I did it, bought the 350

[tttz]

mvsracf,

i've been busy spending my online time learning about rebuilding engines and haven't had time to post to this thread. i just want to say, congrats on the new car. i think i saw both of your z's at the Blackhawk show. while i'm a huge fan of the 350Z, your 280ZX was definitely more impressive of the two. But that's just my opinion.

-Ty

[ChrisA]

I was backing him up by warning him about the crotchety oldtimers...

So please define how all the members here in their teens, twenties and thirties are crotchety oldtimers living in the past?

:mad:

Damm, I just soiled my diaper!

[Zrush]

So please define how all the members here in their teens, twenties and thirties are crotchety oldtimers living in the past?

:mad:

Damm, I just soiled my diaper!

What about us members in their.....errr um early 40's. Are we crotchety? I live in the past every time I drive the Z. Like the History Channel says, "Where the Past Comes Alive". That's my early Z's.

Vicky

[ChrisA]

What about us members in their.....errr um early 40's. Are we crotchety? I live in the past every time I drive the Z. Like the History Channel says, "Where the Past Comes Alive". That's my early Z's.

Vicky

Hey Vicky, I guess I shouldn't have left you or anyone else out. We're not crotchety, just "set in our ways".

Chris

[Bleach]

I keep hoping one o' these years an automaker is going to give us a 240hp, 2400 lb., rwd, independently-suspended performance car for $24k. That's my magic formula. Nissan coulda made the new Z that car. Instead they made a 2-seat G35.

I've heard it argued both ways. These days the standards for car safety and comfort prevent it from being made of thin metal with no sound insulation or impact protection. The Z (base model) is fairly basic even for today's standards as far as luxury options. It has a carbon fiber driveshaft and aluminum suspension components. It seems that weight reduction was used and in those areas that it was used in it helps performance and handling.

It would seem impossible to make a street legal V6 car weighs less than 3000 lbs unless you make a V6 Miata!

FWD 4-bangers weigh less because they have no drivetrain. :cheeky:

Nissan can't please everyone, but it seems they made a car that appeals to many people and is selling well. At least its not a 4-seater or 4-cyl turbo like they were suggesting back in 2001.

[Dan Baldwin]

It would seem impossible to make a street legal V6 car weighs less than 3000 lbs unless you make a V6 Miata!

Nissan can't please everyone, but it seems they made a car that appeals to many people and is selling well. At least its not a 4-seater or 4-cyl turbo like they were suggesting back in 2001.

V6 Miata coupe is pretty much what they should've built. Figure the weight gain from the engine could've been somewhat offset by having a coupe body structure.

Light weight is not something you can easily ADD to a car via c/f driveshaft, aluminum suspension components, etc. Light weight has to be designed in. The 350Z platform was designed to be a 4-door luxury sport sedan. That's why it's overweight, however spartan it supposedly is.

Speaking for myself, I'd RATHER have had a 4-seat turbo 4-cylinder new Z if it weighed in the neighborhood of 2400-2800 lb. But FWIW the car I *think* you're talking about, the Jerry Hirschburg car, was a 2-seat 240SX/Sylvia (with not-entirely-successful but very well-proportioned styling) with a non-turbo KA24 engine. I don't think he was proposing a 4-cyl Z, it's just that it was a big enough project for them to do without having to fit a v6 in it.

With improved materials, design and analysis tools, and manufacturing, meeting current safety standards does not have to mean huge weight gain. I could've lived with as much as 2800 lb. for the new Z, but at 3300(+1000 fricking pounds over the 240Z!), forget it. I don't see why anyone would choose it over the G35 Coupe. In my book the Z's having only 2 seats doesn't make it any more of a "sports car" at all.

[sblake01]

The 350ZX (excuse me, Z) is, as stated by the very author of this thread, built for a different purpose that the S30. If you like it, you like it. But don't try to force me to like it. And if I don't, I'm crochety? Old? Need to change my adult diaper? No, I just don't like it. And it seems the more we discuss it on a 'Classic Z' site the less I like it.

[Bambikiller240]

The 350ZX (excuse me, Z) is, as stated by the very author of this thread, built for a different purpose that the S30. If you like it, you like it. But don't try to force me to like it. And if I don't, I'm crochety? Old? Need to change my adult diaper? No, I just don't like it. And it seems the more we discuss it on a 'Classic Z' site the less I like it.

Well Said!!!!!!!!!

[Inf]

I actually went and test drove one with a six speed the other day

A few things I personally noticed

Negatives

-The stock exhaust was really quiet, especially below 3000rpm. The blower motor was on at about half speed because it was a fairly warm day (~90* F) and the sound of the blower completely overpowered the sound of the motor at sub 3000RPM speeds.

-The shifter felt very insulated against the harmonics from the motor, so it made it very difficult to tell RPM based on the vibration of the shifter.

-On each door the release handle for the latch on the inside felt kinda cheap, like it came out of a chevrolet cavalier or something. A lot of the rest of the interior seemed kinda poorly built. Albeit not near as bad as when the first 350Zs came out

-Shifting action felt kind of vague to me, not crisp at all. I suppose its like most other new cars ive sat in and messed with however, so maybe im just used to my 4 speed feeling very 'mechanical'

Positives

-Motor definitely had a good amount of power

-Brakes were very good at doing what they were supposed to

-Car handled pretty well for a stock car that weighs as much as it does

All in all, I think for a daily driver it is a decent deal for what you get. The one I drove was stickered at about 27k so it was pretty bare bones, but it had enough to keep me happy I think.

One thing I would not call it however is a true sports car. Maybe I am just used to the older more spartan sports cars that had more soul than refinement, but this car felt somewhat sterile and a little too quiet.