m4a1mustang's Z Ver. II thread: Project Déjà Blue

[m4a1mustang]

Back in a Z again? Oh myyy! Let's start with a brief history of vehicles in my stint as a 370Z forum member:

2009 370Z - March 2009 - September 2010
2011 5.0 - September 2010 - January 2013
2005 S2000 - February 2012 - April 2013

Why did you come back, Steve?

The simple answer is that I decided I'd rather have a modest sports/GT car than a $70,000 optioned C7. I have a lot of things that I want to do and places that I want to see before I have kids, so a C7 didn't really fit into the picture unless I was willing to give that up.

For the rest of the story, check the spoiler:

( Click to show/hide )

I sold the 5.0 in January and was daily driving the S2000, basically positioned to buy a C7 later this year or early next. When I knew I had axed my C7 plans, I decided I wanted a car I could actually live with on the day-to-day. The S2K was great fun, but it's cramped, loud, and impractical. It had also started to feel "unlucky," so I wanted to get out of it sooner rather than later.

Ultimately I ended up with the 370 again. As you guys know I'm a big fan, and even with my 5.0 I was still president of our local 370Z owners club. Much like hanging out with your ex after a breakup, I couldn't help but feel like there was unfinished business with me and the Z.

Owning both the 5.0 and the S2000 also gave me a new level of appreciation for the car: It's a great compromise. If you were to take the best elements of the 5.0 and the S2000 and combine them, you'd end up with something like the 370Z. While it's not the fastest or the best handling, it is a solid combination of sports car and muscle. I consider it more a "GT" car than a pure sports car because it's so well-rounded, and it really seems to be what I need going forward. It's a very practical, comfortable 2-door, 2-seat car.

Without spending a lot more, there really wasn't anything out there or in the pipeline that did anything for me. I briefly looked into CPO Cayman S's, but ruled those out rather quickly.

Midnight Blue and the revisions to the car that Nissan made over the years really pushed me over the edge. Dark blues have always been my favorite on a car, and I absolutely love the look of the Z in RAA. The new shock tune, fluid cooler, aesthetic refresh (yes I know I hated the '13 when it came out... but I also hated the original 370Z when it was first released), and other subtle changes really make it a better car than my '09. It feels "finished."

I decided to opt for a base package car (+ Sport) this time around. I had a Touring + Sport in 2009, but was never impressed with the quality of Nissan's leather (poor wear, even with great care) nor the lackluster Bose.

THREAD INDEX:

STL Trip Part 2.. An S2K for a Z - April 20-23, 2013
Z1 20mm Spacer & Ferodo DS2500 Install - April 28, 2013
ZDayZ 2013 Pics & Thoughts - May 12-18, 2013
ARK Grip V2 Added - Photos - August 19, 2013
ARK Grip V2 - Videos - September 2, 2013
ARK Grip V2 - Moar Videos - September 2, 2013

The Car
2013 Midnight Blue 6MT Sport
- Z1 20mm stud-replacement spacers
- Pioneer AVH-X5500BHS head unit
- Ferodo DS2500 / ATE Blue
- Ark Grip V2 CBE



I want to make clear that this is not a "Z vs." thread, so please don't ask me for comparisons as I will not respond.

And yes, it's good to be back.