I've owned my '06 Enthusiast model for about three weeks now and have 650 miles on it. Love the Z and still getting used to it. Here are my observations to date. Please chime in and give me your input:

1. Yesterday when I pushed in the clutch it made a popping sound. Went away after driving the car a mile or so. Normal?

2. When I first start it up, release the clutch and put the trans into neutral, I can heard considerable transmission noise. Almost sounds like worn input shaft bearings. Normal?

3. When driving the car over bumps at moderate speeds, the car seems to hop around quite a bit. Normal? Thinking of installing Bilstein PSS9 system or maybe just Bilstein shocks? Recommendations?

4. When cornering at 45+ MPH, constant radius turn with mild bumps, the rear suspension feels somewhat "disconnected" to the front...kind of wanders a bit. This is not from tire slippage but almost feels like toe or camber change induced rear steer. Normal? Realign rear? Install aftermarket poly suspension bushings?

Even though I mentioned the above, the Z is fun to drive and has great potential. IMO it just needs to be dialed in. Any comments from other '06 owners would be appreciated so we can compare notes and mods. PM me if you want. My car has Nismo wheels with Pirelli P Zero Nero M&S (nice tires...mounted them yesterday) and Nismo exhaust (love the sound). Thanks. VJD

 

1 & 2 are normal. At low speeds, when I push in the clutch, it will sometimes make a loud (to me) mechanical popping sound. Not sure about 3 & 4.

 

Iv'e never noticed 1, 2 happens all the time for me, 3 I haven't really noticed either, and 4 I agree with you. I love mine and it has 7k since Nov only prob I had was a knock sensor went bad but the dealership up here changed it in less than 2 days. One other thing that I have noticed is that 2nd is hard to come into sometimes. It is definitely different than the rest of the gears. IMO best 30k i will ever spend, I have no complaints at all; I think its just splitting hairs.

 

hey sometimes after you turn on the car and let it idle do you hear like a almost blower type noise? and im certain its not the a/c cuz its off...but when the car is just still i can always hear this noise. is it normal? now i also heard it on the altima the other day and it might be normal...just wanna double check if not its time to use my warranty =]

 

#3 is due to Z's stiffer springs. Suspension is tuned for performance so springs aren't meant to absorb bumps the way a sedan's suspension would. That's why it seems to "bounce around" when going over bumps. This is normal, and can be compounded with over-inflated tires. If your tires are at recommended pressure, don't worry about it.

I suspect Z's known understeer could have something to do with #4.

 

Radiator cooling fan It has variable speed and often speeds up to compensate for greater heat generated during idle.

 

take your z in for service and contact an rvp, I had similar problems and the motor blew (Low Oil??? New Z) ohh also the transmision is gone! yeah 06 Z.

 

I absolutely love the Z's bumpy ride. I wouldnt trade that for anything.

 

Going 90 on the interstate around curves the rear end seems to slip out on the expansion joints in the road. It is kind of unnerving.

 

I also changed my trans due to a nasty metal to metal sound, I also have axle clicking, oil consumption, trans noise (again), but the car is great.

 

Thats a funny comment because your username is sidewayz. lol

 

Well said!

You got it bud!