The Used Supercar Slayer That Can Be Yours For Less Than $100K
The R35 Nissan GT-R, despite what the R34 GT-R fanboys might say, is a serious weapon. Granted, it might be bigger and heavier than its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t capable of some impressive feats of performance, the likes we’ve seen time and time again from the muscular Japanese supercar killer.
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2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition AWD
- MSRP
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$115,710
- Engine
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3.8L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
- Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
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6-Speed Automatic
- Horsepower
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545 hp
- Torque
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463 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
- Combined
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19 MPG
- Fuel Tank Capacity
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19.5 gallons
- Trunk Volume
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8.8 ft³
That last bit is worth noting. The phrase “supercar killer” has been the Nissan R35 GT-R’s unofficial title over the years, a phrase that has become synonymous with the R35 GT-R. Now, almost two decades after its debut and only a handful of months since its production ended (even though Nissan Global’s product planning boss would have liked to keep the GT-R alive, an interesting derivative of Nissan’s supercar usurper can be bought on the used market for less than $100,000.
This article focuses on the 2012 model year Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition and the 2014 model year Track Edition on the used market.
What Was The 2012 Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition?
The version of the Nissan R35 GT-R we’re talking about, which can be bought for less than $100k, is the early years of the Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition. However, before we talk about the Black Edition, there is one thing we need to address: the title of “Supercar Killer”. The last iteration of the GT-R lineage has been referred to as a supercar killer for years. The media peddled the title as Nissan never outright called it a supercar killer, which is how the Nissan R32 garnered its “Godzilla” nickname. Instead, it was marketed as a supercar for anyone, anytime, anywhere. That phrase became popular and adopted by the masses because of the Nissan GT-R’s performance, which, paired with its comparatively lower price tag than the exotic supercars it brawled with, made it the people’s “supercar killer”.
“The new GT-R is an extraordinary car, a technological flagship for this company that demonstrates our passion for cars. It is designed for optimal high-speed performance in all road conditions. No car combines such speed, ease of driving, ability to excel in all road conditions, such exhilaration, value-for-money and distinctive style. As with its predecessors that have worn the famous GT-R badge, it is a technological wonder car, with an extraordinary breadth of ability. That’s why we say it’s for anyone, anywhere, at anytime.”
– Carlos Tavares, former Nissan Executive Vice President for Corporate and Product Planning.
In 2015, the Nissan R35 GT-R lapped the Nüburgring Nordschleife in 7:26.70 minutes, faster than the Porsche 911 Turbo. In 2013, the Nismo variant had already been sent around the ‘Ring in 7:08.67 minutes, making it one of the fastest Japanese cars around the Nürburgring. It was also quicker around the famed German circuit than the Porsche Carrera GT before it received fresh tires last year and shattered its own record. Another name that fell to the GT-R was the Bugatti Veyron, a car remembered for being the first production car to have 1,000 hp. In terms of straight-line speed, it was only 0.2 seconds slower than that all-wheel-drive, quad-turbocharged monster from France. It was also quicker than the 2012 Audi R8.
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Now, with that “supercar killer” statement verified and out of the way, let’s talk about what was so special about the Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition. The Black Edition was a trim level offered for the Nissan GT-R and has been a part of the lineup since the R35 GT-R’s debut. Compared to the vanilla configuration of the R35 GT-R, the Black Edition featured several exterior and interior elements that distinguished it. These included lightweight wheels, a carbon-fiber rear wing, and Recaro bucket seats. Additionally, the car’s interior followed a red and black color scheme.
So, visual enhancements were its main selling point over the standard model? Yup. It was positioned above the base model, which had an MSRP of $90,950. Yup. And you’re saying a Black Edition can be bought today for less than $100,000? Yup.
Under $100k On The Used Market
We weren’t lying about the Black Edition being sold for less than $100,000. At the time of this article’s publication, a 2013 Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition had been listed for $91,200. That’s not the only example of a Black Edition sold or listed for under $100,000 from that period.
Last year, a 2014 Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition was sold on Bring A Trailer for less than $70,000 and recorded only $49,000 miles. There are exceptions to this. Like any high-performance car that is more than a decade old, it will be worth more if it is driven less. In 2024, an example of a 2013 Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition was listed for just under $200,000. Why? It only had 39 miles on its odometer and, as one can guess, was bone stock.
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As one would expect, modified examples of the Black Edition trim level sell for well below $100,000. An example of a 2014 Black Edition model with an ungraded engine, turbochargers, a custom exhaust, and a custom ECU tune was listed for auction and racked up $66,666 before the auction ended, although the reserve was not met. Compared to its predecessor, it is one of the most affordable GT-R generations on the used market. Still, it is extremely easy to find examples of the early years of the Nissan R35 GT-R Black Edition for under $100,000. However, can the same be said for the more hardcore Track Edition?
The Hardcore 2014 Nissan R35 GT-R Track Edition
Nissan introduced a lighter, more capable, and more track-focused version of the R35 GT-R called the Track Edition. It was also called the GT-R Track Edition, Engineered By Nismo in Japan. The Track Edition was lighter than the Black Edition because it had no rear seats. However, it does not have the Recaro Podium front seat we never got, but it did help in shaving off roughly 22 lbs, giving the Track Edition a lower (but still heavy) 3,792-pound curb weight. The Track Edition also features stiffer suspension, carbon fiber air inlets, an upgraded braking system, a model-specific front bumper, different Recaro seats, and a titanium exhaust to retort the efforts of its undisturbed VQ38DETT engine, which was one of the reasons the VQ engine family became the best.
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These revisions to the GT-R’s formula resulted in a version with better cornering capability and improved handling. Production was limited to just 150 units, making it one of the rarer versions of the Nissan GT-R, and pricing for the 2014 Nissan R35 GT-R Track Edition was $115,710, whereas the Black Edition had an MSRP of $109,330 for the 2014 model year. It is worth noting that an example of one is harder to find because of the Track Edition’s limited production numbers. Still, some examples on the used market have sold for under $100,000 or are available for under $100,000.
In 2019, an example of the 2014 model year Nissan R35 GT-R Track Edition was listed on BringATrailer for exactly $100,000. However, the reserve was never met. Another example of a Track Edition model being listed for under $100,000 came in 2019, too, but again, the reserve was not met, and bidding stopped at $60,000.
Sources: Nissan, Bring A Trailer, Classic.com.
