Since it seems as though lighthearted posts like Donna's photoshop job aren't welcome here, I'll get down to more serious GT-R ownership issues. There are only three options when it comes to ordering a GT-R Premium: an iPod connector ($360), a no-cost cold weather package and a set of $280 floor mats.
Yes, for $72,900 Nissan will give you a 480-hp sportscar that will do 193mph, but if you want an extra five-square feet of industrial grade carpet to wipe your feet on, it'll be an another $280. But wait, you get more than just the carpet as each patch of gray yarn is adorned with a gleaming, full-sized GT-R badge. The carpet alone may only cost $1.38, but add in those badges and the cost basis soars well into the $2 range. So in other words, we got hosed on the mats, but if anyone steals the badge off the trunklid we've got two very expensive spares.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor @ 4,594 miles
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but Ed, those are custom cut to fit the floor of the GT-R. that ought to added an extra 25 cents to the price!
Don't forget the piping around the edge!
"we've got too very expensive spares."
I think you mean you have two spares. Or you could even say you have two too-expensive spares.
Nissan ALWAYS charge A LOT for OEM floormats for the GTR. I remember the OEM floormats I bought for my 02' R34 GTR was $400, and they were nothing that special. I just bought some Lexus LS460L premium floormats and they retail for $269, but they are VERY high quality, extra thick mats, they do worth their price. Nissan definitely are scamming people on their GTR floormats.
I can't think of any manufacturer that hasn't been scamming customers on floor mats for years.
Ed, can I still use the comment area under your blog post to further lambast Donna for being creative?
Not that I can't find fault with your post, its just that I really hate the idea of Donna having any fun at her job. [droll whit now deactivating]
My dad, you've got a love him, has OEM floor-mats then he has floor-mats that he cut himself out of spare bits of carpet. When he alone drives the car he uses the OEMs, but when other people get in he pulls his home-made ones out of the trunk and puts them over the OEMs; floor-mats for the floor-mats if you will.
Benson, yup, you gotta love parents like that. The world would be dreary without 'em.
As much as I would like to, I can't really pick on Nissan for this. Every manufacturer is guilty of insanely over-priced floor mats. They include them on most cars sent to the lot, and in a list of options that can run thousands of dollars, many people can overlook that $200-$400 dollar charge.
Wal*Mart...$14 for a set of four. Better still, go without mats altogether. Wipe your feet before you get in, save all that additional weight - it'll shave another 0.004 seconds off that 0-60 time.
My mats have always been thrown in free by the salesman. Guess you don't get the perks with a GT-R. You have to spend Civic money to get the freebies ;^)
benson2175 - my dad did the same thing with the spare carpeting!! Is it a generational thing? LOL.
"Is it a generational thing"....Yes it is. My dad does similar things. Nothing goes to waste.
I get my mats from autozone...I much prefer the heavy rubber mats (michelin rubber mats). It's easier to just hose off than the carpet ones. A must if you have kids who are always spilling sticky juice.
If I'm going to pay for dealer mats (which I did) I would hope that there are rubber ones available. With Canadian winters, cloth mats are basically of no use. You can only wipe so much snow off your feet.
Thankfully, MINI makes some gorgeous rubber mats.
"I can't think of any manufacturer that hasn't been scamming customers on floor mats for years."
My car came with floor mats as standard equipment.
The Malibu and Subaru optional mats I had went for less than half what Nissan charges. No badges, though.
Then again, are all Accessories for the GT-R at ridiculous price levels?
Expensive mats, yes. But they are nice looking!
aren't there 30 or so other cars in the LT tests? What happened to them? Those poor, neglected, non-supercars.
Frankly, I don't see the issue. The MSRP of my 2008 Carrera S was higher than the GT-R and Porsche was still happy to charge me for floor mats.
As a matter of fact, I optioned my car to include optional paint, the full leather interior, and several other doo dads and floormats still weren't included.
I still think the GT-R is uglier than a pug's ass and I won't even consider driving one until Nissan offers a proper transmission... but there's no denying that it's one hell of a value.
ooowwww ahhhhh!!! Extra special high speed Grand Turismo 4 special edition JDM Super tuned floor mats with high G load backing!! Do they have Bluetooth?
You could say that the floor mats were 78 grand and they threw the car in free....
cjasis, Porsche is notorious for making everything in the car an option (and expensive ones at that). Also, I have not driven a car w/ a dual-clutch transmission yet, I think you may be pleasantly surprised when you try one out. I too thought the GT-R was hideous but then I saw one at the Monterey Historics this weekend and it is much better looking in person.
brn, thanks for being so informative and telling us what car you drive. It must not be a Porsche. Is it the FI trim level? (Floormats Included)
I don't blame them for charging that much for floor mats. They have to make money somehow as I'm sure that aren't turning much profit on the car itself.
"Every manufacturer is guilty of insanely over-priced floor mats."
I wouldn't say "Every", regular Lexus floor mats are less then $100, and I think it is reasonable for their quality.
$14 mats from Walmart or Pepboys are no where near the quality of Lexus mats.
M_Thrizzle -
I've seen several GT-R's now and ridden in one.
They are an amazing performance value but I really don't like they way they look.
I have driven the DSG box in the VW and Audi, the F1 box in the Ferrari F430, The SMG box in the current M5, and the box in the Gallardo. While I am impressed with these boxes (esp. the DSG and F1 box), I remain uninterested.
I love driving and to me, executing a proper upshift and downshift is one of the most rewarding parts of driving. I don't care that these new fandagled boxes are quicker around a racetrack or faster in a straight line... I think they remove me further from the true joy of driving.
I'll keep strengthening my left leg in traffic, thank you.
HA! Believe me the dealer didn't "throw" in the mats.
NOTHING is ever just "thrown" in.
Floormats are overrated. BTW, the fact that you guys were able to get the GT-R for $72K is a steal in my opinion. Dealerships are charging and arm, a leg, and your soul (more than $85K to $100K) for that car.