Nothing special about the 350z?

[red_dog007]

This is weird. As each day goes by I dislike the 350z. Their 3.5L is in almost every Nissan car, and the 350z is starting to look like everything else. The Infinite G35/37, Altima, and even the GTR. They are all like the same car, but with different motors pushing different numbers and different drive setups.

I want a Z car that is special and different looking.

I bet that the 2008 Sentra if there is one is going to look like all the others.

Test drove a G35 and it is sweet. Gripped like crazy. Can't wait till the G37 comes out.

My buddy is looking for a car and I hope that he either gets the G37, Challenger or SRT8 Charger.

I wanted him to get the BMW 335i but he doesn't like it. He is looking at a SLK550 and I hope that he passes on that.

[sblake01]

Nissan just released an Altima 2dr. Looks like a mini-G35. To me, the 350Z, most of the other Nissans, and most of the Infiniti share that same generic look

[SportBikeMike]

I want a Challenger! Of course haven't seen one in person, but they look awesome in the pics....although a little heavy.

[KDMatt]

I agree, the 350z is pretty lackluster... definitely not one of the ugliest cars out there, but it's pretty 'safe' as far as cars go. When it came out in '02 or whatever, it was pretty hot, but it's probably almost time for a redesign.

It needs a BRE spoiler and rounder headlights

[Carl Beck]

Todays's "240-Z" could have been the Pontiac Solstice, if only GM had offered it FIRST as a coupe, weighing in around 2460lbs and with 225HP at $23,995.00. (10.9 lbs per hp).

Nonetheless, it's a neat little package - the roadster with 177HP weighing in at 2860lbs. (16.2lbs per hp) $22,115.00 MSRP.

The GXP with the Turbo is $27,115 MSRP - 260HP at 2976lbs....(11.4 lbs per hp) should be a good little performer... with the Club Sport Package (4wheel anit-lock brakes & Posi). 100,000 mile warranty. (about $10K less than the 350Z roadster).

I like the Saturn Sky's front end design a little better today - but wonder if in 20 years the Solstice won't be of more interest...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Sailor Bob]

I think it's strange that a car (350z) seeking an advantage in the north american market place has so little headroom. I'm 6'2" and it was a waste of time for me to even bother. The early Zs were/are perfect in that respect (and many others).

As to the looks - I think it looks like a Mitubishi. Rather the Solstice for looks - don't know about headroom. .02

[red_dog007]

Yeah, the Solstice/Sky is a sweet little car. I hear that the Sky is a bit faster around the track. Costs some $2k more, and I hear that it has an upgraded suspension over the Solstice.

There is a tuner company that has already thrown in a LS2 under the hood. I wish that the N/A had a little more grunt. Give the Miata a little more run for its money. The Miata would be a nice buy in my books, but it has no powerful motor. Only thing that it has a one up on is its weight. With that weight, they need a stronger motor or at least a turbo on the n/a.

My friend has a 91' Miata and that was one slow POS car right there. Way over priced for what it was. 170,000 miles for $3k in almost perfect condition.

[Carl Beck]

I think it's strange that a car (350z) seeking an advantage in the north american market place has so little headroom. I'm 6'2" and it was a waste of time for me to even bother. The early Zs were/are perfect in that respect (and many others).

One of the reasons that Nissan's sales in North America fell off so consistently between 1983 and 1998 was their corporate philosophy changed so dramatically by 83. Along with the elimination of the DATSUN brand, it seems that Nissan decided they wanted to build and sell models that could be sold in many different countries, at the same time. In effect this was the dream of the automobile manufacturers... one "world car". With far fewer market specific models to deal with, profits per unit would go up and up...

When they entered the US market in 1958, their corporate goal was to increase export sales to America, in order to reach true mass production levels of efficiency in Japan. In-turn, that would bring the average cost per unit down, and in-turn that would lower the price of a car in Japan, and allow more Japanese to buy a car for personal use. (this was a strategy for all Japanese auto makers - outlined by MITI in the mid-50's).

With the goal of selling Datsuns to Americans, Nissan was very focused on what changes they had to make to their cars, so that American buyers would buy them. The ultimate example of that adaptability to their Customers desires, was the Datsun 240-Z.

With the "re-birth" of Nissan in the USA at the end of the 90's - we see the image of Mr. K reminding us who Nissan WAS, it WAS DATSUN and it WAS the 240-Z. But following that closely we also see Nissan building full size trucks and SUV's in America. They came very late to that party, but at least it indicates that they are willing once again to design and build whatever vehicles Americans want to buy.

Bringing the "Z" back to America was another indication that market specific models are necessary if you want to sell in quite different markets around the world. However the 350Z was simply an expedient at the time, not the clean slate design originally promised by Mr. Hanawa. So a far more "world car" platform had to be used. The G35... chopped and channeled. A classic example of Badge Engineering, that Chrysler used during its turn-around period to trim costs. One that works for the short term, but can not be sustained in the market for long (again proven by Chrysler).

I haven't found actual sales numbers for the 350Z, Nissan will only say they are satisfied with its sales. It would seem that they are selling something close to 30K units per year. 2008 will be the fifth year for the car... and I'd expect to see sales drop off drastically. That was one reason the 90+ 300ZX failed. You just can't keep the same old thing in the Sports Car market in the $35K and above price range, for much more than 5 model years, without major styling changes.

time will tell...

Carl B.

[ta240]

Todays's "240-Z" could have been the Pontiac Solstice, if only GM had offered it FIRST as a coupe, weighing in around 2460lbs and with 225HP at $23,995.00. (10.9 lbs per hp).

granted I like the looks of the Solstice and Sky better but the Miata has beat it in every reveiw I've read (at least with the non-turbo models). On edmunds.com they had a comparison between the two at the track and ended up with the Solstice just sitting parked while everyone lined up for another turn in the Miata.

Something with HP ratings like you list, between the base model and the GXP might be interesting. It would be nice if they'd come out with a car with those specs and price AND rear wheel drive.

Why is it that they only seem to try to make 'fun' cars as convertibles? BMW and Porsche came out with coupe versions (after the fact) of the Z4 and Boxter. Both of those are beautiful cars, just a bit more than I want to spend for a fun car. Something around the performance of the Miata and the Solstice/Sky would be fun in a coupe. It would give them just a bit more practicality. Heck we used to bring home a 7'+ Christmas tree in the back of the Z. The car makers seem to think that if it is rear wheel drive it needs to have 400 HP and cost around $30,000+

Although the 350Z never really grew on me from some angles it does look pretty sharp. I love the shot of it in the Autoweek article: http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/FREE/70425006&SearchID=73283771805721

The Altima 2dr looks like 2 different cars from the front and the back. The back is so sleek and sporty and the front is so blah

[sblake01]

Well, after all, it's still an Altima.

[SportBikeMike]

I think it's strange that a car (350z) seeking an advantage in the north american market place has so little headroom. I'm 6'2" and it was a waste of time for me to even bother. The early Zs were/are perfect in that respect (and many others).

As to the looks - I think it looks like a Mitubishi. Rather the Solstice for looks - don't know about headroom. .02

I'm 6'2" and have never had any problem fitting in my 350Z. It definitely has more headroom than my 240...

As far as the G35, I always thought they were heavier, slower, more luxurious versions of the 350Z aimed more towards old people.

[sblake01]

I'm 6-2, 210 lbs. and the 350Z seemed a little cramped to me. I guess it's all in how you position the seat. I thought the headroom was about the same as an S30. Three people 6-2, three different views of the headroom. I don't own one and didn't spend that much time driving the 350Z so I'll defer to Mike who actually owns one. But I personally feel more comfortable driving my 78 280Z.