Compare the Nissan GT-R vs Rocco

[ChrisL]

Heavily influenced by Clarkson's antics on Top Gear, it seemed only sensible to book an inquisitive test drive in a Nissan GT-R. This is a comparison with my Rocco GT in the sense I jumped out of one into the other and went on a few of the same urban roads.

Bear in mind this Nissan is very near the top of Top Gear’s and Nurburgring’s production car fastest laps. At just over double the price of a fast Rocco, it’s not an unreasonable upgrade consideration for some given that it is a 4 seater with a boot. That said the Nissan seats don’t fold flat and there are no known roof bar options. The colour choices are also rather tame.

Initial impression was that the Nissan was a muscle car for the USA market with significant street ‘presence’ from its butch lines. The Rocco wins on style straight away. Surprising then that the sightlines in the Nisan were much better than of the Rocco so the Nissan winning on comfort until you go over a crack in the road and then the very stiff suspension revealed itself. The Nissan was also noisy as the 4WD automatic transmission cut in and out at low speeds.

Despite my requests to the dealer for a launch control and motorway test, I was restrained to a few 50 mph dual carriageways and roundabouts. That didn’t stop me dropping the clutch at some traffic lights. For a sense of what happens next, you’ve probably seen the old Start Trek movies when they go to warp speed. There’s always that 0.5 second lag before everything goes blurred and the horizon ends up in front of your nose. Clarkson similarly commented that it sort of tears your face off as the 3.8 litres V6 assisted with two turbos and traction control kick in. There is no doubt in the first 0.5 seconds on launch control, my GT diesel Rooco would have had its nose ahead. After that, it would been chewing the Nissan’s exhaust fumes as 2.5 seconds later the Nissan would have passed 60 mph and there is little on four wheels on the road can beat that. It was truly jaw-dropping acceleration and that alone might be a reason to buy. Or even do a few more road tests !

The second reason was the 4WD road holding although the Rooco would on a par as I did get the Nissan’s wheels squealing on a roundabout a lot easier than mine. However with over double the power, it would be game-over if you tried to compete for real. In summary, for day-to-day use give me the Rocco but for a trip to the track give me the Nissan.

P.S. Nitrogen filed types they may be, but they are seriously expensive to replace.

[freaknice]

You can't compare the two. The GTR is in a league of its own.

[Ryy]

I wouldn't entertain comparing these. I mean, if anything an "R", but, really. Even those aren't close.

[Shaun]

As above, mad to comapre the two, look below for its real competition (Top Gear powerlaps)

Ariel Atom V8 1.15.1
Bugatti Veyron SS 1.16.8
Lamborghini Aventador 1.16.5
Gumpert Apollo 1.17.1
Ascari A10 1.17.3
Koenigsegg CCX (with Top Gear spoiler) 1.17.6
Noble M600 1.17.7
Pagani Zonda F Roadster 1.17.7
Caterham R500 1.17.9
Bugatti Veyron 1.18.3
Pagani Zonda F 1.18.4
Maserati MC12 1.18.9
Ferrari Enzo 1.19.0
Lamborghini LP670 SV 1.19.0
Ferrari 458 1.19.1
Ariel Atom 1.19.5
Lamborghini LP560 1.19.5
Ferrari Scuderia 1.19.7
Nissan GT-R 1.19.7
Ferrari GTO 1.19.8
Lamborghini LP640 1.19.8
Porsche Carerra GT 1.19.8
Koenigsegg CCX 1.20.4
Corvette ZR1 1.20.4
Ascari KZ1 1.20.7
Mercedes McLaren SLR 1.20.9
Ferrari 599GTB 1.21.2
Audi R8 V10 1.21.6
Ford GT 1.21.9
Porsche 911 Turbo Convertable 1.22.2
Audi R8 V10 Spyder 1.22.3
Ferrari 360 CS 1.22.3
Porsche GT3 RS 1.22.3
Corvette Z06 1.22.4
Noble M15 1.22.5
Lexus LFA 1.22.8 (wet)
Mercedes SL Black 1.23.0
Murcielago 1.23.7
Zonda 1.23.8
Koenigsegg 1.23.9
Aston Martin DBS 1.23.93
Veritas RS III 1.24.2
Prodrive P2 1.24.3
Audi R8 1.24.4
Aston Virage 1.24.4
TVR Sagaris 1.24.6
Mitsubishi Evo FQ400 1.24.8
TVR Tuscan 1.24.8
Bentley Continental Supersports 1.24.9
Porsche Boxster Spyder 1.24.9
Merc E63 AMG 1.24.9
Noble M400 1.25.0
BMW M1 1.25.0
Lotus Exige S 1.25.1
BMW M3 Saloon 1.25.3
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder 1.25.7
Lotus Evora 1.25.7
Lamborghini Gallardo 1.25.8
BMW Z4 M 1.26.0
Porsche Cayman 1.26.2
Porsche 911 Carrera 2S 1.26.2
Brabus Biturbo Roadster 1.26.2
BMW M5 1.26.2
VXR Bathurst 1.26.3
Lotus Exige 1.26.4
BMW M3 1.26.5 (m)

[jammyeel]

Funny as I also went for test drive of RS5 yesterday and went to dealers to talk about GTR.

RS5 is immense inside and the roar is beautiful I topped at 130 on the motorway before I chickens out and I took a winding exit lane at 70 no probs. Car was a v8 and identical engine to the R8 but weighs 2.5 tons..

Didn't get to test drive the GTR buy booked in for next week. Looking inside it looks absolutely cheap and disgusting.

Looks wise my R-Roc is head and shoulders above plus you still get the "what the he'll is that" looks from people. I don't think the RS5 or GTR would get so much of that, mostly from people who know about cars.. Performance wise they take the Roc-R to the cleaners but for me the roc R is more fun to drive on urban roads.

[ChrisL]

Few other test drive notes to add:
• The Nissan's dashboard diagnostics screen interface is not going to make you faster, nor can you even look at it whilst gunning along; However for the passengers, the G-Force meters are rather fun.
• However corny, I do like sports cars to have a big red 'Start' button; The Nissan has one. But the rest of décor is indeed rather doubtful. Also perhaps a few too many Bose speakers to be taken seriously.
• Flush door handles make sense except when it is windy.
• Cars that have always-on LEDs like Audis and this Nissan are the spawn of the devil.
• The brochure turned out to be neat high-quality hard-backed book. There are however virtually no options apart from the décor.
• It was ironic that Nissan have to sell this fire-breathing monster right next to their new eco-electric Leaf car in the showroom. Watch the salesman try to sell either model to you completely contradicting the ethos of each !

[wigit]

sorry no comparison GTR is in a different league, having encountered one of these at Bedford on a track day i can say there is now comparison, i couldn't believe how quick it was through the corners, let alone the straights

[Shaun]

Funny as I also went for test drive of RS5 yesterday and went to dealers to talk about GTR.

RS5 is immense inside and the roar is beautiful I topped at 130 on the motorway before I chickens out and I took a winding exit lane at 70 no probs. Car was a v8 and identical engine to the R8 but weighs 2.5 tons..

Didn't get to test drive the GTR buy booked in for next week. Looking inside it looks absolutely cheap and disgusting.

Looks wise my R-Roc is head and shoulders above plus you still get the "what the he'll is that" looks from people. I don't think the RS5 or GTR would get so much of that, mostly from people who know about cars.. Performance wise they take the Roc-R to the cleaners but for me the roc R is more fun to drive on urban roads.

Your not in the UK obviously

[jammyeel]

Your not in the UK obviously

Why do you say that? I am in uk

[Shaun]

Your not in the UK obviously

Why do you say that? I am in uk

If i need to tell you then you shouldn't be on the road

[jammyeel]

Oh the 130 well dealer took a blind eye

[Turboweasel]

Few other test drive notes to add:

• Cars that have always-on LEDs like Audis and this Nissan are the spawn of the devil.

Does that include the Scirocco R aswell?

[ChrisL]

LCD avoidance was a convincing reason to stick with a GT model ! There should be a extra road tax for LCDs and caravans. In fact why not just tax Audis double anyway just to reduce their numbers

[Turboweasel]

And Mercs, Citroens, Angle eye'd BMW's

[Cuprabob]

LCD avoidance was a convincing reason to stick with a GT model ! There should be a extra road tax for LCDs and caravans. In fact why not just tax Audis double anyway just to reduce their numbers

//pedantic mode on//

it's LEDs not LCDs

//pedantic mode off//