GT-R, Schmee-T-R..

Publication after publication hails the new GT-R as some type of Godsend. Whether it’s the sheer power, cornering speed or drivability, editors and bloggers alike can’t seem to find anything bad to say about it. I, on the other hand, couldn’t be more tired of the car even before it’s US release.

The R34 marks the end of an era. In my opinion, it’s the best looking out of the entire car’s history (and so far as future). But what really intensifies my affinity for the R34 and triggers the death of the Skyline is the fact that Nissan brought the R35 to US shores. In Japan, Skyline owners have been true car enthusiasts who have a passion for the machines they buy. With all the hype that surrounds the R35, the typical US owner will be the arrogant financialist from Newport Beach who’s LEASING the car only because he hears all the “car guys” at work talk about it. I’ve read that Nissan wants to stray away from the “Skyline” name and refer to the newest rendition as simply the new “GT-R.” Maybe someone at Nissan is after my own heart and wants to preserve the Skyline’s lineage by sacrificing the “GT-R” badge.

Yes, the R35 touts phenomenal performance. Yes, in many aspects it’s an $80,000 911 Turbo killer. But you know what? At the end of the day, the badge on the back still says “Nissan GT-R.” It doesn’t say “Skyline” and there’s sure as hell no “Porsche” badge. So perhaps the new R35 GT-R’s major downfall isn’t performance or price, it’s merely the simple fact that it’s here.