finally got to ride in the 350 touring in silverstone

impressions:
color looks great.... the metallic flake in the silverstone is better than i expected. paint is very deep a little lighter than s2000 carbon grey or whatever the color is.

Stock calipers and rotors look a bit puny compared to old z32.

Profile is absolutely beautiful. rear bumper i need to still get used to. lights look better than i remeber.... side badging is a nice touch the front and rear nissan badges look a bit large for the car. door handles are nice but i can see why people may not like them ( you have to open them from the side.

the interior is nicer than i expected, i thought for 26000 they would cheapen the interior. a bit spartin though. window and seat switches look a little on the cheap side. (very plain black plastic) front passenger cup holder looks rickety, like it will fall apart if someone hit it with their knee. center storage area where the nav goes has a cheezy door that doesn't close very well. doors and center console look a little on the plain side and the tweeter in the pillar looks puny. bose stereo is just ok.... nothing impressive though.

The seats are very nice.... and very comfortable... although for someone on the larger side they may be a bit on the narrow side... plus the seat controls are towards the center console... i can see where a wider person would have an obstruction reaching the switches. guages are very nice and the included with the guages is a BUILT IN REV LIGHT AND ALARM THAT YOU CAN SET AT DESIRED RPM.... interior looks well finished except for a few odds and ends... interior is not leather wrapped and they seem to use leather sparingly... there is a rubberized stipple finish around the door that look like it will be fun to clean. rear view is limited many more blind spots than the z32. interior head liner is a strange fabric( weaves mesh design is very visible. shifter seemed to click in very nicely like a new z32 shift box with a shortthrow. clutch pedal is very mild don't know if it will slip under stress.

engine bay looks good except it will not be fun putting a supercharger or turbo in. (almost no clearance in front) oil cooler is smaller than z32

motor sounds very nice seems like it revs up very fast without strain. i didn't get to drive it but i was a passenger. The driver didn't push the car but from what i see the car handles very nice... very little sway .... good amount of feedback from road but not too much. stock brakes seem to do an ok job of stopping... didn't get a chance to see her run fast but in second gear pullin about 4000 rpm my friend chasing in a 330 ci had to pull about 4500.

overall impression... im getting myself the 350 performance and will add brembo and wheels later

everything mentioned in this post are merely my observations

 

I wouldn't expect the oil cooler on a NA car to be bigger than that of a Twin Turbo car....


Glad to hear you liked the Silverstone in person....I can't wait to see it. Thanks for the informative write up and post. You didn't happen to take any pictures did you?



Thanks again

 

didn't have a camera with me...... my friend in the 330ci had to rev to 4500 to keep up to the 350 revving about 4000

 

What's up with the Bose? I have an RSX-S and the Bose system is LAME.

 

my friends premium sound system in the 330 sounds much better.... but this in only comparing fm radio... and what's up with the tape deck... does anyone actually listen to tapes anymore

 

co-worker of mine was reviewing the car.... plus he drove the car to the block in orange to get public impressions of the 350. then he drove to z performance in orange. I was hoping to drive it but too many people wanted to test drive it. after the photographs are published i will post pictures

 

i work for a the latimes

 

Hey, you should be one to talk about just wanting to post new threads for the fun of it.

 

Not as a proof reader I hope!

 

Probably b/c the Z32 had 16 inch rims, while most 350Z's have 18 inch rims.

The brakes on the Z32 were considered one of the weakest parts of the car.

Ethan

 

anyone know if the brakes (non-brembo) will be single-piston floating type or a multi-piston design?

 

Both the Brembos and the Nissan calipers are 4 piston design (for front). The size of the standard rotor for the 300ZX is only 11.2" for both the turbo and nonturbo, so even the "small" rotor for the 350Z is definitely bigger. (I think 11.6"? )

 

Dude, please stop posting new posts for every reply you have. You should make this reply in the above subject. It's really starting to get annoying.

 

Not to sound rude either but man... I couldn't understand a darn thing you typed dude. :-/

 

I second that (or is it quadruple?) motion!

 

I've got it Jeff15, Martha must a "Mother Figure" in your mind.

 

Isn't Martha in hot water for insider trading fraud? Her ex boyfriend is a big wig at some corporation and the day before it's stock took a dive she sold all her holdings in it. And I think her personal wealth was taking a dive anyway.
She probably won't be getting a new Z now, darn.