Car and Driver Crashes a Nismo 370Z

Joehand1 · 01-12-2010, 10:25 PM

I also noticed a bias against the Nismo, even after earlier articles praisng the Sport package.

However, I'm sure they wrote it after the supposed SUDDEN brake failure and were pissed (I think the Mustang brakes got mushy gradually like my old 2005 Mustang GT did on a track two years ago.)

I really like the way the Z drives, much quicker than the Mustang, but that doesn't fix my disappointment about the brake issue, I figured I could track it out of the box like my other cars.

This is not a real big deal though if you know about it and change the pads before tracking, just a real pain in the ...

Urbanracer · 01-12-2010, 11:50 PM

C&D's test data on the nismo looks skewed after reading the article and looking at the times and speeds. Seems the nismo should have come in with a better overall time then the S4 and the Camaro. C&D even gave the nismo a 0.99g in the skid pad test they did when they tested the car, thats better then the S4 and the camaro. Kinda seems like they didn;t push the car as much as they could have, particularly in sector 4 of their track were it came in dead last of all of the cars tested, which makes no sense.

ricky bobby · 01-18-2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pulpz

....now hold up there. Take the Nismo Z out and enter the Base Sport Z, and the LL1 goes to Nissan.

Zguy · 01-19-2010, 10:58 PM

they didnt have the most important mod of all.....

The Driver Mod.....

kekermahoney · 01-20-2010, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zguy

they didnt have the most important mod of all.....

The Driver Mod.....

true story! the article did mention a retest so I hope the Z fairs better the next time around...

LaSeeno · 01-20-2010, 10:22 AM

IDK man, I've owned a GSX, S4 and now a Z. I would never want an AWD vehicle for recreational use again. Not sure how you crash a Z and blame the car though. A good driver uses his tools to either avoid or get out of a crash.

370z4Steve · 01-20-2010, 01:03 PM

Not totally surprised...S4 is a really nice car especially with the active diff..

dad · 01-20-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaSeeno

IDK man, I've owned a GSX, S4 and now a Z. I would never want an AWD vehicle for recreational use again. Not sure how you crash a Z and blame the car though. A good driver uses his tools to either avoid or get out of a crash.

What are you saying?

LaSeeno · 01-20-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad

What are you saying?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaSeeno

IDK man, I've owned a GSX, S4 and now a Z. I would never want an AWD vehicle for recreational use again. Not sure how you crash a Z and blame the car though. A good driver uses his tools to either avoid or get out of a crash.

I guess that.

MightyBobo · 01-20-2010, 04:07 PM

Apparently people here dont realize how little room there is at VIR, if your brakes completely fail on you going 135 MPH into a tight 90+ degree turn...

So far Ive seen RCZ reply that he himself took his OEM pads out and barely escaped a fate very similar to C&D. I personally can testify that, after driving VIR, if your brakes WERE to fail, your *** is grass.

JonBoy · 01-21-2010, 12:20 PM

+1

VIR is very hard on brakes. The article stated the pedal went to the floor, which can mean one of a few things:

1. The brake fluid boiled (probable cause, and common on many cars with stock brake fluid).

2. Mechanical failure of the braking system (burst brake line or seal somewhere)

3. Insufficient brake fluid in the system to start with, eventually causing air in the lines

"Bad" or "poor" brake pads will not cause the pedal to go to the floor. When you have glazed or overheated pads, you still get brake pressure (until the fluid overheats) but you get very little stopping force from the pads. It is possible that they both boiled the fluid and overheated the pads, which is about as bad as it gets aside from actually bursting a brake line.

Very few people ever get their cars to 130-140 mph and then hammer the brakes into a turn like that. Even fewer do it lap after lap. This was not a driver problem, it was a car problem and while other cars at VIR in this test experienced brake fade, none of them experienced catastrophic brake fade or failure.

LaSeeno · 01-21-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonBoy

+1

Very few people ever get their cars to 130-140 mph and then hammer the brakes into a turn like that. Even fewer do it lap after lap. This was not a driver problem, it was a car problem and while other cars at VIR in this test experienced brake fade, none of them experienced catastrophic brake fade or failure.

So... someone took a 30k car (stock) and slammed on the brakes while doing 130mph+ into a turn?

Sounds like driver error to me.

MightyBobo · 01-21-2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaSeeno

So... someone took a 30k car (stock) and slammed on the brakes while doing 130mph+ into a turn?

Sounds like driver error to me.

Have you ever driven on a track before?

If the stock braking system sucks, it sucks. Whether its the fluid boiling or the stock pads getting way too hot. And I'll reiterate - AGAIN - RCZ himself testified that his stock brakes almost completely went with little to no warning.

dad · 01-21-2010, 11:33 PM

"Some thing in the brake system failed, not the driver! Your only fooling your self blaming the driver"!

MightyBobo · 01-22-2010, 07:54 AM

It makes the fanboys feel better to blame the driver, IMHO.

01-12-2010, 10:25 PM	#181 (permalink)
Joehand1 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Mississippi Posts: 7 Drives: 09 370 Z Rep Power: 234	I also noticed a bias against the Nismo, even after earlier articles praisng the Sport package. However, I'm sure they wrote it after the supposed SUDDEN brake failure and were pissed (I think the Mustang brakes got mushy gradually like my old 2005 Mustang GT did on a track two years ago.) I really like the way the Z drives, much quicker than the Mustang, but that doesn't fix my disappointment about the brake issue, I figured I could track it out of the box like my other cars. This is not a real big deal though if you know about it and change the pads before tracking, just a real pain in the ... __________________ 2009 370 Z 2006 Ford GT 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera

01-12-2010, 11:50 PM	#182 (permalink)
Urbanracer Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The mid-west, USA Posts: 266 Drives: God's Chariot Rep Power: 16	C&D's test data on the nismo looks skewed after reading the article and looking at the times and speeds. Seems the nismo should have come in with a better overall time then the S4 and the Camaro. C&D even gave the nismo a 0.99g in the skid pad test they did when they tested the car, thats better then the S4 and the camaro. Kinda seems like they didn;t push the car as much as they could have, particularly in sector 4 of their track were it came in dead last of all of the cars tested, which makes no sense. __________________ 09 Nismo - HKS \| Berk \| HPS \| K&N \| Zspeed 09 Maxima \| 09 CBR 1000RR \| 02 CBR F4i

01-20-2010, 04:07 PM	#190 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 52	Apparently people here dont realize how little room there is at VIR, if your brakes completely fail on you going 135 MPH into a tight 90+ degree turn... So far Ive seen RCZ reply that he himself took his OEM pads out and barely escaped a fate very similar to C&D. I personally can testify that, after driving VIR, if your brakes WERE to fail, your *** is grass. __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

01-22-2010, 07:54 AM	#195 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 52	It makes the fanboys feel better to blame the driver, IMHO. __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

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01-19-2010, 10:58 PM	#184 (permalink)
Zguy Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 153 Drives: 05 Chrome Silver Rep Power: 17	they didnt have the most important mod of all..... The Driver Mod.....

01-20-2010, 10:22 AM	#186 (permalink)
LaSeeno Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 129 Drives: NA Rep Power: 16	IDK man, I've owned a GSX, S4 and now a Z. I would never want an AWD vehicle for recreational use again. Not sure how you crash a Z and blame the car though. A good driver uses his tools to either avoid or get out of a crash.

01-20-2010, 01:03 PM	#187 (permalink)
370z4Steve Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: west Posts: 231 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 672	Not totally surprised...S4 is a really nice car especially with the active diff..

01-21-2010, 12:20 PM	#191 (permalink)
JonBoy Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 20 Drives: Bleh Rep Power: 16	+1 VIR is very hard on brakes. The article stated the pedal went to the floor, which can mean one of a few things: 1. The brake fluid boiled (probable cause, and common on many cars with stock brake fluid). 2. Mechanical failure of the braking system (burst brake line or seal somewhere) 3. Insufficient brake fluid in the system to start with, eventually causing air in the lines "Bad" or "poor" brake pads will not cause the pedal to go to the floor. When you have glazed or overheated pads, you still get brake pressure (until the fluid overheats) but you get very little stopping force from the pads. It is possible that they both boiled the fluid and overheated the pads, which is about as bad as it gets aside from actually bursting a brake line. Very few people ever get their cars to 130-140 mph and then hammer the brakes into a turn like that. Even fewer do it lap after lap. This was not a driver problem, it was a car problem and while other cars at VIR in this test experienced brake fade, none of them experienced catastrophic brake fade or failure.

01-21-2010, 11:33 PM	#194 (permalink)
dad Grand Prix of Endurance Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,476 Drives: Mulsanne Straight Rep Power: 26	"Some thing in the brake system failed, not the driver! Your only fooling your self blaming the driver"!