Looking for insight from Z owners who also own a GT-R
 

Hi guys,

I've been considering getting a 'relatively' lightweight, RWD, 6-speed car to compliment my GT-R.

I'm pretty much all over the map with this; as I'm thinking about used Z06s, E92 M3s, 370Zs, '11 Mustang GT or Boss 302, 996 or 997 GT3, Cayman S, or Viper.

What I like about the Z is that every time I pass one...I catch myself turning my head to stare at it. I think it's very attractive car, especially with a nice set of wheels on it. I haven't test driven one yet, but I 'imagine' it's quite balanced, fairly quick, and gives good feedback to the driver. The cost of entry is quite nice as well.

Are there any Z owners on here who also own a GT-R? If so, how do you feel it compliments the GT-R? Are they a good garage combination?

Also, I have extensive experience with 911's, M3s, and Z06's...but have never driven a Viper or '11 Mustang. Keeping the price-points in mind, how do you guys who have experience with any of these other cars rate the Z overall?

For example, being as neutral as possible (ya, right;)), do any of you with personal experience believe a used '08 M3 worth the extra $20k over a Z? That's the type of information I'm looking for.

I do realize that this is a Z forum, and that my questions are covering a lot of ground...but I wanted to get opinions from those that live with a Z everyday.

Thanks in advance, everyone.:)

A member here had both and made a comparison thread, here it is. Im not sure if that will help or not. There are a few people here with both I believe.
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...issan-gtr.html

Thank you. That was an 'interesting' review.

Where in VA are you? If you're up in NOVA you should swing by Fairfax next Saturday for our Z meet to check out some 370s and my 5.0.

Thank you for the offer, but I'm in the Hampton Roads area. Around 3.5 hours away.

Ah no problem, man. Of the cars you listed, i would be all over the Viper... They are so badass.

Oh that sucks. We were going to watch Fast Five at our next meet.

I don't own a GT-R (I do want it as my next car though ;)) but I guess the only advice I can give is to test drive it and see how you like it. Other things you might consider in your decision are whether or not you plan on doing any mods and to what extent if you are. Also what performance level are you after? A 370Z is at a way different level than a Z06, Viper, or GT3.

The Viper is badass, but don't think I would actually own one unless it was going to be a track car. No ABS, no traction control, brakes feel like there is a brick under the pedal, non-existant side windows, huge and hot center tunnel with horrible shifter placement.

Modern Vipers have ABS, but no traction control. My last Porsche didn't have traction control either, so I'm fine without it.

I believe the '08 and newer cars addressed the center tunnel and shifter placement. But good points, though.

Varying performance levels. My GT-R isn't stock, so it will fully satisfy my big HP requirements.

I'm looking more for a car that I can shift on my own, weighs under 3600 lbs, is RWD, and provides good driver feedback. The Z06 is actually great fit. I may end up getting another one..but I'm open to other options as well, hence the reason I'm here.

The 6 GT3 may be a bit spartan for what I'm looking for, and the 7 GT3 is really pushing the price-point for a second 'fun' car. Not sure if it's worth it or not.

I'd say the current front runners are the 370Z, M3, and Z06...in no particular order.

Of those 3 I think the M3 is more of a luxury car than the other 2. If you want something fun to drive, I would go with either the 370Z or the Z06. I think you might like the Z06 better though for driving feel and feedback. I really don't have any experience with higher performance cars than the 370Z and I can't drive manual so I can't really say anymore than that. Good luck with whatever you get :tup:

All of that makes my mouth water... :icon17:

The 08+ are really nice.

Well, my wife and I have owned 2 GTRs (an 09 and a 10) and now we have a 2010 Nismo Z as our "sporty" car.

I think if you're keeping the R35, then the Z will fit your bill quite nicely of providing a fun to drive vehicle and you can satisfy any desire to go super fast with the GTR.

Around town, the GTR is, as you know, not super engaging and can actually be frustrating at times since it always feels like it's just a hairs breath away from going super fast if you just push a little harder with your right foot.

The Z, being a manual and rwd, it def more engaging to drive around town etc in.

Haven't gotten the opportunity to track the Z at any HPDE events yet, (this summer hopefully) but our GTR's were tracked quite a few times and that is the venue where that car becomes, well, just amazing and quite frankly, a steall $$$ wise for what you get. But of course, you already knew that.

In sum, a Z would be a great compliment to your GTR and since the GTR already comes with such decent ammenities in the cabin (nav, leather etc), I vote for a Nismo Z to join it's ranks in your stable. :tiphat:

i would go with a boss or zo6.

I love my z06, but if I had a gtr, I would add a viper. I bought the z instead of a viper because it is more road trip friendly, but you have a gtr for that.

One of my favorite NSX forum comments was from a member who said "they couldn't wait for their NSX to get back from the mechanic, they were tired of driving the Dodge every day". Another member said "if I had the garage in your signature, I'd drive the Viper", which was of course followed with "what Dodge did you think he was tired of?" :)

I don't think the Viper makes a good around town fun car, but you might want something with more torque than the 370Z.

imo, e92 m3

Nice. I'm on my 2nd GT-R as well. First one was a '10 SS, current one is '10 Matte White (wrapped over pearl white).

Great info, and very much appreciated. I think I need to test drive a NISMO Z this week to get an idea how it feels. Thank you for the great post. :)

Great points, everyone. I really appreciate the input.

No problem man :tup:

Be sure to post pics of whatever car you end up getting. Good luck! :)

Good luck with your testing! Definitely let us know your impressions. It's always nice to get a Godzilla owner's take on a lesser monster. :D

pics of your GTR :)

get the m3. you cant go wrong with bmw. that is without a doubt the funnest car ive ever driven. the z06 is fun but imo but no where near as nice as the bmw especially the interior. that is what i would have bought instead of the Z if i hadnt got such a great deal. but when the new twin turbo m3's come out i will definately be trading.

It really depends on what your after OP, but if I were in your shoes, I'd get a Lotus Exige

The best way for a man like you who has extensive experience with sooo many excellent cars is for you to test drive a Z and make your own comparison. Most of us will only have driven part of what you are comparing in actual realtime experience. Modshack is the only member on here who changes cars like babies change diapers and has driven just about everything under the sun.

The best thing you can do is drive the Z and tell us what you think compared to all of the above.

The Z is the only car I have driven that is fun in both low and high speed. There are cars that are faster and cars that handle better. But I will be hard pressed to find a combination of both speed and handling at this price. Nissan almost always has one of those most advanced engines in class, quick responding transmissions, and a true sports car suspension. But that's only true up to 50k price range.
You have owned and driven pretty expensive cars. If I were you id be looking at the camaro ZL-1, mustang boss 302; audi r8, corvette Z06 or maybe even ZL1 and porsche cayman R

The Z may feel unrefined to you, but again. Test drive one and find out.

I would add a Lotus to the stable if I were you...
That or a track build Porsche..

honestly dude, its good to have american and foreign car. if i was you i would want a feel for everything and not just buy all foreign. go with a Z06 or viper. don't get a m3... think about how much more BA a viper or Z06 looks over any bmw. the huge v8 sound and how low both the viper and z06 sit to the ground... think about it the m3 is such a pussy car compare to a Z06 or viper

i'm no expert and since i have a 370 and once had a c5 vette....

go with the z06... then you have two totally different cars......

but both bad xss in their own way

i agree,the worst thing he can buy is a 370z. get something different

You're very welcome. You we actually went the opposite way in colors, our 09 was white and we traded for a SS 10 and then went to the Z.

Good luck, it's a great postion to be in having such as "dillema" as yous. :tup:

I've enjoyed my 09 370Z immensely, but am trying to plan ahead. Japanese cars are going to be problematic, not just this year but many into the future.
Because of the disaster, y'see...

Gas prices could hit $6 a gallon this summer. And there isn't anything out of Detroit I like. So that leaves European, some Asian production, or developing a new hobby.

I think I'd invest in fuel cell technology, CREE LED lighting, and let other people do the driving. The times, they are a' changin'...

it simply will not hit 6 dollars a gallon in the US. we as people will not let that stand.

Why would that be the worst thing?

:icon18: what are you going to do about it? gas prices have gone up a full dollar/gallon in the last month in california. it can and will hit 5 dollars by summer. from there 6 isnt a stretch.

As much as there is a slow down in production, they will recover. I doubt it will have any major effect on quality or quantity in the long run. Fuel cell tech has a long way to go. The times are a' changin' albeit at a snails pace. It's 2011 and we only have 1 mass produced full electric car that's "affordable" and "practical" with a 100 mile range.

Well ... we could elect Donald Trump and let him nationalize all the oil companies, which is one of his "simple solutions". ;p

I like the news out of Los Alamos Research Labs this week that they've found a way to make fuel cells without platinum, which could lower the cost 2 or 3 ORDERS OR MAGNITUDE.

(Sorry for the capitalizing, but yes, this is a Really F***ing Big Deal.)

Then we just have to get from the here/now to a time when we've all got $50 fuel cells in our cars and limitless, nearly-free energy. Just hit the fast-forward button, you say? :)

what will happen if gas is 6 dollars ? will demand go up or down ? remember this is a business and people make money off it. the price is high right now because of speculation. not because of a shortage of gas or anything like that. people will just stop buying gas. and only use it when they have to go to work or things like that.

plus we are just realizing now that we are a oil driven country and the time and technology for electric cars is not now. so we have started to drill more here. did you know that we have more oil in the US than in the middle east, under ground that is.

because he already has a light weight Japanese v6 sports car. made by the same people none the less. idk about you but i would want something different. like a Z06. nice big v8 engine should have a nice mix in the driveway.

That is pretty crazy. Taking a batteries and fuel cells class in school and high cost is definitely one of the things holding fuel cell technology back. Most of that has to do with the platinum catalysts being very expensive. There were other things too, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

It really comes down to what he plans to do with it. For a track car, the Z is perfect. Plenty of power and parts are relativelly affordable to replace. The ZO6 is in the "same league" as the GTR. Performance wise, he already has a supercar. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind a Vette in my driveway, but a Lotus would be my choice.....

If I had deep pockets and already had a GTR, I'd look for a one of my all time favorite cars, the Porsche 356 speedster.