Just curious on what's your take on the new 350Z. Anyone have one or test driven one?

 

Wife and I went to Napa Valley first week of November and rented one for the week. (Nothing like a car you don't know well that has great power and speed combined with a few winery stops.)

Impressions are that they spent the bucks on the drive train, brakes, etc, and that some of the interior componenents are a bit cheap. Car ran out great, PLENTY of hp and tq, and seemed well balanced.

I thought the six speed's ratio's were too closely matched. As much torque as the motor has, a five speed or wider ratio's would have been more appropriate. Car's storage is nil compared to my 951; rear shock tower brace looks really cool and performs a function but eats up usable cargo space in a hurry we had only two (albeit goodly size) pieces of luggage and it was an exercise in patience getting them in.

Car looks good from certain angles and kinda ungainly from some others. Overall it was met with a lot of oohs and ahs from ricers and a few cognescenti...For some reason, I don't feel these cars will age well. The car likes to be driven hard, but I see lots of squeeks and rattles and poorly worn interior parts down the road...

Hope that helps...

 

Few local racers rented a track and few came with 350Z. According to a friend racer, the 350Z was impressive on the track. It handled great and was lots of fun.

I personally like the looks of it. I always liked the looks of the 240, 280z, the second generation 300zx and now the 350Z.

 

I'm eager to see the 350Z T or TT.

 

I have heard the brakes on the non-track models are pretty wimpy and can't stand up to track use.

I also think the car is too heavy! 3600+lbs

 

They weigh 3225lbs, not 3600+ lbs. Only 110lbs more than a 944TS.

I wouldn't call the non-track model brakes wimpy but they definitely aren't as track worthy as the brembos on the track model.

A track 350Z is one of the few cars that come from the factory primed for track duty. That might seem obvious given the model designation but I don't think people really understand how significant that is. Porsches in stock form all weather track usage well but that's their niche. I think a 350Z Track verion is as close as you can come to buying a new 944 Turbo S off the showroom floor. Stock for stock, it's actually a better performer.

Now it's easy to argue the aesthetics or choice of interior materials of the car but I think that overlooks the remarkable fact that one can buy this car, track it for years and not spend a dime on modifications to make it track worthy. The only other new cars I can think of that fulfill that criteria are Z06 'vettes and 911's. You could argue that STi WRX's, Lancer EVO's and new Cobra 'stangs also fit but I'm not as familiar with those in a track setting.

Maybe I'm alone in this but I applaud nissan for delivering such a focused version of this car to the buying public. There are faults in the car for sure but neither are our cars perfect.

All that said, I'm clearly not interested in the non track version of the 350Z. I couldn't comment on how the car will age as it's only been out a short time. Lots of people felt 944's wouldn't age well, either.

 

Check out some of the major problems they are having on my350z.com.
everything from transmission failures,mismatched spring/shock rates, tire feathering/alignment issues, paint chipping, rattles, oil leaks etc.
One wierd thing is, for a supposed weekend track car, you cannot even adjust the front camber??
I know it's a cheap car but these issues are not really acceptable in my mind.
The thing will look like crap in five years.

 

Certainly didn't mean to disparage the mighty Z in my comments - it is a HECK of a lot of car for the money...I did not drive the track model and it still was big fun. For a daily driver, I'm not sure I wouldn't look at the G35 coupe. I like the lines better and it is very similar in performance. For a track car for around 30K out of the box, it wouldbe hard to beat...How many track cars come with a warranty?

 

I am considering getting one but...what are the cons?

 

I have a G35 Coupe and when I compared it to the 350Z I was shocked. For about the same price +or-$1000 you can get a nice g35 coupe that has a way better interior, more space, is just as fast, and handles just as good maybe even better. I have the 6mt version with the brembos and the car is great. I can say that some parts are cheap but not as cheap as the 350's. IMO the G35 Coupe is better in the styling department. So far I have driven it 2000 miles and cant say enough. The car is astonishingly fast for its size <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" /> . I am sure that the majority of you turbo guys with your sweet cars would smoke me but it is fast for just a plain stock car. Although the handling does not even compare to the 944's it is great. Also just the fact almost everyone tells me "What a great car I have" is enough.

The cost for my car was 35,000 and it has every option except the NAVIGATION and the rear spoiler.

Sorry for the long post just thought I would share my thoughts with future buyers. <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

 

Not a big fan of Jap Crap. Great commuters.

What is a G35?

 

I think the 'track' designation is just a marketing ploy. The 'track' model should be a stripper with go fast parts (that reminds me, I want a stripper with go fast parts ). It has the performance items, but it is also the most loaded model and carries a much higher price tag.

The 350Z Track is far from de-contented track oriented cars like the Porsche 968cs, Porsche 964 RS America, Dodge Neon ACR, Miata Club Sport, BMW E36 M3 lightweight, etc. I'm pretty sure all of these cars (not sure about E36 M3 lightweight) had lower list prices than their loaded brethren.

I suppose the Track model comes with navigation so that you can find tracks in the middle of nowhere. Is there a button on the navigation system that will tell you where the nearest track is? I guess that could be helpful when you are trying to find Bremerton Raceway or Holtville. I wonder what it would do if you asked it to find Westwood or Riverside? Now, I'll sing the praises of the Track model if the nav system can use the gps to record lap data, including lap time, g force, corner speed, split lap times, etc.

 

The only thing you're really getting with the Track version is the brakes. Might as well save all that money and upgrade the standard version for a lot less.

Where's Holtville? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> I get mailers all the time for this place and I have no idea where it is... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

 

The 350 "track" model has Brembo brakes and a LSD. They all have the same motor 287hp from base to track models.
I wonder when they would come out with the 350 turbo. That would be interesting. I heard Nismo is coming out with a kit soon but at $3500+ price tag.
Thanks for all the input. I have test driven the 350Z compared to my 951 it still needs something to give it a kick and my 951 kick my *** all the time.

 

They all have LSD except the base.