Disappointed

jive · #1 07-08-2002, 08:05 PM

I just dropped in the grouse a little.

I'm also a little interested in seeing whether the moderators will allow a post that is not all ga-ga about the new car.

I drove a 1990 model Nissan 240SX from 1990 until recently. It was a great handling and a great looking car. It didn't have as much power as I have come to want, but I loved it.

I am really disappointed in the new 350Z. Why didn't they make it faster? Why does it look like just about every other new sporty car these days? (That is to say, why is it butt ughly?) The 300ZX was beautiful. So were the earlier 240SX's, before they turned boxy.

When I started looking for a replacement for the 240SX, my first inclination was to get a used 300ZX. But I wound up buying a new 2002 Camaro Z28 convertible - the last of the breed, as you probably know. I fell in love with the power! I had to spend about $1500 more on after-market stiffening and suspension parts to make it handle suitably, but even with those extra expenses, the convertible cost me less than a base model hardtop 350Z will cost. The car goes zoom, and it does it without a blower. Stock zero to 60 in a bit over 5 seconds. I put a 2800 stall torque converter on it and did some minor tweaking, and now my 0-60 is under 5 seconds. I love it! I guess I'm in the minority, because GM is dumping it. GM is also planning to make the Corvette butt ughly like all the others. I've seen pictures. GM Australia is going to make a left-side drive Holden and sell it in the US as a Pontiac GTO. Is nothing sacred? Grouse. Gripe. Bitch.

Well, I got my Z, and just in time. It's not the kind of Z that I expected to get, but it should do me for the next ten years or so.

SpyVO · #2 07-21-2002, 12:57 AM

No, I agree. Everything I've read seems to suggest that it's very much a 'good effort', but not a home run. You could buy a lot of other new cars that are either much cheaper and just as good, or WAY faster for about the same price (as a track model).

And cars don't slow down as quickly as they depreciate. Point? You could buy something used for a boatload less cash that will crush a 350Z. ANY used Camaro or Mustang Cobra would make a 350Z's life pretty miserable. Heck, even some of them ratty 5.0s would do the trick...

I too am disappointed.

zane11 · #3 07-21-2002, 09:20 AM

I don't see normal mustangs and camaros crushing the 350Z. Even the faster Camaro the Camaro SS is 0-60 in 5.5 the 350Z is 5.4
Ill give it to a Mustang SVT thats fast 0-60 in 4.9 , but its American made car foreing cars are simply better. Well thats my opinion.

SpyVO · #4 07-21-2002, 09:43 AM

Hahah...OK, so at the end of the dragstrip you'll pull up next to the Camaro or Mustang that just blew your doors off and brag about having superior build quality, right?

Hey if that's what you want... Although last I heard, fit and finish doesn't win races!

zane11 · #5 07-21-2002, 10:19 AM

Road and Track November 2001 issue.
Mustang GT 0-60 6.1
Same issue Camaro Z28 0-60 5.5
I do not see that beating a 350z in a drag
Pluse you have the better quality car.

merc50 · #6 07-21-2002, 11:11 AM

Zane, its not 0-60 that wins a drag. The American V8's on the top are gonna pass the Z and leave it in the dust. As time goes on they will refine the Z and it will get faster, but these first ones are not going to be F body and Stang killers...its common sense dude. They really do not sell any Japanese import in the US that can off the floor own the F bodies or Mustangs. Sure with mods they can be "hella" fast, and many of them are true threats and can win stop light to stop light due to all the factors involved, but still. I can not tell you how many stock NSX's I have seen get beat by F bodies and Cobra's, and most of the NSX guys look like fools taking on Z06's and GTS's. Is the NSX junk, hell not...its a coner cutting turn taking machine. I say do not over rate the Z, but do not take it for granted either. I think its a very cool car and a nameplate that deserved to come back.

zane11 · #7 07-21-2002, 11:39 AM

Well most people around here dont go to drag strips, its like all street racing and you said yourself it will win there and i no that.

And as for the hole nsx thing it isn't as fast as a viper nutting really is.

But it is closer to a z06 and cobra and will last alot longer than both those cars and handles very well. But so does the z06.

SpyVO · #8 07-21-2002, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zane11
But it is closer to a z06 and cobra and will last alot longer than both those cars and handles very well. But so does the z06.

Yeah, we all know how un-reliable the Chevy 350 is...

And as for handling, the Z06 bitch-slaps the NSX all over the place. In every category: lateral grip, acceleration, braking, 0-60, quarte mile, road course... And even price.

But I'll still give you import guys the 'specific output' arguement.

merc50 · #9 07-21-2002, 12:46 PM

I said they "can" win, not that they will. They wont on average.

Zane, Im sorry to see that you are just doing the "my pet car is better than anythig else ever" deal. Stoplight to stoplight a stock SS is gonna kick a Z all over the place most of the time. Its sad you blind yourself to C&D stats, a mag known for crappy track and test times. Motor Trend and all of the others are very suspect also. Even the "halo" Skylines would have trouble with the SS and Ram Air, put a Turbo or SC on a Stang of F body and its over. And I freaking love Skylines. The old gen Z's with TT's are run down by SS's. Hell, I have a Bullitt and love it, and you do not see me going around saying it can kill everything. The Z is gonna kick as a car overall, but this is getting silly now.

zane11 · #10 07-21-2002, 12:47 PM

Yeh i no and id still pick the nsx thats how good of a car that is.

merc50 · #11 07-21-2002, 12:54 PM

At the risk of getting the NSX crowd angry (and no, I do not hate them), most people view it as the biggest waste of money out of all super cars due to the cost (in the USA) and perfomance. The demand for them in the US is not overwhelming...notice how many 911 Turbos you see...I do not think cost is the issue. The NSX is cool, and it has a good fan base and most owners are cool guys...very few of them will tell you its a great performer stock. Modded they can up the ante, but they as a group have complained for years about the performance. Admit you are just an import only fan please...cause I can grab a GTS real quick and show you how fast a NSX is. Bang for the buck...GTS or NSX...kind of easy to answer.

zane11 · #12 07-21-2002, 04:25 PM

Oh i am an import guy cause there better quality and longer lasting but i think id take a viper gts over about any car produced i luv that car.

69stang · #13 07-22-2002, 02:33 PM

I'll take raw HP V8 over quick revving 4cyl any day of the week. Something about the sound of it...

Gravitom · #14 07-22-2002, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jive
Blah Blah Blah

If you want raw power then the 350z is not your car. The car was not built to win drag races. Notice the trim levels "touring" and "track", there is no "drag strip". The 350z was designed to be an all around sports car for a low price and that is what it is.

Quote:

Originally posted by jive
Why didn't they make it faster?

Because not everybody only cares about straightline speed. They obvioulsy could have made it faster but then either.

A Price goes up
B Other areas suffer (brakes, suspension, build quality, reliability, etc)

Cars are not just 1/4 mile times.

SpyVO · #15 07-22-2002, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gravitom

They obvioulsy could have made it faster but then either.

A Price goes up
B Other areas suffer (brakes, suspension, build quality, reliability, etc)

I think you need to read the thread about other cars to consider. The 350 is not a cheap car, and it's not an amazing value. Heck, it's not even a GOOD value.

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