You're right, it's impractical to build your own homebrew coilover set unless you're buds with Truechoice et al. That said, all too often there is crap splattered on the market that hurts performance in the name of subjective "I got those, yo" modders. I love a good stance and a sexy exhaust note, but it must have quantifiable gains for it to be truly an upgrade. Like you said, the better suspension companies actually do their homework with good wisdom. I'll still want to know what I'm getting myself into, regardless! :icon18:

At the moment, I just look forward to my first test drive of the new Z! :driving:

Well, there is some truth to your statement in theory. However...do you really think the type of seatbelt you are wearing will really affect the effects of the roof of your car collapsing on your head? You still have the seat underneath you and you will get crushed anyway.

The fact of the matter is that a harness is infinitely more effective at keeping you safe in the other 99.99% of accidents. It will hold you in tighter while driving also, which not only feels better, but allows you to "Feel" the car underneath you much better as you are not bouncing around.

If you want to look at it another way, if you roll over, the harness will keep you in your seat, away from the roof. While you may slide up with a regular belt.

Bottom line is don't crash.

Suspension components and wheels will probably be my first.

i will probably drive for a while stock to sort out what needs to be improved with the suspension. maybe coilovers or sways first. or if the overheating problem is really that bad, them maybe an oil cooler

Exhaust, the stock one sounds horrible in person.

You are 100% correct. Racing harnesses were not designed for street cars. They were designed for cars with racing seats, roll cages, and drivers with helmets and neck braces or HANS type head restraints. If they were safer than they would be used in street cars.

This couldn't be farther from the truth. Stock seatbelts are designed to work with all of the other safety features in your car. Racing harnesses are more likely to be the cause of injury than anything else unless you have all of the proper safety equipment to go along with it. You need a roll bar, proper seats, a helmet, and some sort of neck brace/restraint before racing harnesses can be fully effective. Not to mention they have to be mounted properly at the correct angles. They were never designed for street cars, and street cars were never designed for racing harnesses.

Example: Front end collision. Stock belts let you move forward quite a bit, into your airbag. Racing harnesses don't let you move near as much so the majority of your forward momentum is absorbed by your neck. This means that the stress put on your neck and your brain smashing into the front of your skull is FAR greater than with stock belts. Again, racing harnesses are designed for race cars with race drivers wearing helmets and neck protection.

That's what I was trying to express, thanks for explaining more clearly :tiphat:

And to add to that, if harnesses were safer than normal restraints.. why wouldn't they be in normal street cars. The seat belts/ tensioners/ seats/ head rests/ everything in the car is designed to work together to have a synergistic affect and increase safety.

CAI and Cat-back on the first day I do any mods at all. (Probably within the first 2 weeks)

I will deff. be buying my first mod from Cobb. :yum:

Hold on, why is it necessary to get roll cages and roll bars with the seats and harnesses...Putting in a lightweight seat and harnesses doesn't mean that you will increase your chances to roll or get into a crash. The safety stuff (except the side airbags) remain basically the same..Right?

Within the first week of ownership of the Z Roadster, my first mod will be a combo of several things.
1. Exhaust (likely the FI)
2. The rear light thingy.
3. A few LCD interior lighting changes and additions.
4. Hardwire the V1.
5. Maybe an intake, not sure yet if it is worth it.
6. A few other small things, but you'll have to wait to see it ;-)~

Oh, yes, the window tint...lol

Woah revived from the dead!

The stock 3-point belts are designed to allow your body to bend and twist out of the way in the event of the roof caving in. With harnesses, this is not possible so the only thing that will be able to bend and twist is your neck...which can't take much bending and twisting :). Its the harnesses themselves which shouldn't be run on the street, not necessarily the seats. With that being said, most racing buckets will not let you properly use the stock safety belts either rendering them useless. So its a viscious cycle. Switching to reclineable racing seats without harnesses or a roll bar is usually fine though as they don't have the high side bolsters so they allow the stock belt to sit properly across your lap.

1. Giant Time capsule to keep 370z pristine forever.


Well..

1. Intake - done! :tup:
2. Suspension - working on it :p
3. Exhaust - Saving for it :icon17:

Well let's see first I'll install an ashtray! Then probably mufflers. Not a real fan of how the car sounds.

Exhaust, intake, sways...Not exactly sure when though...Could be awhile