Does The 03 Handle Better Than 05?
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does The 03 Handle Better Than 05?
Is it just me or does the '03 Z handle better than the 05??
My car was in the shop for the last few days and while it was there, I decided I was going to test drive an 05 6MT. Although it was still good handling, for some reason it feels like my 03 handles better. I was driving a Mustang while my car was in the shop so I thought it was just because I had gotten used to the Mustang. When I got my Z back it really did feel like it handled better than the 05. My Z is a 5AT so I went back and test drove a 5AT to see if there was a difference. The 05 6MT and 5AT felt the same.
Did they make any changes between the 03 and 05 suspension that I'm missing or is it just me imagining it?
My car was in the shop for the last few days and while it was there, I decided I was going to test drive an 05 6MT. Although it was still good handling, for some reason it feels like my 03 handles better. I was driving a Mustang while my car was in the shop so I thought it was just because I had gotten used to the Mustang. When I got my Z back it really did feel like it handled better than the 05. My Z is a 5AT so I went back and test drove a 5AT to see if there was a difference. The 05 6MT and 5AT felt the same.
Did they make any changes between the 03 and 05 suspension that I'm missing or is it just me imagining it?
#7
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Originally Posted by yobri
The great handling in the 03's could be credited to the negative camber... which also is culprit to the infamous feathering...
Trending Topics
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Wenonah, NJ.
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, the 03's were designed with race car handling as the main preference. Then when everyone started to cry about the harsh ride and tire ware Nissan softened up the suspension a bit. I think that you'll find in the years to come that the 03's will have the reputation of the best handling 350Z's out of the bunch. I for one will give up a better ride for better handling. As for tire ware? I have owned my Z for 1.5 years and have only put 7000 miles on it. So tire ware is not an issue with me, and again, I 'll give up a little for top notch handling. If I want a nice ride (suspension wise) I'll drive my Altima.
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
03 vs 05
Originally Posted by SB Track
I think they're heavier too.
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/nissan_350z.asp
#13
Registered User
iTrader: (50)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by yobri
The great handling in the 03's could be credited to the negative camber... which also is culprit to the infamous feathering...
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Puyallup, Washington
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My '03 didn't have negative chamber in sufficient amounts... it was the toe out setting that was "aggressive"... I'd love to have more negative chamber. I have 30k miles on my '03, swapped out the original RE040s at less 15k, had the alignment setting correctly, no more tire roar... but less snap to the car's turn it. Regional Mfg's rep. refused to honor the car's warranty due to my changing out those fantastic "Ripple Technology" po-go sticks for a set of more suitable Konis... still in love with the car after almost 2.5 years of ownership... rare for me.
BC
BC
#16
Registered User
iTrader: (13)
So have they made any changes to the Nismo S-tune suspension? I have an '03 Track and love the handling. Don't mind the ride, but would like to put on the S-tune suspension; heard it rides better AND provides better handling. Will this hold true for my '03? I don't really care about adjustability or lowering that much and prefer to stick with Nismo parts for personal preference reasons, so no need to comment on the choice or make other suggestions; just wondering if I'll really be helping the car that much...
#18
Vendor - Former Vendor
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: California
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i have a 03 track and i love it.....i have driven my buddies 04 and 05 Z's and they seem to be more sluggish but not by much....i geuss it might be a mental thing but i love my car and i wouldn't trade it for a newer year!!!
#19
New Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SOCAL
Posts: 3,022
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, you can even see the difference between the 03's and 05's. But that can be remedied by buying new suspension. I still think that the "Z" is still a "Z" even with the 06's coming out with new goodies. Things are always going to improve and/or be modified, so if you guys are implying that the suspension is better on the 03's, then i hope that you guys are not frequent visitiors at nissan for replacement tires.
#20
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
handling
Originally Posted by tmounk
I have a 03' Touring and it handles great. As for the handling, it's really stiff and rough, but I like it a little rough.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
350Z_Al
Exterior & Interior
133
10-29-2020 07:44 PM
ars88
Zs & Gs For Sale
18
04-04-2016 07:52 AM