It's fine, admirable even, to be conscientious about what you drive these days. With gas prices being high and concerns about the environment growing, it makes sense to be mindful of what you're behind the wheel of. To a point.

When something legendary comes along, toss caution to the wind (and hope it doesn't raise smog levels) and go for it.

That's what we did with a recent test of the Nissan GT-R.

This car, which traces its heritage back to 1969, has a huge cult following that goes back nearly that far.

Before now, it had never officially been available in this country, but some managed to make their way to these shores by way of enthusiasts who were able to obtain one.

Now, "Godzilla," as it is nicknamed, is for sale on a limited basis from Nissan, which says the car offers revolutionary engineering and inspired craftsmanship.

No argument here.

RAW POWER

This is a car that seduces you into its rapid acceleration, even if you hadn't necessarily planned to do that. Next thing you know, you're going 30 mph over the posted speed limit. No worries, though, the brakes are up to the task. The GT-R is powered by a twin-turbocharged 480 horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 engine. But it's a kind, gentle 480 horses. "We saw that some people were intimidated driving a supercar, so we wanted to take away that fear and produce something that has lots of technology [for] average drivers," Nissan's Peter Bedrosian said recently.

IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

Those average drivers will encounter a high-tech screen on the dashboard that will seemingly let you monitor everything except your pulse rate as you are making one of those swift accelerations. For all its power, the GT-R isn't exceptionally noisy, but you will hear the transmission, which sits right behind the driver. It shifts effectively, if somewhat methodically.

BIG MACHINE

There is a firmness to the ride that can be attributed to the car's weight. When you get an upclose look at the GT-R, you are struck by its size —- this is no small car, even though it may look that way in photos. Nissan says it benchmarked the Porsche 911 Turbo in making the GT-R, and when you drive it you can detect a little Porsche flavor. But the driving experience is perhaps a little friendlier, as Bedrosian alluded to, than with the German brand.

GAINING FANS

This car surely is an attention-getter. Those who have followed it throughout the years are astounded to see it in its new form, and those who were previously unaware of it become immediately curious. So what if it's not the most proper thing to have on the road today. It sure is fun, and fun will always be in style with cars.

PRICE

The GT-R is available at a base price of $69,850. If you bump up to the Premium trim, the price tag hits $71,900.