Base Z - Regrets?

blackbird

Got a base model. Knew I was going to do upgrades. Like the old geezer earlier, didn't need most of the extra stuff. Got NISMOS shocks, springs, sway bar and rear spoiler. Got Sport brakes from Concept Z . Good price. Next will be Quaife dif., Stillen Oil cooler, headers, HFC and intake. I think old guys who started on MGAs, Alfas, etc. pride ourselves on the heel-toe stuff.

travisjb

sounds like a great build blackbird, hope you start a journal in member gallery !

agree, lots of pride involved in the heel-toe debate... i think that's part of the issue... also it IS fun and satisfying when you do it well... I'm just trying to temper the view point that "you shouldn't bother racing unless..."... that kind of thing just hits me wrong... we can all agree that we want more people in the sport right ? no need to discourage anyone

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2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*

tbonesteak

yeah, the srm is a track-aid tool and also a overall driver aid as:
the m mode is for the m3s, m5s, and m6s. Nobody calls them ******* at the track.
the abs is for all braking situations.
the bimmer's reverse roll-lock system is for their manual trannies.
the traction control system is for all cars equipped with it.
I'm willing to bet that there will be atleast one case in the history of the 370z era in which a life will be saved by the srm. I can think of many scenarios how this can happen. I'm all for it and i think it's a phenomenal system that a lot of automakers will replicate in the future models.

FricFrac

A common misconception.... To infer that the ultimate ability in driving is to do it the "old fashioned way" is a narrow perspective of what represents skill. If cars were developed without a clutch from the very begining would racing be missing something? Should we have a cockpit like an aircraft where the lift on each lobe on your cam can be adjusted in real time by the driver to optimize the performance of the vehicle or perhaps being able to change the length or diameter of the exhaust or intake on your engine on the fly?

If you really want to be a purist shouldn't you be adding coal to your steam engine and adjusting the preasure? I don't think we'll see you on the race track with your Model T Ford and its 3 inch wide wooden spoke wheels even though that's real old school racing...

Lets face it - you rely on this technology that is common place (fuel injection, power everything, computer tuned systems, etc, etc, etc) but when something new comes around its cheating or beating the system. Well the whole automobile itself is a piece of technology and what you drive today minus the SMR is more of a far cry from the first automobile than just the SMR technology itself. After a period of time all transmissions will have some form of SMR and we'll forget that we ever had to blip the throttle....

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'09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

alexanderb

kannibul

Go back to the early days of automobiles...

You have to adjust the advance/retard of the ignition MANUALLY, you have to adjust the mixture MANUALLY, and the throttle...and there's no such thing as power steering, power brakes, shock absorbers, or even a roof. No synchronizers in the manual-only transmission, so you have to double-clutch just to shift.

FricFrac

Exactly - and who here is racing a vehicle like that? The point is SRM is just another step in the advancement of the automobile - not a cheat. Technology doesn't create laziness - humans do. You can be lazy without technology or extremely busy with it - ever had a problem with your computer and spend hours trying to get it work?

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'09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

370Z Purist

I feel cool when I know how do it at least most of it manually. Is that good enough?

I mean, you kinda have to admit that the more fast movements you do, you seem to appear as if you know what you're doing. I've had people tell me they'd get manual and spend hours and days practicing just to look good and esoteric.

Yes, I do think that SRM is a pinnacle of technology, the very first of it's kind, and I agree with blackbird, all the pride of people who have driven manual transmission since the 50s-60s have all that specific skill for doing everything for the car. (No, blackbird, I'm not calling you old, my father has driven manual since the 60s.) I'm sure as hell glad there are synchros and other components that keep manual from becoming a workout though.

I never said it's the old fashioned way (although I suppose it is somewhat). But I think just for now, where SRM is somewhat a rarity in general, that learning heel toe or whatever technique you desire for downshifting would be good, since I can only name DSGs, SMGs, and SRM that have rev matching. All other cars don't have it, and I doubt we'll see it on many cars for quite a while. It's even more likely that just like the 370Z, there will likely be an option to take it off, and will remain deactivate-able for years to come.

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-Phil

"Since one of my brake light bulbs just went out, the forum told me that my piston rings are about to blow."

Premo34WV

For those base model people considering and aftermarket LSD like Nismo or Quaife, take this into consideration before buying.
I previously had a base 350z (open differential) and swapped for the Nismo LSD

The 1.5 Nismo LSD definitely improved performance as far as off the line grip, corner entry and exit, maybe acceleration a bit, and for drifters it is a MUST HAVE.

For the everyday street drivers, I would not recommend this type of differential. The chattering and clunking noise is very very bad. Its loud and harsh. When making slow sharp turns, say in a parking lot for instance, the inside wheel would actually spudder and hop leaving rubber behind. I put only 7000 miles on a set of Goodyear F1 GSD3's. I believe mostly contributable to the differential.

I ended up swapping the open differential back into my base due to the very aggressive and nonpractical street nature of the Nismo LSD.

Conclusion:
Nismo, Quaife type LSD I would recommend only to those who track there car often, in which case you will love it

For a streetcar only, it is WAY too aggressive. stick with the viscuous lsd.

For the record: this is all IMHO

travisjb

good advice premo... one option is to have the diff adjusted with less engagement force - prob would have resolved your issues... also, clutch-type diffs like the carbonetic give you the same benefits but with a more progressive engagement and less of the problems you mention

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2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*

fly yellow

I think what bothers people about the SRM is the fact that they know how to heel and toe and now some guy who just learned how to drive a manual the day before yesterday can achieve better results than they could ever hope to achieve the "old way". Technology is typically better than humans doing something. It's just like ABS. I know how to pump my brakes, but it is physically impossible for me to do it as quickly as the ABS system does, especially in a stressful situation when such a skill would be required.

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A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. Mitch Hedberg

need4speed

I can give you one reason for getting an automatic which is more than an excuse.
I suffer from paraplegia and am in a wheelchair so I use hand conrols to drive.
After test driving several sports cars under 40k. I found the 370z the most exciting
And entertaining paddleshift auto of the bunch.
Me as the novice racer am looking for an auto that shifts quickly and can rev up
To the the red for aggressive shifts. The gen coupe and 370z we're the only ones
To fit that bill. But with more available torque, much better handling and
Stronger acceleration the 370z fit the bill. It fit so much that I bought a new $3,000
Wheelchair that will fold tight enough to fit in that cubby hole of a trunk and still have just enough room for a sub box. Yes I can make miracles happen. Lol.
Nothing touches the z for the price.

Zaku

I just came back from the dealer and I drove two base model, one manual with sport package, and one auto with out anything. and then I sat in a touring one with sport package. And I can personally say, I did not like the touring one at all. The leather was all hot and sticky, the suede wasn't all that I thought it would be. I don't really feel much of a diff because I would never track it and I didnt get to drive this one on the track so I dunno even if I need an LSD.

And can that Clutch pedal be any higher?! man I'm a pretty I guess average height dude at 6'0 and that clutch bothered me the most. Even more then the fact that I can barely see thru the back window. The Rev match made me feel like a pro. but that clutch really just URGH.. I didn't like the Manual one at all.

So then I tried the Base auto, with out anything it was so basic it only had wheel locks. And I loved it the seats were really nice Cloth it wasn't hot, it was well bolstered. I didn't slide around any where. and the Paddle shifter and manual mimicking Auto Tanny was just awesome. Without that annoying high Clutch I felt like I was driving like a Pro, Down shift and I hear a rev because the auto has rev matching too, it's just awesome. In fact it was so awesome I was going to buy it right off the lot. But it was in red which isn't good for my situation of no garage at all. Therefore, I'm waiting on their new shipment at the end of the week for a Brilliant Silver or a Pearl white in the same configuration. If they Don't have that I'll order one. Man NO REGRETS ON THE BASE MODEL AT ALL!

sensi09

The quaife should be almost seamless with none of the low speed issues mentioned.

Along with the quaife, the carbonetics and cusco LSDs will be quite good for daily driven cars while also performing at the track.

travisjb

Congrats on the purchase but dude FYI you can get an adjustable clutch cable and reset the engagement points for like $20 plus labor!

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2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*