Hi everybody! I just test drove a 2007 base model today! I'm a newbie in manual, so...I don't know what to tell you guys! I just thought it was a blast! Much better than an automatic! The engine response was very crisp!

I took a look under the hood, and that thing was PACKED in there. With the hood open and looking from the side, the engine runs flush with the fenders...so that means the hood must bulge out just to close since the hood has thickness...if the hood was paper thin, we could use the old hood. Exhaust however...I couldn't see very well under the car, but it definitely looked like a single pipe going to the back...

I've only driven manual for a total of about...2.5 hours...split between an Accord, Integra, and Audi TT. Well, I just added about 10 minutes of 350Z. It was definitely trickier than the Accord, but...great experience! I didn't have any issues going from gear to gear...so I guess you guys can interpret that however you guys see fit. I'm a mechanical engineer, so I'm consciously thinking of what's going on inside the car if that makes a difference.

I told the dealer I wanted an Enthusiast in Carbon Silver, but he said they didn't have any coming. I would have to wait 3-4 months for one! They did have a Daytona Blue and Silver right there...

So the pics are from today's trip to another dealer...these are pics of a San Marino Blue...does anybody have pics of the Carbon Silver so I can make up my mind on which one I want?!

 

I just drove a Carbon Silver Roadster GT(automatic unfortunately!!!). I liked it but my 06' manual will easily take it down.

 

Of course it will clown! Your NOT stock!

Now put those mods on an auto 07 and then come back after the race and tell me what happened!

 

Uh...you do know the 07 has parts that would be considered mods on an 03-06 right? Like revised cams, new intake and exhaust, headers, dual throttle bodies, etc. His mods just put his car on somewhat equal playing field to an 07.

 

I'm surprised you thought it was harder than the accord to drive. The new accords have just about the worst clutch I've ever felt! One of the hardest new cars I've ever driven. The Z's I've driven are much easier.

 

the 07 auto probably would be fast as a stock 06 spd and 07 6spd would probably be like a modded 06 spd

 

if by modded you mean, a cold air intake annnd...yeah...lol..07's are running what ? 306 or so?

 

that's what they're rated at, but more like 313-315hp. I hope that guy took a good test-drive to make such a statement like his 06 could take the 07.

 

After that, I got a ferrari you can beat.

 

i've always wondered.. what if you stall the car while test driving? do they get mad at you? and is that all they do? lol cuz i would like to test drive but i'm sort of a noob. don't own a manual, driven my friend's ghetto *** g20 and my other friend's sti and gotten used to it but since it's only occasionally, it's not enough to have manual down as second nature. plus i'd be pretty nervous driving a brand new car and with the excitement of test driving a 07 i've been waiting for almost 5 months.. wow i'm bound to make a mistake and stall.

has anyone ever stalled while a test drive?

 

haha!! I was thinking that the whole time!

Dealer: Do you know how to drive stick shift?
Me: Yeah!

You just have to not show any doubts...and then they'd be cool with it. Then they'd just be like...haha...wow, this guy SUCKS at driving stick...

From what I've heard, you just get used to the car you drive...

I didn't stall during it, but it definitely showed through I'm not well practiced. The guy was like...you should step on the gas a bit more before letting the clutch out so quickly.

How fast do clutches wear out anyways? I was just trying to get the clutch to be fully attached to the transmission as quickly as possible...and to match the engine speed with the transmission speed. Well, that latter part was tricky...I only got it right a few times.

I drive an automatic CR-V...2007 350z with manual...mmmm yum

 

Yup, I have. The first thing I did when I got in the Z was stall it. My Jeep's I6 has so much torque at idle, you can just pick your foot up off the clutch while idling in first and it starts moving... can't do that in the Z. The clutch is also set up way different. Anyways, the salesman didn't care one bit. I didn't stall it for the rest of the drive, btw, just took me a minute to figure out the clutch engagement point.

 

Oh yeah. I drove it like I stole it. I was impressed but not enough to buy an automatic.

 

Anybody snap some pics of a Carbon Silver in daylight yet?

I've heard that it's darker than Silverstone...

The color codes are K--. Carbon Silver is K51 and Silver Alloy is K23. I looked through the other brochures, and it seemed like the number corresponded with the darkness. Only K11 screwed up the entire pattern and it was almost...black.

 

It looks almost exactly the same minus the metallic that's in the SS.