Basicaly he is saying that the 350z had to make compromises because it shares its platform with other cars/suv's, because of this the car is heavier then it should which hurts its performance..

Sure the Z could of had its own platform but it would of cost around $45k... Personaly I've always considered the Z a low cost sports car, besides the new GT-R with its own platform and TT Engine will take care of the problems Jun is *****in about...

 

sorry to break it to u, but the evo and sti are the 2 cars that come to mind.

 

it's funny how the op got pwned by the moderator

 

yeah, they are good company...anyway they just tuned WRX, Evo, and skyline. They don't really give much **** for N/A car....you can't expect anyone to like all cars anyway

 

+1. Screw JUN, he can suck my wun.

 

Are you saying these two cars (see pictures)?

2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi - $32,995 (last update: 2/3/2006)

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR - $35,189 / 39,490 € (last update: 2/3/2006)

Are the same price as

2006 Nissan 350Z - $27,650 (last update: 2/3/2006)

The other issue is, JUN had trouble calling the 350Z a "sports car" and you compare the above two cars as sports cars in the same price range.

Those two you cited may be "sporty" cars, but do not meet the generally accepted definition of sports car.

Here is a wiki article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car


I personally don't consider either one of those cars a sports car anymore than a Dodge Magnum station wagon or my Passat Turbo station wagon is a sports car. The two cars you "broke it to us" about are 4 door grocery getters with performance upgrades. True, they may be fast, they may be good handling, but they are family econoboxes modified for performance. They are by no stretch of the imagination "sports cars".

The Pontiac Solstice, Mazda Miata, Honda S2000 etc are sports cars.

 

+1, read the article a few days ago, sounded like JUN isn't doing so good with the 350Z and had a case of sour grapes. The 350Z is by no means the perfect sports car, but IMHO, not a bad implementation.

 

Yeah, I went there to stand up for my Z and the guy developed a crush and wouldn't leave me alone. Guess you have to be fanatical to be an "accepted" member. A guy said that the evo smokes the Z and I said only on the first three shifts and if you are stock and closed the thread. Another said the Z is porky and I said no more that you, specially the 03-05 base and they closed the thread. Other poster said don't come here with such an inferior car. I mean, why such hostility. It sucks because in all reality, I love that car. It kind of makes you think about the owners and their attitude. At least ther are some cool ones here like 3000ways, fusionchicken and baccalau16.

 

plus, what do you care about what I do. Don't come here to talk about other people. What are you, his girlfriend?

 

RWD, 2 Seater, 300hp, fender flares, 53/47 weight distribution, placement of engine and fuel tank within Axles, carbon composite drive shaft, super rigid chassis, forged aluminum suspension, driver oriented interior, LSD, etc. I think it has sports car credentials.

 

Kids have the funniest ideas of what a "sports car" is nowadays. I bet you consider a dodge neon with a huge wing a "sports car".


Besides, it seems the US aftermarket for the 350z is far and away owning the JDM market. Really, any shop in Japan (especially when it comes to forced induction builds) has already been beaten and outdone by most high performance z33 shops in the US.

These Jun tools are probably still years behind what shops like JWT, SGP, VRT, FP, etc, are doing...

 

??

It does not say JUN does not approve of the car...it says that Koyama san said to be a true sports car, the car needs some work. I would not exactly argue with that point at all. I personally agree that it is a sports-like car. It is, IMHO, a car that is GT in it's nature but it does not happen to have rear seats. Most of the small criticism that the Japanese have for the car revolves around the weight of the car and that is exactly what JUN was talking about. While I agree with them, I still love my Z with a passion as its an absolute joy to drive and has been THE most reliable car I've ever owned

The Z was made for the US and Japan in equal parts - its a car that suits both cultures quite well. Most of the Japanese love the Z and have a great love for the tradation the Z holds in Japanese car culture history. Their feelings about the weight of the car are legitimate in terms of it being a true hard and true sports car. The original Z to them was a pure sports cars...very light weight, with a great motor and rwd. As the Z evolved, many there believe it went away from that original direction into more of a GT category. This was their comment most notably around the time the 280ZX was released there is 1978. Not coincidentally, that feeling was shared by many US journalists at the same time as well.

Don't read anymore into than what is written. Several of the employees of JUN happen to own Z's

In Japan, the tuners are more purist when talking about a sports car vs everything else. It's a cultural interpretation difference, nothing more. To them, a Skyline is not a sports car..it is sporty. A Miata is a sports car, as it combines low weight, 2 seats and RWD.

JUN actually has done quite a lot of development with the Z33 chassis, as they are the shop that builds and runs the Option Stream car, which is a completley modded Z33, from the chassis to the motor and everything in between. However, they made a decision internally to not really go public with many of their parts, as its a limited market in Japan.

 

+1,000,000 great write up!!!!!!! I think the Z meet almost every single requirment for the sports car definition ...except low weight. I love my Z regardless of any opinion...It all goes back to the LOOKS TO ENVY theory I HAVE: I think the Z is on top as far as looks goes..excluding exotics...and people love trying to bring down the best. Personally I 'll take the hottest looking "girl" over the best head giver anyday...and just modify my beauty later for performance...And then the "total" package is achieved

 

+1 hell yeah!!

 

I might add this thread - didn't see a STI or Evo on this top ten.

https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/214313-consumer-reports-ranks-350z-8th-best-sports-car.html

 

My spare for 2005 weighs 32lbs?? Also, what is the weight difference between your stock wheel/tire and your new wheel/tire? Because, like you, I believe weight-reduction is the #1 perfomance mod. If I can save around 50lbs, I might get new wheels.

 

see, thats just the thing..everyone has a different definition of a sports car. I wouldnt rely on Consumer Reports to tell me anything more than what refridgerator I should buy.

a 650i is a sports car? It's got 2 doors... but thats about it
An SC430 - huh?
A Jag - they have not made a sports car since the 60's
an XLR?

That's what JUN was saying - by their definition, the Z is not a sports car, but rather, is sporty. However, it has the making of a sports car lurking inside with the right parts

 

What is JUN's precise definition? Or do they have one?
I just read this line from that other post:
But most 350Z owners will never see this, as they don't read a magazine dedicated to turbocharged/forced induction engines.

I do read that magazine (and buy it), and am about to stop, as I find less and less information on pratical turbo information, and more vomit from manufacturers, and glossy pics of someone's modded car without any real depth or information. It is becoming another waste of money. Today I was at the PX and instead of buying the magazines like I normally do, I looked at them there. One article on aerodynamics I spent a few minutes on, the rest I saw no reason to purchase. This included Import Tuner, Sport Compact, Turbo. Until or if these magazines start actually doing some research and printing better interviews than that JUN article, I will not buy them. I don't need soft core **** and/or worship articles with the founder's granddaughter and some dude who will not even tell the writer what HP they made on the JUN Stream Z. What a waste of paper and ink.
The author was inpressed that JUN developed a one-off wheel suspension system for the Stream - and said try to find a company in the USA to do that. I bet the companies would line up at the price JUN charges. JUN founder's granddaughter (London-educated) AND Mr Koyama state that there are problems with the 350Z chassis, basically "too high". Did Ms. Tanaka learn that in London???? They say the problem is the fact that the 350Z was designed during a time period that Nissan was in bad shape.

Then the article talks about the real market for JUN. WRX, EVO, SR20, REB26. Hmmmm. No 350Z. Then the JUN dude states he wants to build a 4WD 350z- his motivation is the fact that the 350Z is not a popular car in Japan. What??????????? Something lost in the translation from the London eductated granddaughter perhaps?? Mr. Koyama is also a bit skeptical about what the new Skyline will hold. Whatever that means.

Basically, they don't make any money off the Z, so it sucks. I looked on my list of products I have purchased for my Z, and none are JUN. I looked at my future wish list, and JUN products are not on it. So who gives a sheet what that old man thinks.

 

 

This is what I don't understand, you say a Miata is a sports car but a 350z is only a "sporty" car, even tho the 350z beats the miata in handling, speed and IMO looks....

To me personaly I think there are several levels of sports car, at the top you have your exotic sports car Ferrari's, Lambo's and some models of Porsche and at the other end you have your Miata's and 350z's with vette's, vipers and porsches in the middle.... To me there all sports cars just different level of sports cars..

My personal defination of a sports car is 2 doors, 2 seats and RWD, anything with a back seat is considered a GT, anything with 4 doors is considered a sports sedan