quote:

The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO project kicked off all smiles and swagger, a team hungry to run at Circuit de la Sarthe alongside perennial German titans Porsche and Audi in LMP1.

"Goliath had the wrong tools. David had the right tools," preached designer Ben Bowlby, the brains behind Nissan's first Le Mans prototype effort since 1999. "Have we the right tools? We think so."

But after numerous technical setbacks, primarily involving the GT-R LM's new flywheel hybrid system, Bowlby has pared back the rhetoric and hedged expectations. Le Mans 2015 became, as one NISMO spokesperson called it, "a learning year." Winning? "Well, one of the cars finishing would be nice..."

An hour into the race, the No. 21 Nissan P1 was blue-flagged for holding up a P2 car. Then its cockpit mechanism malfunctioned, the driver's hatch flew open, and No. 21 trundled back to the pits like a floppy puppy with one ear cocked.

Ooof.

Still, I like the GT-R LM. You should, too. It's a 1940-lbs hybrid racer, a 1250-hp, front-engine, front-drive peculiarity that looks the result of forced breeding between a Chapparal 2J and Panther De Ville kit car. That's a 'prototype' in the truest sense, a curiosity realized in woven carbon and odd ducting and strange noises. It breaks tons of unspoken rules without breaching a single regulation. The GT-R LM wasn't competitive this year on motorsports' grandest stage, at Le Mans. Nobody knows if it'll even lead a lap anywhere, ever. But the thing is literally—and bravely—rear end-backwards. And I dig that.

The Germans, however, do not. This became apparent while chatting with a bigwig from one of Nissan's P1 rivals minutes before the race. The GT-R LM is an attention grab, he said, a sideshow not worthy of racing at la Sarthe. He called the NISMO program "a disgrace," then asked not be quoted by name. Which, considering what he said next, is understandable:

"What is their intention? You can come here and do whatever you want, say whatever you want, but when the final minutes come, what will you show? That's what racing is about. Is coming to race just a marketing tool? Just marketing? That's what pisses me off. In the old days, the technical side was on top. Now, marketing is the top. The technical side is not as important.

"And if it is just marketing that Nissan is doing, then there is something wrong with the sport. If [the car] isn't showing promise in simulations and testing, it will never fly. Never. They may be embarrassed, but they knew from the beginning, after the Sebring test. Stay home. Even if it's totally different, it still has to work."

Dude was genuinely offended. And this is more than a little gamely poo poo-talking; it's an insight into the German corporate culture, how they approach racing. This guy doesn't hate the GT-R LM because it's a competitive threat—he hates it because it's not. Basically, the Germans think Nissan is trolling Le Mans. Hard.

Is that true? Maybe the better question is: Does it really matter? Racing's staid landscape needs more ballsy propositions, more weird and unnerving, competitive or not. Without it, the sport will wither and die. The Nissan GT-R LMP1 may be a marketing tool, and it may be slower than a P2, but it's drat good for racing. When Goliath has all the right tools, you just hope David shows up driving something interesting.

SouthsideSaint posted:

And that 07 vette threw about five codes when I floored it the first time. All 02 sensors but still I had more fun driving a grand marquis then I did the corvette.

SouthsideSaint posted:

But in awesome car stuff I did the brakes on this bad boy. Like usualy theres also a corvette behind that Lincoln but it only got an oil change battery and new windshield.

GT-R LM Article posted:

This guy doesn't hate the GT-R LM because it's a competitive threat—he hates it because it's not.

xzzy posted:

Goddamn that is one grumpy German.

Goofy designs like Nissan's project are important, even if all it does is prove that something doesn't work it's done something useful. And I'm sure some of the tech inside it will show up elsewhere if they decide not to stick with the platform.

It's a lot more interesting than Audi and Porsche cranking out the exact same car every time. Okay so they're integrating hybrid components now but that's just a result of trying to find an advantage within the rules set for the cars.

xzzy posted:

Goddamn that is one grumpy German.

xzzy posted:

Pfft I've known happy Germans. They always seem to fit the stereotype of having an extremely dry sense of humor but they are at least pleasant to be around.

The attention to detail thing is 100% accurate though. Holy cow they love documenting every little thing to the point you want to take away their keyboard.

Butt Wizard posted:

I can't pull up a photo at the moment because the Japanese auction systems are down for maintenance, but there's a panel perfect R32 GTR that has done 15,000km up for auction in Japan tomorrow.

E: Here it is





It's rated a 4.5 and the interior is incredible. Clearly this thing has been someone's baby.

SouthsideSaint posted:

I wish I could agree with you. I do but when your given keys to a seventies stingray and told to goose it. Then it falls flat on its face your opinion becomes jaded. Then you hit your first bump and its like riding in an oxcart. The 07 I drove had NO BALLS. I floored the poo poo out of that thing at every chance and NOTHING no fun no slides no shove you in your seat NOTHING!. Then I work on a 08 Shelby mustang and mind you it wasn't fast but it was comfortable and handle like a car instead of an upgraded ox cart.

Butt Wizard posted:

This thing was passed in at 19K USD. I don't understand people.

xzzy posted:

Pfft I've known happy Germans. They always seem to fit the stereotype of having an extremely dry sense of humor but they are at least pleasant to be around.

The attention to detail thing is 100% accurate though. Holy cow they love documenting every little thing to the point you want to take away their keyboard.

Butt Wizard posted:

This thing was passed in at 19K USD. I don't understand people.

Falken posted:

I think there was someone in the Top gear thread who when Ferrari didn't want to have the Stig do laps in the 918, The Ferrari The Ferrari and the Mclaren P1 said that there's probably an entire team of Porsche engineers who are devastated because they can't be put to the test.

holocaust bloopers posted:

holocaust bloopers posted:

That booty tho

BigPaddy posted:

Because it is a GTR

Real answer, the US has not been able to get them for years due to import restrictions and now people are going mad for them. I am interested to see how it jacks up R34 prices in a few years since those are still about $45k right now. I expect the prices to go down again in time since there are tons of R32s about ,they made about 43k of them, however R33 and R34 production numbers were a decent chunk lower. Also the R33 GTR is viewed to be a bit while the R34 is so it is all a crapshoot.

If you seriously want a R32 GTR I would give it a few years and get a 93 model year car as it will have the improved crank that has a bit more meat on it unless you are going to get the block rebuilt then just make sure a 93 prec crank goes in.

Slavvy posted:

I really don't get why people don't like the R33. It's fundamentally the same car as an R32, with an improved 4WS system and a bit porkier. The R34 is MUCH porkier but nobody gives a gently caress because they look like a samurai robot or something? Like, it's still a GTR. Ludicrous power and unburstable driveline is still there. I'd get an R33 just to save money.

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

I'm so sorry.

BigPaddy posted:

Because it is a GTR

Real answer, the US has not been able to get them for years due to import restrictions and now people are going mad for them. I am interested to see how it jacks up R34 prices in a few years since those are still about $45k right now. I expect the prices to go down again in time since there are tons of R32s about ,they made about 43k of them, however R33 and R34 production numbers were a decent chunk lower. Also the R33 GTR is viewed to be a bit while the R34 is so it is all a crapshoot.

If you seriously want a R32 GTR I would give it a few years and get a 93 model year car as it will have the improved crank that has a bit more meat on it unless you are going to get the block rebuilt then just make sure a 93 prec crank goes in.

Slavvy posted:

I really don't get why people don't like the R33. It's fundamentally the same car as an R32, with an improved 4WS system and a bit porkier. The R34 is MUCH porkier but nobody gives a gently caress because they look like a samurai robot or something? Like, it's still a GTR. Ludicrous power and unburstable driveline is still there. I'd get an R33 just to save money.

razorscooter posted:

more cars need to shoot fire out of places

sanchez posted:

Do they have unenforced laws and regulations in Germany? I had two in my car and was unable to explain that while the windows are slightly darker than the state allows, the law is largely unenforced and nothing to worry about. Just blank stares.

GramCracker posted:

Okay. Ask and ye shall receive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68omlUiKMLI

Rolling anti-lag

Panty Saluter posted:

So you drove a broken car and based on that experience judged all cars of the same model to be bad?

Ghost Farts posted:

I don't understand this question. You don't break laws, they are there for a reason. Why would you need to enforce them?

SouthsideSaint posted:

So you read one of my posts talking about how one year of vette I drove was as lovely as all the other years I drove, and only choose to acknowledge one thing I said.

edit: before another old man on the internet jumps on my nuts about vettes. This is my opinion on them. And much like an rear end in a top hat we all have one and each one is different then the last.

Elmnt80 posted:

And yours is full of poo poo.