Potential Z Owner with Questions
 

Hey guys, just joined a couple days ago and I have a couple questions I need to get sorted before I am fully committed to the investment. I've searched the forums and some of these questions do not have concrete answers so I apologize if its repetitive.

Just a little background. I am on the market for a new 370z Sport with the 6 speed manual gearbox. This car will be my daily driver until I get a new car or it dies. I intend to put a full Amuse Vestito kit on the car soon after purchase. I also live in the Northeast, Central Jersey to be exact.

1) As the Sport will not come with Nav, I am looking to install an aftermarket HU from Kenwood, probably from their Excelon series. What is the most compatible wiring harness to retain factory steering controls as I hear the 2015-2016 steering wheels have an updated pin configuration?

2) Being as I live in Central Jersey, the winters can get somewhat rough around here with the salt and such. (Doesn't look like it going to happen this year lol). Would it be worth it to do an underbody coating after purchase to prevent corrosion/rust or would I be fine just rinsing the underbody every couple weeks?

3) I am an avid snowboarder. Now I know there is a lot of disagreement about towing stuff with the Z but I need to find a way to transport my equipment to the mountain whenever I go. Picking up a truck is not an option at this point. I found a rack that would be perfect for this situation but it needs to be connected to a receiver. I've already looked at BoofSquire but that is not an option with the Amuse wing. Are there any hitch receivers available for the Z?

4) I plan on putting on the Stillen Gen 3 CAI and 18" Resonated Fast Intentions TDX CBE with stock cats. I will most likely be doing an Uprev tune after these mods. Are there any reputable shops in the area that have experience with Uprev? I know of JDS Motoring but have yet to contact them. Preferably, it would be a pro tune with all 5 maps. Are there any map suggestions out there as well?

That's all the questions I have at the moment in one terribly long post which I apologize for. If any of you could help me out with answering some of my questions, it would be greatly appreciated! Cheers! :tiphat:

Welcome :hello:
Some of your questions would be better addressed in some of the more specific forums
Audio & Video - Nissan 370Z Forum

North East Region - Nissan 370Z Forum or Mid-Atlantic Region - Nissan 370Z Forum

Also search custom hitch, one of the guys on here makes one, but not sure if it will work for you with a kit on.

pretty sure you can put a board into the car... maybe lol how many? well that's another question

For a couple grand you can get a 10 year old Grand Cherokee and not have to worry about salt, slick roads, or cargo capacity. The Z is miserable in the winter.

The Z is not bad in the winter with the right tires, as long as you don't need to plow roads. I'm on my 6th Canadian winter, and no problems.

As long as you have a spare set of skinny winter rims with Blizzaks, and never have to transport more than 1 passenger, or go through more than 2" of snow, or care about your paint, or drive more than 40mph, or go up a hill, or carry anything bigger than one duffel bag... the Z is great!

OP: Just because you can chop wood with a scalpel doesn't mean you should, or that it's the correct tool for the job. Buy a winter beater.

370z + a authentic amuse kit + snow driving is a no go in my opinion.

I live in Minnesota and picked up a little 5 speed mazda protege for $1300. It is totally worth it, even if it is possible to drive your Z in the snow and salt, why would you want to?

The Z's paint is not great, and if you happen to get stuck behind a a plow spitting out salt.. that would be bad. Plus with the cost of winter tires you're better of just getting a winter beater.

wtf do you have in your hatch? :eekdance:

Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it! I'll be sure to post in the subforums to get a more detailed response.

Mishuko, looking at the possibility of fitting two boards...? If someone decides to ride with me haha. That'd be a tough fit, I know

Winter driving a Z in areas of occasional snow on the stock tires is an absolute no-go. Driving in the snow with a Z with the best set of snow tires available makes it possible, but definitely not fun.

Trailer hitch? uhh......

Sounds to me like a Z car as your only car is not your best option. Will it work? Yes...you could very likely kludge something together that will get you from point A to point B in the winter hauling a couple of snowboards. Will you enjoy it? Highly unlikely. It will be a blast to drive in the summer, however.

As everyone else has said, winter driving in the Z is possible (with the right tires) but I wouldn't recommend it. I had a 370z Sport and that was MUCH worse in the snow compared to my 350z I had. I was stuck all the time. The sport package adds wider rear wheels and usually summer performance tires which are not made for snow at all. My 350z had all season performance tires and I would get around from time to time with it.

I drive a beater in the winter for those reasons. Plus it is not worth having your car out in the salt/rocks on the road.

A hitch is possible on the Z, but I imagine it wouldn't allow for too much weight.

OP, a dedicated wheel/tire setup is required if you plan to drive in the winter. The stock tires do not hold up well to temps under 30* and you will be sliding around in any amount of snow. I have a set of 18's and Blizzaks for cold months here in NJ. The car was rock solid last winter with this setup. The limiting factor becomes ride height and not traction at that point.

I have no interest in driving a POS for months out of the year. When I can afford a nicer 2nd car, then I'll go for it. For now, the Z gets the winter setup and does fine.

stock tires and low temps are bad. i almost spun out going up hill with a slight bend. well under 3k rpm in 2nd with no throttle just holding steady.

was approaching freezing but still above it. no ice or snow on the ground...

A bad drive is a bad driver, RWD, FWD 4x4 doesn't matter.

This is true. However, let's put your Z-car with snow tires against my lifted Grand Cherokee in 8" of snow and see who wins.;)

physics will. :bowrofl:

Black ice pretty much trumps everything.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll definitely be getting Blizzaks. Just came off of a Mustang GT so I know how hard it is to drive around in the winter especially if it gets rough up here.

I was going to go with Swift springs, Amuse Vestito kit, and the Fly1 Motorsport skidplate/lip. Hoping I'll be able to make it work in the winter. As for a winter beater, that's not an option at this point. If I can make due with the 370z, I will but I also have another car at my disposal if need be.

What winter, tomorrow is going to be in the 70s.

70 tomorrow, rain for the next week. All I want is some sun, maybe if I ask Santa.... :rofl2:

:icon17: We are in the high 30's here, rain and fog.

See that's where common sense kicks in, I wouldn't be on the roads if there is 8" of snow on the roads with my car. I would use my 4X4 Crew cab at that point. But my point was normal plowed roads with cold temps can be driven on with proper tires and common sense.
Know your limits and stay within them. LOL

That's our forecast for the next 3 months, frickin cold! :icon17:

The problem is a lot of these people want their Z to be their ONLY car... IMO that's a terrible idea.

If I was single I could get by with the Z being my only car...may not be the best idea, but it could be done.

I drive it every single day haha, apart from being single it helps that I live in CA lol. Its normal during the day about 60F but at night its been dipping between 30-35F, mind you I live 4 miles from the beach. And I'm only 25 miles from Downtown Los Angeles.

So usually all the other parts of CA get the cold. This is the first winter in like 5 years that its actually gotten cold. Usually its 85F in the day and 65F-70F at night haha.

Don't get me wrong I drive it as much as I can, winter, summer doesn't matter, thus having over 240,000 miles on mine, but if it's absolute crap out i'll take one of my trucks, just not my '90. LOL

i cannot imagine driving the Z during only certain months because of weather..the only reason i dont drive mine is if is raining and lately that doesnt happen often...

Well besides rain and earthquakes, California doesn't get enough snow to say it snows here lol.. let alone much weather at all lol

I drive mine in the rain all the time lol, I think of it as a free car wash if it rains hard and long enough :tup:

In the winter, with snow on the ground, a 370Z is the POS. The Z car is a one-trick pony.

wrapping yourself around a pole isn't a trick? :wtf2:

My other car is the bus or the train.

op, for the love of god man, do yourself a favor and buy a subaru.

Haha funny you should say that. I was looking at the WRX as well but there is no point in me owning two four seater cars. I am looking at the 370Z on top of my current TL Type S.

Well in that case use the acura for going to the mountain. Use the Z in proper conditions only. Once you buy one, and put on a bodykit and other mods, you will not be interested in strapping your snowboard to your Z. Many people DD their Z sure it is possible, but its better if you have another car for snow, rain, the mall parking lot, etc..

This is ridiculous. Like saying make love to your wife in only the missionary position, use a hooker when you want a BJ or try another position. The wife can do it and so can the Z. I drive my car year round and my wife too. When you do this, you show that you love your Z, otherwise it's just a trophy.