Interesting comments from Nissan designer..

[positivetennis]

Hmmm, certainly an interesting and creative read.

 

Maybe so, but I know a whole lot people who wanted an 86 but were told to wait for 18 months, or pay a premium, so they walked and got something else. Now you can get them immediate delivery and these people have moved on and so has the market which is why Nissan should have had a replacement by now. They were meant to have one released for Nissan's 80th birthday and while Mr K was still around but they missed the boat.

[positivetennis]

 

I own a 350Z and have test driven a 370Z and i am 6 foot tall midget. This is not true unless you are like 6'5" and in that case will have trouble with most cars.

 

Yes, I'm about 2m tall which is around 6ft 5. All zeds up to and including the z32 are very comfortable, even the 86 is fine, supra, Celica and 3000gt all good, but 350 and 370z it's too tight. The z31 has heaps of room and is very practical as well, the z32 less so with the instrument pods hitting your knees. The 240z to 280zx are excellent, very roomy.

Now what I would like Nissan to do with a new z is style it like a 240z with its sugar scoop headlights and light body, that's it. Dodge have done it with the new Challenger. Just have a look at some of Nissans latest concepts and they are not good.

 

[260DET]

The 350 and 370 Zeds are competent in their way but there is nothing exceptional about them as there was with with the S30, they are a very middle of the road type vehicle. I recall driving a new 350 around Queensland raceway just after they were released and being very disappointed with it's front heavy handling characteristics, compared with say a BMW.

 

I am thinking of a future new project and while the 350 is within the donor budget range and while I would much prefer to have a Nissan, the 350 just  does not do it for me.

[d3c0y]

 

Yes, I'm about 2m tall which is around 6ft 5. All zeds up to and including the z32 are very comfortable, even the 86 is fine, supra, Celica and 3000gt all good, but 350 and 370z it's too tight. The z31 has heaps of room and is very practical as well, the z32 less so with the instrument pods hitting your knees. The 240z to 280zx are excellent, very roomy.

Now what I would like Nissan to do with a new z is style it like a 240z with its sugar scoop headlights and light body, that's it. Dodge have done it with the new Challenger. Just have a look at some of Nissans latest concepts and they are not good.

Ok, I have 2 seater Z32 as well and even at 6' the Z32 is cramped and the steering wheel pretty much hits your legs. I had to put a smaller one on it to drive it properly. My 6' 3" has his knees on the dash sitting on the passenger's side. The Z32 doesn't even have an instrument pod bar the main cluster and if your knees are up there.... Yes a Supra is better but have you tried a Tarago? huge amounts of space!

 

Maybe so, but I know a whole lot people who wanted an 86 but were told to wait for 18 months, or pay a premium, so they walked and got something else. Now you can get them immediate delivery and these people have moved on and so has the market which is why Nissan should have had a replacement by now. They were meant to have one released for Nissan's 80th birthday and while Mr K was still around but they missed the boat.

 

So you just ignored my comment about this situation being the same as the original 240Z? What is your source of your information on this "replacement"?

 

 

The 350 and 370 Zeds are competent in their way but there is nothing exceptional about them as there was with with the S30, they are a very middle of the road type vehicle. I recall driving a new 350 around Queensland raceway just after they were released and being very disappointed with it's front heavy handling characteristics, compared with say a BMW.

 

 

I would argue the original was a very middle of the road vehicle too! I think people look at these cars through rose coloured glasses. It wasn't that fast in a straight line and a stock 240Z definitely understeers when pushed.

I've tracked my 350Z with the BMW club 3 times now and it hasn't had trouble keeping up with modern bimmers even with crappy pads and old tyres around lakeside. But alas i'm not here to talk people into 350Zs, I just think it's funny when people say they aren't like the originals (which was my opinion too before i owned one).

[260DET]

Seeing that I don't own a S30 my opinion is completely objective

 

But it's interesting to read about the S30 experience in the US as written by those who prepared and raced them, basically the 240Z was ready to race off the showroom floor which was exceptional even back then. The important thing is that their opinions and experiences were comparative with other cars of the day, they knew nothing else and therefore could not be influenced by later model cars.

 

I know someone who spent a lot of money on a 370Z as a track car and eventually turned it into something reasonable. But for the money there are several better modern choices which is why we see very few 350 and 360 track cars. One bloke in our club does track his fairly standard 350Z, it's endearing tendency is to lose the back end decisively when pushed too hard, he has incar video to prove it.

 

As for BMW drivers, let's face it, not all of them are as good as their cars

[d3c0y]

 

I'm not saying you are wrong, because i'm just basing it off magazine reviews of the period too. Let's face it there are a lot more option out there now than in the 70s and the performance of the average car has increased massively. And my comment was made more in a street car context comparing it to Camaros and the like of the time.

 

 

What were the better choices over the 370Z out of interest?

 

What tyres is your mate running and what times is he getting around Lakeside? Sounds pretty opposite to my experience. FWIW not all BMW drivers are bad either.

[260DET]

You go pretty good, you did post your times once I remember, around 63's? Brad's best at Lakeside is around 65 on shitty street tyres but he has a go. Some video of him from my incar near the end here

[d3c0y]

Haha you blew the doors off him! My PB is a 63.3 but i had 8 year old second hand R888s on it, wish I could have taken the car out for another track day with some fresh good semis on it.

 

 

Anyway the only tail out action I experienced with it was either worn rear tyres or it was driver initiated slide to get it to turn in a bit better.

 

 

Man I need to get back out there. I have an FD RX-7 with a T04Z hanging off the side that i'm chomping at the bit to get out there! Should have a bit more poke than the stock 350Z too!

 

 

 

 

 

[260DET]

Slack, you have a track car and are not using it, get out there man and have some fun and maybe scare yourself a little 

[d3c0y]

One does not simply drive their sports car...