Well, my Z finally showed up. I'm a little disappointed in the fit/finish, even compared to other Z's I have seen. The aluminum paint on the hand-brake *** is scratched and the leather is loose and wrinkled at the edges. There is also slight scuffing on the doors--this should not have happened so soon. My bose definitely has the bass problem others have spoken of as well. After having the chance to actually spend time in the Z, it does not have the interior quality of a 35k car.

More to the point. The car sounds like a sports car, is relatively loud like sports car, has very tight steering like a sports car, and the ride is bouncy like a sports car, but one little thing is missing: POWER!

Somebody please tell me that this is just because the car is not broken in. I didn't lead-foot the gas, but I did try to get a feel for passing power. Unfortunately, the Z had little. I just test drove a 330i two days ago. That unbroken-in sedan would leave the Z in the dust. Even my aging N/A 300zx w/ an extra 150 lbs and 65 fewer horses feels faster!

However, all the numbers tell me that this can't possibly be true. I'm going back tomorrow--somebody convince me that the Z has some power after break-in.

 

Your kidding right? 330i leave the Z in the dust? I highly doubt that.

 

you need a greddy twin turbo kit.... =)

 

That's what I would have thought! I went to the BMW dealer just to check out the Z4. The salesman convinced me to test drive a 330 but I wasn't very interested because I had driven an '02 325ci before and was not impressed.

However, the 330i has some serious kick. I know BMW has a more generous throttle tip-in, but still. And if people are wondering, the BMW also had only 12 miles and the Z had 7.

 

From what others have said many times, you need to press down on the accelerator. The Z is NOT like many other cars where you just have to press down on the accelerator a little bit.

If you want to know what the car is really like, put the pedal to the metal and then tell us what you think.

 

damn. i'm somewhat sweating my order right now...this isn't the first report that the car feels a little doggy...especially since i am used to boost and a decent amount of hp already...maybe i should wait for a boosted variant?....i don't buy a new car that often...i wish dealers actually had a car that we could try...none do here in NC

 

Well okay lemme ask you this. Are you breaking her in? Do you go over 4k rpms? I think once you hit around 5k rpms this car rips. I am still breaking my Z in, but sometimes I hit 5k rpms and she seems to have quite a bit of power. Just give your baby some time, just go with the break in, then once that is done with open her open and see what she has. You might be suprised. But if it still doesn't give you that kick you want, I guess you will want some mods. Plus the power curve on this car is very linear, it is deceiving, it seems your not going fast until you check the speedo and your going over 100 miles.

 

Sage . . . maybe lead-foot wasn't the right expression to use. I did consciously take the pedal to the floor because I had heard the 350 has a linear response and also because it's second nature (the 300zx has the same throttle response).

I don't know . . . I really wanted the z and not a BMW but I'm pretty discouraged. Who knows, maybe my Z is a special "Yugo edition."

 

I picked up my 350 5 days ago and yes it did seem a bit on the slow side. But after awhile I got used to the throttle and just the car in general. FYI I have used to own a NA Z32 and have driven an 02 330 Ci for extenended periods of time and IS300... the 350 is definately faster, even without revving past 4000... just give it some time to get used to. It's not kick your *** crazy power but its pretty decent

 

What do you think of the 330ci? Part of my problem could be that I had low expectations for the BMW and high expectations for the Z. But I had a good 30 minutes in the 330i and it was fast. It also shrugged off tight S-curves like they were nothing.

And speaking of curves . . . it doesn't seem to me that either the BMW or the Z need tcs or skid control. The balance of both cars is so good, you'd have to do something stupid or be a novice to need the safety net. Do you guys agree?

 

Move your foot more.......the car will feel stronger at around 900 miles and on....but remember...the pedal movement ration to throttle body opening is 1:1........unlike most cars where the top inch of movement is 3/4 of the throttle bodies range.


I kinda flet the car wasn't as fast until I got used to really putting my foot into......you'll see

 

jeez people, how is this car slow? it does 0-60 in the mid 5s something the bmw cant dream of. so if its slow, its your own driving. also yes you get power from breakin, its gradual, but obviously its not there in a brand new car.

it sucks me into the seat in 2nd gear, goin up. I launched the car around a turn without TCS tonight and the tires just slipped, or actually, at first the car was bogged down, then it came back up to about 1000RPMS, and proceeded to totally annihilate traction.

notice that out of 100s of Zs on this site, only maybe 3 or 4 have complained about power, the ones Ive seen all WAY under even 100miles. no offense, but the car shouldnt be pushed that soon at all. as for highway passing power, how high are you taking the revs? if your staying under 4000 or staying in 6th, then what are you expecting? otherwise, what are you thinking? I realize some people arent all about breaking it in, but a car off the lot has like 10 miles on it... are you seriously beating up a car that new? and then complaining its too slow?

 

SandMan already said exactly what I was going to say.

For example, my Eclipse felt faster, but that's because all the power is higher up on the pedal, and flooring it really doesn't do much like it does in the Z.

 

ares:

I've admitted that I may be expecting too much from a car that isn't broken in, but I'm also comparing it to a 330i w/ 12 miles on it and an old N/A 300zx w/ over 85k mi. I wasn't about to launch the car, but I do think it is smart before you buy a car to say put the car in second at around 25 mph and step on the gas.

The Z moves, don't get me wrong, but it feels like a cl type s or similar coupe not like a sports car.

 

You have got to be joking.0-60 in 5.4.1/4 mile in 13.95,top end nearly 160mph.Slow?Beaten by a 330?I think not.I received my Track yesterday and only drove it home from the dealer so I did not get a total feel of the car yet.My fit and finish and paint job was amazing.Could not be more happier.

 

Have you heard of deceptively fast? That's exactly what the Z is... just like every body else has said in the past...

I'll tell you right now - I have squashed a few 330Ci's already - the Z is definitely the faster car all around.

Will I get a Supercharger? yes

 

No, I don't agree. Vehicle skid control is there to correct some stupid drivers, but cannot rewrite the laws of physics. Those systems are there really for inclimate weather conditions. Patches of water where you find the car hydroplaning or small patches of black ice that will send you into oversteer or understeer. Balance in the car won't help you there, a computer that can control individual brakes and throttle response can. They are useful and warranted in such high tech vehicles.

Every single expert driver I have talked to agree these systems can correct impending situations where they would not be able to.

 

well what it feels like is one thing, what it does is different, cause it is faster than the bmw and acura. no question. can you be sure you were in 2nd in the bmw? it was likely an automatic which means when you floored it it might have shifted into 1st.

give it a chance, it is VERY fast. and remember, I thought I said it but you cant tell the difference between acceleration and body tilt. so if the suspension in the back sets down(which is likely for the 2 cars you mentioned due to their luxurious ride) you will be sucked into the seat by gravity. however this is bad for actual performance.

feels fast/=fast

 

If you want faster, may I suggest the 911 turbo.