Outstanding performance for the money

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Nissan Pulsar GTiR
★★★★☆
4.4
94.0% of users recommend this
  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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Guest's review of Nissan Pulsar GTiR

“Outstanding performance for the money”

★★★★★

written by on 24/07/2013

My son bought me my GTiR as a retirement present five or six years ago, as it was becoming increasingly difficult to find sufficient space to park my old Mercedes 6.9 at the local supermarket. At first I thought he must be mad as I had not owned a small hatchback since the 1980s when I bought one of the first Lancia Integrales.

A low mileage, early model, the car has been mildly tuned and develops about 310bhp on the rolling road with an impressive 280lb/ft of torque.
Having owned several high performance cars during a motoring career of fifty-five years, including TVR Griffith, Gordon-Keeble and Chevrolet Corvette, I would consider the Pulsar GTiR one of the most accelerative cars that I have had in the garage: I can think of nothing which offers such performance for the money, but it is well worth having the car tuned by an expert.

However, it is undeniably noisy with an aftermarket exhaust fitted, which can be quite wearing on longer journeys, and the fitment of a rear strut brace severely restricts boot space. I would consider the synchromesh weak if abused and the brakes inadequate unless upgraded. Fuel consumption is not at all bad (around 24mpg) during normal driving.

Although my own car has been slightly lowered and has uprated springs, the ride is not nearly as firm and uncomfortable as some BMWs that I've owned. Although I am quite tall and large, the driver's seat can be easily adjusted to fit my frame and the other seats accommodate largish passengers adequately.

Over 15,000 miles the car has required little but routine maintenance, but regular (every 3,000 miles) oil changes are a must.

Handling and traction are excellent by most standards, but the car reveals its age in these respects when compared with my son's Mitsubishi Evo X; it is not in the same class, although it will hold grimly on its tail.

Odd small bits and pieces do deteriorate, such as handbrake cables, but are easily replaced cheaply through the internet. The most irritating aspect of the car is the need to keep the battery permanently on trickle charge, but this is a small price to pay for such an exhilarating small car.

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