s.

 

[YSSMAN]

Hey hey now! The Cobalt SS is a very fine machine, I haven't read any overly negative reviews of it or its HHR SS sibling. The only drawback in my opinion is the interior, which has fallen a bit too far out of step... Otherwise, it performs miraculously for the price. They cut 0.4 seconds of the 0-60 time, and the car held the top compact time on the Nurburgring until those pesky kids at Renaultsport smashed it with the R26.R. My love for GM aside, you'd have to have a few screws loose to actually choose the Caliber SRT-4 over it.

====

All of that being said, for the price, the GTI is still the king of the sport compact class.

 

[Perfect Balance]

lower to the ground than the Mazdaspeed 3

What does that have to do with anything?

 

[Tornado]

What does that have to do with anything?

Lower center of gravity. Less windows and metal up top.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Lower center of gravity. Less windows and metal up top.

There's too much other things that affect that too, like the weight of the materials used in the car, how high the engine is mounted, and how much each part of the engine weighs, things like that, I don't think having the car an inch or so lower makes enough of a difference to make that claim.

 

[Tornado]

Fair Enough.

 

[niky]

Best car in the world for the money... hmmm.... a LoCost? (under $10k for your very own road-legal racecar)

"Best" is relative. But personally, the GT-R, compared to what's available in its price range, is one of the best, all things considered, and the best from a performance standpoint.

But then again, give me a Lotus Elise, please.

 

[gator of kana]

yes the GT-R is the best all around car for it's money, faster than a Bugatti Veyron around the nurburgring

 

[Joey D]

yes the GT-R is the best all around car for it's money, faster than a Bugatti Veyron around the nurburgring

By what? Two seconds? Really I dislike the Veyron for many of the same reasons I dislike the GT-R but they are two very different vehicles.

 

[Leonidae]

are they now? price and material-wise, yes.. BUT:
Veyron | GT-R
-sophisticated AWD system x | x
-halo car of the company x | x
-obliterates competition x | x
-sophisticated DC-transmission x | x
-specially designed tires/rims x | x
-engineering masterpiece x | x
-new performance milestone x | x
-bit of a gas guzzler x | x
-comfortable & quiet at 180mph+ x | x

 

[Joey D]

Pretty sure they were built for different reasons. Also the Veyron is considered what? A touring car or something? I don't know automotive classification are something I don't care to understand.