Does anybody else think the manual shifter is too far foward in the center console? I mean... if you are in a relaxing layed back position in your seat and you go to shift into fifth which is up and away to the right.. you practically have to do a sit up from your comfy position to slide it in there. I wish it was placed about 2 or 3 inches farther back so you can be reclining with the backrest, have legroom with the bottom seat adjustment, and still be able to shift comfortably. Oh and the steering lacks a telescoping adjustment.. only verticle. Just a couple of slight annoyances. One other thing is the roof of this car is way too high.. i could have a midget standing on my head practically.. I'm 5'9" and don't see the point of having the roof way up there.. its less aerodynamic and if it were flatter I could of maybe had a sunroof *altho i know most of you coupe people say its less structurally sound, that's not my point* Oh and one more thing.. i wish the doors were a bit lower profile... i feel like maybe i'm just a bobblehead *those lil decorations of heads on a spring* when viewed from the outside of the car... In other cars you can see a person's shoulders when they drive.. but in the Z the doors are so high that its basically just your neck/head that's above the doorline.
Don't get me wrong, the 350Z was/has been my dream car since i got my first 03 then moved onto my 04. Just after having it a while I thought i'd bring out my observations.

 

i like the roof where it is... im a tall dude so ill take all the room i can get. also im slightly claustrophobic my friends S2K with the top up is killer for me to ride in...

 

i like the shifter as is, cept maybe how it burns my hand now


i cant ride in a s2k unless the top is down (applies to my moms 05) Something about how i sit in it my head rubs like he||

 

Its perfect.

 

Heh... ahh of course its perfect.. I must of been trippen at work when i typed it to begin with.. .the air conditioner wasn't working and i was dying of heat delerium. As soon as i left and stepped into my COLD ac Z all was good in the world again

 

dude...i'd be jacked if this puppy had any less head room..i'm 6'5" and it's perfect...luv my Z

 

I don't agree with the door issue you mentioned.....When you see the driver of a Ferrari, Lambo, or Vette, you just see the person's neck and head ...IMO, that's a characteristic of a real sports car, the low seating position that is.

If you want to sit up higher and have people see your shoulders, you could always trade in the Z for an Eclipse or Celica, which are "Sports Coupes"...NOT Sports Cars...BIIIIGG difference! Just messing around with ya....not flaming ya! LOL!

 

I find the shifter perfectly placed for me and I am not that shorter than you at 5'8". I would have no need to steering telescoping adjustment. Higher roofline is for practicality, it still sits pretty low.
If someone needs a sunroof they can get a little bigger sunroof, called the 'Roadster'.

Most sports cars have smaller windows because of the shape or design lines, because the height of the roofline above the wheel height is small, so the lines cannot flow in a way to have bigger windows. If someone needs a bigger window, then a camry or a maxima would be great.

I am surprised you didnt feel the need to point out the blind spots or the narrow/tiny rear view.

I think you need a shift_perspective for some of the observations. You start with the fundamentals, that is a well performing beautiful sports car, it then sits low to the ground, the windows would be small. For sports car fans, appointments like sunroof are useless because it adds more weight.

 

Don’t forget the size of the window is relative to the size of the door, it needs to be big (or small) enough for the window to actually fit inside the door. I think the door allows for a little larger window but they kept as is because of designer purposes. I think it looks perfect!

 

I like the position of the shifter of the position as well. If you think it's too far, then you should probably adjust your seat.

I could definitely use a few more inches of headroom though, because if I sit completely upright, then my head hits.

If it makes you feel like a midget, well.....

 

The smaller windows and higher door line seem to be in style now. It seems that it may have started with the audi TT and continued today with the mercedes CLS.

Looks pretty good IMO.

 

I'm 6' and couldn't autocross or track my car if the roof were lower. My helmet clears by 1/2". Also have you tried to leave the car through the door windows? I wouldn't be able to escape through the windows if the roof was any lower.

 

I hit my head when I try to stick it out of the window =\

 

Yeah, the setup is just perfect for me at 5'6.