The Flawless GT-R Has a Fault?
April 28th, 2008




Word is getting around the traps that the transmission in the famously destructive R35 GT-R may be wearing out faster than expected. MCR, one of the lucky Japanese tuning houses to have a GT-R, have reported that initial inspections are showing unexpected signs of wear in the transmission; raising fears that the GT-R is not as flawless as we’d all hoped.

Perhaps if it were a more expensive car, the gearbox would be less likely to shoot out random cogs and cut your leg off at the knee. Not that it’s going to do that.



MCR’s inspection has lead them to conclude that the transmission’s lifespan—at least if used as heavily as they do—may be no longer than 12 months if the engine’s power is tweaked. Of course, with the V-Spec model on the way, we may soon see a stronger gearbox available.

So it sounds like "if the engine’s power is tweaked" (which Nissan has made very clear that they don't recommend) and if you flog the hell out of the car, you just might tear up the transmission. Maybe there is an issue, but I am not so sure. Even if there is, how Nissan addresses the issue is more important than the fact that there may be a problem. It's no different than the cam variators problem in some of the first F 360s and the eGear issues in the first Gallardos. No manufacturer is immune from having to work through a few issues in a new model year. Regardless, thanks for posting this information, because I do have one of these bad boys on order, so I will be monitoring the situation carefully.

Well, nothing would surprise me from Nissan. Our 2005 Altima manual (which we sold off pretty quickly) needed a transmission replacement before 10K miles, and then needed a new second gear in another 3K miles. And to answer the inevitable question; no, I did NOT drive it like a rice rocket - it was a 4 banger sedan, after all. The 6 speed in our '06 XTerra is not that much better, either, We've already put 56K on it (we do a lot of interstate driving), and I hear a funny knocking in the trans when it is in neutral and the clutch is out. Throwout bearing? Any thoughts?

Sometimes things do happen in the first year, but what could of have been fixed wasn't, it's ugly.

I've learned to never, ever buy the first year of a new model. It could be simple as one little thing that makes the entire transmission fail. I like to wait a year or two till they work the kinks out.

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I think the issue is the launch control.

The actual "on any day" 0-60 of the GT-R is approximately 4.1

The crazy low 3 second times are with launch control

I think the launch control on the GTR is the coolest part about it.

While not in gear and at a stop you simply put your foot to the ground on the "LOL" pedal and it will automatically rev to 4000 rpm and you engage into 1st gear with the flick of the paddle shift and it does the launch for you. (kind of like a neutral drop in an automatic) It seems to do 3.7's to high 3.9's every time with any driver; even a grandma could do it!

I don't know how fast an LP640 does a 0-60 in, possibly mid 3's? But this would take several attempts even by professional driver to get the "claimed" 0-60. You have to play with the throttle, drop the clutch perfectly and drop it at a perfect RPM. As well they do it in ideal climates, perfect weather, and hot tarmac.

I'm not directly comparing it to a LP640 however -- the Lambo is far more sublime than the GTR, and isn't even comparable in my opinion. One is a ugly science loser with straight A's, and one is a famous porno star.

We are in a crazy era of sports cars, they are getting more and more user-friendly and daily drivable.

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Dream to Achieve.

Why they did not use an inline 6 is beyond me......

It's a inline six twin turbo

Are you thinking of the M3? It went from V6 to V8.

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Dream to Achieve.

The GTR is an V6 TT. The new BMW 335 can be had with a TT I6. . .

Oh, and Nic, would you say that the newest GTR is kinky? HEHE