Potential Buyer With Questions/Concerns

RatedZ

My first stop this morning was Hamilton. They didn't have any on the lot, but they said they were having one trucked in for someone picking it up from Morgantown. I asked when they had a few coming in because I'd like to take one out, and the reply I got was, "just come in tomorrow and see how you like it. You can't drive it because it's someone else's car, but come check it out." They didn't seem the least bit interested in my business.

I was a bit chuffed, but I figured I was halfway to Frederick, so I stopped at Frederick Nissan (?). I was promptly greeted, and within about a minute of being in there, I was offered a test drive. I didn't even have to ask. The salesman (Dave) was courteous, professional, and did not try to hard-sell me. I let him know I was cross-shopping other vehicles and he still did not pressure me to make a decision. Frederick Nissan will be getting my business.

Thanks for the info on the oil consumption issue you're having. I'm sure that prior to purchase, I'll probably do a bit of lurking around here to learn a little bit more about the car. Everybody's been real cool here.

BTW, if you see a blue/gold STi with the plate, "RATEDZ1," or a really loud Aqua-Metallic 1994 Camaro with the plate, "RATEDZ," throw me a wave.

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1994 Chevrolet B4C Camaro
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Lone Wolf 75

I also cross shopped the Mustang before I bought my 370Z about three months ago, and this was pretty much my reaction as well. The 370Z just felt like it was more of a technologically advanced sports car. The Mustang is also bigger, and to me it felt like a much bigger car.

I came from driving an '02 WRX. I will say that the 370Z is a much tighter car, the clutch in the WRX felt disconnected and rubbery as opposed to the crisp and engaging feel of the 370Z. It feels like you are in more of an enclosed cockpit too. I have 2500 or so miles in my three months of ownership.

As far as issues and non-issues:
-I had a "Service Engine Soon" light, due to improperly tightening the gas cap after filling up. I had to take it to the dealer to reset it, but this has been the largest issue thus far.
-Oil level is at about 3/4 between the low and high mark and has been that way since 500 miles.
-I've never seen an oil temp higher than 210 deg F.
-I found that if you adjust the mirrors just right that when cars are in your blind spot you can see them in the mirror up until the point that you begin to see them peripherally out of the windows.
-The car handles fine in the rain as long as you take it easy and understand/respect that you are driving on wet surfaces and the rules of dry pavement no longer apply.
-If you happen to go to a festival/event and you have to park in the grass and it just so happens to pour down rain, make sure there are no hills or you have three good friends to help you push.
-The chin spoiler is low, and I have scraped it considerably. This is probably due to the fact that I got too used to the high clearance of the WRX.
-Adjusting from a four door with a trunk to a two door hatchback has not been as drastic of an adjustment as I thought it would be.

TXSpeedDemon

I too briefly considered the Mustang GT. My ex girlfriend had one (think it was an 07) and for the first year I thought it was a pretty nice car. I still like the styling, but after a year there were numerous rattles in the car, and the interior paint on the stereo was already peeling off. The overall quality was just a little low. Plus, while it was fast stoplight to stoplight, on the highway (80mph+) it was slower than my Mazda.

The interior of the Z seemed to be a much higher quality, and the handling was much better. While I could take turns quickly in the Mustang it always FELT like it was at 9/10ths - about to start sliding. At the same speeds the Z feels like it's at 6/10ths. It's just much more confidence inspiring while you're driving on twisty roads. I will admit tires prob had a lot to do with this feeling since she had all seasons on the Mustang.

Space wise - we could only use the backseat of the mustang for the dog or small storage. Not really enough room for people back there comfortably, and the big hump in between the back seats prevented us from putting anything big back there without the seats flat. Also the trunk opening was small too so it was difficult to get big things in even with the rear seats flat. It will still hold more than the Z, but it will never be your first choice to haul anything around.

And the little things on the Mustang were tough. Like changing the lightbulb... should be a 5 minute job but it's so impossibly tight in there that it became a 45 minute job requiring careful manuvering needle nose pliers. While I haven't tried it on the Nissan yet, my experience with mazda and an old 300ZX tells me the Japanese just put a bit more thought into every aspect of the car.

RatedZ

I know what you mean about the Mustang not feeling as settled as the 370Z, and given the nature of the two, it doesn't surprise me. I don't see how they can even be considered competitors, especially due to the fact that it's an apples to oranges comparison. The only thing they share are similar acceleration times.

In defense of the Mustang and it's rattling issues, the 2010 model has been greatly improved; gone are the tons of cheap plastic bits. It really felt screwed together nicely.

What makes this the toughest is that I am a Muscle Car fan, through and through. Sure, my STi is an awesome car, but in the end, my Camaro is where my heart lies, despite being light-years behind the STi in all categories but a straight line.

My Camaro's giving me issues, and I need a car that's going to "substitute" when it's out of commission, which seems to be quite often; things happen at 204,000 miles. I wanted a car I could drive to shows, and in most cases, nobody's interested in looking at an import car but the "Jellybean owners (SRT-4 owners). Not to sound arrogant, but I prefer to talk to people on the same level of mentality as to a bunch of little wannabe thugs flashing off their neon-lit door panels. The "domestic crowd" are a bit older and more mature. The Mustang is a car I could proudly display amongst a different crowd.

Showing a car aside, I'm at a crossroads where I want a "muscular" car that does it all and also looks good. I'm looking for the best qualities of the STi mixed with the best qualities of the Camaro. That means that I'm looking for razor-sharp handling and quick acceleration, but it doesn't stop there. I need a car with an engine that screams without sounding like a lawnmower under water when under full throttle, and also has a kick in the *** that a 4 cylinder, turbocharged or otherwise, is simply not going to provide.

After driving the 370Z and giving it some thought, it just seems to me that the handling is there, the acceleration is certainly there, the "kick in the ***" feel is there, and the exhaust note is pleasant.

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1994 Chevrolet B4C Camaro
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

kannibul

I'm not easy on mine, and I've yet to crack 260F, even when I was REALLY trying to get it over that mark to see what limp-mode is all about. After about 20 minutes of doing illegal 1-man street racing, I called it quits and went home, confident the car won't have any issues with oil temp.

DooDooBrown

Oh yes, I did forget to mention the front chin spoiler. It is very low, and will eventually get scrapped to hell! I wouldn't worry about a huge change in space from a 4 door to the Z. Like I said before, my Z is my daily driver, and I work as a firefighter in the DC area. I have to lug my gear, clothes, sleeping bag, helmet, etc... It all fits in the trunk, you just have to do some creative packing to get it all in. Other than that, I would highly recommend you go to Criswell Nissan in Germantown. They had me 500 below invoice. If nothing else, see what deal they can give you, and you can compare the two. As of a couple of months, they had a massive selection of Z's (11-15), and they weren't really moving that much. Another way I knocked hundreds off the sticker was going through the USAA car buying program. That pretty much knocked it a couple hundred under invoice, and Criswell will either be very close, or match the best price. An advantage to Hamilton is they do have free oil changes for life, but there are several restrictions (I am sure if I told them I had to put more oil in, they would void my free oil change thing). I find the Z is liked by several different crowds, too. Everyone likes it, because it isn't really seen that much around the area (exp. OUR area!). As far as I know, I am the only one that has a 370. How many people do you seen in West Virginia with Mustangs? To me personally, a mustang is a mustang, I see too many of them to even pay notice, unless it is an exceptionally RARE car that happens to catch my eye. Muscle cars are great, but for country backroads (I am sure that you could show me a few, and I got a couple of them that I hit up all the time), you need handling. I have yet to drive a mustang that handles exceptionally well. Thats just me though!

Steven

i have no heat issues either and im at ~600 miles now. 80-85 degree temp today, never went over 220.

I shopped for the mustang and 370z last month. after driving both, hands down the Z. its a real sports car and handles like its on rails.

RatedZ

Agreed. The Z is an awesome handler.

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1994 Chevrolet B4C Camaro
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

RatedZ

One more question. Is the seat in the 370Z height-adjustable? The salesman said it was not, but I couldn't help but notice the 2 "dials" on the left side of the seat. These were separate from the power-seat switches on the right side, of course.

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1994 Chevrolet B4C Camaro
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Modshack

Yes, both front and rear..

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Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S
Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

RatedZ

You have me confused LOL! There aren't any rear seats in the Z.

During my test drive yesterday, my head was a bit too close to the roof. When I sat in one at a car show on Saturday, I felt like I was closer to the floor.

When I tried to look behind me (to the left side) yesterday before pulling out into traffic, I had to "bow" my head and look back in order to see out. I didn't feel like I had to do that at the car show.

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1994 Chevrolet B4C Camaro
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

kannibul

There's an adjustment for the front height of the seat and the rear height of the sear.

RatedZ

Ah, gotcha! It's height adjustable, but just separate adjustments!

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1994 Chevrolet B4C Camaro
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

ZYUL8R

If you just plan on bombing backroads....the Z is ready to go!! you won't have temp issues at all.

Full throttle for like 10-20mins, like a track day, then you need the cooler but otherwise you don't.

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Old enough to know, but too young to care.

RatedZ

I seriously doubt I'll find a road where I can drive with the throttle pinned for 10 minutes straight. If you know of one that's not travelled by the cops, let me know!

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1994 Chevrolet B4C Camaro
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi