Florida man cancels Nissan GT-R order due to 'black box'

A Florida man named Scott Weires has canceled the order for his long-awaited Nissan GT-R. Why? It's not that he was disappointed in the car's performance credentials, far from it. The problem is that the GT-R is equipped with a 'black box', similar in theory to the kind found on airplanes to help determine what went wrong in case of an accident or breakdown. By the end of 2012, car buyers won't have a choice as to whether their new car is equipped with a 'black box,' or Electronic Data Recorder -- they will be federally mandated to carry one. These devices track information that could be useful to the manufacturer in determining exactly what is, or has been, going on with a car. There are a few worries, though, that warranty claims could be denied if the automaker, Nissan in this case, deems that the car was being raced or abused in some way or by police or lawyers to determine culpability. Nissan's GT-R carries an on-board recorder that keeps track of the past few day's worth of driving and cannot be disabled. In the case of Scott Weires, an attorney no less, that was enough to look elsewhere. Would it be for you?

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sector - 9/24/2008 10:06:29 PM

+18 Boost

EDR's may have spawned from NHTSA in efforts to increase driver safety, reduce deaths/injuries and help research traffic safety, but ultimately, this info will be most readily used and exploited by two parties, law enforcement and insurance companies... be afraid, very afraid...

F1_Driver - 9/24/2008 10:37:56 PM

+4 Boost

You won't have a choice come 2012.

Agent63 - 9/25/2008 5:40:23 AM

+4 Boost

The way I see it. If you want to drive this car everyday to and from work, don't get one. Get one if you want to hit the track where it is legal to speed. If you have the money to spend $85-95K on a vehicle you can go by yourself a nice Mercedes as a daily commuter and have a GT-R ran on a track for the most part.

Any Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Porsche's Aston's, R8's, Viper's, Vette's, GT-R's, etc will have the urge to speed on city streets. You can't help it all these cars are powerful. I've had my R8 for many months now and have reached up to 200km/hr on a local highway. I simply don't have the road to push it to it's limit. Just don't get caught and when/if you do hit a track make sure you have a receipt to prove you were there in case the insurance companies or police want to question you.

There has to be some legal issue pointing at topic.

Porschinator - 9/26/2008 9:30:15 PM

+1 Boost

People will always find a way around the 'BOX'. Will most likely viod the warranty though.

Need4Speed - 9/25/2008 9:22:02 AM

+11 Boost

You have none...this is Socialist America!...now bend over...is time for rectal exam!

Jonathan - 9/24/2008 10:59:28 PM

+1 Boost

All modern vehicles have a data recorder of some sort... whether or not they call it a "black-box" which carries certain implications. Typical variables measured include speed, accelerator position, brake application etc..
Usage of event data recorder information is being used more and more in case law throughout the States and Canada.
This guy should've just gone ahead and bought the GT-R.

Styles79 - 9/24/2008 11:18:46 PM

+2 Boost

I hate to break it to you guys, but this kind of technology has been around in your car for years. The only difference is the degree of information stored. Most cars are already logging basic data like speeds, rpm, etc.
As for insurance companies and law enforcement using the info, well, do the crime, do the time. If you do something stupid and crash that's your problem, I think we'll all been there and done that!
The only problem I would have is if this was transmitting live data, now that would be a scary thought!

open_mind - 9/25/2008 12:22:47 AM

+2 Boost

So if it stores a few days of data, that means you have to take a nice long leisurely weekend getaway roadtrip with your lady and put on a few miles to erase your unknown day of crazy antics! Does anyone know if the blackbox records based on time or miles?

Hyundai - 9/25/2008 12:34:18 AM

+1 Boost

I think a great portion of the decision rides on the determining factors you brought up.

I personally have no idea as to the answers to your questions.

Hyundai - 9/25/2008 12:31:14 AM

+3 Boost

Jesus... Star posted this?

Give this man a medal!

All hail Star!

TauronB2G - 9/25/2008 12:43:39 AM

+6 Boost

The real question is how do I disable that b*tch?
T

Hyundai - 9/25/2008 12:54:09 AM

+2 Boost

lol.. I am sure it is possible, however, the word is that it is not disable-able. But, I doubt that is really the case. Just, nobody has disclosed the process yet.

S30GTR - 9/25/2008 10:43:03 AM

+1 Boost

THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, A.K.A. ECM, PCM, IS THE BLACK BOX. LET ME THINK, HOW LONG HAVE THESE BEEN AROUND. TO ANSWER YOU'RE QUESTION, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PURCHASE A CODE READER FROM YOU'RE LOCAL PARTS STORE AND THAT'S IT PROBLEM SOLVED. IN CASE THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OR YOU BLOW THE MOTOR, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CLEAR THE STORED FAULTS AND YOU'RE DONE. NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING. AS FOR THAT GUY THAT CANCELED HIS ORDER, WHAT A DAMN ASS.

F1_Driver - 9/25/2008 11:40:06 AM

+1 Boost

Don't you mean what a dumbass?

S30GTR - 9/25/2008 11:54:45 AM

+2 Boost

YEAH THAT. SORRY.

SHOWTIME - 9/25/2008 12:10:11 PM

+1 Boost

LOL

PrancingHorse - 9/25/2008 1:02:14 AM

+1 Boost

Each time i take the BMW or Benz in for service they can allways tell how fast and erratic i have been driving even down to how many are highway miles and city miles,this tech is in most luxuey cars right now but most sheeple just dont know about it.
As far as disabling the box the service advisor told me it would void the warranty outright and they would deny future service work.

Hyundai - 9/25/2008 1:24:27 AM

+3 Boost

lol at sheeple. Most sheeple will think that that was a typo and you meant people.

Anyways... how the hell could they deny your future service? Just drive the car "responsibly"... as in... try and avoid accidents until warrant ends, which should be approximately 2-1/4 years if you drive like a normal busy person does and you should be fine to disable it... or not?

F1_Driver - 9/25/2008 11:43:05 AM

0 Boost

Sheeps + People = Sheeple?

Lexus - 9/25/2008 1:50:55 AM

+5 Boost

LOL....No worry, someone will buy that Nissan GT-R that he cancel. Heck, if I had the money I would buy one in a heart beat. I saw a Nissan GT-R last week in silver, it look much better in person than in the picures.

PrancingHorse - 9/25/2008 1:52:12 AM

-1 Boost

You cannot service a $80,000 M3 or $65,000 E350 at a regular pepboys or service station like your Hyundai.Dont make retarded comments about issues you have no experience in ASSHAT.

Hyundai - 9/25/2008 2:16:45 AM

+2 Boost

Of course you can't. Nobody insisted you could.

What the hell are you talking about and don't diss the greatest car maker of all time: Hi-yun-day!

Who taught you how to post online???

Agent63 - 9/25/2008 5:41:32 AM

+2 Boost

Greatest car maker of all time. Far from it.

What I can praise Hyundai for is their Genesis. It looks the part of a luxury car and is quite comfortable and powerful for what you pay for. Good entry into the premium segment at an economic price.

So far that's where the line is drawn.

M53R - 9/25/2008 8:46:51 AM

+4 Boost

Agent63

no need to get all serious, he is being sarcastic :)

Hyundai - 9/25/2008 10:02:03 AM

+3 Boost

Thanks M53R!

Agent63 has shown over and over that he has no sense of humour... :)

LACMAN - 9/25/2008 12:48:22 PM

+2 Boost

***OFF TOPIC*** Agent63, please drive the new Sonata. I treated it as "just another rental" when I first got it when I was out of town last month. I returned the car after two days HIGHLY impressed. It was an 08 or 09.

PrancingHorse - 9/25/2008 6:57:16 AM

-1 Boost

Hyundai, i bet my Versaclimber cost more than your car.Oh yes remember to tell your Dad to do a good job when he works in my yard on Saturday.

Designer1 - 9/25/2008 7:26:07 AM

0 Boost

This takes all the fun from driving. We're already controlled by speed limits and shit, now a black box to top that? Screw all cars out then, we'll switch to motor cycles, until they too get a black box.

B7FAN - 9/25/2008 7:52:54 AM

+1 Boost

thats crap because if your buying a GTR more than likely your going to race it. thats like saying the insurance companies are pretty much tracking everything you do and telling how to drive your car. Thats going to be a BIG thing I dont think it will be out in 2012 because consumers are goingg to have a lot of say so in this.

xj13 - 9/25/2008 9:22:53 AM

+1 Boost

only in america

Denali - 9/25/2008 9:57:51 AM

+2 Boost

what a jerk, paying that much for godzilla, u think im worry about some black box, LMAO, ill have that shit disable in a week, best believe warranty is not my worry

S30GTR - 9/25/2008 10:46:36 AM

+2 Boost

PLEASE EXPLAIN YOU'RE SELF.

B7FAN - 9/25/2008 12:22:25 PM

0 Boost

im interested too

EL34 - 9/25/2008 12:11:55 PM

-1 Boost

One day the man will understand the real reason he cancelled is because the GT-R, Nissan is an ugly car.

It just hasn't come to his mind yet.

:-U

E36er - 9/25/2008 1:19:43 PM

+1 Boost

sign me up.

montyz81 - 9/25/2008 12:24:46 PM

+3 Boost

i'll take it if he doesn't want it

LACMAN - 9/25/2008 1:04:29 PM

+1 Boost

Ditto!

candywhite - 9/25/2008 1:07:39 PM

+3 Boost

HAX THE BOX!

Yakamoto - 9/25/2008 6:44:00 PM

+1 Boost

in response to Styles79:

"The only problem I would have is if this was transmitting live data, now that would be a scary thought!"

you DO have a problem. it's called GPS.

Styles79 - 9/29/2008 4:06:17 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, cheers, I meant as in transmitting live data from the vehicle management, not just location etc.

Eyecarehawaii - 9/25/2008 9:02:18 PM

+1 Boost

I understand the NTSA researched black boxes after motor vehicle accidents in the US over the past two years. In the north part of teh country the most common words uttered by the driver just before getting into their accident was "aw sh*t!". In the south, it was "Hey Bubba, hold my beer. I wanna try somethin". :)

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 9/26/2008 7:51:59 AM

+1 Boost

ROFL

sold2early - 9/27/2008 1:02:00 PM

+1 Boost

All technologies can be defeated, including these black boxes. Just a matter of time.

enthusiastx11 - 9/27/2008 7:56:34 PM

+1 Boost

waaaay too big brother. just plan wrong.

AbstractLogic0 - 9/28/2008 7:01:50 AM

+1 Boost

Black box? Scribble that one off my list...
I prefer em shaved