GRM 240Z vs 350Z comparo

[zeiss150]

oh By the way any of you guys going to the April 25 MSA Z car show?

Matt-

[threefittyzee]

Originally posted by zeiss150

If the 350 has a Web site dedicated to it by then, we will all know it is a classic

Matt-

Here's just a few:

my350z.com

350zmotoring.com

everything350z.com

350zforums.com

freshalloy.com

club350z.com

Just to name a few...and the car has only been out a year!

[Alfadog]

I think rather than "if the 350 has a Web site dedicated to it by then", Matt meant, "if the 350 still has an active Web site dedicated to it". Only time will tell, but I think in another 30 years people will be making claims that new cars are complete rubbish and dont have ANY character, unlike the classic 350Z with those timeless looks and "no-frills" attitude!!!

Everything's relative...

[threefittyzee]

Well, it just seems to me that no one really cared too much about the 240Z as a "classic" or a benchmark car until the 350Z came out.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great car...nobody really made a big stink about the 240Z except for the baby-boomers and the hardcore Z enthusiasts, back in the day.

Now, ever since the 350Z has made its "comeback"...after the discontinuation of the Z line in '96(?), due to the overweight and overpriced 300ZX TT...people at car shows, and in general, are regarding the 240Z as the "roots of the Z-car" giving it a fresh new reputation as the precedent to the affordable and high-performance competitive market of today's 350Z.

Why do you think Nissan marketing has published so many "Old vs. New" perspectives about the 2 cars, via magazine articles, tv spots, and other avenues (you can probably find a good 10 to 15 comparos on the web alone).

Again, I am not here to make enemies...and maybe I'm way off.

I have only been a 240Z owner for a week or so...and I never expected the 350Z would meet with such animosity and dislike on this forum, so I find myself defending it, as it is truly a great sports car, otherwise I would have bought something else.

But, instead of bashing and criticizing the 350Z for was it "stands for"...and for the way it looks or drives, etc....

just remember, the 350Z is partly responsible for bringing the 240Z back to the forefront, and re-introducing it to the younger generation. This is one of the reasons I bought my 240Z.

I began to see more and more of them at our Z shows and cruises...and although I never before would have thought to own one, meeting the owners and being re-introduced to the car, I fell in love with it, and eventually found one to buy.

With most of the 240Z owners I've met at these cruises/shows, there was always a mutual respect for each others Z's...whether they be 240's, 260's, 280's,350's, etc, etc.

Only now, joining this forum have I encountered such bitterness towards the new Z.

The 350Z IS...and always WILL be a Z, whether you like it or not.

So instead of finding fault with the 350Z, why don't you guys all spend some of your negative energy on, say......

Mustang bashing!!! That's always fun!!!

:stupid:

<damn, this graveyard shift>

[TomoHawk]

So threefittyzee thinks WE are biased?

Well, first of all, I don't have a 2420Z. I have the 280Z *with automatic), and I think that car has more "sports car feel" than the 350Z. When I drove the 350Z, I got no more excitement than my Ford Escort gives me. The Escort was 1/2 the price, has less junk on it to distract you ( only radio & power windows) and it even has more room and NO cupholders!

I don't need to use phrases like "C'MON!" to explain that the car DOESN'T TURN ME ON, and there could be a million web sites related to the car.

THE 350Z DOESN'T TURN ME ON!!!

That's all there is to it. I get more intense feelings riding my 14-speed Puch road bike at 35 mph down a twisty road than I got from the 350Z on the SAME road. It's just a plastic-plated, over-padded, rubber-dampened marketing machine.

I would rather buy a Ford Focus.

[Alfadog]

Originally posted by threefittyzee

Well, it just seems to me that no one really cared too much about the 240Z as a "classic" or a benchmark car until the 350Z came out.

I think you will find this is not the case... Try to get your hands on some magazine articles about the 240Z when it came out, you may be surprised at the attitudes expressed. It was a revolutionary car - the car "nobody expected until 1980" - combining performance with reliability at a price which made it a realistic dream for anybody. The 350Z certainly did NOT define the 240Z as a classic, or a benchmark car.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great car...nobody really made a big stink about the 240Z except for the baby-boomers and the hardcore Z enthusiasts, back in the day.

If you take a look at the sales figures, you will find that a seemingly large stink was made for the car. Again, check out some magazine articles, it made a BIG impact.

Now, ever since the 350Z has made its "comeback"...after the discontinuation of the Z line in '96(?), due to the overweight and overpriced 300ZX TT...people at car shows, and in general, are regarding the 240Z as the "roots of the Z-car" giving it a fresh new reputation as the precedent to the affordable and high-performance competitive market of today's 350Z.

Very true, and I think most of us here respect the 350Z for this. It's great that more people get to learn about the 240Z! But there's a difference between respect and affection.

Why do you think Nissan marketing has published so many "Old vs. New" perspectives about the 2 cars, via magazine articles, tv spots, and other avenues (you can probably find a good 10 to 15 comparos on the web alone).

Because Nissan can (ab)use this "heritage" to make the car more appealing and improve sales? Maybe..

Only now, joining this forum have I encountered such bitterness towards the new Z.

It's much easier to be nasty on a forum!!

[TomoHawk]

Originally posted by threefittyzee

Well, it just seems to me that no one really cared too much about the 240Z as a "classic" or a benchmark car until the 350Z came out.

In that way, the 350Z seems to really excel!

I have respect for it, as Nissan actually did get some people to think it's a "sports car" and buy one, but I think you could have done betterfor yourself.

I think the newer Mustang is a little too padded. That's why we have a 65 Mustang. But I don't consider that a "sports car" either- just a classic car.

Regrettably, with the new hybrid- powered cars coming out, the "real sports car" will vanish with the availability of gasoline, unless somebody finds an acceptable replacement for gasoline. Going 6,000 miles on a fillup is a good idea, but that isn't why we buy sports cars, is iit?

[Gav240z]

threefittyzee i have some advice and that is you'll never convince a board full of S30 enthusiasts that the new thing is great or better than the original. If they felt the same as you they would be on another forum.

I understand you love your car and you have every right to. Just maybe keep it to yourself where appropriate .

The whole idea behind the 240z was that is was affordable so saying others are jealous because we can't afford one is a bit silly as your saying the new Z is just like the old in one sense but the whole reason the 240z caused such a stir was because it really stuck it up the british cars which were double the price and getting beaten by a car that anybody could afford.

I've never driven a 350z and I have varying opinions about the car which is probably why I will never buy one. Ever ummm'd and arrr'd about buying something and doing it then thinking why did i do that? I think that's what I'd do if i bought 1 but final opinion reserved until I've driven one.

This debate goes on and on and no matter how determined you are we won't say your right we'd rather act like that child who won't listen and cover our ears :cheeky: . If we are happy let us be and likewise for us we will let you enjoy your new car.

I don't know if there's really anymore for me to say and I probably shouldn't have said anything at all and just closed this thread but hey I did and now I committed my opinion .

[threefittyzee]

well enough said, i suppose.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by threefittyzee

Well, it just seems to me that no one really cared too much about the 240Z as a "classic" or a benchmark car until the 350Z came out.

Respectfully, I believe that you are wrong. A little more research will show you that. Have you tried www.zhome.com as a start on in depth research to back up that statement?

Originally posted by threefittyzee Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great car...nobody really made a big stink about the 240Z except for the baby-boomers and the hardcore Z enthusiasts, back in the day.

Baby-Boomers WERE the market back in the day. Who else was in the car buying world "back in the day"? Little old ladies? Well, you would have seen them in Z's also. Why do you think 240Z's have remained relatively cheap, and plentiful all these years? Because so many people have been satisfied with them and have kept them all these years.

Originally posted by threefittyzee Why do you think Nissan marketing has published so many "Old vs. New" perspectives about the 2 cars, via magazine articles, tv spots, and other avenues (you can probably find a good 10 to 15 comparos on the web alone).

Marketing, plain and simple marketing. Attaching your product to the coat-tails of one of the most successful products of the 20th century automotive world gives the appearance of credibility. Marketing Wonks will do ANYTHING to sell their product. It's their job.

Originally posted by threefittyzee .............and I never expected the 350Z would meet with such animosity and dislike on this forum, so I find myself defending it, as it is truly a great sports car, otherwise I would have bought something else.

We must have a different defintion of "sports car" than you do

Originally posted by threefittyzee ...............just remember, the 350Z is partly responsible for bringing the 240Z back to the forefront, and re-introducing it to the younger generation. This is one of the reasons I bought my 240Z.

This is true.

Originally posted by threefittyzee I began to see more and more of them at our Z shows and cruises...and although I never before would have thought to own one, meeting the owners and being re-introduced to the car, I fell in love with it, and eventually found one to buy.

you are being converted from the dark side. You say re-introduced......had you ever driven/owned one before? If so, why did you need re-introduction? What about it didn't you like, prior to the "re-introduction"?

Originally posted by threefittyzee With most of the 240Z owners I've met at these cruises/shows, there was always a mutual respect for each others Z's...whether they be 240's, 260's, 280's,350's, etc, etc.

perhaps you mean "appreciation" when you say "respect"? Respect is earned over the long haul, usually on the race track or in sales success. Only time will tell, on both fronts.

Originally posted by threefittyzee Only now, joining this forum have I encountered such bitterness towards the new Z.

I believe that we have a different idea of what being a Z means.

Originally posted by threefittyzee The 350Z IS...and always WILL be a Z, whether you like it or not.

To many of us that will be in name only, as it does not do for us what the original Z did/does. I don't know how old you are, but those of us around "back in the day" know that the 240Z literally took the country (maybe even the world) by storm. Waiting lists were many months long, and if you wanted a Z, you either took the car the dealer offered you, regardless of color; or you didn't get a Z. There was always someone else there who would accept the car being offered.

Originally posted by threefittyzee So instead of finding fault with the 350Z, why don't you guys all spend some of your negative energy on, say......Mustang bashing!!! That's always fun!!!

The faults of the 350Z are there for us to see (from our perspective) and Yes, that Mustang bashing is fun, but you get tired of it quickly. Only time will tell how long 350Z bashing will be fun.

[Fun_in_my_z]

Well your right about one thang. Mustang bashing rocks!

[kyteler]

Originally posted by threefittyzee

Well, it just seems to me that no one really cared too much about the 240Z as a "classic" or a benchmark car until the 350Z came out.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great car...nobody really made a big stink about the 240Z except for the baby-boomers and the hardcore Z enthusiasts, back in the day.

Now, I'm not trying to be rude here, I'll make that clear from the start.

Any vague amount of research into the subject of whether the S30 (I prefer to use S30 as opposed to 240Z) was a classic pre-350Z other than your own personal experience or opinion would prove this statement null and void.

I've attached (hopefully) the quickest article I could find, it's from a UK mag called Thoroughbred & Classic Cars and to be honest, it's fairly biased towards European vehicles to be expected though, the home market being the target market and all. You only have to look at the title of the article to understand my point.

Now again, don't get me wrong.. I'm not saying simply because it was a single Japanese car, infact I believe it's the ONLY non-European car mentioned in a European car biased magazine that it's the be-all and end-all, it's just one example for you to note.

If you're unable to read it (due to scan quality), the date at the bottom is March 1988, which unless I'm mistaken is quite a few years before the release of the 350Z.

The second paragraph you meantion that no-one cared except the "baby-boomers" and the "hardcore Z enthusiasts" ?? Where did "hardcore Z enthusiasts" pop-up from?, do hardcore fans simply materialise the moment something is released? this just seems an odd thing to me, I was under the impression hardcore fans built up to such, by being constantly impressed by something or constantly enjoying it.

OK... I'll end my post here, I had it all broken up into little sections addressing each point you voiced with a response, however... i checked the thread before I posted and it seems both Alfadog and Bambikiller240 beat me to it. (I had the window open for a while and forgot about it )

Oh well, I havent read what they've written yet, it may have been different but I don't want to make it seem as though you're being attacked from all sides... so, please.

Enjoy the knowledge you will find on this website for your 240Z, the people here are fantastic, helpful people and are always willing to help with anything ClassicZ related, oddly enough... the place being called ClassicZCars.com