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 Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:19 am
I got the chance to drive around town in a Nismo 370Z. Compared to what else is out within the reach (barely) of mere mortals, Nissan's souped up Z car is an incredibly entertaining and competent performer. It feels much lighter and agile than the 350Z and my Jennifer... because it is.
The interior is a comfortable fit, and is pleasing to the senses (except this one had the smell of too much coffee, perhaps from all the previous testers that have had their way with it in the past months). The steering weight and feedback felt intimate, and the power on tap moved the relative lightweight with much gusto. But all that comfort disappeared when the road got a little rough.
Those in Northern California know that the recent work on fixing all the major highways has caused some stretches to be super smooth, while others that are in progress to be uneven and bumpy. Driving along the highway gave a good contrast to how the suspension worked on different road surfaces. While on the smoother surfaces and bends, everything felt sporty, taut, and controlled. On the less than ideal surfaces, everything still felt controlled and communicative, but a bit bone-jarring. But that's OK, because this isn't supposed to be a posh luxury car with no soul... still... I'm curious to whether or not Nissan will pay for my loosened fillings. In spirited driving, all the computer aids and suspension work made me look like a much more awesome driver than I actually am. Synchro Rev FTW?!
Style-wise, I'm in the middle. The interior, as mentioned, is a nice place to be. The exterior... while sleeker, edgier, and meaner looking than the previous generation, was still too bulbous and round for my taste. I can't help but see a bit of the New Beetle or Audi TT every time I see it from the side (and also the current Eclipse with the super pronounced fenders), and the rear still looks fat and a**-tastic (pun intended). Some may like how it looks, but I'm guessing it's relative to
Overall speed and handling completely destroyed the previous "sports car" I had the privilege of testing, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe... but it was neither as fast in a straight as Jennifer, or as tossable as Haley. It fit perfectly in between the two, actually. Nissan did a good job with this car... but the $40,000 price tag is kinda hard to swallow. Especially when you can get a new Camaro SS that looks better, goes a little faster, and has more room for thousands less... or a certified used Corvette that looks a lot better and goes a lot faster for around the same price.
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Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:28 pm
How's the visibility when you need to see out of it, ie. blind spot size, use of rear window etc. No point paying so much for a car when you can't enjoy the scenery while yer in it if you know what I mean.
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Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:29 pm
Millefune ... or a certified used Corvette that looks a lot better and goes a lot faster for around the same price.
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Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:55 pm
Visibility is great! As in you get a great view of the big wing whenever you look into the rear view mirror or twist to back out of a parking space. Good luck with seeing anything else. Forward and side visibility aren't too bad, and I always look over my shoulder when I change lanes, so I had no issues on the driver side, but looking to the passenger side blind-spot was a lot more difficult.
And ******** yeah on that last line quoted.
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:56 am
Millefune Visibility is great! As in you get a great view of the big wing whenever you look into the rear view mirror or twist to back out of a parking space. Good luck with seeing anything else. Forward and side visibility aren't too bad, and I always look over my shoulder when I change lanes, so I had no issues on the driver side, but looking to the passenger side blind-spot was a lot more difficult. Doesn't sound to bad. If you only suffer it once a week or so. xp I'm still not sold on the 'Vette thing but. Someboy brought one to the Island on the weekend, and only did a 1m 56sec. I did 3 bloody seconds quicker last time I checked, close to 53 flat. PI results The GOOD news? Ford went one ahead AGAIN on the day, we would of had it if it weren't for that damned Porsche and Datsun. xp
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:15 am
Was it a stock 'Vette? I think that one of these would be able to take that RX-7.  I know it took the C6's awesomeness to win Friv over, but I've been smitten since I test drove a C5 back in 2002. I just wish it wasn't so common... but at least in its commonality, there's a huge aftermarket, and a lot of them out there to destroy the import freaks.
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:42 am
Nope, far as I know NONE of these cars are stock, and almost all of them were towed there(non-streetable, and in Sprints there are NO technical regs, bring an F3000 car if you have it and you can still run. Which some people actually DO) I think there's one or two of them^^^ in GTP, which is the rich boy's category(Sports Sedan is the smart boy's club LOL because they build the cars at home and by themselves) and its almost always gotten crushed by the Russell Viper or the Lamborghini that John Bowe used to drive.
I was hoping to see a Ford/Ford/Ford 1-2-3 on the day, but it just didn't happen.
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:36 am
Hmm... well I will admit that in that field, I have no idea what I'm talking about. If they're like "open track days" that they have at Infineon, Laguna Seca, Willow Springs, etc. then I've experienced spectating them. The only time I've driven "wheel to wheel" on a track was during the instructional programs I had the privilege of attending, and nobody was allowed to pass if they caught up to the person in front of them.
Speaking of that, this car would make for a good track-day car you can drive to the track and home with, rather than a daily driver. Kinda like the S2000CR.
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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:04 am
Yeah, they're really good for that. And about only that. blaugh
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:28 am
I'm not going to lie... but I felt guilty about liking how it drove. It was like I was cheating on my girls. It really feels like a sports car. Not as razor sharp as an S2000CR or RX-8 R3, but its extra power makes up for it and then some. I just think it's so ******** ugly from every angle. Not so much the side profile shape, but the way the body panels intrude into the boomerang lights look so lame, and the vampire fangs on the front look ridonkulous.
Actually... the side profile shape (two-dimensional silhouette) looks like a Porsche 911 and Audi TT had some "Birthday Sex." (******** THAT SONG)
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:40 am
M8 there are times when you just need to be objective, put yer feelings aside and get on with the job at hand. Its called "professionalism."
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:40 am
I'm quite objective... which is why I stated the merits of the car. I still allowed to feel guilty, though. I'd also still rather save up for an extra three months, and eat out one less time a month afterward, and get a C6 'Vette... if I had to get a two-seat sports car.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 7:53 am
Why don't you make a rule, that you can't eat out unless you're with a woman? That'll let you eat healthy, and save you money.
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Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:15 am
Yes, but you have to consider that sometimes she won't want you to eat her out. Anyways, there's something I've discovered recently that I found interesting - probably because I'm a 350Z driver.
Both Tiff Needel, who is a former Formula 1 driver and now host of Fifth Gear, and Top Gear Australia's Steve Pizzati say that they like the 350Z better than the 370Z.
Tiff Needel: "Despite all the improvements, the 370 actually doesn't feel quite as frisky or responsive as the 350 did. But that's not really a bad thing, because there's definitely more overall grip, it's just that the balance seems to have... Grown up a bit."
I noticed much the same thing when I test drove the 370Z. It truly was brilliant but it didn't feel as... Excited as my car. It felt very fast, but very businesslike, very cold. Looking back on it, I noticed two things when I got back into my 350Z. The first thing I noticed was a gross lack of power in comparison to the car I had just driven but, once I threw it into a corner for the first time after having driven the new car, I realized that it's less tame.
Now, this is a point that a lot of auto reviewers are saying is a good thing about the new Z. But if you ask me, I'd have to disagree... I actually like the wild-child factor of the 350Z. To a driver that doesn't drive one on a regular basis, they'd call it 'unpredictable.' Me, though, I call it 'the car wants to have fun.'
I dare say that if you own a 350Z and do have the opportunity of driving one regularly, you'll get to know its behavior a lot better and, having a feel of what the car is going to do at any given moment in its own less refined but also more excited manner, may even be able to drive it faster than the 370Z.
Do you see where I'm going with this? I feel like if I want a car that's tame, I'll buy a Honda Accord. In a sports car, yes - I want it to handle well, as it should (and it does), but I think there should be that sense of "Oh dear God, hold on for your life." The 370Z didn't feel that way, it always felt... Computerized, like I was playing a video game.
I think that if I drove the GT-R, I'd say the same thing about it. To me, Nissan's taking a step in the wrong direction. They've begun to believe that sports cars are all about the efficiency of speed, but that's not true. They're about the fun of speed.
Nobody buys a fast car because they need it to arrive at a destination very quickly. They buy it because they have fun getting there.
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Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:29 pm
"If you ain't outta control, you ain't in control?" razz wink
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