Testing times for Nissan GT-R

I've had the GT-R for nearly four weeks now and I have been struggling to find any major faults with it. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention — I am usually too busy checking out the lateral G-meter to concentrate on cupholders, or whether the turn indicator isn't the right shade of orange. It's not really my fault. The driving experience in the GT-R dominates everything.

But this week I have finally found some things that I don't fully approve of. It pains me to admit this, but the GT-R's cabin could have done with nicer trim. It's not unpleasant by any stretch of the imagination, but considering its main foe — the Porsche 911 Turbo — will shame cars twice as expensive when it comes to interior quality, better materials for the Nissan would have been nice.

Another slight niggle is the gargantuan proportions of the GT-R, which make parking in a tight spot a slight issue. Especially because it doesn't have parking sensors. To make sure that the low-riding front doesn't hit the kerb, I have to half get out of the car with the engine still running — right foot on the brake — and gently let it crawl into the spot.

It is slightly irritating at times, but if I don't undertake this elaborate parking manoeuvre, the big rear sticks out of the bay too much.

But these tiny foibles cannot change the fact that I love this car. If you're looking to buy an exotic, do yourself a favour and try out the GT-R. It will forever change the way you look at cars. It is that good.

Facts