How's it drive?
 

Hey everyone,

I'm a noob here just trying to learn a little more about 350Zs. I know I love the way they look, but I don't know anything about this "viscous diff" they come with.

When taking a turn fast, if you punch the gas pedal to spin the tires, will it drift out under acceleration?

Also, when approaching a sharp turn very fast at high rpms, can you let out the clutch to drift the car sideways going into a turn?

Or, more responsibly, if you're taking an exit ramp fast, can you lift off the gas to help bring the rear around if needed or mash the gas to help the rear step out under acceleration?

Sorry for the juvenile questions... I just want to know if the car is fun to drive as is or if it really needs the rear diff replaced. (I see a lot of talk of that in the Drivetrain subforum, but no exact explanation of why people are modding that.)

Thanks for any opinions you can offer!

you are young, aren't you?
how a vlsd works has been explained a million times on many car forums.
they don't lock/unlock anything like a 2 way clutch diff. at all...
they're slow both ways. (VLSDs) which is exactly what nissan wanted for a passenger car that will be driven by mostly unexperienced drivers.

I drove a Base model for a test drive and the dealer literally FORCED me to drift it on an on ramp...basically bugged me till i did it.

I bought a touring for the limited slip and traction control and stuff as a safety net.


But every day i bring the back end around a little in the parking garage for the 180 degree turns and play when there is little traffic in some parts of DT boston. And with the dynamic control turned off, the thing is a blast.

I am so happy with the purchase. I went for the test drive cause of a smoking deal on the base model, and gout out of the car with the BIGGEST grin on my face that I went ahead and spend a little extra time to find one that I loved for a little more.

Very informative.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ing+350z&hl=en


http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...50z+test&hl=en

When coming out of a turn, I generally hit the gas and turn the wheel sharply spinning the car 360 degrees.

Essentially you can do the same when coming to a stop light. Turn the wheel sharply, and hit the brakes. Then steer opposite the direction of the rear end. That will get you into a side slide. If you time it right, you can slide up to another car at the red light. The other driver will go “Oh man like that’s radical dude.”

The search function is a wonderful thing, you should try it

Then post a thread about how the car "went out of control" by itself and got destroyed. Ask how to scam an insurance company/what new mods should I get now. Finally, rant about the tires/other drivers/weather/cranky old board members that don't agree with your "sad" story.

please stick with this instead. you don't respawn in real life.

http://www.hodnoceniher.cz/obaly/nee...arbon-x360.jpg

Turn on your PS2.
Load "GT-4".
Select Automaker "Nissan"
Select "350Z"
Select track of choice.
Knock yourself out.

Wheelspeed- The best answer to your question is the Z drives BETTER than it looks. But the questions about drifting the car and the viscous LSD don't make much sense. A skilled driver can do "tricks" with just about any car, but the 350Z isn't a car to screw around in. It'll tolerate a little noobie only so much- make a mistake with a powerful RWD car like this and you'll end up with your worst nightmarish!

the car has plenty of torque to swing the back end around without much trouble with the electronics off. just dont kill yourself.

i want to learn, but i refuse to practice on my z...lol. i need to take a stunt driving course or something.

:icon28:

The OP scares me.... and that's not easy to do.

Deltaforce, keep your daddy off this forum!

Heh heh! Interesting replies, but I was asking for it.

I'm 36 and have been driving bimmers for the past 10 years or so. Had a couple old 325s, a '90 M3, and now driving a '90 535i. I've had them because a friend is a mechanic for them and goes to auctions... so I've never paid more than $7500 for one. But I'm tired of driving old cars, and also tired of the yuppie image. I test drove a Civic Si, Ion Redline, Scion TC, but I don't think I can go back to FWD. I test drove a WRX, but actually wasn't impressed... it still pushed into the turns kind of like a FWD. Oh yeah, I also drove a new Charger with something like 300 hp and was very let down. I gassed it coming out of a tight turn and the inside wheel simply spun, like my old pick-up truck! What's the point of a powerful, rwd car that drives like that?

Anyway, I never gave a thought about what rear diff. made the bimmers so much fun, and just wanted to know if a 350Z is similar before coughing up big money (to me). Someone mentioned any driver can have fun in any car... my pick-up can spin the inside wheel whenever I want, but that thing sure ain't fun to drive. And I don't think any driver would be able to make my pick-up handle in a 'loose' fashion rather than just simply plowing ahead ('pushing').

So, I've recently learned the bimmers are 25% lock-up, clutch mechanism. I don't know how that compares with Nissan's viscous diff, but it sounds like you guys are able to have some fun so that's good enough for me.

Next question-- How do you maintain viscous diffs.? I DID do a search, and mostly got people wanting to change their's to some other type of diff. But I did see something about a viscous diff only being good for 60,000 miles. What do you think?

I don't know how to describe the answer well enough to what you're asking so I'll let another member do so, but I will tell you that you will absolutely LOVE your Z. Go for a test drive and see what I mean... :icon17:

I'm kinda disappointed with nissans choice of differentials. That's why I settled for the cheaper one wheel wonder peg leg (open differential). When I swap it for a quality unit all will be hunky dory.

The VLSD units just need the fluid changed. VLSD's are not as efficient as other types of differentials (rob more power). It is also not very aggressive... it's fairly easy for your average noob/idiot to deal with on a day to day basis.

After mentioning the bimmers I see why you were asking about the lift throttle oversteer... and no the Z does not behave the same way... the Z is easy to drive to the limit though.. and all models have plenty of power to kick the rear out if you want, so you shouldn't have any problems having fun..

Sounds like you need to take a test drive. ;)

Thanks roast, I was going to ask why there's so much activity in the "Engine, Drivetrain..." forum on swapping diffs. $1000 or $1500 isn't too expensive a mod for something that changes the driving characteristics so much, but I'd want to know ahead of time if that's something I should expect to want.

EDIT- I plan to grab a test drive this Saturday.

Wheelspeed,you scared me too. I thought you were deltaforce. There's a whole history here you don't know about. Don't pay any attention to comments like ^. It'll only confuse you. (Unless you guys post the bucket pics) :icon17: