2006 240Z >>?????

[AWC]

Nissan does have a light and powerful 4-banger: the QR25DE. It has a long stroke (100 mm) so it doesn't rev easily or high, but it has a ton of torque and is a really fun motor when aggressively tuned.

It is smaller and lighter than the legendary SR20 and, in stock form, has 175 horsepower in the SE-R Spec-V. It also is the base engine in the new Nissan Frontiers, so it is already available in a RWD 5-speed application.

I would love to see Nissan release a small and light RWD sports car, in the spirit of the old Datsun roadsters and original Z-cars. I think they could make a ton of money from young people in that market. If they wanted to make something really hot they would bring over the VVL technology from Japan.

[nightowlZ]

instead of just complaining about nissans failure, someone shoot a sketch to the california design studio. 08 release sound about right?

and i agree, they would sell like crazy.

[xray]

The roadster market is pretty much awash in models already: lessee, Z4, Miata, S2000, MR2, Capri (dead), Solstice, Sky, SLK, Boxster, Elise--I know I'm forgetting some. It's a narrow-interest market niche. I mean, how many folks on a Saturday are going to the car dealer looking for a minivan, pickup, 4-door sedan vs open top roadster? I just (unfortunately) had to buy a minivan last weekend, and the S2000 traffic was zero except for passing glances. The money was made on Accords and Odysseys (near continuous traffic and testdrives) with more people getting hooked on Honda through the entry-level Civic.

Obviously, I'm no marketer. But I think Honda gets it right. Hook 'em on the entry-level loss leader. They come back four years later looking for a bigger sedan, then back four years later (now married with kids) looking for the minivan. The niche products are window dressing which make it tolerable to be at the dealer while your wife oohs and ahhs over 17,000 cupholders and neat little cubbies where your two-year old can stuff crusty old diapers....Or, so I'm told. At least the power rear liftgate is kinda cool...

Anyway, if they want to move from #3 to #2, Nissan needs to follow this model. To have a niche car as your flagship is to make yourself into the next Mazda. Still what--fourth? fifth? in overall sales for Asian import vehicles...

It's only $0.02, so it ain't much,

Steve

[erikgiles]

The solstice reminds me a bit (just a bit) of the Lotus Type 72 Elise.

[KDMatt]

Ya know... I agree that Nissan should do a more economical, low-budget GT in the spirit of the original Z's... but I am going to be really, REALLY pissed if they pull a Ford and simply copy and modernize the look and style of the original Z's.

One of the reasons I take so much pride in my car is because there's nothing else on the road that looks like it... and if all of a sudden, there are a ton of cars out there that look like it... well... I dunno about you... but I'm going to feel really ripped off...

I don't know about all of you (okay... well maybe I do), but I love the 350Z... not as a Z-car, just as a car. I agree that it severely violates the spirit under which the Z-car was originally unveiled, but as a whole, I think it is a very well designed car, and, in fact, one of the things I've really admire about the new Z is that the designers, when they made it, intentionally decided not to revert to a "retro Z" look, in favor of keeping it modern.

In a nutshell... yes... a cheaper Z would be a great idea for Nissan... but I think that recreating the looks of the 240/260/280Z would be a grave mistake.

My $0.02

[Inf]

I agree with KDMatt on this one, I am glad the 350z was not a retro-ripoff of the 240z. To me, a retro knockoff, no matter how well done, would still be nothing more than an eyesore to me. I would rather just have a car that is relatively unique in my area. I pity camaro fans that see a car identical to their own at every intersection.

[Zrush]

But look at the new Mustang. At least Ford tried to get a retro feel. The four headlights, side scoops and rear tail lights. You can see a hint of the old Mustang. (Mustang fans may disagree) Nissan didn't even try. The closest they came to any hint of Z heritage is the 3 gauges on the dash. Other than that it looks more like the 90-96 300ZX. That's the only Z line I see in the car.

My husband loves the 350Z and would buy one if we had room but thank God we've run out of garage space

Vicky

[Dreco]

well I like the Pontiac....

Look, the hood even opens the right way...

[Inf]

But look at the new Mustang. At least Ford tried to get a retro feel. The four headlights, side scoops and rear tail lights. You can see a hint of the old Mustang. (Mustang fans may disagree) Nissan didn't even try. The closest they came to any hint of Z heritage is the 3 gauges on the dash. Other than that it looks more like the 90-96 300ZX. That's the only Z line I see in the car.

My husband loves the 350Z and would buy one if we had room but thank God we've run out of garage space

Vicky

Yeah, I'm glad I am not a classic mustang enthusiast. Thank goodness Nissan didn't even try. I applaud them for looking forward instead of rehashing old designs because they can't design a good looking original car. I know most people here think the 350Z is an ugly "toad," but the general public disagrees with us.

[hls30.com]

I think a car can be unique and stil resemble something in its lineage. The new Mustang is very well done in terms that it absolutely will never be mistaken for an Audi. It will always instantly be recognized as a Ford Mustang. It is not a carbon copy, but it does strongly favor-maybe there are shortcomings elsewhere in the car, but a link to its origins is not one of them.

A new Z car with similar exterior and interior cosmetic features would have been the way to capitalize on the history steeped ad campaign Nissan used to bring out the 350Z. Instead, they add another german look a like...albeit with impressive technology and specs. If they built the car as beautiful as it performed, No one would ever be inspired to describe a 350Z as a "toad", a "Frog" or an "Audi TT". It would stand alone-it doesn't-at least visually.

Andrew,

I would rather have a Nissan that looks like a Datsun than a Nissan that looks like an Audi. I would venture a guess that most 350Z owners in Texas are more likely to encounter an audi TT than a 240Z on the street and that is only going to get worse. A quick check of the TX DMV could confirm that.

I don't think many vintage mustang owners are bothered by Ford admitting they had a great visual design, and modeling the new Mustang to have ques from it.

Do you look anything like your parrents-most childeren do resemble their parrents-that is what linking with lineage is about, fresh faces with reminders of older ones. My son has features that are from Me, some that are from my wife, some that are pertty well universal to all people, and some that are evidently unique to him-I hope your childeren look more like you than your mailcarier, but I hope you don't look at them in disgust when you see parts of you in their faces!

When I look at a 350Z the only thing that reminds me of a 240Z is a copy of SportZ Magazine with a 240Z on the front laying in the seat!

If they had applied the same technology, and worked with a few undeniable internal and external 240Z cues, they could have sold me a new car as great as a 350z.

Will

[v12horse]

I agree with a lot that has been said here, but this goes out for the people that like retro design. There are three distinct cars that come to mind. The New MINI Cooper, the VW Beetle, and the Ford Mustang. These cars do link the past to the present, but what do they do when the companies decide that it is time for a body change? They cann't just do a whole body change again, but they will? There is something I am trying to get at, but I cannot nail it at the moment.

Take the Zcar. First came S30, S130, Z31....Now we have the Z33. People argue that it is not retro enough, but even if it were, would Z33 owners look at it as an S30? For the most part, probably not. When you make a retro design like the Mustang, what does that say about all of the other Mustangs after the first generation? There were no intentions to have cues from other mustangs, so if I were a proud owner of a 5.0mustang, I would feel pretty left out. Is Ford saying that all the other body designs were screw ups?

The Z33 may not be retro, but there are a few cues that link the past to the present for all of the body designations. The roofline is evident of that of an S30. I like the 350z for what it is, but to me there is only one Z, the S30. That is my bias. However, the great thing about the 350z is that it is stirring up the Z community. It is questioning peoples passion about the car. For the most part, the new Z is a success as far as a sports car. It is not as inexpensive as a Soltice/Sky, but it is still an affordable sports car in this day and age.

-Ben

[Zrush]

I guess our complaints are nothing compared to what Dodge Charger fans must feel. Their prize beast is now a 4 door sedan!

Vicky