I'm really tempted to sell my Acura CL-S and get the Z! the CL is a great car for all it's worth, but I'm just tired of having a wanna-be sports car......I mean luxury sports coupe.... I know I wouldnt be able to do without a Navigation system, how are the Z's optional navigation system? (Wait, does it have one?). Also, I've never driven a manual car before, is it difficult to learn? Thanks

 

its available on the upper 3 models. 2000 option

we all had to learn stick somewhere, the z isnt the ideal place, but if thats what you gotta do to be able to have one, do it.

 

I learned manual in my Z (after my boyfriend drove it home) - it was waaay not as bad as I thought and I love it now.

The nav system is great! I didn't really care one way or the other when I bought the car, but I love it now - it's really well designed and the voice is very pleasant. (Tho my boyfriend gets mad when I talk back to him when he's giving directions, but I don't argue with the voice!)

 

Thanks for the responses so far. Are you guys pleased with the navi system? I'll assume it's touch screen/DVD based. How are the coverage areas? When I bought my CL, the Acura DVD based navi was the best around, but there have been alot of improvements since. ****, even the new accord has a dope navi!

 

Ginash, considering coming over to the Dark Side, eh?

I traded in my CLS for a Track model Z last weekend. I can't offer any advice about the Z navigation since I don't have it and didn't in the CLS either, but the Z is everything I expected it to be: a pure sports car.

Like you was initially attracted to the "luxury-sport" nature of the CLS, but found myself spending $$$$ on headers, springs, sways, exhaust, intake, and other mods to make it more sports car. But ultimately it fell way short of my expectations.

With the Z you get a pure sports car, plain and simple, with no "luxury-sport" comprimises. That's not to say the Z is uncomfortable, or lacks necessary amenities. Sure, the ride is firmer, but not uncomfortably so. The seats are way more comfortable, the ergonomic layout more suited to driving, and the handling is incredible.

Before I had the CLS I drove manual transmission cars for 15 years, so driving the Z with the stick is real easy. Some have said its not the ideal car to learn how to drive manual transmission, but I'm not sure I would agree...the clutch effort is light, the action reasonably progressive, and the gears easy to find.

Take one out for a test drive if you haven't already!

Mike

 

I taught my son to drive a manny tranny on my Zzzzz; not a problem although if you could find someone with a "beater" to get the basics down it would be helpful.

 

LOL- ha! I was waiting for a former CL owner to respond! Anyways, I agree with you 100%. I've wasted too much money on my car as it is, a FWD car can only go so far.... pure sports car is what I want...... navi is the only option I really care about. G35c may be another option...... simply because of the 2+2. We'll see........

 

I'm very happy with the navigation system. I dig the birdseye mode the most. Sometimes it makes questionable rounting choices, but they are correct...and it has re-routing so it will change course if you deviate. This was testing my normal drive home form work...it made some strange choices, but I ended up getting home at the same time I normally do (shrug).

It is not touch sreen...which would have been cool, but made for a completely messy screen all of the time.

 

the nav is not a touch screen but it's great, i have it~

also learning how to drive a stick is easy, but learning how to drive a stick smoothly takes some time~

 

Do not get this car WITHOUT the Navi. You will be sorry! This is a must have.

For $2,000.00 it is a great bargain, it has a factory fit, is covered by the warranty, and costs the same as an aftermarket version.

Upgrade DVD's are released every year, and can be purchased if you wish.

It works great! I have never been on a road that was not listed. It is accurate to within 5-10 feet, in my area.

The screen is clear, its easy to use, and looks super cool at night!

As for driving a manual, you will have no trouble. Give it a week and it will be second nature.

I have to say the Z is not a bad place to learn. It is easier than learning on a truck, but harder than learning on a Honda Civic.

You really will have no trouble, think of the tens of millions that drive a manual each and every day.

Good Luck,
Eric

 

Thanks for all the help guys. Alot of friendly peeps on this forum. dope.... Only thing that sux about the navi is that it is not touch screen...... but there are definitely some positive aspects of it as compared to my 3 yr old acura navi (bigger screen for ex).

 

u know what's neat about the nav? i don't know anything about other nav but this one sure kick @ss, because it will switch from day mode to night mode automatically~ i'm not sure about other brand's nav tho~

 

At least for Acura, it does the same thing.... night and day mode. You can also change it manually, apparently it goes to the respective mode based on if your lights are on or not....I'll assume the same goes for the Z's

 

i got mine w/out the navi...touchscreen is the shyiet...i used to have a CL-s w/navi too (sold it last week)...i didn't get the z w/ navi bacuase i couldn't picture myself using buttons/joystick to type in addresses into the comp...i plan on getting a kenwood excelon touchscreen navi/dvd all that necessary stuff...as soon as i can drive myself to the shop (1st time manual owner too!), sometimes i really miss my CL but i know i'm gonna love the Z more when i get my stickshift skills down

p.s. did someone say the Z's seats were more comfortable then the CL's ?

 

The only thing about the nav is it overtakes the radio/cd and it can be quite persistent as you get close to an "event". It is accurate, but sometimes it will say things like "in a mile keep to the left followed by a keep to the left" and repeat it until you get there. The Keep to the left could simply be a bend in the road.