Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837363)

What's crazy is that every domestic I've owned, nearly, has had the water pump die at around 80K miles, while none of my JDM cars have ever had one die. My Infiniti did have the radiator die, though. And the transmission. And the motormounts. I'm sure my 370Z would have had stuff die if I'd kept it longer than 34K miles, too, considering the brakes had issues and the power steering pump would get super loud after I drove it hard and the transmission would always grind on the first shift of the day, especially if it was raining out (go figure...). Mainly, my Nissan products felt = to my Chrysler experience, so I have had no impetus to try them again and went with Mazda again, after my CX5 had the fuel pressure regulator go out at 106K miles (literally nothing else broke in the life of the vehicle except that, unless you count things like trim from a huge chunk of concrete that flew up, or the rear diff because I submerged it crossing a stream and didn't change the fluid like I should have---after another 2 months of driving (and no bearing whine!, it was the AWD clutch solenoid that went out! Fluid looked like a frappachino!).

I am hoping my CX5 GT Reserve lives just as storied a life, but got the 10y/150K mile bumper-bumper warranty on it just in case. Because it has a TON of tech in it, plus a turbo.

Originally Posted by CRiZO (Post 3837402)

I had a 2007 Mazdaspeed3 (essentially whats under your hood) and I had the turbo replaced due to a flaw in the first year design. Other than that, which was replaced under warranty without hassle for my mods (Mazda dealers are night and day from Nissan), that car was a total tank for 10 years of hard (hard.) daily driving.

Honestly if it wasn't for the Z existing, I wouldn't even look at Nissan. They have the worst dealership experiences and the build quality just isn't up to what Honda, Mazda, or Toyota are doing. It's like the Z is from a completely different company, and in a way, it kind of is.

Originally Posted by Zingston (Post 3837419)

I agree... the Z and GTR are solid rides. The rest of Nissan = no interest.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837420)

Pretty much. The new LEAF, though, looks like a Prius competitor, except t he Prius went AWD and has a legit track record of excellence in its class.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837420)

Pretty much. The new LEAF, though, looks like a Prius competitor, except t he Prius went AWD and has a legit track record of excellence in its class.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837302)

I honestly have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine. If you care enough, cruise the Chevy dealers for the next couple of days and if you spot his car in service, ask "What's wrong with that one?" and most techs don't care about privacy and will tell you.

Originally Posted by Zingston (Post 3837424)

I hear ya, but I have no interest in EVs.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837427)

I'd love one if I could snag a used but reliable one for $5-10K. Especially if fuel costs skyrocket.

Originally Posted by Zingston (Post 3837434)

I'd be alright with one in that price range as an extra car.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837114)

Yup. Since I got rid of my Jeep and have been driving Mazdas, life has gotten way better. 100% JDM, preferably Toyota/Mazda/Lexus (models made in Japan, only), for me. (I had a 370Z, and it had a host of QA/QC issues which led to dumping it before the 3/36 went out).



Truth, my 370Z showed me that Nissan is the Chrysler of Japan. Grinding transmission that got worse when it rained (wtf?), brake warping issues, power-steering pump louder than an '03 Terminator's SC. Glitch NAV that would black-screen from time to time. Got rid of it at the 34K mile mark as I recall (and bought an actual Chrysler, which I regretted, rofl!) Have since gone over to Mazda, put about 100K miles on the CX5 platform, and now with my CX5 Turbo find it a pretty solid blend of performance vs. luxury vs. daily usefulness. Definitely gone over to the Toyota/Lexus/Mazda (models made JDM only) camp.

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3837475)

The jeweled Z is the Auto. Sorry manual guys but it's true. At the time it came out. It was the best tranny under a DCT.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837461)

Not to get political, but I think that we are going to reach a crossover point where EV's performance and range and reliability intersect with rising fuel costs to slowly shift us toward them as a majority in the next 10 years or so.

Originally Posted by Zingston (Post 3837478)

I don't approach it from a political angle. I have nothing against EVs... And I'll embrace them with no problem as soon the prices for them come down to reality and they can be as quick to charge as filling a tank. It's just at this stage of the game, I'm not paying those prices just to say I drive an EV (and still have to deal with their limitations). Once the Tech, Cost and Convenience is realized, I'm in!

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3837477)

I hated it. My CX5 has a much better auto than the Z. I drove the Z, and it's super upshift happy. Floor it at say, 40mph, it takes off, lift, floor it again, and it's going to get caught mid-upshift and BOOM! It will slam the hell out of the car DS'ing again. Made the sales rep chic scream when I did it when she kept badgering me to buy it and I told her it had nasty quirks and she demanded to be shown. My CX5s, both the 2015 and the 2019, would not do that. If you floor it and lift, it holds the gear for a few seconds in anticipation t hat you're likely going to hit it again in short order. VERY well sorted, engine brakes for you as well, etc. Maybe Nissan has updated their tuning since I drove a 2012?

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3837486)

I drove it on paddles all the time... So I didn't really get to experience that as a performance flaw. If I had it on auto. I was also in cruise control

When did u come back import? Haven't seen u in ages?

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3837475)

The jeweled Z is the Auto. Sorry manual guys but it's true. At the time it came out. It was the best tranny under a DCT.

Originally Posted by ChopsZ (Post 3837529)

For strictly drag racing, sure. For everyday driving, nope. I will take the manual over the auto any day of the week. I prefer choosing my own gears and how long I want to stay in them.

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3837996)

That's exactly how the paddles work? Lol. Geez. And I've done well on track with paddles. Not drag racing. Where do you get these definitions from? On track or street. Manual Z's ain't really efffin with me. I was about half a second quicker than most dudes rowing there own. N that's me hitting paddles. Not leaving it in D. Which tells me not too many dudes even have the kinda skill to stay next to an auto.

Originally Posted by danegrey (Post 3838111)

Late to the conversation
-- I like a manual thou I coincide that Auto is the way to go
-- My Z has not had any mechanical problems and I have made many mods to it and track it about 3-4 times a year (fingerscrossed)
-- Only problems with the has been some paint issues and Nissan took care of them
-- SUV - hopefully never, but things change in life...

my 2 cents....

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3838003)

Agreed 100%, but I always found manual more engaging, and since I don't make a living from racing, I'd prefer a manual in a sports car, 1/2 second slower or not.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3838149)

I used to be anti-SUV, but it became what I had to have to get to and from home/work. It's worth the trade-off, to me. I want to live where I don't have to see or hear people? It took an SUV. Also...road trips. My SUV experience blew my mind. I used to think it was dumb how people complained about sports cars for road trips (I figured they were just hating because they had a bunch of whelps and couldn't afford a sports car + a minivan...). Well, they kinda are onto something. 65dB for 10 hours + radio is a LOT easier on me than 70-74dB + radio for 10 hours. It's a huge amount of fatigue I was having that I never really even "noticed" until it didn't exist. Obviously some luxury and very high end sports cars don't experience this, but under $50K, it's SUV territory.

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3838530)

I can't subscribe to this logic on an enthusiast forum. SUV vs sports car compares is sacrilegious.

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3838530)

I can't subscribe to this logic on an enthusiast forum. SUV vs sports car compares is sacrilegious.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3838550)

Meh. When you live where sports cars can't sensibly go, you find alternatives, and for me, alternative vehicles that are still fun beat living where I have to see and hear people any day of the week, and twice on days I dont have to go to work.

Originally Posted by ZCanadian (Post 3838584)

And there are some crazy *** SUV’s out there right now.
Cayene, Macan, Stelvio Q, Cherokee TrackHawk, Durango SRT, some Bimmer //M’s and anything with AMG in front of the name, for instance. These aren’t your momma’s urban assault vehicles anymore! ;-)

Originally Posted by Mr. Mcoupe (Post 3838609)

Agreed. I am digging the Macan Turbo right now.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3838149)

I used to be anti-SUV, but it became what I had to have to get to and from home/work. It's worth the trade-off, to me. I want to live where I don't have to see or hear people? It took an SUV. Also...road trips. My SUV experience blew my mind. I used to think it was dumb how people complained about sports cars for road trips (I figured they were just hating because they had a bunch of whelps and couldn't afford a sports car + a minivan...). Well, they kinda are onto something. 65dB for 10 hours + radio is a LOT easier on me than 70-74dB + radio for 10 hours. It's a huge amount of fatigue I was having that I never really even "noticed" until it didn't exist. Obviously some luxury and very high end sports cars don't experience this, but under $50K, it's SUV territory.

Originally Posted by danegrey (Post 3838848)

I'm not an anti-SUV, I understand what you are saying, I actually to rent a nice vehicle for vacation trips be it a car/SUV/cross over. I myself do not want to own one. I prefer to have a sporty type car to drive. I enjoy driving my Z all the time. it is a between a track and DD. So I accept the compromise. My DD for this past winter has been a mini cooper convertible. I just prefer driving a sporty type car,

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3838949)

My cx5 turbo is pretty fun. More sorted suspension than my Z was, way more torque, but less top end and not as fast of course, 0-60 taking a bit over 6 seconds. However, i can't own a Z where I live, so it wasnt much of a quandary.

Originally Posted by Mr. Mcoupe (Post 3838609)

Agreed. I am digging the Macan Turbo right now.

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3838806)

Those aren't SUV's. Those are crossovers and im really disgusted right now but ummm who am I. This forum I know went to shyt 2 years ago. But at least we had the decency to NEVER bring crossovers near sports cars.

Might as well build the GRIP Z and call it a day? Mistu did right with the eclipse.

Balls are gone and men in panties are here to stay.

Originally Posted by ZCanadian (Post 3839127)

See post above....
and ... this forum went down the crapper when the background became pink and the banner advert is a Selena Gomez fan site. WTF is with that????

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3837996)

That's exactly how the paddles work? Lol. Geez. And I've done well on track with paddles. Not drag racing. Where do you get these definitions from? On track or street. Manual Z's ain't really efffin with me. I was about half a second quicker than most dudes rowing there own. N that's me hitting paddles. Not leaving it in D. Which tells me not too many dudes even have the kinda skill to stay next to an auto.

Originally Posted by ZCanadian (Post 3838584)

And there are some crazy *** SUV’s out there right now.
Cayene, Macan, Stelvio Q, Cherokee TrackHawk, Durango SRT, some Bimmer //M’s and anything with AMG in front of the name, for instance. These aren’t your momma’s urban assault vehicles anymore! ;-)

Originally Posted by Zingston (Post 3838988)

No excuses man! Could have jacked that suspension 2 inches, added some off road tires and Hella lighting to the front bumper, and rallied out your Z ride. Ha ha!

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3839146)

April fools day. Lol

With import comparing his CUV to a Z. This is better off as a Selena Gomez site. Geez

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3839273)

Meh. I enjoy my CX5 more, actually. The terrible suspension and grinding transmission really ruined the 370Z experience for me. Torque in my CX5 is nice to have, too. Mainly though, I like how it eats up the pavement with AWD surefootedness, nice and quietly, with instant torque on demand at any rpm. It's not a sports car, but it's more sorted out than my Z was in many ways, handling among them, and it does the trick of getting me from A to B no-matter what the weather or road is like.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 3839272)

Haha! Even doing that, it wouldn't make it. It's AWD, or bust, where I live.