Cross shopping other cars with the Z?

Duc_Z09 · 04-20-2015, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

A friend of mine just got a 370z and he says he loves it but it is quite harsh and not exactly a good DD with the sport package.

I'm on board with that. Those are the sacrifices you make to own a true sports-oriented car, and nobody can decide whether it's worth it except you. The only affordable, good compromise between performance and practicality that I found was the WRX STI. But IMO you sacrifice almost all of that "wow" factor to drive a regular car that just happens to also be fast...

I've got a POS lifted Grand Cherokee for winter/beater duties so I don't need to DD my NISMO anymore.

Davey · 04-20-2015, 10:35 AM

The '14 and prior NISMO is quite a bit stiffer than the Sport package. I don't find the regular Sport Package Z to be overly stiff for a DD.

Apparently the '15 NISMO is a 9/10 compared to the '09 - 14's 10/10 spring rates (speaking relatively). I'd put the Sport package at maybe a 7. It's not that stiff. IMO if you can't handle the regular Z you should stick to Cadillacs and Camrys.

Duc_Z09 · 04-20-2015, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey

The '14 and prior NISMO is quite a bit stiffer than the Sport package. I don't find the regular Sport Package Z to be overly stiff for a DD.

Apparently the '15 NISMO is a 9/10 compared to the '09 - 14's 10/10 spring rates (speaking relatively). I'd put the Sport package at maybe a 7. It's not that stiff. IMO if you can't handle the regular Z you should stick to Cadillacs and Camrys.

Yeah I can't comment on the regular Z because I've only ever driven one (mine) and it's a NISMO. I love it but it's definitely a loud and bumpy ride.

darkphantom · 04-20-2015, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey

The '14 and prior NISMO is quite a bit stiffer than the Sport package. I don't find the regular Sport Package Z to be overly stiff for a DD.

Apparently the '15 NISMO is a 9/10 compared to the '09 - 14's 10/10 spring rates (speaking relatively). I'd put the Sport package at maybe a 7. It's not that stiff. IMO if you can't handle the regular Z you should stick to Cadillacs and Camrys.

I didn't think the ride quality of the normal Z was bad at all but all I did was freeway driving and maybe a bit of the local road on the test drive.

I guess I won't know until I own one

Davey · 04-20-2015, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

I didn't think the ride quality of the normal Z was bad at all but all I did was freeway driving and maybe a bit of the local road on the test drive.

I guess I won't know until I own one

Not saying that to sound "manly" or anything, I just feel like the sport package Z is pretty average as far as stiffness among the performance cars I've driven. A bit of stiffness comes with the territory, so if people have issues with the Sport Z they would probably have the same issues with most other performance cars (aside from those with variable suspension tuning and such.)

cranzy · 04-20-2015, 11:16 AM

I've owned a Mercedes c240, which is not a sports car at all, and let me tell you, them parts cost like a mother f**ker. I enjoy the 370z it's a car that gets noticed everywhere you go, at least mine does. Good luck!

Dwnshift · 04-20-2015, 11:20 AM

And I spend a lot of time in my Z

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

njobe89 · 04-20-2015, 12:22 PM

i'd only drive a german car 1) if i bought it new. 2) if it had a warranty that would cover #- Z.

just like every person is not perfect (unless your kenchan), neither is any car. you just got to get what you like more.

jpkirk · 04-20-2015, 01:19 PM

RicerX · 04-20-2015, 01:37 PM

Magic Bus · 04-20-2015, 04:46 PM

Not a Golf R, but own an 11 GTI & 13 sport/Z. When the wife decided she wanted out of her minivan, guess what she wanted......hint, it ain't the Z.

If you don't mind lag, carbon build up and other little maintenance issues the GTI is a practical car that has some fun factor. Z = rough around the edges but a lot more fun to drive.

LAVA · 04-20-2015, 05:04 PM

I bought my Z last fall after 16 years of owning German cars. I thought they were the sh!t until we bought a G35S sedan for my wife. After putting over 100,000 miles in her car and only spending around $500 on repairs (brakes, tires and oil excluded) I was sold on Japanese engineering and reliability, which was why I decided to by a Z. German cars are over engineered, which IMO has no advantage, they're also very expensive to fix and maintain. It's highly unlikely that I will ever buy another German car.

nis350 · 04-20-2015, 08:17 PM

I have to agree with the reliability of the Euro cars. There were quite a few things that I had to fix on my well maintained m3 with less than 50k miles. While it is a very nice car, but the repair/maint cost would be scary when it hits 100k miles.

My wife got a fully loaded g37s coupe and I was so impressed with it that I got a fully loaded Z later - a lot of cars for the money, relatively speaking.

However, I do like the 991 GTS quite a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAVA

I bought my Z last fall after 16 years of owning German cars. I thought they were the sh!t until we bought a G35S sedan for my wife. After putting over 100,000 miles in her car and only spending around $500 on repairs (brakes, tires and oil excluded) I was sold on Japanese engineering and reliability, which was why I decided to by a Z. German cars are over engineered, which IMO has no advantage, they're also very expensive to fix and maintain. It's highly unlikely that I will ever buy another German car.

Tigger · 04-20-2015, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAVA

I bought my Z last fall after 16 years of owning German cars. I thought they were the sh!t until we bought a G35S sedan for my wife. After putting over 100,000 miles in her car and only spending around $500 on repairs (brakes, tires and oil excluded) I was sold on Japanese engineering and reliability, which was why I decided to by a Z. German cars are over engineered, which IMO has no advantage, they're also very expensive to fix and maintain. It's highly unlikely that I will ever buy another German car.

Kinda funny you say that. I already knew German cars sucked for reliability. I know for certain I could never by a BMW. Never. Throughout my 43,572 miles on the Z, I only changed the oil and filled it up with gas swapped out two sets of tires and drove the **** out of it. Good times. Excellent reliability. Even for a sports car which is just crazy. Very impressed with the Z in that aspect. And then what'd I do? I went and bought a used 911 with 75k miles on the clock. lol.

Like I said, get the warranty and drive that bitch without worry. So what if it breaks? Zs have had catastrophic engine failures too! Happens to every car on the road.

Point is... drive what you love. Life is too ******* short to worry about how soon you'll need to replace tires.

vividracing · 04-20-2015, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

Hello all, looking to purchase a 370Z but now I am not so sure anymore

I have been looking for the last two weeks and I have narrowed it down to 2010-2012 370z with Sport/touring in 6MT Coupe.

Problem is, hard to find local dealers that will give me a good price. Anyways, long story short, I was cross-shopping the 370z with a Subaru BRZ and a used WRX if I could find one.

I then mistakenly walked into a VW dealership to look at a used 370z they had and then saw the other VWs...they had a used Golf R that I ended up testing driving

I can't believe the amount of difference in the interior quality of the VW to the nissan! I mean, I know German cars are better built, bla bla, but it was just worlds apart! I used to drive a '07 335i before so I know how good german cars they can be. However, the transmission was BUTTERY smooth in the golf, I was pushing it into gears with 1 finger! The other thing is, since it is a 2.0L Turbo, I just drop a tune in there and I am easily over 300whp and over 350whp of torque!

So basically now, I am sad that the interior of the 370z isn't as nice, more road noise in the Z and I can't afford the Golf because it is almost 5k more than the Z.

My budget is $25k and the Golf R was $30k used.

So here is my question, what other cars did you all cross shop before choosing the Z and why did you pick it?

I know people will say I am comparing apples to oranges but here are some things I am looking for:

-RWD/AWD
-6MT
-good handling/feel
-around ~$25k

Anyways, thanks for listening and helping out!

EDIT: if I end up going with the Z, anything I should be looking out for? Go 2011+ over 2010?

I have a BRZ, fully loaded and it was $31k out the door, this was back in early 2013 when these things were selling like hot cakes and dealers could sell them above MSRP, I negotiated it down to that.

You can get a fully loaded BRZ for $29k-ish and the lesser trim for about $27. Did I mention you'd buy it new? RWD, the super reliable Boxer engine, the Subaru name. Done! I haven't had any major (or even minor) mechanical issues yet, I'm at 32k miles now.

It might not be as sporty as a 370Z but it's hella fun to drive and it's super low already, you get amazing handling with the right wheels/tires.

The 370z is a great car, it wasn't in my budget and I'd prefer a car with all the bells and whistles, top of the line, and the BRZ was just right, for me.

-RyanG

04-20-2015, 11:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dwnshift Track Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cincy Posts: 717 Drives: NISMO 370Z RC Rep Power: 15	And I spend a lot of time in my Z Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk kenchan, jaedub, SS_Firehawk and 8 others like this.

04-20-2015, 12:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
njobe89 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2014 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 5,227 Drives: 2013 370z BS 6MT Rep Power: 174284	i'd only drive a german car 1) if i bought it new. 2) if it had a warranty that would cover #- Z. just like every person is not perfect (unless your kenchan), neither is any car. you just got to get what you like more. jpkirk likes this. __________________ 2 plus 2 times 2 = ? ... hint, it's not 8 Stillen CBE, Stillen Gen 3, TP's, Uprev tuned - 324whp/264tq

04-20-2015, 01:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
jpkirk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Merry Land Posts: 5,515 Drives: '14 MidBlu ST MT Rep Power: 3376	__________________ intake \| exhaust \| wheels \| tires \| suspension ... um ... stock, do speed stickers count? intake \| exhaust \| TE37 SL \| RE-11 \| suspension ... um ... do speed stickers count? Signature under construction

04-20-2015, 01:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
RicerX Track Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: TN Posts: 597 Drives: To the Pizza joint. Rep Power: 7721	kenchan, Tigger and Memphis370Z like this. __________________

04-20-2015, 05:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
LAVA Track Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 775 Drives: AWD Q50S_3.7 Rep Power: 81	I bought my Z last fall after 16 years of owning German cars. I thought they were the sh!t until we bought a G35S sedan for my wife. After putting over 100,000 miles in her car and only spending around $500 on repairs (brakes, tires and oil excluded) I was sold on Japanese engineering and reliability, which was why I decided to by a Z. German cars are over engineered, which IMO has no advantage, they're also very expensive to fix and maintain. It's highly unlikely that I will ever buy another German car. __________________ BORLA / BERK / R2C / Z1 / Swift / NST / MOTORDYNE / OMP / H&R / EVO-R / AEROJACKET

04-20-2015, 10:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Davey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,766 Drives: '15 NISMO 6MT Rep Power: 117171	The '14 and prior NISMO is quite a bit stiffer than the Sport package. I don't find the regular Sport Package Z to be overly stiff for a DD. Apparently the '15 NISMO is a 9/10 compared to the '09 - 14's 10/10 spring rates (speaking relatively). I'd put the Sport package at maybe a 7. It's not that stiff. IMO if you can't handle the regular Z you should stick to Cadillacs and Camrys.

04-20-2015, 11:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
cranzy Base Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Seattle Posts: 108 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 11	I've owned a Mercedes c240, which is not a sports car at all, and let me tell you, them parts cost like a mother f**ker. I enjoy the 370z it's a car that gets noticed everywhere you go, at least mine does. Good luck!

04-20-2015, 04:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Magic Bus A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Honolulu Posts: 1,427 Drives: 17 6MT M2 Rep Power: 18754	Not a Golf R, but own an 11 GTI & 13 sport/Z. When the wife decided she wanted out of her minivan, guess what she wanted......hint, it ain't the Z. If you don't mind lag, carbon build up and other little maintenance issues the GTI is a practical car that has some fun factor. Z = rough around the edges but a lot more fun to drive.

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