[Jack Sparrow]

Great read:

A nasty little rumor started circulating recently that the 2010 GT-R would be hitting dealer lots without its vaunted (and controversial) launch control system. We asked Nissan for the official word and the reply was that no such decision has been made.

It stands to reason that they're considering it, however, given all the negative publicity (real and imagined) they've been receiving about $20,000 warranty claims (real and imagined) on the dual clutch transmission, so we went back into our testing records to see how a launch control-less GT-R performs.

But first, let's clear up a few things. According to Nissan's PR department, using launch control on the GT-R does not automatically void warranty claims on damage to the car. Ditto for turning off the VDC. In addition, using launch control with VDC off does not automatically void warranty coverage. But abuse of any these features can result in the warranty coverage being voided. How does one define abuse? That's where the grey area starts and forum rants begin.

While no one but Nissan's claims department is privy to the formula it uses to determine when acceptable use becomes outright abuse, it is important to note that Nissan is far from the only manufacturer that can and will deny a warranty claim due to blatant misuse of a vehicle. Virtually every automaker has such clauses in their warranties, even BMW's vaunted Ultimate Service program, which promises no routine maintenance costs for four years or 50,000 miles. Check the fine print. Such clauses aren't just for high performance cars either. Bring your car back to the dealership with only 200 miles on clock and a smoked clutch, and it won't matter if it's a Corvette ZR-1 or Hyundai Elantra, the service writer will slowly start shaking his head.



But enough blathering about the warranty controversy. Assuming Nissan bean counters win and the 2010 GT-R wades across the Pacific sans launch control, what can we except?

No more 3.2-second runs to 60 mph, but still a stonkingly fast car.

Last spring when we first got our hands on the GT-R (the red one pictured here) we tested it at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station with full launch control mode engaged. For giggles, we quarter-miled it in regular mode as well, a situation I remember well because of the distinct lack of drama. There was no squatting, no grunting, or jerky four wheel spinning rollout. The GT-R left the line smoothly and slowly -- so slowly it looked like it might turn in a 5- or 6- sec. 0-60 time.

Indeed it was slower, but not that much. Turns out, you can still be a superhero in the GT-R simply by mashing the throttle; 60 mph arrives in 3.9-sec., the 1/4-mile in 12.2-sec. at 119.2 miles per hour. Here are the full numbers:

Speed (mph) Time (sec)
0-30 1.9
0-40 2.5
0-50 3.2
0-60 3.9
0-70 4.9
0-80 6.0
0-90 7.2
0-100 8.6
1/4-mile 12.2 sec. @ 119.2 mph

Note that these are our standard corrected numbers (including a one foot roll out and corrections for temperature and elevation), but conditions that day didn't warrant any massive correction. In fact, the 0-60 time didn't change appreciably with correction.

To put the GT-R's launch control-less performance into perspective, here are the performances of the four cars we had in our October 2007 Science of Speed shootout:

0-60 mph 1/4-mile
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 3.7 sec 11.8 sec @ 121.6mph
Dodge Viper SRT-10 3.7 sec 11.7 sec @ 124.4mph
Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 4.0 sec 12.0 sec @ 123.8mph
Porsche 911 GT3 3.8 sec 12.2 sec @ 115.2mph



It's worth noting that of the players in this list, only the Z06 comes close to the GT-R's price as tested. The rest are at least $15,000 more (or $300,000 in the case of the Lambo), assuming no dealer mark up on the Nissan.



So what does this all mean? Not a whole lot. Sure, a launch control-less GT-R is still a fast, high performance value, but like we said at the beginning -- Nissan has not stated definitively that launch control would be deleted from the 2010 GT-R. In addition, there are rumors that the new car will receive a minor bump in horsepower and perhaps a few more tweaks. When have all the details, you can be sure we'll bring them to you first.

[MrBooby]

That's not bad actually. I thought it was gonna be over 4.0 seconds

[leletyM3]

As long this thing doesn't break down...20k to fix the damn thing is way too much

[King Luis]

so it does the quarter mile the same time as the less hp, rwd gt3. the unbeatable gtr is starting to look like a normal fast car instead of the bestest car in the world according to fanboys.

[Mvez]

screw the GTR, the 3.8 second time of the GT3 is amazing for a car with 415hp...by far the lowest in that group.

[Porshapwr]

Originally Posted by Mvez

screw the GTR, the 3.8 second time of the GT3 is amazing for a car with 415hp...by far the lowest in that group.

Nevermind it's easily the best built too. GT3 FTW.

[1baadm3]

that pretty fast consider it weight.
i bet the m3 dct will cost almost as much as 20k to replace. you pay for new technology. how difficult is that to understand?

[Cyrus]

Allow me to be the middle ground amongst you fanboys:

1) Of course every warranty can be voided Muneeb. That is a ridiculous point. The point is that using LC -- the mere fact of using it -- has voided warranties and they are going to get rid of the feature, which tells you all you need to know. Nissan made a gaffe with the feature, admit it.

2) 0-60 is not that important unless you're a high school kid and evidently the GTR is still plenty fast even without LC.

3) And for all of you guys claiming the GT3 is a better car, wow, what do you want a cookie? The GT3 costs a boat load more money, of course it's better. Comparing the GTR to the GT3 just shows how sad the BMW fanboys have become.

[mkvtg37]

Originally Posted by Cyrus

2) 0-60 is not that important unless you're a high school kid and evidently the GTR is still plenty fast even without LC.

that is awesome

very intereesting read indeed, 0-60 in 3.9 is no slouch, but like cyrus said, it really doesnt matter.

launch control doesnt void the warranty on my car

[Jack Sparrow]

Originally Posted by King Luis

so it does the quarter mile the same time as the less hp, rwd gt3. the unbeatable gtr is starting to look like a normal fast car instead of the bestest car in the world according to fanboys.

The GTR had a trap speed of 119, it will put a huge amount of distance on the GT3 afterwards. Tons of owners have been hitting the 1/4 mile without using LC and have gottin times much quicker.

See link belown (video of 1/4 time):
http://www.gtrblog.com/index.php/200...p-three?blog=4

The record for bone stock GTR w/o LC is 11.67@120. Hardly the same time as a GT3.

Originally Posted by Porshapwr

Nevermind it's easily the best built too. GT3 FTW.

Fanboi.

Originally Posted by Cyrus

Allow me to be the middle ground amongst you fanboys:

1) Of course every warranty can be voided Muneeb. That is a ridiculous point. The point is that using LC -- the mere fact of using it -- has voided warranties and they are going to get rid of the feature, which tells you all you need to know. Nissan made a gaffe with the feature, admit it.

2) 0-60 is not that important unless you're a high school kid and evidently the GTR is still plenty fast even without LC.

3) And for all of you guys claiming the GT3 is a better car, wow, what do you want a cookie? The GT3 costs a boat load more money, of course it's better. Comparing the GTR to the GT3 just shows how sad the BMW fanboys have become.

My point has never been to state the warranty cannot be voided. I've said the same thing as this article. When you abuse LC/ the tranny, don't expect to have your warranty honored. MT contacted Nissan and they stated using the LC and turning off the TC would not void your warranty until you began abusing it. The couple of stories that everyone has heard is clear abuse on the owners part.

The GTR is fast, whether you use LC or not, who cares, when did 0-60 times become soooo important? Its just somethin for the haters to nit-pick at. The GTR still romps the GT3, Turbo, and tons of higher end cars around the track and theres no excuses about that.