E46 m3 to r35 gtr. Who has done it or who has a GTR?

[James31]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been looking to jump into something different for awhile now and have a couple different cars I’d like to get but I keep going to the Nissan GT-R r35. Has anyone here gone from a e46 to the gtr and if so, what was it like? Any regrets? Anything to look out for when buying a gtr?

thanks in advance for any and all responses.

[Bostonbruck]

-no manual option
-awd
-fast af
-V6 TT

Honestly they’re not really comparable, and are very different. Of course maintenance is going to a lot more costly. I heard the transmission is a weak point, atleast on the earlier models. This car is on my bucket list. One thing that is a turnoff is the cheap plastic interior, similar to the 350z. However, at that price point with that much power, you need to compromise somewhere. The car does beat some cars that are 5-10x the price point. I’ve started doing some research on them, and there is a forum with some great info.. Good luck with your search.

[Sharocks]

Neighbor has a 2010 as a winter DD. It rides like shit, costs a ton to maintain, sound is eh, interior is wack, costs a ton to make faster and isn't practical aka 2 doors.

For a fun car sure. I guess, if an auto is what you want.

I'd rather an RS7 which is what I'd get next after my B8.5 S4.

[Obioban]

If you're looking for different, the GTR is about as different as cars can get and still be sporty.

AWD, Turbo, computer driven, automatic, heavy... doesn't do it for me. But, I'm not nearly offended by it as when it was new, as every modern performance car has kind of become it. It used to be exceptionally everything I don't want... now it's just one of many.

[Onefastsicilian]

putting this car into drive reminds me of an old Altima... big turnoff for me.. Its super fast, but overall, wasn't "excited" being in the driver seat.

[Nuclear Rabbit]

I used to have this combo. If your M3 is SMG it is the weirdest feeling in the world going between paddles stuck to the wheel vs paddles that stay with the steering column

Very very different cars. Not sure I would say they compliment each other but each is very special in their own right.

GT-R is a lot more mechanical and raw than I was expecting. It is a heavy car but I never really had any complaints. The suspension design / body control are both fantastic and it handles its weight much better than something like an e92 m3.

The GT-R is a Nissan supercar. People like to remove the nissan badge but there's a weird feeling that it is a nissan V6 underneath it all. It doesn't feel very practical or utilitarian which is one of the things I love most about the e46 m3. No dropping seats.. interior feels a little more cramped despite it being a much bigger car.

Look out for transmission issues. Mine had a whining 3rd gear which Nissan was kind enough to replace under warranty. I can't remember the full cost anymore but I think a trans will set you back 10-15k. I didn't feel like the replacement transmission was the same as the original one.. it didn't feel as connected to the drivetrain / rest of the car.

2013 is the best year imo as it was the last year mizuno-san was working on the GT-R. They backed off tunes / softened suspension after this but I can understand people wanting a more liveable car, or the aesthetics of the facelift.

[James31]

Thanks for the insight guys. The gtr def has its pros and cons. I feel for the performance you get for $50-70k, it’s hard to match.

[keefesky]

I haven't personally made that switch, but I can share a friend's experience. He went from an E46 to a GT-R and was blown away by the sheer power and performance upgrade. No regrets whatsoever. However, he did advise being thorough when inspecting a used GT-R. He found a car through jdmbuysell. It was well-maintained, and he's been enjoying every moment since.

[oceansize]

While not AWD I'd rather have a Mustang Shelby GT350. Fantastic RWD V8s.

[LSB4Me]

Neighbor has a 2010 as a winter DD. It rides like shit, costs a ton to maintain, sound is eh, interior is wack, costs a ton to make faster and isn't practical aka 2 doors.

For a fun car sure. I guess, if an auto is what you want.

I'd rather an RS7 which is what I'd get next after my B8.5 S4.

This pretty much nails it. Minus the RS7 comment.

* flame suit engaged *

I have an R33 GTR. If you really want to make an apples-to-apples switch, go with an old school Skyline. You’ll have to drive one to believe me, but the driving experience is pretty similar in many ways. Just from the other side of the cockpit.

But yea, the build quality of the e46 is in another galaxy and maintenance isn’t any less expensive in Skyland.

[Nate047]

Thanks for the insight guys. The gtr def has its pros and cons. I feel for the performance you get for $50-70k, it’s hard to match.

Depends on what you intend to do with the car though. Personally I can think of numerous other cars + mods I would rather have for $50-$70k. The GTR is fast, yes, but it's not that engaging. You just floor it and point the steering wheel and it goes. So yes, it is very fast in a literal sense but it's not that much fun IMO. I've driven a couple stock GTRs and an older AMS Alpha 9 which is like 900whp.

Also sometimes they look cool but usually they don't. I dunno. It's very much not at the top of my list for that price point.

[Obioban]

Yeah, the "new" GTR I couldn't care less about. R32-R34 is a good drive. Current... is fast. Who cares. Buy a Tesla and go faster for cheaper, if that's what you care about.