• Nissan GT-R

    Uncategorized 30.05.2011 No Comments

    Nissan are firmly established as one of the world’s top automotive names with a range of cars going from the reliable and affordable to champions rally cars. All the Nissan fans in the world (and there are plenty of them) will be pleased to hear that one of the jewels in the Japanese firm’s crown, the Nissan GT-R, has returned for 2011 and motoring fans will be hoping that it is bigger and better than ever.

    The first of this range of GT-R’s appeared in 2007 and was a huge hit, gaining both attention from the motoring press and also clocking up good sales considering that it is by no means a car for most people. It was a beast and the new one looks to have taken that as a starting point and made some positive moves with it. The new version brings us a newly profiled front bumper that comes with a wider grille, enlarged intakes, LED running lights and what Nissan say is an improvement in downforce of 10%. These are all nice new features from last year’s model, but what does that actually mean to the driver?

    These features, combined with a more powerful engine that can give you 523bhp, you get more oomph from this new version that makes up for a rather substantial rise in price. The price puts the car firmly against Porce’s 911 turbo S in a battle for supremacy and it holds up extremely well against what is a legend of this price range. The new Nissan is more powerful, better to drive and more fun than its older sisters which is definitely saying something. Not many of you out there will be able to purchase the GT-R brand new but if you do want to get your hands on one of these Nissans there are plenty of great second hand cars out there so have a look around. In a year or too the 2011 version will be being bought and sold as well, I for one cannot wait.

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  • Nissan Leaf

    General 24.05.2011 No Comments

    With the Leaf, Nissan is taking that gamble that we really do want cars that run entirely off electricity, but the company must believe that there lies the future for make no mistake, the Leaf is not just a concept, it is a proper production road car that form both the way it looks and the manner in which it drives could easily be mistaken for a petrol car.

    Naturally the big difference is that when you get home you just plug it in and charge up its batteries for very little cost. You will also know that you are doing your best for the environment as the CO2 emissions are zero.

    It has to be said that buying a Nissan Leaf is a brave decision. It is by no means a cheap car; it has a limited top speed and a limited range. However if you are able to cope with these limitations, then the car has a great deal to offer.

    Driving the Leaf is as simple as it gets. You simply press the start button and put the car in drive (D) mode and press the accelerator. The electric motor delivers up to only 108 bhp, but it has exceptionally high torque which more than compensates for the low bhp. Torque levels can be as high as 280Nm which is more than you would get from a good many V6 petrol engine cars, though the top speed is limited to 89 mph and the 0 to 62 mph time is 11.9 seconds.

    Handling is very good (not very different from a standard petrol engine car) and the stability of the car is enhanced by the low sling battery pack. It is superb in town and does not feel out of place in normal motorway driving.

    Comfort levels are also excellent and the car will ride bumps without causing discomfort to passengers. Naturally it is very quiet as there is no engine noise and the aerodynamic styling means that wind noise is maintained at very low levels.

    The only real downside is the range which is only 100 miles and a standard charge takes 8 hours, though you can charge the car to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes with a quick charge, but the number of times you can do this between full charges is restricted. If you can live with this, then this is a car you should consider.

  • Nissan 370Z Roadster

    Uncategorized 19.05.2011 No Comments

    If you enjoy open top motoring on challenging roads, then you will absolutely love the Nissan 370Z Roadster. This little sports car delivers where it matters and provides the kind of open top driving thrill that so many other sports cars have done too much to tame. Although this little beast is designed to thrill, and offers performance levels almost equivalent to the Porsche Boxster it is also an extremely safe car to drive as it is supplied with the very latest safety gear.

    We just love the innovative Synchro Rev Control (SRC) system. If you are old enough to remember the now defunct technique of heel and toe gear shifts that did not rely on synchromesh gear boxes but when done correctly provided much faster gear shifts, then you will certainly admire the SRC which achieves the same effect automatically by maintaining optimal engine revs during gear changes; the standard gear box is six speed manual but you can opt for a seven speed paddle shift box.

    As you might expect, there is no shortage of power. The V6 3.7 litre power unit can propel you to 62 mph from a standing start in a fraction over 5 seconds.

    This 370Z Roadster is certainly a driver’s car, and just as it offers much it is also demanding. Hit the accelerator too hard when cornering and the tail will happily skip around which is great if you know what you are doing; though if you are a little cautious you can always leave the excellent traction control system switched on.

    Although the steering is a little on the heavy side, this means that you feel continually in touch with the road surface thanks to its great feedback which put you completely in control of the car.

    This is a sports car in the fine old tradition of sports cars, so do not expect a particularly comfortable ride. In fact the ride can be quite bumpy over rough terrain, but that is what this car is all about.

    If you are looking for a great sports car that will give you top performance at a very reasonable price, then you won’t go wrong with the Nissan 370Z Roadster.

    If you are looking to insure your new Nissan you should check out Endsleigh Insurance, visit the site today for offers and up to date prices.

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