What makes a Z a Z? What modifacations go too far to be called a Z?

[TomoHawk]

Our Mr. OJ seems have a great obsession with engines.

BTW- if you look under my username ( look left) you will see the condition of the vehicle.

OTOH, I never lick or taste motor vehicles, so I never use the word 'sweet,' and if anything 'sweet' gets on mine, it gets washed off promptly.

Edited August 21, 2012 by TomoHawk

[hls30.com]

Video Screens-Why would anyone want to turn a Z into a living room! A Z is about driving, not lounging, watching a movie, downloading porn-well Mab-NO!

A permanent video screen in an S30 is a black hole for Z points...nothing permanently mounted in a Z should distract a driver from driving..... Similarly, Racing seats and roll bars go in purpose built cars-in most cases putting them in otherwise is called Riced posing...Z owners do not need to pose-unless it is with a babe for a photograph!

I don't want temporary use items taking up my cars real estate on more than a temporary basis. If you have tune-able engine management and the carputer is a part of it-it could make sense, but otherwise-why? The great thing about a laptop is I don't have to a) sit out in the parkinglot to watch a movie, or download po-nevermind.... watch anything at an uncomfortable offset, c) watch on the screen my five and seven year olds are relegated to. Novelty, maybe, but, I can't think of one movie I enjoy enough to sit in my car and watch on a 7" screen when I could be wathcing it in Dolby Surround sound with my klipschorns up front, on a 46" TV from a recliner with a bucket of popcorn and my favorite "barely flowing it is so damn cold" beverage. I can't think of one movie I would be so interested in that I wouldn't want to wait to see in my living room. Atleast on a laptop I have a larger screen and I can take the movie somewhere and get truly comfortable...

I enjoy a soundtrack with a perfect drive- Listening to Keith Urban "Who wouldn't want to be me" with the top down and the speed up, wind blowing through what little hair I have left, on my way to Nashville...the Blue Ridge Parkway/Dragon come to mind, but car stereo should be heard and not seen. A hidden and convenient usb jack and five buttons on the back of a steering wheel is the perfect answer: volume up and down, source selector and track/station forward and reverse. Great speakers hidden where they are the most flattering. If you have to show them off you obviously don't think they are good enough to just listen to.

Zpoints are about Z styling-as you trade it out for other things, you lose them...Everything in life is a trade off.

Edited August 21, 2012 by hls30.com

[bpilati]

Video Screens-Why would anyone want to turn a Z into a living room! A Z is about driving, not lounging, watching a movie, downloading porn-well Mab-NO!

A permanent video screen in an S30 is a black hole for Z points...nothing permanently mounted in a Z should distract a driver from driving..... Similarly, Racing seats and roll bars go in purpose built cars-in most cases putting them in otherwise is called Riced posing...Z owners do not need to pose-unless it is with a babe for a photograph!

I don't want temporary use items taking up my cars real estate on more than a temporary basis. If you have tune-able engine management and the carputer is a part of it-it could make sense, but otherwise-why? The great thing about a laptop is I don't have to a) sit out in the parkinglot to watch a movie, or download po-nevermind.... watch anything at an uncomfortable offset, c) watch on the screen my five and seven year olds are relegated to. Novelty, maybe, but, I can't think of one movie I enjoy enough to sit in my car and watch on a 7" screen when I could be wathcing it in Dolby Surround sound with my klipschorns up front, on a 46" TV from a recliner with a bucket of popcorn and my favorite "barely flowing it is so damn cold" beverage. I can't think of one movie I would be so interested in that I wouldn't want to wait to see in my living room. Atleast on a laptop I have a larger screen and I can take the movie somewhere and get truly comfortable...

I enjoy a soundtrack with a perfect drive- Listening to Keith Urban "Who wouldn't want to be me" with the top down and the speed up, wind blowing through what little hair I have left, on my way to Nashville...the Blue Ridge Parkway/Dragon come to mind, but car stereo should be heard and not seen. A hidden and convenient usb jack and five buttons on the back of a steering wheel is the perfect answer: volume up and down, source selector and track/station forward and reverse. Great speakers hidden where they are the most flattering. If you have to show them off you obviously don't think they are good enough to just listen to.

Zpoints are about Z styling-as you trade it out for other things, you lose them...Everything in life is a trade off.

You can put the top down on your Z?

[72 OJ]

Did you check the gallery?

I did and ,.......................after all the lines of .......questioning with a challenge,,,show in larger pics,,,what is or is not,,,should have this or that,,pictures on post are for vanity,,, :paranoid:

Edited August 21, 2012 by 72 OJ

[72 OJ]

Will, it is a small unit with a built in GPS.........................

[MotoManMike]

Again I agree, I don't really even need a stereo in my car. I don't listen to it anyway. Something about my Z just makes me want to hear the motor and the wind. I agree about the subs, nicely hidden stereo systems are a nice touch but big subs in coffin size boxes, video screens = RICE. I guess we could start a new poll, what is RICE. I believe the logo seats in a slow non sanctioned race car =RICE. Big video screen xbox, tv's =RICE. Neon lights and fake carbon fiber =RICE.

I guess it all boils down to the fact that there are very few of us still participating in this poll that are true "purist" by definition. We have a common base of what mods go a little too far. Now I wonder what catagory my second Z falls in after this poll now that it has an L28ET in it but guess what I built it for me to drive. I am not out there looking for recognition because I don't really care whether anyone likes it or not. Not a soul has helped me build it so why should I? Most do, some don't but either way I don't really care. I'm a HUGE fan of sleepers. A sleeper car to me is the ultimate. I got my doors blown off one night by a kid in a mid 80's cressida with a 2JZ. I was oblivious to what he was packing until the turbo spooled up. To me that is awesome. Just my opinion I know but I like it when they keep it stealth. For a laugh I attached a pic of my wiring bird nest. It has been fun, since everyones talking about engine bays.

THE STICKERS MAKE IT FASTER MAN I SWEAR!!!! .

Edited August 21, 2012 by MotoManMike

[72 OJ]

Need help with engine details work ? I am 2 hrs away my friend,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just call, BTW you did good, plus done in record time

[hls30.com]

You can put the top down on your Z?

This one of mine I can....

[hls30.com]

Will, it is a small unit with a built in GPS.........................

Don't let that make you feel bad, everybody knows it's not how big it is, but how you use it...

I just couldn't help myself...sorry!

I have a Nuvi that we move between cars-I hard wired in a hidden power cord, to keep it out of the way, but use the suction cup mounts-I must admit I like the radio Updates it gives...except when I am usb-ing it...

[TomoHawk]

I like to use my tablet with the 7 inch screen in both cars for navigation, tracking trips, fuel costs, expenses, reservations, and other car- or travel- related stuff. When I park the car, it comes out with me. I have a TV for watching movies, and the hotel has a TV for movies.

I don't believe in subwoofers because the windows rattle enough without using them. If I need bass sounds, I will turn on my guitar amp.

Edited August 21, 2012 by TomoHawk

[bpilati]

Again I agree, I don't really even need a stereo in my car. I don't listen to it anyway. Something about my Z just makes me want to hear the motor and the wind. I agree about the subs, nicely hidden stereo systems are a nice touch but big subs in coffin size boxes, video screens = RICE. I guess we could start a new poll, what is RICE. I believe the logo seats in a slow non sanctioned race car =RICE. Big video screen xbox, tv's =RICE. Neon lights and fake carbon fiber =RICE.

I guess it all boils down to the fact that there are very few of us still participating in this poll that are true "purist" by definition. We have a common base of what mods go a little too far. Now I wonder what catagory my second Z falls in after this poll now that it has an L28ET in it but guess what I built it for me to drive. I am not out there looking for recognition because I don't really care whether anyone likes it or not. Not a soul has helped me build it so why should I? Most do, some don't but either way I don't really care. I'm a HUGE fan of sleepers. A sleeper car to me is the ultimate. I got my doors blown off one night by a kid in a mid 80's cressida with a 2JZ. I was oblivious to what he was packing until the turbo spooled up. To me that is awesome. Just my opinion I know but I like it when they keep it stealth. For a laugh I attached a pic of my wiring bird nest. It has been fun, since everyones talking about engine bays.

THE STICKERS MAKE IT FASTER MAN I SWEAR!!!! .

I'm not a true purist, but I don't believe in making the body the only thing left that is Datsun or resembles a Z. If you're going to bastardize your car that much, please remove the badging.

Edited August 21, 2012 by bpilati

[psdenno]

Summing up the last 300+ opinions and rebuttals, it's probably fair to say....If it looks like a Datsun Z, sounds like a Datsun Z, and drives like a 40 year old Datsun Z, it's a Datsun Z. The more it's modified, the more it becomes less a Datsun Z to many of the members of this forum. Owners of highly modified Zs are probably more comfortable among members of other forums that revere modified cars or race cars.

I doubt that this discussion has changed anyone's mind about what makes a Z a Z. The vast majority of us appreciate our Zs for what they are and tend not to make too many changes to what we feel is a highly adequate sports car. We get pleasure from our Zs by working on them and driving them - not from telling others how much they cost or how many modifications have been made to the basic concept.

For the most part, we play well with others. There are exceptions to that last statement, but that's why there's an "Ignore List" that I've found can make everything all better.

Dennis