370Z hybrid?

kenchan

Interesting info. Thanks unknown!

ImportConvert

Ah ,just read this about the Infiniti Hybrid:

Yeah, Nissan porks up the 370Z by 265# it's not going to fly. They may do something, but it better not be this. They already have one morbidly obese sports car, they don't need another.

shadoquad

Plus, the Z is heavy enough on its own. What's it 3200 lbs without driver?

cossie1600

buy a miata if you are so obsess about weight

shadoquad

An Exige might also fit that bill.

I'm not "obsessed" about weight, but it would be cool if they could adapt the hybrid tech without adding 500 lbs or so.

I prefer flingable sports cars to muscle cars. The Z straddles that line.

cossie1600

Have you ever driven an Exige? The car is not comfortable and borderline dangerous on the track and on the street. Modern cars have a lot of safety equipment, everything adds up. Sports package adds nearly 100lbs to the Z, it doesn't stop people from not getting it.

shadoquad

I've not driven an exige, but I've driven Miatas, Z4's, S2k's, Fieros, and a Fiat Spider. I like lightness. I almost bought an MX5 over the Z. This is the most powerful car I've ever driven.

I like lighter cars, and that's just one man's opinion. I hate that modern performance cars are all horsepower because safety standards (some of which are hypocritical) have bulked cars up to the point where 2-tons is considered the norm.

DJ-of-E

Batteries are f***kin heavy

__________________

ImportConvert

A lot of that 100# is in the tires/rims, no? Kindof a necessary evil if you're going to actually plant the power/weight in the corners.

Where else are you getting that 100# from, though?

shadoquad

spoilers, bigger brakes, limited slip diff, all of which enhance performance.

ImportConvert

No, but I have driven a 1995 Trans AM and a 1988 Mustang GT with comparable suspension setups and the 1988GT was MUCH more agile feeling even though the steering wheel weighted up about as well as a grand marquis's. My Z06 is much more agile, yet, although a lot of that is superior suspension.

Weight is such a bastard when it comes to enjoying the feel of a car. To make up for weight, you have to add a ton of stiffness, and the car gets all jittery and washboard rough riding.

Much past 3200#, and I lose interest.

ImportConvert

How much is a spoiler 5-7#? How much are the bigger brakes? How much is the LSD?

I am just not buying 100#.

Maybe it is, but I'm just not seeing it.

Nissan has the weight of the base coupe at 3,232 and the NISMO at 3,300, including that hidious body-kit and the slightly wider rims/tires on the NISMO (not included in sport package, thank-god.) Probably more like 40-50# difference the way I am seeing it.

shadoquad

I think you're probably about right, but if you add a little more weight for touring and nav options, (heated leather seats, enhanced audio, more electronic gadgetry), it may get closer to the 100# figure, maybe not.

ImportConvert

Touring package and NAV do not = Sport package. I was expressing disbelief that tires an inch or so wider and slightly larger brakes and a little spoiler over the arse would = 100#.

I am honestly considering down-sizing and buying a 370Z in a year or two and a house. The Z06 is fun, but the reality is that WHATEVER you drive, it will feel slow to you after a while, and I love the look/interior of the 370Z's. I'm just holding out to see if the C7 can't inspire me or Nissan add another 50-75bhp to the Z.\

Would like to buy the first or second year of a "new" Z, because Nissan doesn't fix problems, and they don't make improvements, so if you buy the first production year--for better or worse--you have about the same car as the last production year.

Ford and GM constantly make improvements and leave you feeling like *DAMMIT! SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT NEXT YEARS!*

shadoquad

Good point about sport pkg.

As for getting a Z later on, obviously I'm biased and I like the car a lot, but you may miss a lot of that low-end grunt that makes the Chevy so special. But you can always cross that bridge when you come to it, and you strike me as a guy who'll do all your homework before pulling the trigger.