Left the Z family and got a Porky.

wackjum

I'm not too active on here, but I turned to this board for mods for my 370Z and it was a great resource.

Here are pics of the old girl:






It was a great car but ultimately the 2 seat only configuration meant I could not take the car out as much as I wanted to.

Then an opportunity came up and I had to take it. So I sold the Z and got myself a 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet.








This car is a lot of fun. It is my first convertible. With the extra seats, it is getting a lot more use too.

I can do a comparison of the two, although I have not taken the 911 to the track yet. They're not competitors, but I have some thoughts if anybody is interested in hearing.

So thanks for all of the advice I've gotten on the forums through the years. I will still be around to check threads (like the Premium Lounge...) I'm also still in the Nissan VQ family. I have a Xterra that I plan to do a few engine mods to soon. AND I still have all of my 370Z mods. I may be picking up another one someday.

hurahn

You should see the guys at EVS Motors.

UNKNOWN_370

Congrats... Review would be much appreciated.

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aszyd

Definitely not! It's hard for a Z to compete with something that has 100 more HP and torque, let alone everything else that a Porsche brings to the table.

Awesome car!

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Zoren 370

Bye!!!

Lol Congratulations! Nothing better than a 911 turbo other than a GT3

bvl

Looks great with the black wheels. Just different cars all around. I spent a little seat time in a yellow 996T coupe and it was giggle-ishous when launched even lightly. My friend had a Tubi exhaust so it was not stealth.

I've posted a few times the real comparison would be a Cayman S to the Z in terms of closest 'feel', even if they are not really that close given weight and balance. 911 is just not in the discussion, even if a 996 or C2 997's are close to new Z pricing.

Go easy on the public roads: that car makes you go ludicrously fast in no time.

- b

Chuck33079

X50? The exhaust tips look like it.

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Wonka2581

Nice....

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DCNISMO

good pickup, I was going to think about the 996 turbo, but I'm going to get a 2007 997.1 C4S. I hope to make the deal tomorrow.

wackjum

I am probably not going to do much more to this car. It is plenty fast as it is.


It does not have the X50 package. But it does have an Awe tuning exhaust with X50 tips, and a mild tune that gets it up to around 460 hp.


The engine in the rear's effect is real. The best way I can describe it is moving a heavy box around the house with an office chair. With a FR car, you have to swing that box and chair around every time you turn a corner. With a RR car, its like you put the box on the office chair and then you sit on that box and wheel around. It pivots behind you. Great feeling.

Just be careful of the Intermediate Shaft (called IMS) on the NA 996 and 997.1. It is not exactly a common failure, but if it does go, it means a whole new engine. They fixed the problem sometime in the mid-model 997s.

Driftomodachi

Be sure to get it checked for ims failure and take the proper precautions. Rebuilds start at $20k for non turbo motors

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Chuck33079

Mezger motors (turbo, GT2) didn't suffer from IMS issues IIRC.

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wackjum

But that's the great thing. The Z actually compares pretty well with the 996 911. The Z in my mind is such a great car at its price point whereas the 996 911 T is incredibly overpriced. I understand the exclusivity thing, but it does not feel like a car that is 4x better than the Z. Not even 2x.

I kept all of my mods. I do intend to pick up a 370Z one day as prices continue to decline. It would become a really nice daily when I don't need more capacity than myself. I think the real draw of the 370Z is accessibility. I can drive it hard and it won't cost that much for me to maintain it. And it still looks great.


Ok so some general observations I noticed going from one to the other. This is not really a comparison, but more of a list of impressions that came at me.
First of all, my 911 is an MT. I have driven manuals my whole life, and my daily is a manual. I think I am a pretty decent MT driver. But in the 911, I am definitely the weak link. The car can be much faster, but I am just not shifting quick enough for it.

I had a 7AT 370Z and that was a fantastic transmission. I have rode in my friend's 458 Italia, and the 7AT feels about 85% as quick and crisp as the DCT in his Ferrari. It is that good of a trans and definitely a keeper. The tiptronic that they had in this generation 911 just doesn't compare at all and why I opted for the MT.


Secondly, I had a touring/sport 370 with the nav. I'm not going to compare electronics obviously but as far as sound quality, the 911 is horrible. It has the upgraded "Bose" speakers but they feel like speakers that came off a Ford Ranger or something. They're not blown either. They just suck. The 370Z touring sound system I always thought was ok, but compared to the 911 it is a concert hall. You'd think for a car that cost 160k new it could do better.


The interior of the 911 is almost all leather with aluminum and carbon fiber trim. The seats are very comfortable, at least in the front. The rear "seats" can fit one medium sized adult if that person sits side saddle. But it can hold children pretty comfortably. Visibility with the top up is still very good. It is a spartan interior, with only one flimsy cup holder that pops out of the dash and a small ashtray that I use to hold a few coins. It also has thin narrow "pockets" under the door arm rests that can hold a few CDs. If you think storage on the Z is bad, the 911 is something else.


Regarding overall road manners, the Z steering felt heavy. Road feel felt a little numbed down like the car was a heavy sponge that dampened a lot of sensation and only passed some of it through. The 911 feels light in comparison.

They both ride about the same with the 911 maybe a tad cushier since it is a GT car. I'm comparing it to a Z with swift springs.


I think for now, the 911 fits my needs better than the Z, but I miss owning it. A GTR was on my shortlist, but I just never could warm up to its fairly anonymous styling. Those backseats make such a difference though. Too bad they don't make a +2 like the Z32.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

DCNISMO

IMS failure does not seem to affect the 2007 997.1 C4S 3.8 Liter motor. Its got the updated bearing. I would, however, stay away from a 2005-2006 997.1 CS or C though. They do fail and Porsche had a lawsuit against them and lost. I went through Rennlist and Planet 9 forums to do lots of checks. For peace of mind the retrofit bearing does not seem to cost too much either.

I had a modded Nismo Z, and the 911 and the Nismo feel similar but the 911 has a more balanced feel. Once you drive a rear engine car you can understand it better, about what I just said. For the price point the Z does very well against the 911 for sure. For almost the same price I could get a 2015 Nismo and that crossed my mind. But I always wanted one Porsche in my life before I get too old to buy one and enjoy it.

wackjum

I think he is referring to the poster who is looking at a 997.1

But that is correct, the 996 Turbo and GT2 are built on a racing engine and are supposedly incredibly durable. It was one of the things I was told/warned about when I started my search.