So it was official- 'U.S.' at Sutherlin Nissan told me the black on black 2009 GTR was mine. All I had to do was put down a deposit, and wait. July '08 was filled with anticipation, only an estimated arrival date, and knowing that we (me and my wife Diane) would have to fly from Buffalo, NY to Ft. Myers, FL; then drive over 1800 miles back, in a car nicknamed Godzilla- Let me tell you- for a guy who's not easily so- it's intimidating. Sounds like Fun!

July 25th around 9 AM, the call came in from the dealer- "Joe... Your car is here. Everyone is outside watching it unload- it's very exciting." Damn I wish I was there, but in running a company and coordinating the trip around family, swiping a credit card at Southwest that day was not going to happen- So I had to wait until the 31st, almost one more torturous week.

Having a family member down there helped- he visited the car, My GTR, and emailed a few pictures from an iphone to tide me over. The dealer had to move the car inside on the show floor and cover it up, it was bringing way too much attention outdoors. Within a few hours of it's arrival everyone got word that a GTR was around.

We were greeted at the dealership as if their only customer- "So, you're the GTR owner..." ;"Man, you're a lucky guy". It was thrilling to pull off the cloth cover and finally see My GTR in person. No picture I've seen the 2 years prior can prepare you for that first look. We must have checked out the car for over an hour, along with everyone in the dealership. Sutherlin Nissan of Ft. Myers Florida is the bomb!

My GTR is AWESOME! The Black Obsidian paint job is deep! It's unique in it's subtle curves placed oh so gracefully yet purposely- art and engineering coming together- it doesn't get much better than this- an emotional and inspiring thing of beauty.

The amount of care gone into it's design is quite obvious. Right down to the very delivery, even the loading and unloading of each vehicle was monitored by a Nissan representative. They left nothing to chance- they took care of My GTR for me.

Once the paperwork was done and I began to come back down to the planet, we got in, spent a few minutes familiarizing with controls, started it up, and drove toward Naples for the night. I had no idea what I was in for as we began our weeklong trip back up to Buffalo.

Driving My GTR is like driving a Superstar- everyone knows it. Unknowingly included in the price came respect, admiration, and a level of pent-up curiosity and desire that we've concluded has not been seen since the days of the Mustang Shelby. Why it took over 40 years for this in the USA is unknown- Flip the millennium-glass, please- Thank You, Nissan!

Oliver at The Westin in North Carolina

Every valet at every hotel wanted to check out the car, and these are guys that are parking Lambo's on a regular basis.

Stephen at The Westin in N.C.

Driving down the road at any speed brought out cell phone cameras shooting front, back, and sides. So we tried to oblige each long enough to get their shots, then zoom on. There was no one looking to race, only admire and be one of the first to see the car. The level of recognition all the way up the coast was astounding- there was no hiding.

We'd pull off to fill up, and within a few minutes someone would pull in to see the car. In malls, we parked where we thought were the most inconspicuous spots (to keep My GTR safe), only to have already been spotted.

Chris from S. Carolina, with his red Mustang

After enough encounters, we decided to get pictures of some of those who were shooting- that was the deal, a picture for a picture- no one argued.

Roy, a very cool tour guide in Charleston, SC, decided to spend his Sundays taking pictures

After a few hundred miles, getting used to the way it shifts, all the controls, while becoming more familiar with the way it responds to every nuance, driving the car became increasingly easier. Driving it around town is no more difficult than any other sports car, unless you get on it.

Brian and Mike at Sound Systems, an excellent audio/home theater dealer in Charlotte, NC. Thanks to John there for his always southern hospitality. A fine dealer, and person.

The navigation was easy enough to get used to, and the quick response of the touch screen made me feel like a Trekkie after a few days. Having never had nav, I had no idea how indispensable it can be while traveling. It sure beats the hell out of a paper map when the car tells you when and where to turn, and the XM sat automatically reroutes you around any traffic and accidents. Then again, what else would you expect from one of the most advanced cars available. Just Drive It !!!

Jordan from MD- This level headed dude has a sweet, light blue S2000

The GTR trip also caught the attention of the Florida press, to see the article click here...

All in all, an excellent experience from purchase to highway to driveway. Many thanks to Southerlin Nissan, Nissan Japan and USA, and to all of those who gave us the thumbs up along the way. The path and journey were worth it!!!

Take care, everyone, and listen, clearly, always... Joe

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