The Interior
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From: California
The Interior
Let's talk about the interior. Several reviews have mentioned the interior in a negative way. The issues seem to be its "cheapness" or "poor quality".
Let me start off with my ideas about the Interior. First of all, from the photos I loved it. I think it's very cool. From sitting in the car, I really liked the interior, except for the front cupholder (which seemed flimsy) and the Nav door (which opened nicely but sort of twisted when you tried to close it). But in general I really liked it. Others who I have shown pictures thought the interior was really nice.
So what does everyone think on the two issues of (1) how it basically looks and is laid out (from the photos) and (2) the quality issues (more from those that have seen it in person). I'm not sure I really get what the reviewers are harping on, but maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to get the quality thing. My current vehicles are Honda and Mercedes, so that's my point of reference (I also spend a lot of time in a Porsche Boxster via carpooling with a friend).
I also note that magazines used to praise Porsche and BMW for their no-nonsense driver-oriented spartan interiors, but in the case of the Z it's a negative point. Again, there may be a subtlety I am missing here, but I don't get the difference.
Any input on this?
Let me start off with my ideas about the Interior. First of all, from the photos I loved it. I think it's very cool. From sitting in the car, I really liked the interior, except for the front cupholder (which seemed flimsy) and the Nav door (which opened nicely but sort of twisted when you tried to close it). But in general I really liked it. Others who I have shown pictures thought the interior was really nice.
So what does everyone think on the two issues of (1) how it basically looks and is laid out (from the photos) and (2) the quality issues (more from those that have seen it in person). I'm not sure I really get what the reviewers are harping on, but maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to get the quality thing. My current vehicles are Honda and Mercedes, so that's my point of reference (I also spend a lot of time in a Porsche Boxster via carpooling with a friend).
I also note that magazines used to praise Porsche and BMW for their no-nonsense driver-oriented spartan interiors, but in the case of the Z it's a negative point. Again, there may be a subtlety I am missing here, but I don't get the difference.
Any input on this?
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Since I have never sat in one I can't really give an opinion on the quality, but the overall appearance looks pretty good to me. We have to remeber were only paying around 30k for the car and that was one place they could get by with lower end products and still put out a great car. My current car is a Lexus sc400 and it is hard to beleive that any car could be as comfortable and have such quality built into it, but then again, there is a major difference in price. You get what you pay for.
As long as the seats are comfortable, the a/c works and no major rattles appear for quite a few miles, then the interior is the least of my concerns.
As long as the seats are comfortable, the a/c works and no major rattles appear for quite a few miles, then the interior is the least of my concerns.
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From: Alabama
That's been hard for me to understand too. I don't know what these folks are comparing it to. Every car/truck I have been in manufactured since the '80s is plastics galore. Even those with "leather" interiors usually means you have one stripe of leather down the seat and everything else is nagahyde (sp?). And the Z interior actualy has some aluminum parts.
Not that I mind plastics. Ever get a bag of food like potato chips and after grunting and panting to pull it open or trying to punch a hole with your finger to get it started only to end up hurting your finger and then exasperated sitting there wondering...geez I wish someone would make a car out of this stuff!!!!
Seriously though, plastic gets brittle in cold. The one piece in the interior that really bothers me the most is the door handle. It looks in the pictures to be plastic along with the lock. Can anyone confirm? If so, those should have been aluminum. Not just because the vent flows into it but it is the most used. And maybe that is the major contributor to these reviews saying the interior is all plastic. They also comment on the door panels. Well...what are they referencing this to? I have not seen a metal/real leather door panel on any recent vehicles. Of course I don't even look at cars that cost more than my house...
Enforcer
Not that I mind plastics. Ever get a bag of food like potato chips and after grunting and panting to pull it open or trying to punch a hole with your finger to get it started only to end up hurting your finger and then exasperated sitting there wondering...geez I wish someone would make a car out of this stuff!!!!
Seriously though, plastic gets brittle in cold. The one piece in the interior that really bothers me the most is the door handle. It looks in the pictures to be plastic along with the lock. Can anyone confirm? If so, those should have been aluminum. Not just because the vent flows into it but it is the most used. And maybe that is the major contributor to these reviews saying the interior is all plastic. They also comment on the door panels. Well...what are they referencing this to? I have not seen a metal/real leather door panel on any recent vehicles. Of course I don't even look at cars that cost more than my house...
Enforcer
Last edited by Enforcer; Jul 19, 2002 at 07:41 AM.
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From: charlotte
I love the design of the interior myself. The only complaints seem to be of material quality. We'll see I guess. If you've actually sat in it, you have the upper hand. My only real concern is the flimsiness of the nav door and cupholder. If they can make these more tangible items solid, then we'll all be pleased.
The exterior styling is excellent imo and makes it one of the most attractive cars on the road.
The exterior styling is excellent imo and makes it one of the most attractive cars on the road.
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From: San Diego, CA
What I like:
I really like the layout of the center dash and instrument cluster. I especially like the fact that the instrument cluster moves with the steering column.
I'm very glad they offer a Nav that is well integrated into the design of the dash. I know a lot of people poo-poo the Nav but I personally feel it's a must-have after exploring back roads both witrh and without one in other cars.
The seats seem very well done (I havent sat in them yet).
The height and placement of the shift **** seem perfect to me.
What I dont like:
I think the inside door panels are very plain. Basically one giant molded piece. Something to break it up a bit would be nice.
Although I like the area behind the two seats from a utility standpoint, it seems very poorly thought out - its looks like a hodge podge of randomly sized bins and doors and speakers. This includes the area in between the seats from behind the parking break on back. It all seems like an afterthought, or that the designers ran out of time. Granted, its fairly well hidden by the seats most of the time.
Like they did with the Rays and the Brembos, I think getting some interior "name brand" items on the track model would have been cool - a Momo steering wheel, special shift ****, maybe some Sparco seats, would I think have really pushed the track model over the top as far as coolness factor is concerned.
Yes these things will be available aftermarket - but so are Brembos and Rays, which is my point.
I wouldnt have minded seeing a few more color choices on interiors. Also I feel that since all these cars were pre-ordered, Nissan should have let us pick any color combo we wanted. I think that would have been a nice perk for us early adopters.
I think this post may come across more negative than I intended it. Overall I'm very pleased with the interior! My gripes are largely minor.
I really like the layout of the center dash and instrument cluster. I especially like the fact that the instrument cluster moves with the steering column.
I'm very glad they offer a Nav that is well integrated into the design of the dash. I know a lot of people poo-poo the Nav but I personally feel it's a must-have after exploring back roads both witrh and without one in other cars.
The seats seem very well done (I havent sat in them yet).
The height and placement of the shift **** seem perfect to me.
What I dont like:
I think the inside door panels are very plain. Basically one giant molded piece. Something to break it up a bit would be nice.
Although I like the area behind the two seats from a utility standpoint, it seems very poorly thought out - its looks like a hodge podge of randomly sized bins and doors and speakers. This includes the area in between the seats from behind the parking break on back. It all seems like an afterthought, or that the designers ran out of time. Granted, its fairly well hidden by the seats most of the time.
Like they did with the Rays and the Brembos, I think getting some interior "name brand" items on the track model would have been cool - a Momo steering wheel, special shift ****, maybe some Sparco seats, would I think have really pushed the track model over the top as far as coolness factor is concerned.
Yes these things will be available aftermarket - but so are Brembos and Rays, which is my point.
I wouldnt have minded seeing a few more color choices on interiors. Also I feel that since all these cars were pre-ordered, Nissan should have let us pick any color combo we wanted. I think that would have been a nice perk for us early adopters.
I think this post may come across more negative than I intended it. Overall I'm very pleased with the interior! My gripes are largely minor.
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The interior is fine.
It would have been nicer if they'd spent another couple hundred in more luxurious materials, but you gotta draw the line somewhere. Had they done that, I'd probably wish they'd spent another couple hundred more!
It would have been nicer if they'd spent another couple hundred in more luxurious materials, but you gotta draw the line somewhere. Had they done that, I'd probably wish they'd spent another couple hundred more!
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Originally posted by VQracer
If they think the 350Z's interior looks cheap, tehn I wonder what they think about most American cars. Like the Vette. Absolutely horrible interior. Looks like any other GM vehicle.
If they think the 350Z's interior looks cheap, tehn I wonder what they think about most American cars. Like the Vette. Absolutely horrible interior. Looks like any other GM vehicle.
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From: Los Angeles
Originally posted by VQracer
If they think the 350Z's interior looks cheap, tehn I wonder what they think about most American cars. Like the Vette. Absolutely horrible interior. Looks like any other GM vehicle.
If they think the 350Z's interior looks cheap, tehn I wonder what they think about most American cars. Like the Vette. Absolutely horrible interior. Looks like any other GM vehicle.
I sat in the same base model blue that you did at Capitol Nissan, z350z. I recognized the flaw in the nav door that you did but I didn't think it was that bad as I really had no big trouble with it. But I can see that after prolonged use and age it could become a bigger problem, could. Hopefully the designers will work it out in time though.
But the door itself, when closed, is very prominent and attractive IMO and denotes that their should be something important or special behind it. If I knew nothing about the Z and took note of the door and opened it only to find a little empty compartment I would be puzzled and disappointed not to have found any "goodies" in there. I'm glad I ordered the Nav.
Yes the dash pop out cup holder could easily break by a angry knee. Must keep it closed. Keep it a secret from passengers and only use it myself. Good luck!
The door panels do look plain but I will have my eyes on the road and gauges anyway. I love the air vents though, very nice IMO.
The gauges are a very nice array over the wheel and it's great how they move with wheel adjustment. And I am so glad that they went back to the angled three bay gauge array in the center
dash. I loved that in my 240Z's.
No glove box! Oh well there's more storage in there than my original Z's had. Have to get used to that though. But what the hell, it's a sports car for cryin' out loud!!
Materials were satisfactory to me. I suppose they could have spent more money and done better but for a beautiful sports car with 287 HP and a 6 speed to boot starting at $26,250 they did an excellent job I think. I have no real complaints.
But the door itself, when closed, is very prominent and attractive IMO and denotes that their should be something important or special behind it. If I knew nothing about the Z and took note of the door and opened it only to find a little empty compartment I would be puzzled and disappointed not to have found any "goodies" in there. I'm glad I ordered the Nav.
Yes the dash pop out cup holder could easily break by a angry knee. Must keep it closed. Keep it a secret from passengers and only use it myself. Good luck!
The door panels do look plain but I will have my eyes on the road and gauges anyway. I love the air vents though, very nice IMO.
The gauges are a very nice array over the wheel and it's great how they move with wheel adjustment. And I am so glad that they went back to the angled three bay gauge array in the center
dash. I loved that in my 240Z's.
No glove box! Oh well there's more storage in there than my original Z's had. Have to get used to that though. But what the hell, it's a sports car for cryin' out loud!!
Materials were satisfactory to me. I suppose they could have spent more money and done better but for a beautiful sports car with 287 HP and a 6 speed to boot starting at $26,250 they did an excellent job I think. I have no real complaints.
Last edited by ZON; Jul 19, 2002 at 10:55 AM.
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From: Wallingford, PA
It would be cool to see someone like Nismo make aftermarket interior parts, maybe a brushed aluminum door for the Nav, or some leather panels for the doors or an atomic cup holder for the dash...etc
(hint, hint, Nismo...)
Mikey
(hint, hint, Nismo...)
Mikey
From CAR. "Unlike its established up market rivals, the Japanese coupe has seats trimmed in fabric, in-cab surfaces made of high-quality VW-inspired plastics, and no digital disturbancies bar three small alphanumeric displays".
Originally posted by Enforcer
Seriously though, plastic gets brittle in cold. The one piece in the interior that really bothers me the most is the door handle. It looks in the pictures to be plastic along with the lock. Can anyone confirm? Enforcer
Seriously though, plastic gets brittle in cold. The one piece in the interior that really bothers me the most is the door handle. It looks in the pictures to be plastic along with the lock. Can anyone confirm? Enforcer
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From: Orlando, Fl
"Seriously though, plastic gets brittle in cold. The one piece in the interior that really bothers me the most is the door handle. It looks in the pictures to be plastic along with the lock. Can anyone confirm?"
It is actually a nice heavy feeling piece of real aluminum according to one of the numerous reviews.
It is actually a nice heavy feeling piece of real aluminum according to one of the numerous reviews.
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From: In a Village!
Saw the car at the Tokyo Motor Show back in Oct. 2k1... must say it is a nice smooth looking interior. I couldn't get inside and touchy touchy, feely feely but it was solid. If these reviewers are looking for solid Audi quality interior inside a car that boasts 287 horses think again! I mean get real - it's an empty nitpick to be honest. Look at the Car Magazine review and get a true sense of what the Z has to offer. Clean, ergonomically balanced, well proportioned, and above all else - DECENT QUALITY... what more can you ask for?!
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From: Bay Village OH
I remember reading in one of the reviews that one of the knocks on the interior is the different grainings of the plastic mat'ls. It appears that Nissan tried to blend several material types; graining, texture, colors together which, in some eyes, detracts from it's looks. As they always say, opinions are like a**holes ... everyone has one. Suffice to sday, this is a sportscar, I'd rather they spend their money on the technology, I'll worry about upgrading my interior. Just my opinion.
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I sat in it
I was able to sit in the Z for quite a while. Got a complete NAV tour and played around with some of the goodies. Here are some thoughts to answer your concerns here guys:
Enforcer - The interior door handles and lock are aluminum. No chance of snapping anything off here.
zPilott - The exterior door handles aren't plastic at all. They too are aluminum. Not only that, but they have a strong heavy feel to them. A bit awkward to use, but in no way are they "cheap".
throbbing_Zon - The door panels are kinda cool IMO. They have a "snakeskin" feel to them. Somewhere between a leather and rubber compound. By the way, the door panels and the dash are the same materials.
As far as the glovebox is concerned... who cares?! I think the spaces behind the seats are very useful. There is a large space behind the seats (better than any glovebox) that will house an attache or briefcase, no problem. Kinda nice to have everything tucked away neatly in compartments back behind the seats anyway.
The NAV is in a perfect spot. The compartment door was a bit awkward and flimsy, but Brian Z confirmed with me that they seemed to have made improvements on this at a more recent viewing of the car. That was one of the things on Nissan's fix-it list before production. The NAV door will be improved, I can almost guarantee.
Any other questions I may be able to answer? Lemme know...
Enforcer - The interior door handles and lock are aluminum. No chance of snapping anything off here.
zPilott - The exterior door handles aren't plastic at all. They too are aluminum. Not only that, but they have a strong heavy feel to them. A bit awkward to use, but in no way are they "cheap".
throbbing_Zon - The door panels are kinda cool IMO. They have a "snakeskin" feel to them. Somewhere between a leather and rubber compound. By the way, the door panels and the dash are the same materials.
As far as the glovebox is concerned... who cares?! I think the spaces behind the seats are very useful. There is a large space behind the seats (better than any glovebox) that will house an attache or briefcase, no problem. Kinda nice to have everything tucked away neatly in compartments back behind the seats anyway.
The NAV is in a perfect spot. The compartment door was a bit awkward and flimsy, but Brian Z confirmed with me that they seemed to have made improvements on this at a more recent viewing of the car. That was one of the things on Nissan's fix-it list before production. The NAV door will be improved, I can almost guarantee.
Any other questions I may be able to answer? Lemme know...
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From: Bay Area, CA
I thought that various interior bits were a bit cheap (NAV door, cupholder, door handles, like everyone else has pointed out), but overall I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Keeping in mind that Nissan's focus was on performance first, I think we should be content that the interior didn't turn out to be a nightmare. I'm just glad that it's roomy enough for me (6'0) and has enough clearance for a helmet!
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From: Alabama
Enforcer - The interior door handles and lock are aluminum. No chance of snapping anything off here.
zPilott - The exterior door handles aren't plastic at all. They too are aluminum. Not only that, but they have a strong heavy feel to them. A bit awkward to use, but in no way are they "cheap".
zPilott - The exterior door handles aren't plastic at all. They too are aluminum. Not only that, but they have a strong heavy feel to them. A bit awkward to use, but in no way are they "cheap".
If they think the 350Z's interior looks cheap, tehn I wonder what they think about most American cars. Like the Vette. Absolutely horrible interior. Looks like any other GM vehicle.
Enforcer
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From: Los Angeles
How does the dash material compare to a 2002 pathfinder dash material (if you've ever been in a 02 Pathy) cause the pathfinder has a gorgeous dash treatment best I've seen for under $30K. So If the Z comes even close to this quality then we don't have anything to worry about and all those magazines can go %&*# themselves.