| Author | Message | ||
| Ben Millermon (Brainsboy)
Member Username: Brainsboy Post Number: 329 Registered: 5-2001 |
Bobd, I have a 71 240z its alot of fun, I basicly rebuilt the complete car myself. But I added a little more horsepower, take a look its in my profile. However, I still enjoy my Ferrari more | ||
| Christian Asis (Christian_asis)
New member Username: Christian_asis Post Number: 8 Registered: 4-2003 |
1) The G35 is an Infiniti, not a Lexus. 2) The 350Z is an incredible performance buy for the money 3) Unfortunately (at least to my eyes) it is also phenominally ugly. 4) It is atrocious to sit in. Visibility to the sides is bad, and out the rear it is non existent. 5) An additional $1,000 of MSRP spent on improving the materials and quality of the interior would have been money very well spent. 6) Performance wise, the 350Z is only a 400lb diet away from being great to being spectacular. I'll now step off my soap box. | ||
| Tino (Bboxer)
Member Username: Bboxer Post Number: 285 Registered: 8-2001 |
My son John, (who spent a night in my 308's trunk back in 79 when he was 5 and has been an F enthusiast ever since), is a Nissan product planner in charge of the Z. I've had a chance to follow the Z's progress from the beginning and it is a well-thought, very clever product. Starting last August, it has dethroned the C5 Corvette from its nr.1 sports car position in numbers sold. (Yes, it is all about success in the market place). For $26k you get a whole of a lot for your money. John spent two years driving prototypes on proving grounds with a fleet of sports cars to compare, from an MR2 to a 996. The resulting Z is a competent, fast, durable and practical sports car that is capable of lapping a road course faster than the competition and with a great price\value advantage. As for looks, we all know they are subjective; I remember the horror when I saw the first 308GT4, yet there are some who think it's cute. And BTW, these young car designers do not "steal" from existing shapes, they just almost all come out of the same classroom. | ||
| DJParks (Djparks)
Member Username: Djparks Post Number: 253 Registered: 2-2003 |
As an owner of two '72 240's I agree that the early ones were the best. Crude but easy to work on and a blast to drive. The 240Z made a huge statement in performance and styling when it came out. It gave the 911's a run for the money three years running in the production classes. The 350Z makes that same statement performance wise but when it comes to style the Lexus G35 Coupe has it beat. My biggest gripe is the chopped off nose with the sewer grate mouth that looks like it came from a Chevron commercial.....................stupid and ugly! It still gets my vote for the biggest bang for the buck.........that is if I were to buy one instead of another old outdated, slow, soft cornering but beautiful 308. Nawww, I'll take the 308 DJ | ||
| Keith Maxwell (Keith_maxwell)
New member Username: Keith_maxwell Post Number: 24 Registered: 5-2003 |
All Nissan design is done in California at their design facility, some design work is contracted out, but it all gets done and approved in California... Still ugly, still Japanese in flavor, the French connection is just another reason not to buy it. | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Intermediate Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 1257 Registered: 8-2001 |
I've read somewhere that the new Z was designed in California by a French person. Can't blame Japan Inc. for that design. | ||
| Keith Maxwell (Keith_maxwell)
New member Username: Keith_maxwell Post Number: 23 Registered: 5-2003 |
An acquaintence of mine just bought a 350Z. Road feel is good, handling seems tight and acceleration is great. The inside is butt ugly and the outside is typical Japanese morphing of European design (read as: ugly to anybody but the backward hat crowd). 2 Fast + 2 Furious = 4getaboutit | ||
| Raymond A. Castelhano (Oglmlw)
New member Username: Oglmlw Post Number: 17 Registered: 5-2003 |
When the 240z was first sold here, I used to hunt them down in my 1750 Alfa GTV. Always a close race but the Alfa never lost. The z was just jc to me. MrC | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 603 Registered: 11-2001 |
The 350z has too much plastic going on in the interior and it feel cheap compared to the last Z car by far. Driveability is OK but for $30K I'd rather spend a little more for another car. To me a car has to be complete without any cheapness built in mind and the interior just plain sucks big time, I was so dissapointed when I saw it from the start, I hate too much plastic inside and it echos especially the Bose system plains stinks. I have to agree with William that it looks so much like an Audi - Boxter. They should've put more effort on the interior but hey, most cars these days are made to be disposable anyway, how would auto manufacturers make any money if they were to last? Cars are only getting more expensive and to get a well built one you are going to shell out quite a bit for a new one or you better go with a nice used one. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 5037 Registered: 12-2000 |
Just read in Prancing Horse that "Ferrari" was the #1 brand name in the world searched on Google. More than any other name, auto related or not. | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 688 Registered: 4-2002 |
The new Z is uglier than most other cars on the road today--and that is saying a lot! | ||
| allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Member Username: Allanlambo Post Number: 552 Registered: 6-2002 |
Ahh well, the Murci was still ranked above the Ferrari! | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 598 Registered: 11-2002 |
Nissan has a lot on their hands if they want to revitalize the Z car. It was such a legend when it first came out that it'll be difficult to top. That said, I think they are on the right track. The styling is not exactly original though. As for the BMW comparison...I haven't driven the Z but am very familiar with BMWs. I would be very surprised if the Z tops the BMW in a lot of categories I find important in modern cars. Don't really want to go to a dealership to test drive one since I am not at all in the market for one of these cars. I'll just take people's word for it. Cheers | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 369 Registered: 6-2002 |
I actually really like them, good sexy and fast transportation. The blue just looks good. dynamically, it's a bit, well, big and soft, but not too bad. The controls are a litttle balky. I'd much rather have a current-generation 3-series. Best! Ben. | ||
| Lee Pierce (Leepierce)
Junior Member Username: Leepierce Post Number: 101 Registered: 1-2003 |
Beautiful car, though quirky looking (haven't they always been?). Personally, I'd get the Infinity version, what's it called?, the G35 coupe? In a 6-speed! But then, what am we doing talking about Nissans and Infinity's? Aren't there a few hundred thousand other sites for that? But there's only one FChat! | ||
| Eric Vartanian (Evartanian)
Junior Member Username: Evartanian Post Number: 209 Registered: 3-2002 |
Though I respect and appreciate the new Z for what it is, I personally don't get the cult-like following of this car, esp. the original Z as WillH mentions (perhaps its my age and lack of experience and familiarity with the car). Regardless, I actually had a question...have they released the convertible Z to the public yet? A few weeks back I saw one top down on the 405 freeway here in CA, and I wasn't aware it was already available. I'm sure the open air experience would be great, but just from looks I find the coupe more appealing. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Advanced Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2540 Registered: 2-2001 |
That thing is UGLY, They ripped off Audi's TT & made it uglier. Dopes. The original Z was SO nice, like a mini Daytona or a mini E type. Why couldnt they have done a retro on the original & not given us this lumpy looking thing ? | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1199 Registered: 3-2001 |
Paul, I wouldn't sell my 328 for a new Z... no way. I've had several Z's in my day and agree with you. The best one's were the early 240Z's. I owned a burnt orange '72 many years ago... absolutely one of my favorite all-time cars. I recall the 73's started having troubles with vapor lock (due to emission requirements) and would starve for fuel when rev'd high. At least that's how the dealers described the problems. So Datsun increased the displacement with the 260Z but ran into even more issues (my brother had a new 260Z in '74). Talk about problems! I guess that's the reason the 260Z only lasted in production for one year. Then they moved to the injected models with the 280Z... the cars got heavier with the bumper requirements and the fun went way down. But early Z's were great, great cars!!! | ||
| Paul Hill (348paul)
Member Username: 348paul Post Number: 264 Registered: 12-2002 |
Bob, If I had a choice I would keep the 328 rather than get a 350Z (and that�s coming from a Z owner!) The 350Z does nothing for me at all  real shame actually. I think it all went down hill after 1973!! Paul | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1509 Registered: 2-2001 |
$35K? You can get a nicely loaded Z for around $29K. They all have the same drivetrain, so that's irrelevant. For $29K it's one hell of a car. Ernesto | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1198 Registered: 3-2001 |
The 350Z is a hell of a lot of car for $35K. Wait until they release the drop top. I wish my elderly 328 had 350Z performance and handling. But I think I'll keep the ol' clunker.  | ||
| Aaron Williams (Aawil)
Junior Member Username: Aawil Post Number: 197 Registered: 8-2002 |
Most people around my age(24) think this car is a god or something. I've only slightly warmed up to it because a like the daytona blue color. I've seen the track model for like 36-38K for that I'll buy a C5 corvette with some real power. | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Member Username: Davem Post Number: 274 Registered: 1-2002 |
Who will break the news to Allen!? | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 4284 Registered: 8-2002 |
ROTFLMAO...! | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member Username: T88power Post Number: 1508 Registered: 2-2001 |
According to MSN Autos, the 350Z was the most popular sports car, based on visits to vehicle pages from users. Therefore, the 350Z must be the best sports car, since MSN users think it is so. For the complete list, http://autos.msn.com/advice/windowshop.aspx?contentid=4019411&src=MSN Ernesto |