So I test drive a Z again yesterday...
 

My friend now works at a local Ford dealership where they had an 03 Z Touring model on their used car lot with 17,895 miles.

I've been wanting to drive one again after having the RX8 for a while, so yesterday I drove down there and did just that. So I thought... well this will be make or break - will I like my "8" better or think, uh, uh... should'a got a Z.

My impressions:
The interior felt very cramped to me... although I did like the seats. One thing I really don't like is the clutch - it's alot stiffer than ours and I had to kind of pick my leg up to push down on the clutch, that felt uncomfortable - like the clutch was too high.

It rode like a tank! And this was a touring model. The car felt very heavy - although it handled great, stiff steering. Although it doesn't feel quick and nimble like the 8.

Power: Well, the Z does have more torque down low, and it may jump us off the line, although it didn't feel that much quicker than the RX8... if the Z would get the jump off the line I think the 8 would catch up.

Overall - I think the 350Z fells like an older car - more muscle car, as the RX8 feels more newer - as in newer technology. After driving the Z I really appreciated the ride in the "8".

cool

when i test drove the Z almost a year ago, it was actually very uncomfortable for me. Not because of the seats or anything but because i was sitting way too low. In a sports car that's a must, but being as short as i am, the Z just sunk me. Otherwise, even compared to the 8 that i test drove fairly recently, the Z is a very impressive car. The deal breaker for me (with the Z) was the missing back seats and the looks. Not crazy about either.

i'm looking to get an 8 sometime mid to late next year :)

Good review overall but no matter waht your felt the RX-8 isn't catching a Z in any acceleration category.

How much did they want for it? What color was it?

I dig those cars' looks. Too bad they apparently don't ride very well, and don't have four seats.

ditto

i test drove the 350z and i thought it didnt feel as smooth as the 8 but it was most certainly faster than the 8. No way the 8 would catch up maybe a turbo 8

The Z is quicker ("faster" is different from "quicker"), but not by a great deal. O - 60 is about half a second quicker; ditto the quarter mile. BFD.

Per Motortrends comparison:
RX-8:
0-60 = 6.0 seconds
1/4 mile = 14.49 @95.47
350Z
0-60 = 5.3
1/4 mile = 13.77 @100.94

Thats a difference of 0.7 seconds to 60 and in the 1/4 mile. In the world of cars, that is a BFD. That's the difference between and Enzo and a Porsche 997S.

If were talking track times, however, they even out nicely.

There's some wiggle room there: Other ones I found on Google found only a half second difference, or 0.60, on each measure. I still say BFD. I know there's a difference, but for me half a second, or seven tenths, is only significant if you're into drag racing, which I'm not.

Uhem....yes. At least ONE acceleration category my dear, realistic friend.

'Lateral' acceleration.

;)

Two things bothered me about the 350z, the salesman, and the windshield. The salesman is not Nissan’s fault, but the windshield is.

When I got into the car it felt like I was having a hard time scanning the road, because the window was way to small. Otherwise I loved the car. If the sales pitch had been done the right way, I would probably have a Z.

Most of the z's advantage i believe is in 1st gear, for some reason the rx-8's first gear isnt the greatest. A 45mph roll however in 2nd should prevail much greater.

Just install 2 more seats. Problem solved.

If you just jammed two seats in there somewhere (if two more seats would even fit inside the car), I'd imagine you'd have some VERY uncomfortable and unhappy passengers.

I get to drive the 350 and the G35SC (sports coupe) on a daily basis. The both drive great, while i love the ride, i think its a little to much 'track car' for a lot of people.

Its pretty quick, and the response is great.

As far as the back seat thing goes, have you looked at the G35 Sedan or SC, they both have a back seat, and in 6speed trim are both a blast to drive, but that all comes with the added price :-(

sure other cars in the 8's category have 'better' things about them, but in and out of its class, nothing ive seen has that 'total package' ... the right looks, performance, technology ... ect.

Ill be buying one this summer june/july time and the cars Ive looked at are all around ~30k :

Subaru STI
Acura TL A-Spec
Mitsubishi EVO MR
Nissan 350Z
Mazda RX8

c'mon theres clearly only 1 winner, lol :D

exactly.

Yeah, I was just referring to jamming two seats into some part of the Z...There isn't a whole lot of space for holding any more seats in that thing regarless of how you orient them. I love the G35, but the premium paid for a little more luxury and two extra seats over the Z is pretty darn steep, especially when the 8 can do it for so much less. (though I can understand how proud they must be that they got those seats into the G :p)

Anyone else like the wheels on the 35th Anniversary Edition 350Z..... :rolleyes:
It is pumping out power tho 300hp at the crank, more expensive now $37,000, at that price I'd just buy an elise.

https://www.caranddriver.com/assets/...2005133430.jpg

Those were my exact same impressions. I've owned a 240Z, a 260Z, a 280Z, a 280ZX, and two 300ZX's (different body styles). I loved them all. So when I made the decision to buy another sports car, the first place I went was to a Nissan dealer. 10 minutes into the test drive of a Touring model, I knew it wasn't the car for me. Regarding the interior, I'd go one beyond "cramped" and call it nearly claustrophobic.

I stopped at a Mazda dealer on the way home from test driving the Z, and two minutes into the test drive on the '8, I knew it was the car for me. Bought it on the spot.

I think the 350Z is a great car, but it didn't fit my 6'3", 190 pound frame very well. The '8 (without sunroof) is/was my ticket to happiness.

Bill

good call..i love teh elise...now i wonder if i'd fit in it.:p

37 large is a lot for a z. but to each his own.

you call the z ugly and then say you are goung to buy a 8?thats funny...

the stiff steering is technology that the 8 doesnt have...it is designed to stiffen the faster you go to give you more feel for the road....z runs 13s stock....its an assload faster than the 8.....i have owned both actually traded the 8 for a TRUE sports car.... :D

just stirring the pot :)

oh almost forgot....140 ish top speed for an 8 and a 170ishmph topspeed in a z and its computer controled speed limiter... try that in an 8

Should be faster and it looks like an egg. Consider it stirred :)

I liked mine when I had one.

The z looks like a vw beetle someone stepped on. Has some good points of it own but is not a good looking car.