Occupation of 370Z heads

Mt Tam I am · 06-10-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

I'm a surgeon. This is my 7th Z, but the last one I sold in 1984 (280ZX Turbo).

I am assuming you went through six in relatively short order. Which of the early Z's was your favorite? I spent 17 years, and over 200,000 miles with a 280Z.

MacCool · 06-10-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

I am assuming you went through six in relatively short order. Which of the early Z's was your favorite? I spent 17 years, and over 200,000 miles with a 280Z.

Between 1969 and 1984 I had a 240Z, a 260Z, two 280Z's, a 280ZX and a 280ZX Turbo.

I loved the 240. Fast and quick, nice tight steering. Still remember my first drive in it (my previous car had been a RoadRunner with 6-pack and RamAir ... 6 mpg, but gas was $.36 per gallon) and thinking wow!...a go-kart. The 260 was a disappointment. The 280s were much better, but the car was getting bigger and heavier. The 280ZX, bigger and heavier yet. Didn't care that much for the ZX either. The Z was going from an actual sports car to a bloated GT luxo-cruiser. The 280ZX Turbo was cool, though...big, heavy, but when that turbo wound up and started whining and it pushed you back in the seat...THAT was cool. Of course, lots of turbo lag back then, so throttle response was slower. And it had to be an automatic (Borg Warner IIRC) because the Datsun clutch system apparently couldn't hold up to the turbo.

Then, marriage, house, kids, kid's college, another house, more college, wife's horses...so I skipped the next Z iterations, but didn't really care for what the car had become going into the 90's anyway. I was intrigued by the return of the Z, but still didn't quite have the resources. But when we finally got around to the 370Z...THAT was a return to the 240Z concept...an actual sports car again. I couldn't pass it up. Glad I didn't. IMHO, the 370Z is back to what the Z should have always been.

onzedge · 06-10-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

Between 1969 and 1984 I had a 240Z, a 260Z, two 280Z's, a 280ZX and a 280ZX Turbo.

I loved the 240. Fast and quick, nice tight steering. Still remember my first drive in it (my previous car had been a RoadRunner with 6-pack and RamAir ... 6 mpg, but gas was $.36 per gallon) and thinking wow!...a go-kart. The 260 was a disappointment. The 280s were much better, but the car was getting bigger and heavier. The 280ZX, bigger and heavier yet. Didn't care that much for the ZX either. The Z was going from an actual sports car to a bloated GT luxo-cruiser. The 280ZX Turbo was cool, though...big, heavy, but when that turbo wound up and started whining and it pushed you back in the seat...THAT was cool. Of course, lots of turbo lag back then, so throttle response was slower. And it had to be an automatic (Borg Warner IIRC) because the Datsun clutch system apparently couldn't hold up to the turbo.

Then, marriage, house, kids, kid's college, another house, more college, wife's horses...so I skipped the next Z iterations, but didn't really care for what the car had become going into the 90's anyway. I was intrigued by the return of the Z, but still didn't quite have the resources. But when we finally got around to the 370Z...THAT was a return to the 240Z concept...an actual sports car again. I couldn't pass it up. Glad I didn't. IMHO, the 370Z is back to what the Z should have always been.

m4a1mustang · 06-10-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

Between 1969 and 1984 I had a 240Z, a 260Z, two 280Z's, a 280ZX and a 280ZX Turbo.

I loved the 240. Fast and quick, nice tight steering. Still remember my first drive in it (my previous car had been a RoadRunner with 6-pack and RamAir ... 6 mpg, but gas was $.36 per gallon) and thinking wow!...a go-kart. The 260 was a disappointment. The 280s were much better, but the car was getting bigger and heavier. The 280ZX, bigger and heavier yet. Didn't care that much for the ZX either. The Z was going from an actual sports car to a bloated GT luxo-cruiser. The 280ZX Turbo was cool, though...big, heavy, but when that turbo wound up and started whining and it pushed you back in the seat...THAT was cool. Of course, lots of turbo lag back then, so throttle response was slower. And it had to be an automatic (Borg Warner IIRC) because the Datsun clutch system apparently couldn't hold up to the turbo.

Then, marriage, house, kids, kid's college, another house, more college, wife's horses...so I skipped the next Z iterations, but didn't really care for what the car had become going into the 90's anyway. I was intrigued by the return of the Z, but still didn't quite have the resources. But when we finally got around to the 370Z...THAT was a return to the 240Z concept...an actual sports car again. I couldn't pass it up. Glad I didn't. IMHO, the 370Z is back to what the Z should have always been.

FastPaced · 06-10-2011, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

Between 1969 and 1984 I had a 240Z, a 260Z, two 280Z's, a 280ZX and a 280ZX Turbo.

I loved the 240. Fast and quick, nice tight steering. Still remember my first drive in it (my previous car had been a RoadRunner with 6-pack and RamAir ... 6 mpg, but gas was $.36 per gallon) and thinking wow!...a go-kart. The 260 was a disappointment. The 280s were much better, but the car was getting bigger and heavier. The 280ZX, bigger and heavier yet. Didn't care that much for the ZX either. The Z was going from an actual sports car to a bloated GT luxo-cruiser. The 280ZX Turbo was cool, though...big, heavy, but when that turbo wound up and started whining and it pushed you back in the seat...THAT was cool. Of course, lots of turbo lag back then, so throttle response was slower. And it had to be an automatic (Borg Warner IIRC) because the Datsun clutch system apparently couldn't hold up to the turbo.

Then, marriage, house, kids, kid's college, another house, more college, wife's horses...so I skipped the next Z iterations, but didn't really care for what the car had become going into the 90's anyway. I was intrigued by the return of the Z, but still didn't quite have the resources. But when we finally got around to the 370Z...THAT was a return to the 240Z concept...an actual sports car again. I couldn't pass it up. Glad I didn't. IMHO, the 370Z is back to what the Z should have always been.

Econ · 06-10-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

Between 1969 and 1984 I had a 240Z, a 260Z, two 280Z's, a 280ZX and a 280ZX Turbo.

I loved the 240. Fast and quick, nice tight steering. Still remember my first drive in it (my previous car had been a RoadRunner with 6-pack and RamAir ... 6 mpg, but gas was $.36 per gallon) and thinking wow!...a go-kart. The 260 was a disappointment. The 280s were much better, but the car was getting bigger and heavier. The 280ZX, bigger and heavier yet. Didn't care that much for the ZX either. The Z was going from an actual sports car to a bloated GT luxo-cruiser. The 280ZX Turbo was cool, though...big, heavy, but when that turbo wound up and started whining and it pushed you back in the seat...THAT was cool. Of course, lots of turbo lag back then, so throttle response was slower. And it had to be an automatic (Borg Warner IIRC) because the Datsun clutch system apparently couldn't hold up to the turbo.

Then, marriage, house, kids, kid's college, another house, more college, wife's horses...so I skipped the next Z iterations, but didn't really care for what the car had become going into the 90's anyway. I was intrigued by the return of the Z, but still didn't quite have the resources. But when we finally got around to the 370Z...THAT was a return to the 240Z concept...an actual sports car again. I couldn't pass it up. Glad I didn't. IMHO, the 370Z is back to what the Z should have always been.

Drex · 06-10-2011, 03:35 PM

i sell semi-fresh fruit on the median of a major intersection. i'll also wash your window with a dirty rag for a dollar.

m4a1mustang · 06-10-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drex

i sell semi-fresh fruit on the median of a major intersection. i'll also wash your window with a dirty rag for a dollar.

Do you tweet your locations?

Drex · 06-10-2011, 04:37 PM

4square on my iphone!

jpritche · 06-10-2011, 04:47 PM

I am a sophomore in college majoring in Aerospace Engineering.

Father owns his own business building tufting machines(they make carpet, rugs, artificial turf, etc)

Rooster89 · 06-11-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drex

i sell semi-fresh fruit on the median of a major intersection. i'll also wash your window with a dirty rag for a dollar.

We meet again window wash man!

FricFrac · 06-11-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

Between 1969 and 1984 I had a 240Z, a 260Z, two 280Z's, a 280ZX and a 280ZX Turbo.

I loved the 240. Fast and quick, nice tight steering. Still remember my first drive in it (my previous car had been a RoadRunner with 6-pack and RamAir ... 6 mpg, but gas was $.36 per gallon) and thinking wow!...a go-kart. The 260 was a disappointment. The 280s were much better, but the car was getting bigger and heavier. The 280ZX, bigger and heavier yet. Didn't care that much for the ZX either. The Z was going from an actual sports car to a bloated GT luxo-cruiser. The 280ZX Turbo was cool, though...big, heavy, but when that turbo wound up and started whining and it pushed you back in the seat...THAT was cool. Of course, lots of turbo lag back then, so throttle response was slower. And it had to be an automatic (Borg Warner IIRC) because the Datsun clutch system apparently couldn't hold up to the turbo.

Then, marriage, house, kids, kid's college, another house, more college, wife's horses...so I skipped the next Z iterations, but didn't really care for what the car had become going into the 90's anyway. I was intrigued by the return of the Z, but still didn't quite have the resources. But when we finally got around to the 370Z...THAT was a return to the 240Z concept...an actual sports car again. I couldn't pass it up. Glad I didn't. IMHO, the 370Z is back to what the Z should have always been.

Ironically the 280ZX is 400 lbs lighter than the 370Z and smaller

It was also fastest non-exotic sports car at the time.

MacCool · 06-11-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

Ironically the 280ZX is 400 lbs lighter than the 370Z and smaller

It was also fastest non-exotic sports car at the time.

But 500 lb heavier than the 240Z, and the steering was far more ponderous (as I remember, from 40 year ago). The 370Z reminds me of the 240Z, not the 280Z.

onzedge · 06-11-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

But 500 lb heavier than the 240Z, and the steering was far more ponderous (as I remember, from 40 year ago). The 370Z reminds me of the 240Z, not the 280Z.

Mr MacCool (doubtful it's his real name) is right on.

I currently have, and drive, a 240z (71) and a 370z (2010). There is about a +/- 900 pound or so difference between them. I love them both, but the 240 definitely has better steering feel, by far. I detest power steering because you lose too much of the road feel (IMO).

06-10-2011, 03:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Drex Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 498 Drives: '11 370z MB 6MT SP Rep Power: 16	i sell semi-fresh fruit on the median of a major intersection. i'll also wash your window with a dirty rag for a dollar. __________________ 2011 Nissan 370z \| 6MT \| Magnetic Black \| Sport Package

06-10-2011, 04:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
Drex Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 498 Drives: '11 370z MB 6MT SP Rep Power: 16	4square on my iphone! __________________ 2011 Nissan 370z \| 6MT \| Magnetic Black \| Sport Package

06-10-2011, 04:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
jpritche A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cartersville, Ga Age: 34 Posts: 2,570 Drives: '15 RR, '14 IS250 Rep Power: 32	I am a sophomore in college majoring in Aerospace Engineering. Father owns his own business building tufting machines(they make carpet, rugs, artificial turf, etc)