Sayonara, R35: Nissan Japan has stopped taking orders for the GT-R

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

EVs vs. GT-R and the Meaning of “Performance”

  • One side argues that ultra-fast EVs like the Model S Plaid make cars like the R35 obsolete outside tracks or mountain roads.
  • Many push back: EVs deliver brutal straight-line acceleration but feel numb, induce nausea, and don’t offer the sustained engagement of a manual sports car.
  • Several note that on real tracks (e.g., Nürburgring), Plaid times are not dominant; older GT-Rs and other performance cars can be faster.
  • Consensus in the thread: Plaid is amazing for stoplight launches and drag strips, but it doesn’t replace cars like the GT-R for people who value handling, feel, tuning, and track use.

Joy of Driving: Manuals, Engagement, and “Techy” Cars

  • Enthusiasts repeatedly emphasize “joy” as: lightweight, NA (or fun turbo), manual, RWD, good steering, minimal electronics, mechanical handbrake.
  • Examples: Miatas, S2000s, old Volkswagens, cheap low-power cars driven hard.
  • Others defend advanced tech and DCTs: they’re faster, hold boost, and can be brilliant on track.
  • A strong subset still finds automatics and even paddles fundamentally less satisfying; “feel” outweighs measurable performance.

GT-R R35’s Legacy and Decline

  • The R35 is praised as a 2007-era revolution: AWD, turbo, huge tuning headroom, “working man’s supercar” and computer-aided performance pioneer.
  • It also became heavy, old, and expensive; price hikes and limited updates eroded the original value proposition.
  • Discontinued largely due to regulations and platform age; some see its non-compliance as part of its rebel charm.
  • Nissan’s earlier claim that it was “untuneable” is mocked, with explanations tied to emissions and regulatory optics.

Nissan, Sports Cars, and Market Reality

  • Broader lament that Nissan squandered enthusiast cred (GT-R, Z, Infiniti) by not meaningfully iterating the platforms.
  • Counterpoint: GT-R sales were tiny; enthusiasts demand manuals and halo cars but often buy used, making new development hard to justify.
  • Comparison cars cited as similar or better value: Camaro ZL1, C8 Corvette, Mustang, Supra, RS3, etc., with debate over AWD, track vs straight-line, and what “same performance” really means.

Future of Driving and Tuning

  • Some fear tuning and enthusiast driving are effectively “already dead” and will become a niche old-person hobby amid EVs, autonomy, and urban policy.
  • Others are cautiously hopeful: you can still tune handling, not just power, and demand for cars like the 911, Supra, MX‑5, BRZ suggests the passion isn’t gone yet.