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Old 11-23-2009, 05:12 PM   #214 (permalink)
vash_241987
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx
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Drives: '99 corolla
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sand123 View Post
To clear up what seem to be abundant misconceptions about my reasons for posting on this forum, I will say this: I didn't come here to disparage the Z, despite what many of you seem to think. I also didn't create this post. I came here to find some subjective impressions of Z ownership that you can't get from reading magazine articles because I have been considering buying one. I am trying to figure out if the performance benefit/fun-to-drive factor of the Z outweighs the advantage of having four dours and room for 5 people in my car.

Comparing the Z to a FWD car from Japan that is a half second slower to 100 mph isn't disparaging the Z--it's part of my own decision making process. And while that is like comparing apples to oranges, the comparison is fitting for me because these are the two cars I am choosing between. What is that tradeoff worth to me? Will I have that much more fun tossing the Z around an autocross course, or around a hairpin, that it outweighs being able to fit more than two people in the car? That's a tough question to answer. So yes, of course the Z is faster than the Mazdaspeed3, stock for stock. But it certainly isn't a world of difference. Having driven the 370Z, then getting into my car (even though mine has bolt-ons) both cars seem to accelerate similarly merging onto the highway. Personally, it's more of a preference for the RWD than an extra 30 hp. I love tail-out powerslides as much as anyone else, and you obviously can't do that in a FWD car no matter how much power it has. And whether that performance benefit is worth it, I still have yet to decide.
I say it's on your wants vs. needs and useability. How often are you going to autocross? Is this car for me or do I have a family? Here is a personal example: I was invited to do a IDPA match (International Defensive Pistol Association) which I did do, but the thing is I only did it once and here is the problem I came to: I spent alot of money on useless things that I only used once, an el chepo holster then I upgraded to a more expensive one, a airsoft practice gun that I though was going to help me practice my shooting since "I though" I was going to do this shooting regularly....but in the end I wasted money that would have been beneficial elsewhere, ohhh like paying off school bills and credit cards . So for me I would like a z in the near future as an upgrade to my corolla. Of course its weird comparing a gun to a car since a car will get used more often, and if this post sounds point less, its cause I'm very hungry right now and I am leaving to go get some food.....and maybe write more than 7 word for my paper....
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