It is fairly obvious that if you think the Z is stiff, you never drove any of the British sports cars from the 1960's. I had a Sprite and belive me, that ride was rough. But............I loved it.

Les

 

I have to go to work and school, so I drive the Z33 everyday. I have to admit I do not like riding it, but I sure love driving it. I have tokico shocks and tein s.tech springs installed, so the ride is adjustable from soft to stiff. Still the ride is rough even on full soft, but I like the fact it corrects the bouncing and improves handling.

The tein s.tech springs are not the best choice for soft rides, I believe your talking about the tein h.tech luxury springs. I recommend the tanabe NF normal feeling springs also, if you want soft rides.

The Z33 is glued to the road for better performance, it is no camry where it smoothly floats on the road. So be happy with what you got and respect it.

 

Mine's a 40 mile round trip daily commuter (most of the time), and oh yeah - it's stiff, with stock 18's. And that's the great part - I rip through commuter traffic and fill any hole I see because it accelerates and handles like a lightning bolt among the lurching slugs around me.

If you want to numbly stumble along in the pack, then get a soul-robbing minivan, take a valium, and wake up when you get home.

You want to cut and thrust through the herd with your senses on high alert - you're a Z driver.

 

+1 on the Tanabes. BUT, if you want your Z to really handle, go w/ "grip feel", or the whole Sustec Pro SOC coilover suspension; not Type II, tho, since it doesn't have the helper springs. Get the real SOC w/ the helper springs.

 

I hear ya, the ole' Bug eyed Sprite was a rough little ride, but that made it fun. I think I had to repair or replace something every other week on that little brit.

 

Waaaay back, I had a Triumph TR3 that would rattle your molars, but what a fun car to drive. I wish I had kept it.

 

This harsh ride setting is causing those infamous 350Z interior rattles. Does anyone agree.

 

i know some guy sold his special ordered 03 Touring with only 3000 miles on it complaining about the harsh ride quality...his exact words were:" i lost my lunch everytime i drove the Z." He lost 8K$ selling the car to carmax.Today he drives a lexus.
i got Tokico D-spec installed a couple of months ago and i'm extremely happy with the ride quality of my 03 Z. i keep the sportcontacII inflated at 32PSI....no rattles here.
i suggest people who complain about the harsh ride quality of the Z shouldn't even consider riding on the Lotus exige.

 

My wife and I both use the z daily and havent notice a harsh ride. I did get tired when I drove it on San Deigo freeways. The thing just would'nt stop bouncing. The roads and freeways in New Mexico are'nt that bad, but if I lived in Cali I would definately change out the suspension. I read an article that the nismo s-tune suspension solves the problem and keeps your warranty. Good luck.

 

If you think the Z is bad, the STI's ride harshness is even worse.

 

i concur...
i've driven the STI and the M3 and they are all the same.

 

it hard...but not as hard as my civic was...my sheit was on the ground..the ride is okay...and my Z is lower wit tanable GF210.. i find it much more comfy then the honda that was stolen...

 

My 62 MKII put the Sprite in HyperSprite.

Really though, I think the Z is balanced pretty well between performance and comfort.

Chris

 

The Z is my daily driver and I don't really notice one way or another ... I just have fun every time I get behind the wheel to be honest.

 

Just to add, my winter beater 2000 jetta has the softest suspension I've riden in and I feel like I'm floating above the road. With that said, it sucks. I feel like I'm out of control when I am in the corners. I don't feel like I'm connected to the road at all. Definately sucks to drive this thing after you have been in the 350Z.

I am yearning for Spring.

 

well.. my friend (whos also a Z owner) said the same thing.. but i personally like it.. it very very sporty.. if you dont like the feel of the the sport car, wrong car for you

 

No.

 

My Z is my daily driver and yes the ride is harsh, but it holds corners like superglue...

After several months I got used to it... I anticipate the bumps and actually enjoy the ride now... you feel one with the road on those tight curves...

If you're 60 with arthritis... trade it in...

 

Where I live in Cali the roads are good & I have no problem with the ride. Even my fussy to the max wife is okay with the ride.

But...

When we get up around Lake Tahoe, in snow/ice country, I-80 is rough & the ride is the pitts.

The "cure" I've seen for improved ride is a combination of different tires, new springs, & sway bar.

I do not agree with those who say "its a sports car; get over it". If I had to live with the ride we get around Tahoe on a daily basis I'd either find a solution or get rid of the car.

 

Stiff suspension doesn't necessarily have to be excessively harsh, although what one would consider harsh is a very individula thing. I did find that the stock suspension had a bit to much bounce. i.e. the springs were a little underdampend by the shocks. Simple fix was getting the Nismo S-tune suspension. It is stiffer in terms of spring rate, but the dampening characteristics of the shocks give the overall set-up a better ride quality than the stock suspension with higher hadling limits. A win-win proposition. So why didn't Nissan do this from the start? Simple. Cost.