danegrey's 370Z Journal
 

I have been wanting do this for some time, just a snapshot here and there of my time with my Z, the up’s and down’s and in’s and out’s
I bought my Z on 10/17/12, and did a very bad negotiating session, everything that you have read not to do I did and 6 hours later I had my Black Cherry Sports Package 370Z. The reason I did so badly is I walked in and they had gotten 2 2012 on Friday and they were still wrapped. Well that did it and I saw the red mist and was done in.
Still glad I did, really enjoy the Z, but the experience with Jeff Schmitt Nissan was terrible. That is another story.
Bought the car on Monday, drove it home on Thursday and autocross Sunday with my son (he beat me again) we had a blast.
Have put 20000 miles on it in the past year, I do have the Nissan Maintenance plan, and it’s great to simply drive in and have the service done and not worry about the cost.
The car has had no mechanic problems, I have done 3 autocrosses in it and finished about mid-pack based on which organization I am running with.
I have had 2 flat tires in the right rear, the first one was taken care of by Capital Nissan and the Discount Tire fixed the 2nd and the 1st again, free of charge.
That’s the initial summary, but I really like my Z.
Mods – Siebon carbon fiber rear spoiler (similar to the Nismo)

Well it was very interesting on Sunday, got back into the Z for a long drive from Atlanta GA to Dayton OH for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Took I-75 straight up, actually a boring drive, but the Z ran without any problems. If I had wanted to, could have made it to Dayton on one tank of gas, but knowing gas prices are higher there stopped in Cobin, KY to fill up. For the trip I average 26.4 mpg at an average speed of 66.5 mph.

Funny thing about the trip, I have only driven the Z about 30 miles in since the middle of September, so I had to get re-use to the blind spot of driving and also use to the rear vision view, now that I have a nismo type spoiler on the back, cuts the rear window in have.

But always like, just cruising along and when I need the extra power to pass, it just powers up and goes...

Everyone have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving...

had an interesting tuesday, I had to go to southfield for a interview and rented a car a 2012 hyundai sonata, I was a bit surprised, it had a 4 cylinder in it and the computer mpg gave a reading of 40.4 for the trip to and back....

left the Z at home, with driving to dayton from atlanta on sunday and this sunday driving to Ft. Bragg, NC and then back to Atlanta, it will get enough mileage

Have a save holiday

looks good and good choice on spoiler have the same!

Thanks

today, had a clear bra put on the hood/bumper/side fenders....
really concern on the paint job/used for the Z, by nissan...
everyone I talk to mentions it is like water colors...

11-25
Had a very long day, drove from Dayton OH to Ft Bragg NC,
funny if I wanted to stretch it may have mad it on one tank....
average - 26.6 mpg at an avg speed of 56.4 mph...
lots of traffic and lots of cops, glad I only did this once in a great while...
car ran great...

I do not have lumbar support, so I bought a small pillow and am using that, it seems to work....

11-28
Crazy, got a call from my doctor and need to see him, like its important, problem is I was in Ft Bragg, NC, doc is in Dayton Oh, so the Z and I went back to dayton another 550 miles and friday I have to go back to Atlanta.... wow, for not driving the car for a couple of months, really getting the mileage on...

avg 26.5 mpg, not bad, considering its colder, only funny thing there were more cops out today, then on sunday.....

Was getting gas and an older lady walked by and said nice car

it has been a crazy week in driving, this week I have put 1600 miles on the Z,
had another thumbs up too, this was a bit funny, it was by all hand signals from a postal worked, it was neat.

So with so many miles this week, do not think I am going to drive the car much this month. I was going to take it back with me over the holidays to Dayton, but I think I will save the mileage, for the car has about 23000 on it now.

I have had no rear problems with it, but tire noise seems to have gotten nosier, but it does still have the originally tires on it. So 2013, probably mean a new set of tires.

past trip from dayton oh to atlanta ga 25.1 mpg @ an avg speed of 65.6 mph

just a note, had a funny thing happen in dayton, the tire pressure light was on, checked the tires and they were all low on air, again the temp at this time was in the mid 20's. Will make me think about taking it North in the winter

I love that color, and def like the spoiler. I think what really makes the spoiler pop is actually the shape of the rear bumper. The Nismo kinda goes flat on the bottom, but the standard one curves in and contrasts the spoiler shape.

did it again, this time back into a curb....
I have no luck with trying to get this Z pretty and not nicked...

Oh well, guess I will wait until spring, just in case I do it again, and again...

took time to give the Z a wash, all cleaned and pics of the spoiler that was but on last month...

Does this spoiler block your vision at all? it looks low

yes, it does a little there is now a blockage about half way down, but I would suspect this is similar as to what is on the nismo, thou I haven't sat in one.

It took some time to get use to, but it's really not that bad

Well got the Z back on Saturday, all cleaned up and oil changed and everything that it needed from maintenance.

Dealership repaired the damage that was done when the car was last in to have the brake fluid changed. Capital Nissan, simply does all the right things in keeping me happy.

Next up on my list is having to get the roof re-sprayed, got bird pooped on it and it itched into the roof, not at all happy about Nissan paint for the Z, nor the dealership I bought it from, who didn't not tell me why I should but the environment protection. (Jeff Schmitt Nissan, in Dayton OH)

So I have to just have to figure out how to protect it.

on the other hand, I rented a Buick Lacrosse to drive to and from Ft. Bragg this week. Not a bad car, no handling at all, got 29.5 mpg, and regular gas. Makes me realize that the Z gas mileage is not bad at all.

I have not driven the Z since my last post, simply parked, trying so the mileage catches up with where the months are. Over last weekend my GF and I drove up to helen, ga in her Honda Element, some very nice curved roads, would have been great to have the Z there. Must take it up there in the future.

well sure glad, I did not decided to drive the Z to Dayton, getting up to 10 inches of snow today. Watch a BMW M3, walk sideways trying to get up a hill in front of me. Just all nasty, glad for my little Ford Festival rental....

Been some time since the holiday, and a bit proud of myself, it's been 18 months since I have bought my Z, and now the miles = what nissan says for that time period 22,500.

Have not had any mechanical problems with the car during the 1st 18 months, I am averaging about 25 mpg and have spent 3,075 dollars on gas...

Still glad that I bought the car, and enjoy it when I can....

long time no update, life is busy and at times hard.
but the Zed is closing on 40000 miles, which means it gets driven...
still get lots of comments on it..

Note: at 38000 and driving it about 600 miles in the past week, average about 29 mpg, which surprised me... it feels and runs great

Maintenance is via the Nissan gold service plan, so all maintenance is done by nissan, I have not modified the car much a little by my notes

just some small notes

interesting trip back to ft. bragg today,
lot's of 350Z and G35 and some G37, but no 370z
when I do drive the car, still gets a lots of comments.

Interesting note:
the enterprise branch that I rent at, got a 2015 370Z to rent out..
haven't seen it yet or got a chance to see if I can get a free upgrade to it...

Autocross today, first time in 3 1/2 months, times around 50.5, they were consistency.
Pro Class drive BSP, did a 47.?? not that far off. If I could learn to break a bit less I thing I can pick up a second or too.

I was running ASP, why tires are way too big for STR, 305x30 in the rear, 265X30 upfront, they sure to look good.

had a nice drive from knoxville, tn to dayton oh, got 27 mpg...
notice some where on the driver side of the seat and arm rest
bothers me, with a car that is about 4 years old and about 40000 miles.....
need to call nissan

Hey!!!!

driving back to knoxville tomorrow, but I had an interesting comment, someone yelled out the window on how they like the way the Z side blinkers work....

Lol.

Well. A compliment is a compliment. And if its any consolation I like how they work too. :D

Guess we need to turn the blinkers on and get out of the car and look...
so how well did you to yesterday

I was happy w my final time. 8th (?) of 17... Middle of pack is pretty normal for me. Good day.

that is great

Correction: I WAS 6th!!!! How awesome is that?!?! Lol

your getting better all the time, me, still too much right foot and I need not to be on the road so much so I can work on it being like you. better with a fast car....
Thou the Z is going to need new tires in the spring again...

Eek: on new tires. Ugh. High$$$
Just takes seat time and trusting the car to stick. Race tires on miata make a huge difference.

Get better in the beater then maybe compete in the Z. Ha!

Been a long time since I update this, but I am glad I found it...

I post something in the general about having cash and trying to decide what to do with my Z. Its a great car, that is fun to drive the way it is.

Which has made the decision whether to mod it or leave it stock.

Mods to day
clear bra -- hood/front/left fender/mirrors
seibon carbon rear wing
nismo sway bars
had the rays painted gunmetal

Waiting to arrive
Recaro, Universal, Cross Sportster C seats
I like how they look in the NISMO, felt good so order some, of course no airbags..

In thinking stage on
Fast Intentions
370Z long tube headers
370Z TDX cat back exhaust

Stillin generation III dual intakes

Also need another set of tires, just waiting to wear the current set down to 3/32, then Michelin will prorate them and help me pay for my next set of tires. Going with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport -- I like them and on tire rack they just beat everything
my tire size is
Front 265/35 19 ZR
Rear 305/30 19 ZR

And they always look great with no spacers, lots and lots of comments

so starting

I have doing some reading on autobyte and I have been surprised as to the number of top tens it has been in

10 cheap cool new card for 2016, the Z was 7 out of 10
9 of the best 2 seater sports car the Z was 5 of 9
10 best small sports cars for 2016, the z was 7 out of 10
10 Fastest Sports Cars under 50k, the Z nismo was 7 out of 10 (2015)
10 of the fastest card under 40K, the Z was 7 out of 10 (2015) 0-60 in 5.1 secs
10 Japanese Sports Cars Z was no 1 of 10 (2014)
10 Fast affordable cars Z was 2 of 10 (2015)

Made me feel proud to own a Z, glad I made the jump 4 years ago.

Recaro :tup:

Two exciting things today, so two posts.
I have had problems with the paint on my car, black cherry gets scratchs out of no where. The roof has been pretty beat up, I have called Nissan at times stating my displeasure. But no action.

Well a couple of weeks ago I opened a case and they told me to take it to the dealer again, so I went to there dealer body shop and got an estimate, in talking to the adjuster I had two spots on the roof, where the clear coat had bubble. What she said it was from in inside, not the outside. which was odd.

So I called Nissan, they called the body shop, got a call and they are going to repaint my roof, on them. Made me happy.:hello:

The last picture, is what bird crap did to the roof

so after it's painted, need to find protection

Other news, got my quote from Fast Intentions for the Long tube headers and the TDX cat exhaust with 18" Resonators

So now have determine if I am going to do it, like I said the car runs great as is...

Got a bit of a surprise yesterday, drove from Knoxville TN to Atlanta on 411, speeds are from 35 to 55 and got 30.5 mpg, never thought it would do so well, also was not on it all the time

Interesting Autoweek has a buyers guide, they have a section on coupes and the coupe they show is a 370Z

Buyers Guide | Autoweek

Need to meet up if you get FI. I have $$ saved for one but just. Haven't quite. Yet. Pulledthetrigger.