Nothing special about the 350z?

[Mckrack]

Hello,

I am the proud owner of a series one Dastun 240z that I completed with a lot of help a full retoration on and finished with it after more then 1 year a few months ago. I also recently sold my 2005 Anniversary Edition 350z. I thought it was a wonderful car for the money. It performed well, it was mechanically flawless and it's looks grew on me every day I owned it. I reall y like the car and would consider getting another one. I sold it to a friend of mine because I needed some room and I own too many cars. I tfelt great, it was comfortable, it cornered and handled well, it sounded great and it had a fair amount of power. I think they did a nice job on it. Would have I preferred that Nissan produced the original car they were thinking of doing before the President of Nissan nixed it and decided to chop up the Q45 coupe, yes I would have liked that design, but on Balnce I think the 350z is a very good car.

[Hrududu]

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.

At least they have more personality that Porsche these days. Every one of their cars looks just like the next.

[Mckrack]

Well that's interesting because as much as I liked the 350z my 2006 Porsche Carrera S is three times the car the Z was. This is a phenominal car. So I must disagree withe comment above. But it's 3 times more expensive as well.

[jmark]

VIN for my Nismo Z is listed in my signature. :classic:

[Hrududu]

Well that's interesting because as much as I liked the 350z my 2006 Porsche Carrera S is three times the car the Z was. This is a phenominal car. So I must disagree withe comment above. But it's 3 times more expensive as well.

Don't get me wrong, I love Porsche, and I think they make excellent cars, but don't you think their design is looking a little redundant across the line of cars they're making right now? Not saying it doesn't look good, but they're all starting to look the same.

[jmark]

My Nismo 350Z is in & I pick her up tomorrow! Serial #0007! Pics to follow.

[AndysPlit]

I've no problem with the 350Z except that most 350Z drivers I've run into aren't in touch with with the Z legacy.

When you drive a motorcycle suddenly you realize that you are part of a larger brotherhood. Depending on where you ride, other cycle riders usually display a nod, wave, fist or some other method of greeting.

When driving an S30 this brotherhood mentality comes to an abrupt decline when one encounters the newer 350Z crowd. This is what pisses me off. We're part of the Nissan Z "brotherhood" and the newer crowd often chooses not to see it.

I've had exceptions. Winding down a country road, I looked up and saw a 350 in the mirror. Stuck my hand out and waved and both people in the 350 leaned forward and waved. Things like this make motoring a great experience... Sharing the road with your kind.

Jim

Interestingly enough, I actually encountered that "Z brotherhood" a few weeks ago from a 350Z. Now that was cool. We gave each other the thumbs up. It's out there. Just not as much as we would like.

[Arne]

Mark,

like you said a few posts back I also like the look of the new BMW Z4 coupe. It is alot closer to what the 240Z looked like in terms of proportions and overall size. Factor in the inline 6 cylinder engine and the spacious interior and BMW has a nice car on there hands.

If only they offered it in maroon?

The local BMW dealer has a red one on the lot, looks pretty good. Of course, unlike the original 240Z, a new Z4 Coupe is NOT a car that the masses can afford. That is the missing part in all this.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a BMW owner and I like the Z4 coupe. But I'm too cheap to buy my BMWs new...

[Mckrack]

Prsche has stuck with their basic design for a lot of years now. Their formula in my opinion is correct. It truly is the finest production sports car in the world in my opinion. I have had four. The 350z I had for the money is the best production sports car in it's class again in my opinion. Bruce Campbell is wrong. They did not get what they could out of the early Z cars. What they did do and please any one who has 300zx's which are nice cars don't take this personally, they turned what I think is the most beautiful Sports Cars in the world in to something completely different. What they should have done is to continue to refine the car as Porsche has and stick with what got them there. The pictures that I have seen of the new 350z or whatever they would have called it that they decided to not manufacture although a little plain was better then the car that is now on the road in the looks department. Maybe they will figure it out and go backwards. They did it with the Mustang, the new Camaro and some of the Dodge products. They can go from the present 350z and begin getting closer and closer to the 240z.

[Rockr69]

I would love to have a 350z. After all it is the newest model in one of the coolest lineups in automotive history. Sure the Z's weren't as refined as the Porsche or have the racing heritage of Ferrari or that ground shredding power of the american muscle cars, and probably never will. That doesn't stop all of the thousands of us who are Z sick and don't want to be cured. When I read all of the negative comments about the 350 I take them in stride, but it does hurt a little to hear it from family about a member of the family. To me it doesn't have anything to do with nostalgia. As far as I'm concerned only four manufacturers have got it right anyway. Volkswagon with their Beetle, BMW with the Mini, Ford with the Mustang and the GT and finally Nissan with the 350z. The succes of these models in general was the commitment to the original models that inspired these remakes and the 350 definitely hit all the marks.

Every since I saw my first S30 I have lusted after them with all kinds if fanciful ideas of what kind of "supercar" they were and when I finally got the chance of living the dream I found out I was correct about their "superness", but on a completely different level than I had imagined.

These were not refined sports cars like a Porsche or Ferrari. They were not the power houses like every muscle car I have built over the years. My 280 is uncomfortable to drive, the wheel shakes, the brakes even though they are new aren't that awe inspiring. It surely won't be inducing any whiplash during acceleration and the paint although gorgeous from ten feet away is horrible, but I am in love with it. I would not trade for a Porsche or a Mustang (Ford Nut Here:) ) or even a 350z, but I know if I could buy one I would love it just as much. So remember brothers and sisters of the Datsun Z family, It was our love of the S30 that brought the 350 about anyway, so that kinda makes us all parents and I for one am very, very proud of my youngest child.

[Mckrack]

Except for one thing. I am not sure that 350z has been a success for Nissan. I have been told by some dealers that it hasn't.

[Rockr69]

My brother is not a success. Got himself killed being stupid but I still love him. Success for Nissan does not matter to me. I love all Z's even the S31 and the the early 300's, Z31? Correct me if I'm wrong on that. What I'm saying is all these Z owners with their 71's and 2 240's sometimes make me feel like my 76 280 is a lesser vehicle. Reminds me of some Porsche owners, as if my z is not good enough for them. AT least Porsche owners don't care if it's a 356a or Carrera GT, they love them all, like I do with Z's. I even love the snooty guys 71's and 2's and even the Hybrids, so what does it matter if Nissan is successful with the automotive world with the 350, they did all right with me.