The GT-R holds a special place in my heart because it’s served as the hallmark of some of my favorite moments in life. After my first year of living in Los Angeles, circa late-2008, I happened to sit next to a recent transplant from Atlanta, Georgia at a friend’s birthday party. Our conversation went something like this:

“Hi, I’m Adam. Do you like cars? I have a Nissan GT-R.”

“You don’t know this yet, but we’re best friends,” I replied.

After a night of geeking out over cars and explaining that I had fallen in love with the R34 GT-R through the video game “Gran Turismo,” Adam would always make an effort to get me some seat time in his brand-spanking-new GT-R whenever possible. He even went so far as to swap cars with me for a week.

At the time, it struck me as odd that someone would so enthusiastically share his car, but I’d soon learn that this generosity is what makes the automotive community so awesome. I’m not saying that everyone will loan you their prized possession, but they’ll at least make an effort to show up at events and share their passion with the world, no matter how expensive or rare the vehicle.

Seven years later, I’d become a fledgling journalist, hungering to establish myself as a legitimate content creator. I was chasing every opportunity to produce exclusive and exciting content, like a dog following its human into the kitchen hoping for scraps. This pursuit is how Nissan’s flagship sports car would once again mark a turning point in my life — the 2015 GT-R NISMO, valued at $150,000, became my first exotic press vehicle loan.

Through the Motor Press Guild, I met Nissan’s senior manager of product communications, and assembled a pitch for a vehicle loan. The idea was to display the GT-R NISMO at the California Festival of Speed as well as produce a feature write-up on 6SpeedOnline.com. I actually thought it was a pipe dream, but my philosophy is: I’ve got nothing to lose, but everything to gain, so why not at least try.

When I received an e-mail from Nissan saying that they would check the schedule, my excitement was palpable. I don’t know why I was approved for the vehicle loan when there had to be plenty of big-name authors waiting to experience the car. But Nissan took a chance on this unknown writer with grand ideas, and in doing so, they also made it possible for me to have concrete proof of my trustworthiness, maturity, and professionalism. My GT-R NISMO review went on to be the showcase piece that helped get my foot in the door with other manufacturers like Aston Martin, McLaren, and more.

Flash forward to 2017, and I’m sitting in another GT-R; it will always be a symbol of fortune and goodwill that’s taught me to pay it forward whenever possible. Adam sold his first-generation GT-R a few years ago and misses it dearly, so whenever I have the chance to review one, he’s always the first person that I call.

I hope everyone can find that “GT-R” or “Adam” in their lives, and then become the same type of positive influence for someone else. It can quite literally change someone’s life for the better.

Keep an eye on 6SpeedOnline.com for a full review of the 2017 Nissan GT-R Premium along with a trip to Stillen to check out their N-Attack GT-R build.

The post Drivin’ L.A. with Andrew Chen: 2017 Nissan GT-R appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Here’s what she had to say:

This is a car a young mother of 2 would drive. She’s got a tattoo behind her perfectly blonde ponytail. Her party days are over but she’s not ready to grow up yet. This is not just a grocery-getter. This is for the cool mom.

I think what she means is, the Rogue doesn’t appeal to the hardcore mommy who’s whole identity is wrapped up in the fact that living beings came out of her womb. Rogue mom goes paddle boarding, has nights out with her girls, and still has a sex life.

It is not as comfy as my Lexus. It rides tight like a car. I feel the tiniest thing, like it’s both sporty and porky. But the rough edges are still smoothed out. It’s not unstable.

Here, she’s talking about the stiff suspension. Yes, the Rogue does indeed have a very stiffly sprung ride but it is by no means uncomfortable. It simply feels like more of a car underneath you than a hulking SUV pulverizing everything in its path. You feel the road, get feedback, and feel a bit sporty doing it. It is a wonderful balancing act that far too many SUVs and CUVs don’t get right.

I like the big sunroof

It is indeed big. Huge even. Nice piece of luxury and uniqueness for this Nissan.

It certainly feels tricked-out enough in here, but without becoming a NASA dashboard. And everything looks like it would wear well and has a durability factor.

The interior certainly is a welcoming place. While no one will call this a luxury interior, so too with no one call it spartan. All the tech you want is accounted for and beautifully presented, especially in this top-of-the-line SL package.

It isn’t trying too hard to look like something else.

That’s for sure. The Rogue looks unmistakably like a Nissan. I would never call this anonymous or bland, which perfectly suits its more daring driving dynamics.

We’ve driven the 2015 Nissan Rogue a few times here at FactoryTwoFour, and our opinions are pretty divided. For my money, this is a solid choice for those looking for a medium-sized CUV. It is neither trying too hard to be sporty, nor wall-to-wall carpet and leather. Instead, the Rogue is a quietly competent contender in this very hot segment right now.

The post Date Night in the 2015 Nissan Rogue appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

I remember when the first generation Nissan Rogue was announced and shown off.  It had unique styling, that while boring, made it stand out.  The pronounced, thick grill was noticeable, and the headlights gave off a bit of a bug look to it, but you knew it was what it was.  There was no mistaking it.  And while the looks on the outside were different, it delivered the appeal of a fairly standard interior layout for smaller SUVs, ensuring new customers were comfortable inside.  Overall, for a first generation ride, it wasn’t bad.  It lost a few points in comfort and overall fit, but the popularity showed as more and more Rogues hit the road for families.

Then came the 2014 debut, and I hate to say it, but it was a bit underwhelming.  Don’t get me wrong; this is a great looking car.  It has solid styling, great features, covered the need for the improved interior, and brought it to the next level, but gone was the rogue feeling the first generation invoked.  And while it may seem that I am judging a vehicle based solely on the name, I feel the name of a ride should really help define it and not be more about marketing.  Instead, the 2014 Nissan Rogue is missing those unique features that helped it stand out before, the elements that could be hinted at in other vehicles, such as the headlights that were shaped similar to the GT-R with the vertical curve.  I missed those unique factors immediately.

So what are the redeeming factors of the new non-rogue Rogue?  Honestly, almost everything.  I loved the interior, the creature comforts, and the ride was fantastic.  The power was a bit on the low end, but knowing this ride is more for the family made that acceptable.  Storage was everywhere, and it was easy to drive.  Gas mileage was beyond impressive, especially with the number of hills, mountains, and traffic jams it was involved it.  Back seat spacing was fantastic, which is something I feel Nissan has done well across all of it’s 4-door lineup.  The driver controls and switches down by my left knee were a bit out of place and inconvenient to use while in the car, but aside from that, it was impressive.

But going back to the styling, it felt too safe and easy.  Every time I looked at the profile, I saw the Subaru Forester’s design elements.  I wanted to see another vehicle, something that stood out.  But maybe that’s the appeal; maybe that is what the customers are looking for in a car.  Just like planned communities, maybe they want unique on the inside, which the Rogue does well, and standard on the outside.

So where am I going with this?  Well, let’s call it a challenge to Nissan.  Let’s see you make this ride stand out again.  Let’s see the Rogue be unique; actually be rogue-ish.  Let’s see you step away from safe exterior styling and deliver something in this size just as you did with the Juke.  I want to have heads turn, not to lose the vehicle in the parking lot.

The post A Swing And A Miss For The Rogue appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The opportunity arose one weekend, to fly out unexpectedly to Olympia, Washington and witness an old friend get married.  With most of my previous travels being focused on work, the destination, and activities surrounding the trip, this was one of the first times I was showing up with little plans, and an open road ahead of me.  And with only 32 hours to truly get lost in a city I never met, I knew I better do it right from the start.

Meeting me at the SeaTac airport was the new Nissan Sentra, a car I was only familiar with in passing, and often not one that caught more than a passing glance in the past.  Admittedly, I was not a big fan of Nissans in the past, and looked at the ride in front of me with neither excitement nor hesitation; it was merely the vehicle I was to go exploring in.  But, as I hit the road, I found this ride deserved more than that passing glance as it would ultimately become the foundation of the trip.

I realize that a 60 mile journey from the airport to the destination might not be much, but it is enough to set the tone for the coming 32 hours.  Hitting the highway, I merged into what could only be described as the friendliest and least stressful rush hour traffic I had ever experienced, with little to no aggravation from my fellow drivers.  I even came to realize I was the aggressive one of the road, and did end up toning it back quite a bit.

Finally arriving in Olympia, I felt ready to explore the town, hitting up the Trader Joes for some mixed nuts and then wandering down to the docks and waterfront.  The roads weren’t that smooth as I headed down the hills, but aside from the occasional big bump, none of it was a concern.  The roads wound around the little town with crosswalks seemingly every five feet, and road divots designed to slow you down in between.  Again, barely a concern.  As I followed some unknown road, I came upon the farmer’s market right off the water and knew I wouldn’t be leaving for a while.

The colors.  The smells.  I can only wish I could properly describe them, put the words to paper that would share with you the experience of this little market.  By little, I mean packed, bright, expansive, and amazing.  The workers behind each stand welcoming with a smile, offering a taste, and expanding my visual pallet with colors I could only have dreamed about.  The produce looked too good to eat, and the flowers seemed to pop off the stem a sense of excitement.

I felt myself starting to fall in love at this little market; the hours I could have spent wandering each stall, trying and buying the produce and fresh made goods, and taking in the sweet sea air mixed with the pine from the surrounding forests, a wave of comfort rolled over me.  I now knew why so many people loved the area, raved of the people and the culture.  This melting pot of people, bringing their vibrant cultures in to one home, felt perfect.  A whiff of curry from the stand by the water, then mixed with the spices from the Mexican food cart in the middle, the smell of meat being smoked on the other end.  It mixed together in the air in a perfect perfume that perfectly described the area.

After a few hours and a few purchases, I got back in the Sentra to start exploring the hills surrounding the water.  Climbing up with no issue, stopping on the steep with barely a hesitation, I felt at ease exploring and getting lost.  The colors surrounding, the green pines popping off the grey blue canvas sky, all came together in a masterful art piece that was visually intoxicating.

As I continued my journey to get lost, I came to the realization about the  new Nissan Sentra.  It is not fast nor truly visually stunning, but she is nimble, quiet, and most importantly, very comfortable.  For any average drive those are important points, and this little car showed it was meant to be taken a bit more serious than I had.  Thinking it to be another eco-box 4-door sedan, it caught me off guard with everything from the amenities to the space inside, and the overall build quality being a massive improvement.  The looks as deceiving, a bit on par with Nissan’s other mid-range lineup, and showed that the designers were focusing on comfort.

While I would not say it to be the perfect ride for me every day, for my adventure it filled it perfectly and has become my road-trip vehicle of choice for quick trips like this.  The drive, not overly dramatic, was comfortable and allowed me to focus on the surroundings in this amazing small city.  It was easy to parallel park, and even simpler to drive.  The connection with the road was there, with enough feedback to still feel in control.  The Bluetooth, XM radio, and hands free controls, all packed into an economy friendly ride, showed that it was possible to be comfortable and feel safe without compromising on amenities.

As for Olympia, Washington, I was in love.  In the 32 hours, I had found the colors, smells, and culture I had been seeking throughout my travels, and all withing a few hour flight from Denver.  As I headed back to SeaTac, I found myself feeling like the United States was once again becoming home.

A special thank you to Nissan USA for providing the 2014 Nissan Sentra for the weekend trip. 

The post A color study of Olympia, WA appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.