Disappointed

[SolTheHoelessPimp]

wicked, thanks for the info, but with the 10k i'd save, i'm sure i could make the wrx better, but for 35k i'd love to have a Z.

[Porsche911T]

As a road course car it isn't so obvious, but that is just because there is just a lack of knowledge out there about what makes a car fast on a road course. With a full griggs suspension some engine modifications a 5.0 mustang can be made to kick some serious ass on even the twistiest courses for cheap. It may not have the "feel" of a NSX, but it will have the feeling of lapping them. That is not to say a NSX can't be made very fast..it just costs a whole lot more.

You ever watch SCCA on speed? That mustang is no slug.. Last Time I watched NSX was last, and the Mustang was somewhere in the middle. Porsche won ofcourse, but half those cars are Porsches so they have the advantage. And it was a tight track, Porsche brakes come into play. If it wasn't tight, I say the S4 would have won. That car was right behind the 911 but the 911 always lost him in the turns. What mustang is that by the way? Looks like the older generation 5.0s.

[RiceNmotioN]

I pretty much love every car, but I have to admit that the new Z will be something to contend with. Compared to a Mustang, you lose weakness in it's ability to keep you comfortable and it's sports luxury oriented feel. You also get more room and a chassis that is two times more rigid than a Mustang. Because of it's short notch like body, it gives the Z more of the ability to handle better through turns. It's more balanced for the price. I love those Mustangs, but it requires more work to make their bodies rigid than buying a car that already comes with a strong chassis. As for Camaros, It may be a quick car but only if you pointed it straight. The handling is good, yet it will lose potency on a course with small narrow turns. Pound for pound, the 350Z has a really great starting base and is easier to work with without major modding. Lets say something like a cheaper Porsche. The proven VQ engine is also as potent as that of the Mustangs, N/A Porsches and the Camaros. When compared to the older Z, you lose a bit of power from the turbos, but like I said, the VQ is a potent engine, even more so than the VG it replaces (More efficient and reliable). Sure the turbos helped alot but imagine a turboed VQ? Think it's not possble? Or not available any time soon? Wrong, Japan already carries a few vehicles that already have a turbocharged VQ35. The trick is finding someone to offer it here. Nismo is comming soon, but I think they'll bring a supercharger instead. Oh, that Speed SCCA GT-class Mustang is a Saleen SR. Not slow indeed, but but has the benefit of a stock Saleen aero package and the GT class downforce add ons. I like it too, but I also like the Z. As for the WRX, only if we were off road. I'd rather take the WRX STI against a Z.

[LS1Steve]

First off, I drive a camaro SS and sell nissan Z's and have driven them.

Next, IGNORE all magazine performance numbers, theyare never accurate. The Z handles awesome, but does NOT have the same tire burning power as my SS. O-60 would not be a blowout, but 80mph and above I'd pull away very nicely. I heard "Z06" mentioned a few times, the two cars do not compare and should not even be mentioned in the same sentence seeing as how the Z06 is quite possibly the most refined american sports car ever built. The Z28 and 350Z compare in price and its just a question of which you want most, slight handling improvement or a bit of power improvement. As far as build quality, both have great engines (yes the new gm powerplants are very stong) and the interiors are equally cheap and plasticy.

[rvanover]

Uh..New Zcar? Let me think.....

Front end....Honda S2000?...Mitsu Eclipse?
Side view....Audi TT?
Rear....Merc Cougar?...Toyota Celica?

No originality...It may be a wicked little car, but the styling has been stolen from every auto maker around. Sorry, but it's quite obvious.

[ygohome]

I was wanting to get the new 350Z but at the time they were not available yet (a month ago). Soooo, instead I went and purchased the 03 Cobra. I've enjoyed it alot. You are definately paying for the engine and not much else with this car (okay... transmission, and the rest of the driveline too) but 35k doesn't get you much of a special interior. It is american made so I get all the nice little rattle noises and such.

But overall I'm very happy with the Cobra. I saw a new 350z on the weekend and it looked pretty cool. My dad is looking for a new car now... I'm going to suggest the 350z. Its more than fast enough for him and I think it looks great too.

Wish the Z came with a turbo though for easier performance mods later on down the road.

[RiceNmotioN]

Originally posted by rvanover
Uh..New Zcar? Let me think.....

Front end....Honda S2000?...Mitsu Eclipse?
Side view....Audi TT?
Rear....Merc Cougar?...Toyota Celica?

No originality...It may be a wicked little car, but the styling has been stolen from every auto maker around. Sorry, but it's quite obvious.

Hmm... Haven't automakers been copying each other for centuries? The NSX is like a mini Ferrari, S2000 a Z3/Porcshe, Eclipse/Cougar/Celica are very reminiscent of the Lotus and Fiero. With the new Camry looking like the European Peugeot with a Renault rear end. There are many ideas utilized to create a vehicles looks. If anything, With the new Aero improvements, everything will eventually start looking the same. Even all the older American built cars carried some of these resemblence from all of each other.
At the end it really comes down to preference and the goal of your vehicle. I agree with LS1, is it for the power, the looks, or the control. the only way to have it all is a lot of money. I like the Z because it's somewhere in the middle.

[Zcarfan]

actually the Vette is a combo of the NSX and the RX-7, they only had to look at 2 cars to get that one.

oh, and how about the new Viper, does a larger scale S2000 come to mind???

[ducati996]

The only thing the SS has going for it, is the ram-air LS1 motor. Take that away, and it's not much of a car. Can't imagine why someone would even buy a 3.8L Camaro.
With the SS rear single axle, heavy front-end, and mediocre suspension....it's a $26+K drag car. My friend still complain about the handling on his TransAm even with the progressive Eibach springs.
The SS is comparative to the Cobra (03 Cobra now king of the hill) and TransAm. The 350Z is in the league with Boxter and S2000.
So please no more comparison between apples and oranges. It is impressive that a V6 gets compared to a performance of a V8.

[Zcarfan]

that is true, my family owns some car dealerships and one night my dad drives home an SS and says. "lets go play with it and see what it can do"

All I can say is that it is a POS, you have NO feel for the road, so much so that when you are smoking the tires you don't even know it, the thing rattles all over the place and handles like a 4000 lb boat (ohm wait, thats what it is). I honestly was hoping to have some "fun", all I came back with is "wow, I wonder when GM will learn how to build a refined car". I here that the Vette isn't as bad, BUT it is no Porsche either.

[LS1Steve]

"I wonder when GM will learn how to build a refined car"

Have you driven a Z06 yet?
Thats all I will say.

I look at things from a price perspective.
Sure an LS1 is a $26k drag car, but dollar for dollar its the biggest performance value available today. That is a HUGE thing to have going for it. As far as handling, hairpins aren't the best, but on a long road course, you'd actually be quite impressed with an SS. Say you pay $26k for an SS...you couldn't get a track edition of the Z for under $40k right now, which is putting you in the range of a C5 vette now.

Hell, lets compare it to something of exact equal value, like mentioned above, the 03 Cobra. I have been a camaro fanatic forever so mustangs haven't really been my thing, but the new cobras are sweeeet. Not only is it supercharged, but the internals are forged and ready for more boost. It may handle slightly worse, but the power gains will more than outweigh the handling losses in a race. And as far as aftermarket goes, you can make an LS1/stang much faster for much cheaper. It IS like comparing apples and oranges, two fruits, one is probably cheaper than the other, but it is equally tasty and nutricious!

[Zcarfan]

"you couldn't get a track edition of the Z for under $40k right now"

Actually, I can get any Z I want for dealer cost right now (my family owns a Nissan dealer, amoung others).

I have to admit I haven't driven a Z06, but I am not sure it would be much better than the standard vette (as far as refinement goes).

I just think everybody wants different things, (btw, you mention that the Camero is the best thing going for the $$ right now, etc, etc... I don't know if you have seen the sales figures on that car, but lets juts say that it isn't going away b/c there is a huge rush to go buy one, the Mustang is BLOWING that thing away, even though it is a much slower car, sales are much better, ultimately, that is what the company wants). I would rather have an S2000 or Z than a stock vette, and a M3 than a Z06. call me crazy, That is just me though.

[SolTheHoelessPimp]

they are going out for a redesign, as i'm sure you've seen the camaro has had the same body/chassis/engine for freak'n ever now, gm decided that instead of having an strange year like ford( aka there is no such thing as an 83 mustang, i think that the right year) they choose to remove the car from the market, redesign it and put it back into play.

[LS1Steve]

Okay, i call you crazy!

The camaro has been taking a hit in the last few years definitely because the economy and gas prices. Mustang has outsold it because the name is more of an american classic cliche that attracts first car just-got-my-license kids and your 40yr old nervous breakdown need-to-get-my-youth-back mid life crisis types who don't know dick about cars and want the most trendy thing available. If you calculate hp in relation to dollars spent, you will find that the LS1 (and even the LT1's) have been the cheapest dollar-per-hp, and dollar per top speed mph. You can get a Formula for $20k stripped down, what other new car can you get for $20k and go 160mph bone stock??? I guess it all boils down to personal reasons/opinions. You would take the Z, I love the Z but i'd take the Z...06.
See you on the road!!

(& hope you brought your 100shot!!)

[importriders]

Originally posted by LS1Steve
Okay, i call you crazy!

The camaro has been taking a hit in the last few years definitely because the economy and gas prices. Mustang has outsold it because the name is more of an american classic cliche that attracts first car just-got-my-license kids and your 40yr old nervous breakdown need-to-get-my-youth-back mid life crisis types who don't know dick about cars and want the most trendy thing available. If you calculate hp in relation to dollars spent, you will find that the LS1 (and even the LT1's) have been the cheapest dollar-per-hp, and dollar per top speed mph. You can get a Formula for $20k stripped down, what other new car can you get for $20k and go 160mph bone stock??? I guess it all boils down to personal reasons/opinions. You would take the Z, I love the Z but i'd take the Z...06.
See you on the road!!

(& hope you brought your 100shot!!)

Okay, I am going to end this dollar-per-hp debate. Sure you can buy an LS1 for cheaper, initially. But after you calculate maintenance, repairs, gas, and depreciation you actually spent quite more for your LS1. Depreciation alone makes the Z a better "overall" bet. Let alone if you are even able to sell your LS1, the best you might be able to do is trade it in. I'm sure I will have no problem selling my Z, if I ever decide to. Not to bash you or anything, but I'm surprised you didn't consider this in your bang for the buck comparo. Isn't this "real world" economics?