2012 Official LineUp Changes

Endgame

The Z is a 'smaller' car and feels more tossable to me; takes less input to 'whip' it through curves. The Z06 does not feel as technical to me. That is not to say the Z06 is not a great handler; obviosly the Z06 takes the cake from a power perspective.

tvfreakazoid

i'm not knocking the Z at all. I think the Z looks better than camero and stang. But the stang doesn't have that much weight over Z and it does have more power. And i get it that it's not about the power and what not, but nissan is not in the business of selling the Z to only a select few people (The GTR is only for a few select people).

But you have to figure especially in these times that i can get a stang or camero for as much or maybe less but have more power. You figure a lot of people might look at that way. Especially with some of the improvements ford has made with the stangs.

My thing is if the Z lovers want to keep and getting new Z's and stay around for a few more years nissan needs to do something or we may not see the Z very much longer. All i am saying give it something and not some little here and there year after year. Oh a new paint color scheme, oh heated mirrors, oh a new radio system, oh an i pod dock or something like that. Plus the Z is more expensive. Didn't they have these type of problems with the older Z's, supras, mitsu 3k and rx7 that they were to expensive did eventually died out because of this? Or least that was one of the issues.

I don't know all i'm saying is stangs and cameros seems to keep improving or doing something to give it an extra umph to their cars while nissan's executives are just sitting around with their thumbs up in their asses.

I'm sure they might give the Z some sort of an update in 2013 but by that time stangs or cameros will be one or 2 steps ahead.
I know you shouldn't compare the z and the stang and cameros but i'm sure a lot of people might cause they aren't really other affordable sports cars that are out there. Well you have that hyundai i forget the name of it.

Who knows what nissan is going to give the Z in 2013. Maybe a hybrid and that's it. That would really suck for the Z.

In my personal opionion it's either give it a major update like really soon (next year) or good bye Z.

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Mudders milk

Robert_Nash

I've never cared for Mustangs...respected them...glad Ford makes them but I wouldn't own one.

I've found very little that's enticing about the Camaro (and I've owned several F-bodies since 1973)...I'm not saying that the Camaro is not a good car but the only really good thing about it that I can find is that GM is at least producing one; beyond that, I'm just not that impressed...a successor generation should be truly "better" than the previous generatoin; I just don't see that in the current Camaro (I onned a 2000 Z28)...more horsepower is always welcome but it takes a lot more than horsepower to make a car truly "better"; at least it does in my opinion.

I agree with the sentiments about the Corvette's interior...it would be more at home in an econobox. However, the biggest drawback to the Corvette is the attitude of the people that own them.

There is more to a car than it's HP/weight ratio, 0-60, 60-0, and cornering...the "Z" is special...always has been; hopefully always will be.

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Robert
-My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student and Barack Obama -

ImportConvert

Do you think that the shorter wheel-base of the 370Z is what gives this impression? That's sortof a double-edged sword there. I have not driven a 370Z through corners hard, but my Z06 just hunkers and is GLUED. Feels low and like NOTHING will pull it off the road. Is the 370Z a similar animal in the twisties?

christian370z

Yes, but the Z06 is also known to be a very challenging car at the limit as once you exceed it's limits, it lets go very quickly. The Z is much more progressive despite a shorter wheelbase.

With sport package wheels and tires, the Z definitely feels glued to the road. I don't feel like the seating position in the Z is as low as the Z06, but the Z can pull similar skid pad G forces if that means anything.

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ImportConvert

I drove the Z06's at Spring mountain and found the car to be VERY forgiving at my skill-level (which means I didn't push it for crap, lol).

I am strongly considering the 370Z in a year or two when I move. Depending on the value of my Z06 and the + equity in it. I could use the extra $$ per month as I plan on buying land and a house, and it sounds like I gain interior, lose power, and break-even on handling.

What's the deal with everyone wrecking their 370Z, though? Noone on the 'vette forums has this problem unless they get T-boned or something by a drunk. You mention the progressive nature of the 370Z's loss of traction, and it makes me wonder what's up.

How does VDC work? Is it anywhere near as good as PTM in the ZR1, or does it compare more to the yaw control in the Z06, or is it worse than both, or better than both, what? I love the nannies in my Z06. I have NEVER FELT them kick in, but I know they have, and that impresses the hell outta me in a 3100# 500+ horsepower car. VERY well managed.

FL 4Motion

I really think most of these accidents with the 370z have as much to do with young kids/first manual rwd sports car people/immaturity/stupidity as much as anything else. Average age of vette owners is a bit higher and therefore, generally speaking, a more mature crowd of folks (I said generally).

As far a VDC, I can't compare it to the vette's tcs, BUT I'm very confident in guessing that you'll find it intrusive and if you do track the Z, you'll have to turn it off like most everyone else on here that tracks does.

that said, for the price and what it is, if you can live w/o the 500hp, you should enjoy the car.

Mike

I did spring mountain too, and owned a widebody 05 C6. For me, the Z also feels lighter and nimbler, despite being similar sized (370z vs. std C6: C6 is .6" wider and 7" longer in wheelbase and track, and 24 lbs lighter, so they are pretty similar).

In an earlier thread you mentioned the Z06 being stuck to the road or something like that and forgiving, which is true. The Z is not so much without VDC, especially setup like I have mine to be neutral. But that is what I want in a car, something challenging and fun to drive.

However, keep in mind, I only use mine for the track, and mostly used the corvette for the same.

As for interiors, I actually loved the corvette interior. I stepped up from a 350Z to the C6 and it was a great improvement.

370Z VDC is very similar to 350Z. Its very intrusive. Sometimes I think it could get you killed if you try to pull into traffic too fast. I loved the Comp mode on the corvette, I used it all the time on track. I'd never dream of leaving the VDC on in the Z, even in the rain. (which is extremely challenging in the Z)

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NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z
Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

ImportConvert

Thanks! Yes, even with ALL the nannies on in the Z06, it's very well modulated. At no time did it cut in on me at Spring Mountain.

The 370Z sounds like some of my older cars where VDC/TC basically means "If you spin the tires, I'll kill the power, screw you!"

I like the lay-out of the Z06's interior just fine, it's just the crap "leather", the noisy panels (door panel is my main complaint), and the stereo is worse than what is in my 2002 G20 by a long shot.

It's a Cobalt interior in a Supercar.

I didn't buy it for that, though.

What it really boils down to is I have my 500+hp Supercar, it's fun, I love it, now I want land and a house and the power is something I will give up, but not the handling.

In a year or two, I will be pricing the '13 370Z unless the C7 is the same price as the C6 and is out/coming out.

Pharmacist

Funny how you say that. Most people say corvettes are very hard to drive and dangerous near the limits. Their rear ends tend to fishtail wildly, partly due to the tremendous torque of the engine.

VDC on the z is not a go fast item, but a safety item. Keeps you from spinning out on the snow or rain. But will ruin your laptimes if you leave it on while lapping. Expect to lose 3-4 seconds a lap.

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2009 370z Sport Touring/Nismo shift Knob/Z1 motorsports 34 row oil cooler

ImportConvert

The Z06 has GREAT electronic nannies and will keep all that from happening. You can get 90% of what the car has to offer with EVERYTHING turned on.

When we pulled the ABS and other modules, the car was also very predictable, wet or dry. No crazy fishtailing unless you wanted it to. The main thing people cite is that Randy Pobst article where he complains about it. Well, he's used to driving an AWD Volvo. I never saw any of the instructors or students have any issues with "unpredictable fishtailing" at Spring Mountain. Pobst (*sp) needs to stick with his Volvo.

Red__Zed

Ladies and gentlemen, importconvert...the man more skilled than Randy pobst.


Ever wonder if the reason he saw behavior you didn't was because he was driving at the cars limits and you were maybe at 7/10?

Simply put, the dynamics of a car change dramatically as you approach the limit of the car and the track. The dynamics of the z06 at the limits have been a complaint of many...

sixpax

Sorry this is old ... but I recall being at Watkins Glen in 2007 for the World Speed Challenge with Team Cadillac (as a supportive fan and CTS-V owner at the time) and seeing Pobst win every race for the weekend (GT win in a GT3 Porsche). Still to this day a record, I think. From his bio:

"Won historic three World Challenge races in one weekend at Watkins Glen (one GT win with K-Pax/3R Racing Porsche GT3, two TC wins and two poles with Tri-Point Engineering Mazda6). Record for both World Challenge and Watkins Glen International."

Anyway, he has plenty of success and seat time in RWD cars to be considered somewhat knowledgeable.

Back on topic, I had read in some other posts about 2012 oil cooling issues. Was there a change in that versus prior years ?