A&Q about 350Z
Q:
I bought a 2006 Z roadster 15 days ago, and it has instantly became my daily driver. I have never owned a car that has been as fun to drive. I read that they were uncomfortable, but at 6'3" it is about as much leg room as any non suv I have driven. (I have never been able to fit into a honda of any type, and eliminated the s2000 from consideration the second i crammed into it.)
The power is comfortably strong. At a red light, I could usually out accelerate most people even in my Aztek with normal acceleration, but that was due to faster reaction times. Now, due to that extra power to weight as well faster reaction times, leasurely pulling away from a stop, I am halfway through the next block before the car behind me has crossed the intersection.
Getting up to 80 before I merge with interstate traffic going 70 + is certainly nice. I have the option of merging with confidence instead of getting up to only around 50 and being at the mercy of the right lane speed demons.
Braking is incredible. When I get back into my Aztek, I am a danger because the Z has such good braking. The adjustment takes some time to make, and I feel like I am going to plow into the car in front of me at every stop.
Handling is the best feature of all. In my Aztek, I feel like I am riding on the back of an elephant and get thrown as much in any turn or curve. In my Z, I was able to take a turn at 45 mph that I could barely make in the Aztek at 20.
Comfort at speed is something that will get me a ticket eventually. I find myself motoring along and then looking down (lack of heads up speed display which is found in my Aztek hurts here) and realizing I am going 95. It doesn't feel to fast, and I am a driver that goes the speed that feel comfortable for traffic/conditions/etc.
The road noise is not bad for the roadster. It could be quieter, but it is not too much worse than my bulky SUV at highway speeds.
Visibility is horrible with the top up, but I expected that. Down, of course, you can't beat it.
As for style. I have never had so many people tell me how wonderful the car looks. Complete strangers will yell out their windows, shout to me at stop lights, or just comment to me after I park how much they like the car. Oddly, though, few people recognize the make, probably because it is the roadster and has a distinctively different look than the coupe.
The only negatives I have would be that the interior plastic stuff detracts from what is overall a great car, the radio controls are slightly awkward, and the trunk is about 2 inches too shallow.
For the money, I think this is by far the best car on the market.
I hope to be driving this car for a very long time.
A:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I had the same thoughts two weeks in. Except I was still cutting my teeth on the whole manual tranny thing!
I agree, great car, great fun, addicting to drive (be careful). It is unfortunate I had to give mine up. Enjoy the ride!
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"
A:
Addicting?
I put 1700 miles on it already.
A:
an aztek the Z is not
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
Don't tell that to my aZtek.
I wasn't comparing them in the sense of them being comparable cars, just as a contrast in the experience.
I like the Aztek, and got a great deal on it as a same model year as new used car because people thought they were ugly. The resale value was almost nothing, and I got 35 percent off what was the MSPR for what was just about a new car.
The Aztek is a very practical car, and one I really recommend on a value basis. The Z, I had to continually remind the salesmen, I am not looking to buy practical, as I wasn't trading in. If I got rid of my Aztek, I would have gone with the g35, probably.
A:
Wow someone that actually owns an Aztek...or should I say owns a GM car...lol!
Most Japanese cars have average plastic interiors.
2005 350Z Touring Roadster - Super Black - 6speed
Borla Exhaust and K&N drop-in.
Other toys include:
2006 Subaru WRX Wagon
2002 Isuzu Axiom SUV
2002 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic
2002 H-D custom Fat Boy
2001 Kawasaki Drifter 1500
A:
It was my practical side looking for a value. I have only owned GM and Nissan's. a '77 monte carlo, '88 Sentra, '96 Sentra, '02 Aztek and a '06 Z.
The Aztek was a great car, just that it looked funny. There were some poorly engineered inconvienances, like the way the spare was stowed, but overall it had amazing luxury for a car with a 25.5 k list price. The thing that made me not get an Altima as the next in line obvious choice was that at 6'3", I was tired of trying to fit into my Sentra's and wanted something with leg room. Also, I had purchased a 19 inch monitor and could only barely fit it in the passenger seat, so I wanted something I could move furniture with.
My Sentra's did have cheap interiors too, but I expected that from a 12.5 K car. Still, its not a bad trade for what else the Z has to offer.
A:
the z does have a heads up display. it's in the middle of the dash.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
>Complete strangers will yell out their windows, shout to me at stop
> lights, or just comment to me after I park
That's just your bad driving.
j/k
A:
z32d00d wrote:
> >Complete strangers will yell out their windows, shout to me at
> stop
> > lights, or just comment to me after I park
>
> That's just your bad driving.
>
> j/k
You don't know how true that really is.
A:
the bad driving?
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
justinrhenry wrote:
> the bad driving?
>
Of course. Then I am kidding too, I am really a pretty good driver. I have never gotten a ticket at least.
A:
Don't take this poorly, but a Z in roadster form is just about as ugly as your Aztec - that is only my thoughts, but it is still a Z and that is what it is all about! I'm 60 years old, had a 72 Datsun 240 and a 75 280 also Datsun have a 03 350, best cars ever made, but I am partial as you can tell. Never should have had T-tops or made with a rag top. As Mspeasl says never too old. Still fly airplanes that almost do Mach and will soon get a Softail Harley, but don't do roadsters! Once again just an old guy talking, but you will get about 80% of the people here agree that a roadster cannot be made good looking whatever brand of auto you buy!
Thanks
A:
That is true Zesty, most cars do not look as good in roadster/convertible form. Personally the 350 looks ok with the top up and awesome with the top down. That is why sveral auto makers are moving to the retractable hardtop so give better lines on the car. The only problem is that they take up 75% of the trunk space when retracted.
2005 350Z Touring Roadster - Super Black - 6speed
Borla Exhaust and K&N drop-in.
Other toys include:
2006 Subaru WRX Wagon
2002 Isuzu Axiom SUV
2002 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic
2002 H-D custom Fat Boy
2001 Kawasaki Drifter 1500
A:
bmw z cars look better in convertible form and terrible in coupe form.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
I actually like the roadster look (top down) more than any other. I think most sports cars are ugly, cameros, vettes, mustangs, and look more like something that should appeal to 17 year olds than adults.
The Z, top down is a beautiful car. The top up is not the most amazing thing in the world, but it is still fun to drive.
I don't thin the Aztek is ugly, just distinctive. I like distinctive. If I wanted to own a camry or a civic, so i can blend in with other people, I would.
Most people do not like "different" even when they claim to be a noncomformist.
So I didn't take you comments poorly. Everyone has their opinion, but only mine is right.
A:
i have no clue what an Aztek is? they are not available here, glad u are enjoying your Z - had mine since Nov 05, and still smile everytime I c her.
i'm not partial to the convertible, my first issue with the 350z roadster, is that it was not designed as a roadster.... unlike the BMW x3 or 4 or Lexus SC430.
2005 350z Silver Coupe Touring
“while your busy contemplating your dream, i'm living mine......”
A:
Haha, you wanna talk about abomination...
Sorry, I'm getting the post way off topic. I'm glad your enjoying the Z and if the Aztek is your thing then cool.
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1990 300zx NA
- Custom Exhaust
- JWT Pop Charger
Post Edited (Sep 14, 12:01pm)
A:
but then again ive always though the the isuzu vehicross was a pretty awesome car, which im sure people would take issue with
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
Post Edited (Sep 14, 1:52pm)
A:
ekkkk house on wheels! obviously no demand in the aussie market.
2005 350z Silver Coupe Touring
“while your busy contemplating your dream, i'm living mine......”
A:
no demand in the U.S. market either.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
positively hideous! i wouldn't be caught dead in that car, then again it mite make a good ambulance.
2005 350z Silver Coupe Touring
“while your busy contemplating your dream, i'm living mine......”
A:
The 2001 model with the hideous body cladding was horrible, but the later models look alot better.
When it was released, the car was 1 or 2 in class in customer satisfaction in every category of its class except exterior styling.
Anyway, I am happy with both my Aztek and my Z. I can always find either car in a lot, and both turn heads in their own way.
A:
I rented an Aztek one time on a biz trip (Avis as I recall) and I was impressed. Yeah, ugly, yet a good drive. Downunder, It's like a Penfolds Bin 389, the label is not very attractive, but the drink is pretty damn good!!
'04 Black Touring
A:
You got that right that thing is hideous!
Post Edited (Sep 18, 4:35pm)
A:
ZDoug...CongratZ on your ZR. I love mine! Everyone has their own opinion about the ZR. IMHO with the top down...the car just stands out & still today the heads keep on turning. The ZR is totally smokin' hottttt!
BTW your absolutely correct..."what a fun car to drive" also the rear wind shield reflector sure helps an awful lot!!!! No need to roll up side windows with this car!!
My SB ZR still feels like HEAVEN....what a wild ride!