Well due to the winter season, my Z has been pretty much parked since Thanksgiving. Actually, I've only driven it once since then (mid December) until yesterday. It's amazing what you forget about a car in a short time. It really amazes me that people often times forget how good the 350Z and only focus on it's small and subtle flaws.

First off, since parking my car, I'm 95% of the way complete with installing my stereo (Boston Pro front speakers and sub, xtant 603 amp, Nak HU). This has actually curbed my desire to drive the Z some because you can't drive something that has no interior . I got everything installed Thursday and Friday and Sat I spent tuning and tweaking. Come late yesterday I decided to take it out and listen to it on the road.

First thing I noticed instantly is how bad the traction control is (forgot to hit the button, it's been too long). I've got to find a way to reverse the switch.

Second, how crappy the tires are. The car starts to break loose the tires at 5000rpm in 2nd gear under 70% WOT. I can't wait till my race tires come...

Third, how deceptively quick the car is. It doesn't feel fast but a quick look at the speedo reminds me that 100mph in no time will get me a ticket to jail. My daily driver is a 95 Civic DX which is my slowest car (runs a 15.7 1/4nile) out of the 6 I own. As a matter of fact it's the only car I've driven in the last 2 months. My Z honestly doesn't feel much faster then the Honda yet it's extremely faster. Where the Honda struggles to 100, the Z doesn't even grunt.

Forth, how well balanced the car is both at very high speeds (faster then 100) and in the corners. Sure it's got some understeer at the limit, but up intill then it is a wonderfully tame car to drive quickly. Racing for 14 years I'm glad to say that I've finally found a car that I can race in stock form and fell safe, in control, and yet still have fun.

Finally, the last thing I forgot about my Z, is just how many people drool over it. I only took it on a 4 mile drive yet everyone passing or being passed just kept staring.

Sorry about this being so long and I hope you enjoyed it Seeing as how this board has been the closest I've been to driving my car I've found myself begining to believe some of the rants about the car, well taht was until I drove mine again and all the weaknesses melt away. All I've got to say is before you start to rag on the Z for it's minor shortcomings, remember it's strengths because they far out weigh the weaknesses.

Happy driving...

 

I just realized, spelling owns me . Sorry about the mistakes.

 

regarding the tires...you prolly forgot how they are SUMMER tires and need to be warmed up to have ant appreciable traction. Yes its funny spinning them when they are cold in this weather we have up here in the NE. However, if you drive for ~20 min - they get quiet sticky. Hell, when it was oct and 70 deg outside these things gripped like crazy.

The track Z in the R&T article beat the 911 and M3 with these same tires....

As did the Z in the Best Mot vid (that beat the S2000 and M3 and boxster)

 

The Zs tire temperatures started around 75 degrees (it's kept in a heated garage). Yeah they were cold but compared to what I'm use to they suck (it's all realitive really). My Olds on 10 year old GT Qualifiers (summer tire and pretty shitty at best) has more traction in colder weather and it has 515ft-lbs of torque stock .

 

Do you start your car every so often while it is out of service for the winter?

 

Yeah - I start my Z once a week usually (and it gets pushed forwards and backwards quite a bit as well so I'm not worried about killing the tires). My garage is 1000 square feet and has 5 cars in it so I usually have to move it once a week for some various reason or another between working on my ITB Rabbit or my friend working on one of his cars. Oh wait, I think I have an old picture....



The Z (under cover) is now where my friends berreta is, the berreta is where the Rabbit is and the Rabbit is where the Z is.

Here's another shot of the fun stuff



The propane heater is now gone.

 

nice set-up!