As the modifications have recently started flowing on my GT-R project car, GT-RR demo car #4, I wanted to recap my experiences with the car in stock form.

Prior to bringing the GT-R into Nissan for its first service I needed to accumulate roughly 1500 miles on the car. That first service is a mandatory decision from my point of view since a clean bill of health is vital prior to the heavy modifying I’m doing. I knew that with my new Amuse x GT-RR 90mm exhaust coming in that I needed to rack up the miles fast and get the service out of the way. It was the perfect opportunity to embark on the legendary drive up the coast from Los Angeles to Napa through the picturesque Big Sur. I’ve been reading about that drive since I was probably 12 years old and despite living in LA for the past decade I’ve oddly never indulged in it. As my thinking goes…the GT-R is a proper grand touring car and no car is better suited for that legendary pilgrimage enjoyed by thousands of driving aficionados.

I’ll leave the glory of that drive to those far better at it (pick up a proper car magazine and they’ll do it better justice). What I will say is that the GT-R is a phenomenal car in stock form. Much like when I got my S2000 in 1999 and marveled at how perfect it was from the factory, the same can be said at present time about the GT-R…only at a much higher level.

It is one thing to enjoy modified cars and to immediately, almost subconsciously, plan out ways to modify any given car that enters your mind (something I do everyday). However, to experience the GT-R for a prolonged period of time doing what it is best at (on public roads at least), I can say that it honestly gave me a deep rooted caution towards modifying it. I’ve never felt nervous to mess with perfection, but the GT-R is that good. I started for a brief moment thinking that Mizuno from Nissan was right and that nobody should mess with his perfectly tuned creation. Although that perspective and fear was only a temporary phase for me, it was a realization that modifying a GT-R should really be done with deeply careful consideration for the goals of the project and of course intelligent strategy. Not to say that other cars are not modified so thoughtfully because plenty are, but simply put the downside of poorly modifying the GT-R is much higher than the downside to poorly modifying other cars. There is nothing more shameful that failing to upgrade and hence downgrading a proper super car in the areas of performance, usability or overall design.

I completed the Los Angeles to Napa and back weekend trip with a new found appreciation for the GT-R and more importantly an evolved perspective on how I wanted to modify this particular car for my tastes.

As I write this the modifications have already begun and there will be a steady stream of parts flowing in for the car for many months to come. The ironic thing is that although I gained a newfound appreciation for the car in stock form (it is really perfect), I’ve also gained a new found appreciation for just how much more perfect it can become for me with modifying.  Everything goes full circle. I’m reminded of 1999 all over again and the discussions about 120hp per liter being maxed out from the factory with the S2000 and yet how I now am targeting 450-500 horsepower out of that same F20c block for my 11 year old S2000 and loving it that much more for it.

I guess to summarize,  the perspective I have is that the GT-R is a perfect car. But perfection has never gotten in the way of tuners to seek new heights of perfection, and with solid strategy and great perseverance we often succeed to raise the bar. As I leave work to drive the already modified GT-R home, I know that statement to be true. It’s getting better every day, with every well planned modification.

PS - These pictures are not that great quality, if anyone wants wallpaper in high quality just comment and I’ll make it happen.