Question for you more experienced car owners.

jakoye · 06-07-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portlis

but its kind of looking like I first need to get out of Minnesota before I can really get an awesome car like this.

I would think there would be plenty of reasons to get out of Minnesota!

But that's just West Coast bias talkin'. Pay no mind.

As for a Z in the snow, or any RWD sports car, I'd say "don't do it". Last winter was unusually snowy here in Seattle and I slipped and slided my way to white-knuckledom one too many times for my taste in my Mustang. These types of cars just aren't made for inclement weather.

It sucks, but if you need an every day car in a snowy climate, and you can't afford a second car, then I don't think the Z is for you.

jakoye · 06-07-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyberium

Third -- The paint on these cars are extremely fragile. Rock Salt and freezing rain and snow and all that crap with RUIN this car's finish.

Cyberium, not saying you're wrong or anything, but what do you base your belief on that the paint job is fragile on the Z?

VCuomo · 06-07-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRich

The Sport Package includes a few pieces which may be of interest to you:

1. Aero Package: This can be obtained on it's own so it's a bit of a wash here.
2. Sport Brakes: These larger brakes will give you more full steam stops before fading. On the street these really aren't necessary but worthwhile on the track.
3. Limited Slip: This will help you put the power down coming out of turns and launching. Once again more use on the track than the street, but still handy.
4. SRM: This will rev match downshifts for you This is most useful when downshifting and powering out of a turn. It allows smoother engagement of the gear you have selected when you downshift.

Since he said he's only looking at 7AT, SRM isn't going to be a factor for him in getting the Sport package (and I think all 7ATs have SRM). But the larger brakes and LSD are definitely worth paying for the Sport package, IMHO.

CBRich · 06-08-2009, 12:08 PM

Unless of course you plan to upgrade those later on.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 12:18 PM

Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD.

Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

MightyBobo · 06-08-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD.

Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

The traction control will help significantly more than an LSD will. I strongly advise against driving on slick mountain roads with this car, at least with stock tires. Blizzaks might do the trick, but you'd still need to be careful. Once again, if you have any significant snow, the car with the front lip may as well be a snow plow.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 12:39 PM

They won't even have the road open if it had that much snow. Usually the roads are very well coated with a sand/salt type mixture. That can make the road a little slick depending on how much they put down. Is the traction control and vdc the same?

CBRich · 06-08-2009, 12:40 PM

If you plan to purchase this car in areas with adverse weather you will definitely want some dedicated ice/snow tires mounted on an extra set of wheels.

MightyBobo · 06-08-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

They won't even have the road open if it had that much snow. Usually the roads are very well coated with a sand/salt type mixture. That can make the road a little slick depending on how much they put down. Is the traction control and vdc the same?

Significant for this car would be anything even north of 3" or so.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 12:48 PM

We rarely have bad weather like that here. its only when i go up to the mountains. I may just have to stop by my parents house on the way up and borrow one of their cars if need be.

Here is what my car looked like coming back from one of my trips

MightyBobo · 06-08-2009, 12:54 PM

Just keep in mind, the tires on that car would have been much better suited for winter weather.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 01:03 PM

most likely. i think they are yoko avid a4 or something like that.

jakoye · 06-08-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD.

Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

Just don't do it. You can drive a RWD car in the snow. It's not physically impossible. But you're gonna be dancing with the devil A LOT and it's just not worth the hassle. Especially for a RWD sports car. There's just too much power going to those rear wheels.

You might think "oh, I'm a good driver... I'll go slow", but then you'll drive for a little while and get cocky/go too fast and then BOOM... hello snowbank (if you're lucky)!

The Z is simply a car made for fair climates. It makes no pretense of being an all-weather car. So don't treat it like one or expect it to be one.

Just my 5 cents.

silverpence · 06-10-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portlis

Well hmm...

I'll be honest with you guys, you've done a great job of "selling" me on the sports package, but an even better job of convincing me that I should probably not get the car in the first place.

It's just not practical for me to own 2 vehicles. I only have 1 garage spot to store my vehicle in, and I'm not going to park a second vehicle outside in the freezing cold that I need to get into every day. Plus moving it around when the snow plow comes around... just not going to happen.

Plus, buying a winter beater is another hassle and cost I don't need. There's going to be a cost associated with buying the vehicle in the first place, and the whole reason I avoid beaters is because of the maintenance they require. No, I'm only interested in a car that I can drive year round. Like I said, I'm simply just sick of my current car, but I don't NEED a new one. My little Mazda 3 only has 37k miles on it and still runs perfectly. I'm absolutely not considering any other vehicle at the moment. Only interested in the Z because I like it. I wouldn't be happy with anything else.

Now, I'd be open to the idea of snow tires completely... but if its still going to get stuck in even a little bit of snow due to the low profile of the car, then I guess it just won't work out.

I'll think about it a bit more I suppose, but its kind of looking like I first need to get out of Minnesota before I can really get an awesome car like this.

I've been driving my 350Z all year round for 4 years now and will do the same with the 370Z. We do get quite a lot of snow here "North of the border" but the roads where I live are usually well plowed reasonably quickly so most of the time driving the Z during winter is not a problem.

Of course the Z is not the best option for winter driving, and front-wheel drive cars like your Mazda or all-wheel drive cars like SUVs and such will obviously handle winter better. But like you I liked the Z and I'm not a winter beater kind of guy either, and I did not let the winter driving issue get in the way of getting the Z as my daily driver 4 years back (I already did have some rear-wheel drive winter driving experience from my teen years though). What do you think people did in snowy regions before front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive cars became quite common? They drove rear-wheel drive cars and did not have all the traction control aids that modern rear-wheel drive cars like the Z get these days. Again front/all-wheel drive cars are better suited for winter driving but rear-wheel drive cars like the Z can be driven during snowy winters too.

With a good set of 4 winter tires (a must), some common sense (e.g. the Z is not an SUV and steep icy hills are not your friend) and some practice on driving a rear-wheel drive car on snowy roads, driving the Z during winter is definitely doable and can be quite enjoyable too (e.g. purposely losing the end of the car a little around empty street corners and letting the traction control system do it's thing can be fun!). The 350Z VDC system is actually very good at keeping you on the road if you happen to give the Z too much power on a slippery road, but you have to remember to turn it off when trying to get going from an unplowed area with a significant amount of snow like a parking lot.

Just my .02 cents

frost · 06-10-2009, 09:13 PM

We're still talking about this? Everyone is saying pretty much the same thing.

06-08-2009, 12:54 PM	#26 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 52	Just keep in mind, the tires on that car would have been much better suited for winter weather. __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

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06-08-2009, 12:08 PM	#19 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	Unless of course you plan to upgrade those later on.

06-08-2009, 12:18 PM	#20 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 43 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 293	Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD. Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

06-08-2009, 12:39 PM	#22 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 43 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 293	They won't even have the road open if it had that much snow. Usually the roads are very well coated with a sand/salt type mixture. That can make the road a little slick depending on how much they put down. Is the traction control and vdc the same?

06-08-2009, 12:40 PM	#23 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	If you plan to purchase this car in areas with adverse weather you will definitely want some dedicated ice/snow tires mounted on an extra set of wheels.

06-08-2009, 12:48 PM	#25 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 43 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 293	We rarely have bad weather like that here. its only when i go up to the mountains. I may just have to stop by my parents house on the way up and borrow one of their cars if need be. Here is what my car looked like coming back from one of my trips

06-08-2009, 01:03 PM	#27 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 43 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 293	most likely. i think they are yoko avid a4 or something like that.

06-10-2009, 09:13 PM	#30 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	We're still talking about this? Everyone is saying pretty much the same thing.