R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R vs Ferrari 360

I got a private message asking me to compare my new 360 vs the GT-R; here's the result...


Comparison: GT-R vs 360 Modena

1st I would like to say that both cars are sensational to own and drive. Both are very special and both are costly to run, insure, service and use everyday.

Regarding rarity, the R34 GT-R is rare in Europe, only 80 official imports where done and approx 100-150 cars through personal imports. The R34 GT-R V-Spec is actually quite a bit rarer than 360 then, in total they made significantly less cars in total than Ferrari did.

I cannot contain my excitement about the Ferrari 360 though, it is just an amazingly special car, it gets SOO much attention you wouldn't believe BUT its also more difficult to live with than the GT-R.

Most people who don't know cars (i.e. the average joe in UK) thinks the GT-R (particularly in Bayside Blue like my old one) is a new Subaru or Evo which isn't particularly flattering. Doesn't really say 'prestige' but more jap rally stage special. It certainly gets its fair share of attention! Nobody EVER wants to race you when you own a GT-R

The GT-R can be tuned to huge power and the interior is quite nice but not very special either. The UK cars where a lot better because they had full connolly leather seats but even this doesn't compare with the 360's interior. In stock form the GT-R feels composed but not very fast (they had 330 hp stock), as soon as you simply fit a performance exhaust, downpipes, race cats & exhaust the boost pressure automatically rises and the car becomes sensational. Its a day to night transformation, the car becomes alive, spitting and banging from its exhaust and sounding like a proper rally stage car.

Day to day its very difficult to consider leaving the 360 in many public places for fear of people who are jealous (just because its a ferrari!) wanting to damage it (thats the mentality of the British, may be different in US). You also crazily cannot buy locking alloy wheel bolts for a Ferrari (!) crazy but true! The GT-R, well I did use it everyday and I did park it in public places (And yes I did have a Satellite Tracking system on it too!).

The 360 style and shape is love by everyone, particularly women (I kid you not!!) and its amazing how much attention you get from them wink. I kid you not but ever since buying the 360 I've been having to beat them off with a stick

Conversly the GT-R tends to be hated by women (in general) as an 'on steroids' legal street racer (which by all accounts it is!). They see it as too aggressive and have no clue how much you spent on it (tuning on the GT-R is very addictive as there is just so much stuff avaliable for it, by stark comparison to Ferrari's which don't see much in the way of aftermarket, give or take the odd Tubi!). My GT-R new cost £54,000 (approx $110,000 usd), the 360's are selling for $130k-$200k in the uk). All blokes seem to love the GT-R though, so take your pick!! hehe

The 360 actually feels quicker that the GT-R in stock form but it is much harder to drive (!) than the GT-R. I feel ultimately the 360 is more satisfying as a result. The GT-R is quite easy to drive fast and any 'ham fisted' movements don't get the car out of shape, i.e. it makes bad drives look like they are really good, really flatters them!! heh. Its also a LOT of fun to drive fast, e.g. you still have to wind off the correct amount of opposite lock, its genuinely a lot of fun, unlike some other 4wd's. Tuning potential of the GT-R is otherworldly, its what has given the car such a reputation. I drove in a 650hp tuned GT-R and its quite unlike anything else, its totally amazing! Think everyday drivable Enzo! (I kid you not!)

In the GT-R you feel like its a much smaller car than it is whereas in the 360 I would say it feels like its much BIGGER than it really is. (surprisingly bad visibility out of the rear for reversing in the 360, still trying to get used to it!).

Controversally I'd say the metal gated manual 360 the better can than the F1. Driving the metal gated shifter for me is SENSATIONAL. I am not a big fan of the F1 auto's (I have an auto Lexus GS for my everyday car which I love, but its no sports car!). I really believe a sports car should be 'involving' and the 360 manual really is the purest form of that, I really enjoy shifting!

I wouldn't say all the electronics get in the way of fun in the GT-R either (certainly not) but the 360 still has the edge. Gear shift in GT-R really is excellent too (another 6 speeder), although without that tactile and sensational click-clack of the metal gated 360 shifter.

In truth I just love the 360 and would not ever consider a GT-R over it, its a much better car, it handles better, has higher prestige (and everyone's heard of Ferrari) but it can get you into trouble in more ways than one.

The jealous nature of people is that if you tell your boss you bought a 'Nissan', even if it is a GT-R thats not so bad. Try telling someone like your boss you've got a 360 and they'll say they are paying you too much! This also stands for both insurance AND running costs which are WAY higher on the 360 than the GT-R. *(actually ironically the Ferrari was cheaper to insure than the GT-R)

Also every day driving is taken in its stride by the GT-R, its a surprisingly comfortable car that can literally go around bends at 100mph (no joke) without feeling scary!

The 360 is even difficult to get the stock power down when its damp. I find it difficult to 'boot it' without wheel spin in 2 or even 3rd. In the GT-R you can put your foot fully to the floor and be off! Ironically the 360 feels more like the racer than the GT-R does, the GT-R feel much more 'GT', more composed and civilised than the 360 does!

Overall I think both are brilliant cars but by a long margin the 360 has it licked. The fact that I am comparing the GT-R with the 360 really shows how good it is (especially at 400+hp, its chassis really handles extra power exceptionally well). It really is as good as the reputation that bestow's it. I am smitten, i love my 360 like no other car I've ever owned!

 

Dear me, you've obviously never driven one... if you genuinely feel that way your obviously just a badge snob and not a real car enthusiast.

T

 

Thanx James

 

Dale, why is an RB26DETT 'crap' exactly? Are you joking or being serious?

I actually think it is an excellent engine, sure its a straight six but how many other factory built engine blocks can claim to be able to reliably handle a drag prepared 1200bhp? Exactly!

A tuned engine is obviously only as reliable as the guy who tuned it (or fixed it!). The GT-R in stock form is actually as bullet proof as they come. It was deliberately over-engineered to ensure reliability (thats why Japanese cars are so much more reliable than most other brands).

Obviously everything in engineering has to be in precise balance, if you do not keep things balanced there will be consequences. Just like real life actually!

I'm not exactly sure why your so anti-japanese cars but you really need to open your eyes up and not be so judgemental.

While I absolutely love my 360, I can honestly say I had just as many 'moment's' in the R34 GT-R V-spec as I will in the 360!

I remember one time several years ago now when the GT-R was only a year old, I took it on tour abroad and spent 6 months in the South of France, Cote D'Azur region. I was driving through Monaco on the Qualifying day of the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monaco Ferarri Owners Club where doing a lap of the circuit (the qualifiers had just finished and public was allowed on the circuit!). My car was tuned to about 420bhp at the time (full race spec cats, etc.) and I booted past 2 Ferrari 360's (ironic I know, heh) and snuck in between another ferrari (I think it was a 550 maranello).

They give me big glares and where obviously not happy that I had gate crashed their party! Lol. I stood out like a sore thumb in a Bayside Blue GT-R. Suddenly crowds of people on the sidelines surrounded the GT-R, photo's being taken furiously, camera's flashing, and I felt like I was a celebrity... as for the Ferrari's, well they are like Taxi's in Monaco, nobody was interested in them

Still a very bizzare day that I will never forget. Any car that can do that in the presence of Ferrari's is worthy of thumbs up in my book!

 

Until your an expert racing driver cars like the GT-R and Evo FQ400 will always be point-to-point quicker. I honestly felt it was much easier to make progress in the GT-R than any other car I've driven including the 360.. Just today I was driving the 360 on the motorway at about 50mph, decided to put my foot down a bit and back end shimmy'd and the ASR light flashed up! In the GT-R the slip would have never happened and the car would have just flew down the road...

But your right, driving the 360 its far more special to be in, I love it, its not just the outright power thing, its the style, the smell, the sense of occasion, the whole experience, something very few cars ever get. The GT-R gets there alright in feeling special, its just not as special.

T

 

heh I couldn't remember if it wsas fq340 or fq350, the idea did cross my mind that someone may mention the turbo lag, all or nothing power delivery Lol, yes the fq340!