Yes...it was a mule car...and when the final product is
released for magazine testing it'll be a ringer (just as
the Z32, RX7, and Supra were released as ringers....don't
forget hte Supra's and RX7's sub 5 second 0-60s in the
first tests). Anyway....we'll see on its performance.
Nissan's own claims are something like 0-60 in 6.0 and 14.0
in the 1/4 mile. It will most likely handle better than
the Z32 which will be a plus but if your read earlier
posts about kZtt's coil overs, it takes 1.5 hours to
remedy that problem : )Your performance per dollar figures only include horsepower
and torque. Obviously there's much more to it than just
those numbers. In my opinion, with the goals that Nissan
has set, it falls far short of the Vette. And I've already
talked to one person who's nissan dealer told him his 350Z
will cost him $38k so I'd take the MSRP with a grain of
salt at this point. Anyway, since the C5 will usually
outrun a boxster around a road course and the Boxster is
what the 350Z is aiming for, it's fairly safe to assume the
performance edge will strongly favor the C5 vette. As for the Z not being a Corvette killer that's true. But
if Nissan wants me to buy a Z from them I better stand a
good chance of keeping up and hopefully outrunning any
other car I can buy for an amount within $10,000(includes
Vette) on a road course. If I take my TT to a road course
and get passed by a Viper I don't feel bad...the Viper
cost a lot more than my Z to buy, own, and maintain. If
I get passed by a Vette in my 350Z i'm going to get jealous. I was talking about 99 M3, not the new one. They have
turbo kits for those you know : ) I've owned 4 Zs and yes....I'm pissing on the 350Z. Just
given the goals and look of the car I wouldn't buy one.
I'd rather go buy a lot of the other choices out there than
it.
Be optimistic! We are finally seeing nissan pulling around and bring out some really good cars. But if no one shows interest then they'll never get on their feet, and never be able to bring out the "pure speculation" turbo'd or s/c'd 350Z. Nissan has hung up some lofty goals by stating that this will be the fastest Z(in what we don't know), AND by going back to their roots and bring out an affordable sports car.
Be optimistic? Okay. Nissan will get smart and flood
the market with S15 Silvias NOT handicapped with a truck
motor. The Pulsar (the ones available in japan the last
few years)will return and become THE compact car to have.
The 350Z will get redesigned to look original and have
enough power to stomp a 911 into the dirt, and Nissan will
stop listening to the guy from Renault and build a real
flagship car for the US. Screw the art deco real audio
ads, the post modern early sketch with the taillight. Put
out an awe inspiring car that kicks the shit out anything
else i can buy. This is the way it would have been had I
been driving in 1990. When I saw the Z32 I said "I want
THAT." I didn't want a Camaro, Corvette, 911, Ferrari, I
wanted the TwinTurbo. My perspective and expectations for Nissan are as such, and
I'll only speak in a time reference in which I know..... The Z31 showed up and there was suddenly a Japanese answer
to the Corvette. Sure it would be later lamented for this
and that but at the time it was fast. The Z32 showed up
and EVERYTHING became obsolete. It's no secret that the
other car makers were aiming at the ZTT when they redesigned
their cars. The 350Z does not accomplish this. It creates no change
in the automotive world, it's not revolutionary, and its
performance goals are not admirable. It's not just the 350Z that irks me. The only car company
that I applaud right now is Chevrolet for the C5 Vette and
its continual improvements. GM may have crappy cars but
the Vette is doing what nobody else is right now....it's
going fast straight, turning, and evidently selling. If I cared more about Mazdas and Toyotas then I'd be on
their message boards saying the RX8 looks nasty compared to
the RX7 and that Toyota had better come out with a decent
Supra. This era of cars is reminding me of a time when
Cadillac rebadged a Cavalier to try to make a little more
money. Most products being jammed into the tv commercials piss
me off....our society has turned into a follow that guy
state of mind and everything is the SAME and boring. Remember.... if you take silhouettes of the ZTT, SupraTT, RX7TT, NSX,
C5 vette.....you'll be able to pick them out. Do the same
with the 350Z, AudiTT, and the SC430 and could you do it
as easily? BTW....thanks for the "props" on my Z...it's a quick one.
rich
'91 300ZXTT
"Stage 2.5 10psi" 298.5RWHP / 302.5FT-LBS
13.48 @ 105.65
Z32.org
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