Testing times for Nissan GT-R

Supercars are not for those who want to blend in with the background. It's for people who want to arrive at their destination in a flourish of colour, noise and drama.

It stands to reason then that people who buy these exotics love being the centre of attention everywhere they go. Pull up in front of a five-star hotel in any supercar and watch the valet attendants drop everything and scramble towards you.

Buying an expensive sportscar that doesn't send hotel staff into a tizzy is a tad pointless.

This was one of my biggest concerns with the GT-R. Image. Great looking though it is, at the end of the day the GT-R is still a Nissan. Doesn't have the same ring to it as Porsche or a Lamborghini, does it?

And since valet attendants in the UAE are spoilt rotten, what with a host of McMercs, Bugattis, Lambos and Bentleys parked outside nearly every hotel, your set of wheels have to be really special to elicit a response.

Admittedly, I wasn't feeling confident as I crawled behind a red Porsche 911 Turbo up The Address driveway. I was in for a surprise.

It was strangely fulfilling to see my Nissan being lavished with more attention than a pricier Porsche. In fact, it actually turns more heads than pretty much any car this side of a Murciélago.

However, something that didn't impress me so much is the GT-R's tendency to tramline like a, er, tram. It follows the imperfections of the road, sometimes to an alarming degree.

That said, if you're looking to buy a sportscar that's awesome to drive and sends valet attendants into a frenzy, the GT-R is more than up to the task.

Facts

• Driven by: Amit
• Start mileage: 8,108km
• Recent cost: Fuel
• Average fuel economy: 17-19mpg
• Highs: Looks, presence
• Lows: Tramlines on less than perfect roads