I love my Z and plan to keep it a long time. But other people have other goals for car ownership, and there's nothing wrong in asking them why.

I had so many cars and tried my best to keep them but always something happens that I end up selling it and getting another car.

So I'm not sure if I'm going to keep my current Z for different reason like an overseas job, etc. I might upgrade to a different or next year model which has not change much including the Nismo, or wait for the next model Z. However I wil not be getting a domestic car! ;)

I might even get an used GT-R, a new FT-86 Turbo or a new RX if my dreams ever come thru...but would like to stick with a Z.

I loved my Z but had to give it up because I got laid off, then a month later my wife decided she wanted a divorce, so I just couldn't afford it anymore. I was living in Georgia and eventually moved up to Canada to find work (you know the U.S. economy is seriously f*cked up when . . .). Once I got back on my feet, I decided to replace my Z with an STi due to the road conditions during winter here. I'd like to one day go back to having a two-seater sports car like the Z and just drive it during the snow-free months while keeping my STi as a winter beater. But I'm not quite there yet.

Yeah... there's not a lot of us original 2009 owners left.

Sure there are. No sense in getting down about it. Some people move on. Others enjoy the car.

I sometimes wonder what happened to my 2009 Z. More specifically, I wonder if it's in the hands of someone who is now also a member of this forum. I may have even interacted with my Z's new owner having no idea that it's my former Z s/he is driving.

I know what happened to mine. :tiphat:

huh?

Whoever has mine is driving around with an Uprev tuned ECU but without my mods. I hope it runs okay. I hope they don't accidentally swap in the anti-theft or valet-mode maps while screwing around with the cruise control buttons. That would be bad. :ugh:

:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:

Nothing like a fast fun car you can drive all year around that is beast in the snow :tup:


^he's right
http://pushingthirtyy.files.wordpres...rth_living.jpg

:facepalm:

im here...

:wtf2:

I respectfully disagree, the STi, Mustang 5.0, and EVO dont have oil cooler issues, limp mode or braking issues...They arent a step down at all from a Z, as a previous poster said they may be a lateral step with an upward tilt.
The EVO comes with the superior brembo brakes, has a quicker 0-60 time and 1/4 mile time and was voted best handling car under 40k. Just because you've never owned one does not make them inferior in any way...you sound very biased. Ive driven the 370 z, my friend owns one by the way. Nice car but I value the room of my 4 door EVO, the AWD/all weather capability, excellent braking, handling, and thrust/torque 300ft/lbs.
To each his own...Id own a Z if my needs and wants were different.

being part of this forum for a long time and putting a lot of time and money into my Z I can hands down say my STI is superior in every way. I loved my Z and I would still have it today if I could, But there is no doubt that the STI just has more to offer. To answer the OP my Z was totaled (not my fault) so I ended up with a new STI and I love it. I still stay very active on the forum and I still use vendors on this forum for the STI.

2013 Z should be a great improvement.

What is accurate?

I don't think that we have very many ex-mustang guys here. Only mustang I had previously was an 89 fox, and that was less about being a mustang and more about being a purpose built drag car.

I don't think it's a lack of time when looking at the car...it's just the car not holding up the way I expected...coupled with the aftermarket not fully developing. I think a lot of other people have moved for similar reasons.

Saying the current EVO, STI, or Mustang is a step down is a pretty curious statement...worst case they're lateral moves.

So is it the performance your after or the overall package? Meaning in the looks department are your more satisfied by the suby than the Nissan? I was at a suby dyno day, and boy oh boy was my feelings hurt! STI/WRX make more power for the buck than a Z would and not by a little...huge margin in power. Is that a selling point for me? NO! The STI/WRX seat 5 and room for luggage...is that a selling point for me? NO!

If it is then you and I want different things. I wanted a sportscar, you wanted practicality with some punch!

There's nothing wrong with that, and more so your smarter!

I'd tell you what was a selling point for me....being in the nissan family...owning a entry level sportscar for my first car. For the looks, you guys know what I mean. I wanna ROMP on my NA Z day in and out without fear! I continual enjoy saying it's a nissan and not some deformed porsche...HA. I don't know if I want to go on if none of these words turn a knob or make a click in your head. There is a clear and distinct difference in why I brought a NISSAN and other have brought a CAR.

If you didn't see what I did there is nothing more to argue/discuss with any of you owners

He was quoting a statement I made...I could of swore I read it somewhere in a discussion here...disregard that misguided statment.

Whatever the case maybe, most didn't know what they were getting into...

you pretty much nailed it. In the looks department I loved my Z.. they are beautiful and lets not hide the fact that the STI isnt the classiest car on wheels! haha but over all performance and practicality sold me. Also, the idea that less gets more in the power department got me as well.

I agree completely. And regarding the looks - I actually try to avoid looking at my STi from certain angles. :p

:icon17:

I like the hatch!

I've always liked the WRX for it's practicality + fun factor. For a while I wanted one of the bugeyed wagons because it'd be great for hauling bikes and kayaks and all of that jazz.

It's pretty cool now that the new WRX has the widebody, which looks really good IMO. I wouldn't mind having one as a DD. It'd be great in winter.

^^^

Exactly we get all stoked about Subaru for those reasons...that's what I was trying to get to. Some think the Z can fill that void...just doesn't happen. Thus the trade in/selling off of the lonely Z

I'm pretty sure they do have oil cooling issues. Just because many sports cars do not reach limp mode doesn't mean their oil does not reach critically hot temperatures and damage the engine, unless of course they come with oil coolers, which I believe none of the above cars do.

As for limp mode, apparently nissan finally addressed this issue by offering oem oil coolers on new Z models

And the Z doesn't have a "braking issue". It just has brakes that are not ideal for heavy duty track use, just like 99.99% of cars out there including many sports cars, even including more prestigious brands such as Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW, etc. Almost any car out there, even sports cars, would need at least heavy duty pads and fluids before you even think of tracking them. Yes that includes mustangs and evos too. The whole "braking issue" thing has been blown way out of proportion ever since the apes on car and driver crashed their nismo. It's kinda like the oil temp issue which is also being blown out of proportion by owners who never track their car nor do they ever hit limp mode.

As far as performance of Evo vs Z, 0-60 and 1/4 mile are of course better with the evo due to the AWD traction vs RWD wheelspin of the Z. The turbocharged 4 banger however runs out of steam at high rpm and the Z is faster at higher speeds. As far as handling on a road course, laptimes of the Evo in different tracks around the world are about the same as or slightly slower than the Z. So handling is actually about the same, with a slight advantage to the Z. Actually the Z chassis is better balanced. The Evo is a bit heavier and nose heavy, like a FWD car. It's just that the AWD and fancy electronics compensate for that.

Depends on what the objective is. If it is getting into a flashy good looking classy sports car, then it's a big downgrade. Mustangs are ugly and about as common as Camrys. Evo and Sti are just a lancer and an impreza with a turbo. If the desire is more practicality, the Evo and STi are big upgrades. Mustang not so much. Yeah it has a pair of useless back seats and a slightly larger trunk. That's about it.

If the objective is straight line performance, Evo and STI are a minor upgrade. They do have the advantage of AWD. Of course, super sticky aftermarket tires on the Z will easily bridge the gap. The Mustang will be a big upgrade in that regard.

If it's about handling and track performance, the Evo and STI are lateral moves. They post laptimes usually about the same as the Z. The Mustang would be a downgrade. They have a heavier and less well balanced chassis than the Z, not to mention prehistoric suspension. Turbocharge the Z and you will have the same power and straightline performance as the Mustang, while retaining a ligher, more nimble, and better balanced chassis with the potential for further adjusting and fine tuning the suspension for improving handling. Let's be honest, there isn't much you can adjust on that solid lump of metal in the back of a Mustang :bowrofl::roflpuke2:

I was a brief owner of a Z who ultimately had to return it to due a fiasco at the dealership. During my brief stint with the Z there were several unsettling features that began to make me question my purchase. Namely size and noise.

I really didnt like how I could hear dirt and pebbles and basically anything on the road hitting the wheel wells if I drove with the stereo off. They felt good, and gave good feedback and made me feel like part of the car, but it was still annoying and felt cheap. I also didnt like having to hold the steering wheel to climb inside, and having to push myself out of the seats when exiting. I'm a normal sized guy, 5'11" 165lbs, but I felt like I was in a toy car.

Within my first week of ownership I already ran into a situation where I needed rear seats. I ended up dropping off my wife at home and going back out to grab someone. That was pretty annoying.

Lack of interior modification. I think some people have said the Z is basically a fully maxed out car by the time you get it. If you dont like what it has to offer in stock form, then you wont be happy. Everything is just too tightly woven together to upgrade anything at all. I kept scratching my head about some of the interior mods I wanted to perform wondering if I'd ever be able to do it.

Once I returned the vehicle I realized that the Z seemed like more of a "fun car" to me. Like a sunday driver. Not very practical for daily use, but great for playing around in. As a result I have shifted my attentions over to a Mustang 5.0, namely due to increased interior room and comfort. I still remember sitting down inside one for the first time last weekend, and I literally uttered a sigh of relief, saying "wow". The car just felt so roomy coming from the Z. Visibility was outstanding, I basically felt like I was back at home in my sedan again but with 420hp. These are HUGE plusses for me, despite the fact I am more in love with the Z overall. I can also get more bang for my buck, plus the mods.

I'll tell you, every time I look at pictures of a Z my heart swells, and every time I look at pictures of a 5.0 my heart sinks. Ford makes a pretty car, but Nissan hit the nail on the head. The Z is a beautiful car, I just wish it were a little bigger and a lot quieter. Appearance isnt everything, so point for point I think I have to let it go and move to another vehicle.

I agree with most of this post early on... I have said many time that the z is by far the best looking car in it's price range. If your goal is to be seen in a flashy car, it is tough to beat.


This last paragraph is so full of :facepalm: I don't even know what to do with it. I guess if your idea of "better balance" is "understeer at all costs", then yes...the z is better balanced.



Edit: nevermind. You're the guy who can't seem to grasp the point of a factory-built racecar, and complaining because it's not twin-turbo....I'll leave this one to someone else.

Mee too! :tup:

Do you have any empirical evidence of this that you can point us to?

I'm with Red__Zed here.

When it comes to balance stock-for-stock, the Z has a lot of understeer and the 5.0 is very neutral. It's very well balanced. Better than the Z out of the box. I think you need to get out and drive more to get a good idea of what "balance" is.

Not that you have much credibility, anyways, Pharmacist. You've proven in the past that your knowledge of automobiles leaves a lot to be desired. Your only argument against the Mustang is it's "prehistoric" suspension, even though that prehistoric suspension handles as well as, or in some cases even better than, the Z.

Anyways, continue on ignoring the facts. Enjoy your little fantasy world (where parking right on the line constitutes dead center, as long as you drive a yellow Z.)

Of course not. Besides that, pretty much every car comes with an air-to-water cooler at the least. The s2000 had one back in 99....that was such overkill for the car, that even with the stock radiator, 700whp on a stroked out motor converted to closed deck (wreaks havoc on temps), and tons of turbo piping in the engine bay, temps were roughly analogous to the z's, if not slightly cooler...Hit about 260 after 5-9 minutes of driving.

There really is no "Swiss Army Knife" of a car, especially in the price range most of us are shopping, so there is always going to be some sort of compromise if you can only have one car.

An STI probably gets you pretty close, because it's got practicality, speed, and handling going for it. Looks, obviously, are subjective.

Here's my sources for what I stated, Road and Track and Car and Driver:

Sports Car Comparison - 2011 Nissan 370Z vs. 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo GSR - RoadandTrack.com

Best-Handling Car For Less Than $40,000: 370Z vs. Evo, Mustang GT, GTI, Miata, Mini JCW - Feature - Car and Driver

According to Car and Driver the 370z did have braking issues, read the article...it does not have Brembo brakes and No Oil cooler...hard to fathom and this will be corrected in future models.
I own the EVO GSR 5 speed manual...the EVO MR they tested is the automated manual. The GSR is quicker 1/4 mile 13 flat and 0-60 4.3 according to R&T stats listed above. The Z had a slightly quicker lap time in the C&D review but brakes had "the worst brake fade in our standard 5 stop 70-0 mph braking test" distances varied as much as 29 feet even with the Nismo pads...

I wouldnt trade the AWD, Ive owned many rwd sports cars. I want 100% usability in any season as Im a traveling nurse and cant afford not to show up.
Im not saying the Z isnt a great car, it is, but Nissan really dropped the ball for 2009-2011's with the omission of oil cooler and cheaper/inferior brakes.
Most of us dont track our cars and so not really a big issue but in hotter climates such as Texas the limp mode/lack of oil cooler becomes an issue with spirited driving as some posters on this site have said.

My 370Z actually quit on me, I had no intention of trading at all, then oil consumption became so BAD they ended up lemoning it. I also was starting to get the throttle lag/cut...she was a good car the first 8 months, but the last 6 were hell...so all in all 14months of ownership, the bad outweighed the good :/ The only other car that had my attention was the 5.0, i was secretly already having an affair with this car and it had me at TQ. The moment the Nissan lemoned my car i was across the highway from NS ford, 2hrs later drove away in 5.0. All in all, i do and dont miss the 370z, the extra room is great, the power is amazing, i can haul my mom, pops and son around...its a totally different dish that am inlove with ;)

Its already confirmed by NISSAN that the 2012 models will come with oil coolers as standard equipment

Nissan sport brakes are excellent...switch out the pads and issue resolved....the problem was not with the braking system but with an incorrect spec'd pad.

Lot of Z hatin' going on in this thread. I'd hoped the conversation would remain civil. Oh well.

Yeah, I think they are good brakes, too.

We've discussed in some other threads that the main problem is cooling. The stock calipers retain a lot of heat and don't get any airflow to cool off, so they can heat the pads up quickly. When the brakes overheat, they tend to give up without warning which can be very dangerous.

Obviously the solution is a higher temp pad and brake fluid, but routing some cooling direction to the calipers definitely helps if you are a track junky. I think Resispa has some custom cooling, and I'm sure travis has a custom setup as well.