The reason for most hating/disliking all the computers on the GT-R is because said computers are doing every last bit of the work, or at least so most see it.
The ZR-1, with all of its magnetic ride control BS and such is no better about it either, so yes, using "ZOMG GT-R HAZ ELEKTRONIKZ" doesn't work as an argument in the least. Thing is... GM isn't just tossing tech on to cover deficiencies up... Just to improve everything. Nissan designed the GT-R from the ground up and yet didn't bother trying to keep weight at bay and basically let the car be an overweight whale. Sure, sure, it performs, but a little forethought into the matter would've gone a long ways. The electronics wouldn't be needed (or at least not to the degree they're used now) if Nissan had only bothered to design something that was at least somewhat light for its size. GM is just starting to add aids and such because they're just now truly needing it.
It's an overweight whale because it was designed as a Sports GT. Nissan's "classmates" in this class are all in the 1600-1800 kg range.
The GT-R is 1750 kgs. The 911 Turbo Tiptronic (remember, the GT-R is AT) is 1620 kgs. The M6 (also a 500 bhp Sports GT) is 1650, even without AWD. The GT-R is porky, yes, but it's a porky class of car.
The ZR1, on the other hand, is a "pure" sports car. It's got less space, is lower, and more powerful. That GM is comparing it the GT-R shows how seriously other manufacturers are taking it.
Don't EVER go to extremes like that.
Power brakes, power steering... Do they modify/manipulate the inputs you give to get greater whatever? No. Do they make it easier to get the vehicle to do what you want it to? Maybe. They make it easier for you to give the inputs you think are correct. ABS and active steering on the other hand DO qualify as "supercomputers driving the car". They correct for error on the drivers part and/or change steering angle or braking force to suit the situation rather than having the driver do it.
~Kyle
PS: The above is just my two cents. Feel free to disagree, but state why.
Yes. Power brakes and power steering make a car much easier to drive. They don't modify your inputs, but you can specify a much tighter steering ration with power-steering than you can without it, simply because there's less effort involved. It's not a modification of inputs, but it does make the car faster.
ABS does not drive the car for you. Active steering does not drive the car for you. ABS prevents lock-ups that might otherwise occur. You still have to hit the brakes at the right time. ABS just lets you hit them later and hold them down instead of modulating them. Active steering is much like power steering in that it makes it easier to steer the car by varying the amount of weight and input needed based on the road speed. Power steering nowadays is already variable assist, firming up at higher speeds and lightening at lower speeds. It's a different form of assist, but neither drives the car for you.
Of course, that doesn't stop purists from complaining about them... but for those people, the closest you can come is a Caterham or an Atom. Anything else is superfluous.
As for AWD and the "computers driving the car", refer again to my post a few pages back. If the GT-R... or even the Veyron... was doing the driving
for you, then we wouldn't see so many crashed ones. These cars are still tricky to drive, and still require good sense and proper technique to exploit the best of their abilities. The computers are merely there to raise the limits... not to drive for you. It's what AWD performance is all about. The cornering traction allows you to do some pretty gonzo things with the car. The Evo's AWD system allows some pretty lairy (and impossible to catch, if it were another car) oversteer, but I've never heard of anyone complaining that it was too easy to drive. In fact, it can be quite scary.
From what I've seen of computer controls, like PASM or BMW's or Merc's own versions, actual computer nannying can be intrusive,
slower and completely
un-fun. To have one that doesn't interfere with the process of driving itself is an accomplishment... and if it doesn't interfere, that means it's less of a nanny and more of a filter.
They aren't just spending it on these cars but something like the GT-R probably cost millions to develop. Do they honestly think people are going to run out and buy a Versa because they made some that cost 4 times as much and lapped the Ring in a fast time? I see no point to halo cars other then going "look at what we can do".
Even though there products are mostly competent now, would you think anyone would be buying Saturn's if there never was a Sky? The point of a halo car is to bring people into the showrooms to see such cars. People need to be in the dealer for the dealer to try to sell them a car, and cars like the Corvette almost certainly help in the long run in that respect. Whether the people buy the cars is where the dealer's skill and the normal cars competence comes into play, which is why the Corvette stopped working in the 90s.
I agree with Toro, but Joey D has a point. Please don't tell Nissan, though.. But fanboyism has a purpose... a lot of Nissans get sold because of excitement over Skylines and Silvias. The number of Sentras I've seen with GT-R badges on the back? Unimaginable. I almost slapped a friend because he had one (thought he knew better)... but there are people who buy regular cars because of halo cars... the Evo sold a lot of Lancers, the GT-R has sold a lot of Sentras (even though there's less commonality) and the STi helps sell a lot of WRXs. The connection isn't quite as direct with the Corvette, not anymore... because there's even less commonality... but it IS there.
I still have the Mondeo ST220 if anyone wants it. Now there is a sports sedan.
I wish. How much is shipping to Asia? Or I could drive it cross-continent...
Mazda 6 MPS? Falcon and Commodore are affordable, and economy isn't too bad for that category. TRD Aurion? Fuel economy + 240kw and 400Nm. Just the handling sucks being FWD.
The old Mazda6 was just too tight to be a family car in most countries, but it's just right for me. The Aurion? The handling sucks because it's a Toyota. There's a big difference there...
...I wish we could get the Mondeo, but from my short stint with the new Mazda6, it'll definitely do.
