Summer 07 issue of Nissan Sport

[240ZMan]

Art, it appears this thread has morphed into a feedback channel for you about the magazine, and so I hope I'm not out of line throwing my thoughts out. I just had a chance to go through the new issue this weekend and came away with these thoughts:

- It's become a very professionally produced magazine. The pictures, print quality, etc are first rate.

- There is a lot of diversity of the Nissan's covered. For the reasons above, I understand why you have to do that. If the magazine isn't financially viable, then it won't last. However, for me, as an owner of a 73 240, I find it hard to get excited reading how some new owner of a Nissan can't wait to put even larger tires and rims on it. Cars are a balance of form and function, and for me, taking off 18" rims to go larger is way too far in the "form" direction. In fact, I'd argue that articles that educated people on the downsides of those "improvements" would be beneficial to your readers (even if some of your advertisers didn't like it). How about a test putting stickier rubber on the stock rims and comparing that to stock rubber on bigger rims? A LOT of your readers would learn A LOT! They would save money as well and/or have more money for mods that really made a performance difference.

- I hope this comes across the way I intend it: There is an overall tone that is almost too positive. Not every change I've tried on a car gave me the results I wanted. Sometimes I learn more from the "misses" than the "hits". When I read someone get excited about how much power they "found" from a muffler swap on an otherwise stock engine, I'm struck by how badly people want to believe they made the right choice. Probably we all fall victim to this to some degree, but claiming a mod was a success without some form of measurement or verification seems to be a disservice to your readers.

You have some very talented and experience people on your staff. It would be great if more of their experiences (successful AND unsuccessful) would come through to help guide those just getting started. It's a shame to have their valuable information given similar weighting to unverified claims of success from newbies.

I read just about every car magazine that has any relevance to me and find the ones I continue to subscribe to are those which don't sugar coat things, are direct and critical where appropriate, and from which I learn. In that regard at least, I'd like to think that I'm not too different from most readers of car magazines.

Thanks for listening.

[e_racer1999]

e_racer1999, how dare you call my 240Z project car a "tidbit". A piece of junk maybe but a tidbit, never. =)

oh, you know what i meant!!

[bartman]

I received my copy last Friday, and it's the best one yet. Even though there isn't that much S30 stuff, I understand that it doesn't make financial sense for the magazine to focus too much on them.

I must say that I wouldn't have renewed my subscription from SZM, but the Z car club that I belong to included a subscription to NSM. At first I wasn't happy with being forced to subscribe to a magazine just to be a member of the club, but now I'm happy that I have a subscription.

BTW - Although this site would probably not approve I have new 18x8.5 rims on the front and 18x9.5 rims on the back of my 73 240Z and they're stuffed under the stock fenders; but then again the 362 RWHP V8 isn't exactly Classic Zcar fare either.

[Art@NissanSport]

Zbane, pm me your full name and mailing address and I will check into it. If I find something went wrong I will mail you out an issue the moment I find out.

240ZMan, we do some shootouts once in a while, and yes the advertisers get mad at us if they don't finish first. They look at it as a contest, we look at it as choices.

I should be in the process of comparing some headers for the 240Z. I think there are about five of them. It takes some time to setup since I would do all the changes myself between each dyno. I would probably test one a week in the fall when the tempertures are more consistant. I would also like to use the same muffler and exhaust pipe. The only way to do that is to have a connector piece that would connect to the header and the beginning of the exhaust pipe. That could mean fabricating up to five different connectors. With help from Mark Boudoucies, this should be able to happen. Mark, I will call you to get this rolling. The other thing I need to do is get the 240Z on the road. I'm only a couple of hours away from that.

I also plan to continue my tire sizing for the Z. In the winter issue I gave detailed specs on 15" tires. I will finish it up with 14", 16" and 17" tires so that people can figure out exactly what they want and how it will effect their speedometer readings.

e_racer1999, its not that Nissan disowns the S30. Its just hard for them to continue to support a car that has been out of production for close to 30 years. Yes they support Z events around the country which is a good thing. And the fact that new owners don't recognize/respect the early Z is because when they walk into a showroom, chances are the salesman of today don't truely understand the History behind the Z. Most of their knowledge starts and ends with the Z32 in terms of history since it was the last Z in production. For Nissan Sport, creating awareness is not only meant for the Z car owner, new or old or soon to be, but for the people who also sell the product.

[240ZMan]

Bartman, you're a heretic!

[Art@NissanSport]

Bartman, you make the magazine seem like a trip to the dentist, painfull but needed.

I to am a member of a local Z club and I get a magazine that I see everyday. I don't look at it as being forced to get something but more like an added incentive to join the club. I would bet a new member looks at that way. How many local car clubs around the country offer a magazine with their club membership. discounts cost clubs nothing so getting something I can hold in my hands doesn't seem all that bad for part of my membership dues. And the fact that the people who pay their dues and never show up for any event are at least getting some kind of return on their money. And I fully understand clubs and trying to get people to show up to anything. Its like pulling teeth. hey, were back to the dentist comment again. =)

[e_racer1999]

e_racer1999, its not that Nissan disowns the S30. Its just hard for them to continue to support a car that has been out of production for close to 30 years. Yes they support Z events around the country which is a good thing. And the fact that new owners don't recognize/respect the early Z is because when they walk into a showroom, chances are the salesman of today don't truely understand the History behind the Z. Most of their knowledge starts and ends with the Z32 in terms of history since it was the last Z in production. For Nissan Sport, creating awareness is not only meant for the Z car owner, new or old or soon to be, but for the people who also sell the product.

don't get me wrong; i don't necessarily feel that nissan disowns the S30. i don't really have any personal feelings towards it at all, AAMOF. but what you mentioned in the last part of your message was EXACTLY what i meant; there is little connecting the S30 with modern nissans; with NSM being an outstanding exception.

[bartman]

Bartman, you make the magazine seem like a trip to the dentist, painfull but needed.

I to am a member of a local Z club and I get a magazine that I see everyday. I don't look at it as being forced to get something but more like an added incentive to join the club. I would bet a new member looks at that way. How many local car clubs around the country offer a magazine with their club membership. discounts cost clubs nothing so getting something I can hold in my hands doesn't seem all that bad for part of my membership dues. And the fact that the people who pay their dues and never show up for any event are at least getting some kind of return on their money. And I fully understand clubs and trying to get people to show up to anything. Its like pulling teeth. hey, were back to the dentist comment again. =)

To some extent your analogy is correct. My choice was to either pay the extra $20 per year (I believe that was the amount added to the annual membership) to remain a member of my local Z club or drop out of the club. This happened while the magazine was still Sport Z, and I lost out on a few issues that I actually paid for. It's not a benefit if you get charged the cost of the subscription on top of the annual dues...in fact, my own subscription would be cheaper than the price my club charged me. I enjoy freedom of choice, and I would much prefer to decide whether or not I want to subscribe on my own.

As far as I know, this was a choice made by my local Z car club and not you; so it's really a mute point.

-Bart AKA The Heretic

[Art@NissanSport]

You are right, I have no control over what the clubs charge. My club went from $20.00 for a single membership and $35.00 for a family, to just making it $35.00 for everyone, single or family. I personally don't mind if the club gets a few extra dollars as long as they throw it back to the members in one form or another, ie; refreshments at events, etc.

[beandip]

I received my magazine today. It was sent to the wrong address and my carrier caught it and maybe this is why it took so long. I will send you a PM . I am also a member of a Z club and my membership does include the magazine. I was a subscriber prior to joining and I greatly enjoy the read. Thanks for a great job well done. Gary North West Z car club , charges $50.00 for a single and $75.00 for a family. We now have 50 members and are growing every month.

[hls30.com]

Almost totally off topic, but, IS Nissan actually supporting any Z meets/shows, or is it just their dealers? As I understand it(and I am the first to admit I could easily be wrong), I don't believe Nissan USA has contibuted anything for the ZCCA convention in Daytona though the local dealership(s) have gotten involved.

Actual thread-pertinant content:Nissan Sport arrived sucessfully in todays mail-pardon me while I read it cover to cover!

[EScanlon]

Art:

Received mine Mon. July 30, in Vancouver, WA.

E