2012 Official LineUp Changes

Mike

I did spring mountain too, and owned a widebody 05 C6. For me, the Z also feels lighter and nimbler, despite being similar sized (370z vs. std C6: C6 is .6" wider and 7" longer in wheelbase and track, and 24 lbs lighter, so they are pretty similar).

In an earlier thread you mentioned the Z06 being stuck to the road or something like that and forgiving, which is true. The Z is not so much without VDC, especially setup like I have mine to be neutral. But that is what I want in a car, something challenging and fun to drive.

However, keep in mind, I only use mine for the track, and mostly used the corvette for the same.

As for interiors, I actually loved the corvette interior. I stepped up from a 350Z to the C6 and it was a great improvement.

370Z VDC is very similar to 350Z. Its very intrusive. Sometimes I think it could get you killed if you try to pull into traffic too fast. I loved the Comp mode on the corvette, I used it all the time on track. I'd never dream of leaving the VDC on in the Z, even in the rain. (which is extremely challenging in the Z)

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NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

Mike

crashing is like FL 4 Motion said, mostly old men drive vettes and mostly younger drivers drive Zs. I find myself stuck in between and getting closer to the vette demographic, yet still feeling like a younger guy in my mind. My aches and pains every morning when I get out of bed tell me otherwise though.

Also, my main business is caliper exchange powdercoating, both with Vettes and Zs. Vette people return the calipers in days, Z people sometimes take months.

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NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

Pharmacist

Funny how you say that. Most people say corvettes are very hard to drive and dangerous near the limits. Their rear ends tend to fishtail wildly, partly due to the tremendous torque of the engine.

VDC on the z is not a go fast item, but a safety item. Keeps you from spinning out on the snow or rain. But will ruin your laptimes if you leave it on while lapping. Expect to lose 3-4 seconds a lap.

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2009 370z Sport Touring/Nismo shift Knob/Z1 motorsports 34 row oil cooler

ImportConvert

Thanks! Yes, even with ALL the nannies on in the Z06, it's very well modulated. At no time did it cut in on me at Spring Mountain.

The 370Z sounds like some of my older cars where VDC/TC basically means "If you spin the tires, I'll kill the power, screw you!"

I like the lay-out of the Z06's interior just fine, it's just the crap "leather", the noisy panels (door panel is my main complaint), and the stereo is worse than what is in my 2002 G20 by a long shot.

It's a Cobalt interior in a Supercar.

I didn't buy it for that, though.

What it really boils down to is I have my 500+hp Supercar, it's fun, I love it, now I want land and a house and the power is something I will give up, but not the handling.

In a year or two, I will be pricing the '13 370Z unless the C7 is the same price as the C6 and is out/coming out.

ImportConvert

The Z06 has GREAT electronic nannies and will keep all that from happening. You can get 90% of what the car has to offer with EVERYTHING turned on.

When we pulled the ABS and other modules, the car was also very predictable, wet or dry. No crazy fishtailing unless you wanted it to. The main thing people cite is that Randy Pobst article where he complains about it. Well, he's used to driving an AWD Volvo. I never saw any of the instructors or students have any issues with "unpredictable fishtailing" at Spring Mountain. Pobst (*sp) needs to stick with his Volvo.

Red__Zed

Ladies and gentlemen, importconvert...the man more skilled than Randy pobst.


Ever wonder if the reason he saw behavior you didn't was because he was driving at the cars limits and you were maybe at 7/10?

Simply put, the dynamics of a car change dramatically as you approach the limit of the car and the track. The dynamics of the z06 at the limits have been a complaint of many...

Pharmacist

A lot of guys think they're going fast but if they timed it may be disappointed to find themselves at least 3-4 seconds slower per lap than what a professional driver can do. Being so much off the pace, most cars would be a walk in the park to drive. It's when you try to shave off those 3 or 4 seconds, that's when car handling rears its ugly head and you have to wrestle with the car to avoid crashing.

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2009 370z Sport Touring/Nismo shift Knob/Z1 motorsports 34 row oil cooler

Mt Tam I am

ImportConvert RE: I didn't push it for crap, and You can get 90% of what the car has to offer with EVERYTHING turned on.

If you were at 90% then you did not push it for crap and then mention Randy Pobst fishtailing. Can you explain this incongruence please?

__________________
Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

ImportConvert

consolidated below

ImportConvert

When did I claim that?

We did have people there who could show Pobst up in a 'vette any day of the week, though. That's why they race the corvette professionally and Pobst does not.

The PS2 tires go a long way toward fixing its nervousness at the limit.


In attendance (instructing) we had at least one pro driver there who raced LeMans and ALMS for GM who DID know how to push the cars. Never once did they experience or whine about experiencing this sensation Pobst talked about. I never once claimed that I PUSHED the car that hard, in fact, as you noted above, I stayed well within my limits, which are far below those of the car, and a lot of why I am considering the 370Z.

Other than in a straight line, now that it has an oil-cooler it will do anything I want it to do. I am hoping by the time I buy, Nissan will have done a little for the straight-line performance, too!

The only reason I listed students in the group who did not complain is that without the skill-set that a professional driver has, several people did things that un-balanced the cars in the corners, myself included at one point. It never stepped out. Very forgiving for a noob.

ImportConvert

Yes, right on. It felt like I was going fast as hell (really PUSHING the car!), and I was in a Grand Sport (drove all trim levels while there) and was upset that the ZR1 ahead of me was getting away. I thought *CRAP!* I am not able to keep up. My car needs more power.

Then I realized the instructor leading us was in a stock Camaro SS with PS2's on it and I had not caught him--or the ZR1 following him--yet. It was a very humbling experience and I learned a ton about driving there.

Mt Tam I am

Here. This is where you made this claim.


If you were at 90% then you did not push it for crap and then mention Randy Pobst fishtailing. Can you explain this incongruence please?

So once again I would like an explaination please, rather than a denial.

__________________
Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

RunNgun

Any word on factory equipped sound deadening for the 2012 model? I thought I read somewhere that Nissan was considering the road noise issue.

And for the record, all this talk of oil coolers means the 2012 WILL HAVE one installed as part of the base model correct? Or is it still just an addon like it always was?

shadoquad

I haven't heard about sound deadening, but that could just be me.

As for the oil cooler, I believe this means 2012 models will be equipped, but I haven't seen whether it's all trim levels or just relegated to sport pkg. I would assume all models, though.

ImportConvert

Then go read my post. Pobst doesn't race ALMS or LeMans for GM. People at SR did. They didn't have a problem. Pobst did.

If you can find a place where I said I personally could drive as well as Pobst, please post it, otherwise I don't know what you're belly aching about. Trying to make something out of nothing is what it looks like to me.