2009 Nissan GT-R

Friendly Godzilla

The Nissan GT-R outguns far pricier sports cars, but it has its quirks.

Young fans mobbed our convoy of Nissan GT-Rs at a fuel stop on the way to Reno-Fernley Raceway in Fernley, Nev. Many of them could recite the car’s specifications from memory.

But other bystanders unfamiliar with Nissan’s new super car openly wondered what all the fuss was about and were surprised that the GT-R has a starting price of $69,850.

Yes, that’s a lot for a Nissan — especially considering it isn’t overwhelmingly attractive by most standards. But for a car that can out-accelerate six-figure exotic European sports cars and also beat them around a racetrack, the GT-R is an absolute steal.

It’s not surprising that relatively few in the United States have heard of the GT-R, even though this latest version represents the fifth generation. Until now, it has only been sold in Japan, where it was called the Skyline GT-R — "Godzilla" to diehard enthusiasts.

For the uninitiated, its nickname should give some indication of the fearsome international reputation the Skyline GT-R has developed since being introduced in 1989.

The latest GT-R — “Skyline” has been dropped — is poised to take on acclaimed sports cars like the Audi R8, Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Porsche 911 Turbo. The GT-R's main weapons are a twin-turbocharged 480-horsepower V6 engine and a robust all-wheel-drive system that together produce scorching acceleration.

We drove the Nissan GT-R on challenging mountain roads near Lake Tahoe, Calif., before and after a session at Reno-Fernley Raceway, and came away amazed. The surprisingly friendly GT-R provides super-hero performance without scaring the life out of regular drivers.

The GT-R is not only affordable by super-car standards, it's comfortable and versatile enough to drive every day, in any weather. And compared to a Lamborghini, you won’t feel like you have to park it a mile away from the supermarket entrance to avoid door dings.

Just don't be surprised if there's a crowd of worshippers around your car when you return.