Actually, I kinda agree, given the average consumer.
(Enthusiasts are really the minority in the States)

Although he was overly harsh IMO, I can see why he and Japanese reviewers are dissapointed -- the 350z is a definite step down from Nissan's last sportscar, the S15 Silvia.

Let me put it this way -- imagine a new RX-7 came out and it had about the same acceleration as the RX-8, but the handling was worse, it weighed more, the interior was not as nice, and it was less mod-friendly. Also, imagine that the price of this new RX-7 was about $5k more than the RX-8. This is exactly how the 350Z compares to the Silvia Spec R.

 

Well when you put it like that, it makes it sound that much more worse. But it is true.

 

I was realy shocked with Best Motorings review of the 350 and the Skyline..

The only two that gave it truly good reviews was TAKUYA who always finds the good in every car, and NAKAYA who is more the enginere of the group.

I love Takuya's reviews because he doesn't let his personal feelings get involved in his reviews. He states the facts and calles it a day.

His father GONSAN just doesn't like anything thats not HONDA..hahaahah

 

I stopped taking the video (Top Gear) seriously when he started poking fun at the "French" engine. If he's so uninformed to believe that the VQ series is French made, it's really hard to view the rest of the review as an objective evaluation of the car. Just the fact that he made something up to put down the Z shows that he was just looking for any little thing that he might be able to place in a bad light.

 

It's powered by the VQ35...a newer version of the engine originally in the Maxima 95+ prior to Renault's takeover. They started putting it into Renault's top end car's so that's what he's referring to. It's actually a great motor but stroking it out to 3.5L kind of killed it's ability to rev quickly though it actually does a better job on top end power than previous versions.

 

That was what triggered me into thinking that Clarkson is biased against the Zed for some reason. He gave the same vibe on the video where they revealed that the 350Z and the RX-8 has the same track times.

However, his observations are quite accurate in terms of the interior quality, that crossbar impeding trunk space, and the drone of the engine.

 

This is freaking great!!! I'm on the floor right now.

 

Is there a link to that one anywhere? Also, wasn't there also a Japanese video magazine with the RX-8 doing as well as the Z at the track?

 

It souldn't be a surprise that an RX8 can match a 350Z on a track. The only advantage they have is in straight line speed.