I drove two 350's yesterday for the first time, and I have to confess I was a little disappointed. I did like many things about the car, but there were a few items that concerned me. I am wondering if these concerns are of worth or should be dismissed (and I realize I am addressing this to a biased audience). My concerns included

(1) ride: very jittery and busy, almost to the point of irritation. The ride was in stark contrast to that of the Z32 I owned which was endowed with lowering springs, 18 inch rims and 40 series tires. Is this jittery ride something that you get used to to the point where you're not even conscious of it or is it something you simply put up with as a trade off for the admittedly incredible handling characteristics?

(2) blind spot: the classic blind spot over the shoulder check is almost pointless in this car, I was almost never completely confident in making lane changes. Is this something that you adjust to with time?

(3) engine character: I found the vibration and noise of the engine to be less enthralling than the inline six of a BMW, whereas the engine in myZ32 was in my view as silky as any BMW engine. The engines I drove were both green, does this explain my perceptions, will the engines get silkier after break in?

The fact that those are the only things I have to complain about says a lot about the car. I have driven the Audi TT, C5, Bmw 325ci, porsche boxster (not the S) and dismissed them all for some reason. The 350 came close to satisfying me. I loved its handling characterisitcs, transmission dynamics, the torquey response of the engine, the exhuast note, and ergonomics. It simply is a fun car to drive. But I wonder if my concerns above will mean that my love of the car will wane with time as its practical deficiencies irritate me in its use as a daily driver.

Any comments would be appreciated

 

1st one, a little bit of each, a little mileage will loosen it up a tiny bit, youll also become used to it, but it will never be smooth. unless you do suspension modifications, then maybe cant comment on that personally.

2. I got used to it, properly align the side mirrors so you can see anything behind you that is too far back to see. then thers always the other one, where you dont have to worry about anyone keeping up next to you.



3.its V6, not a I6, which is perfectly balanced, it also has a substantial bit more hp, which does make it rougher. alot of power roaring out of there, it does what it can to contain it. of your list, the C5 is the only car I dont know the HP on, but its got a good bit more hp than any of the other cars, and a bunch more torque too.

in the end, you'll get used to all those problems you mentioned. atleast I did. of course you appear to be a bit harsh on your cars, with your past list of not good enoughs. but maybe the Z can stand up to your expectations, nothing wrong with shooting high.

 

(1) W h A t . J i T t E r Y . r I d E ? I must be used to it....

(2) What you adjust in time are the side mirrors. Once you have those adjusted correctly, there's almost no blind spot - they work really great. It's no problem.

(3) My engine has a lot of character, but I don't notice any vibration. The noise is normal for this model.

Bottom line: I don't think you'll ever find the perfect car. Keep in mind with the Z33, however, how much performance and looks you get for a very reasonable price.

See ya.
WayneTN

 

appreciate the comments so far, sounds like my concerns are minor and easily dealt with. I particularly like the point about a lack of perfection in any car. Unfortunately, perfectionism is a problem that infects areas of my life other than car purchases!

 

No offense, but the Z32 was a pig in comparison. It weighed at least 600lbs. more depending on configuration. Even lowered, the ride is surely numb by comparison to the 350. I'm not saying the 350 has a harsh ride, b/c it doesn't, but compared to a Z32 it is stiff and the response is better. What did you think about the Boxter's ride? The engine leaves much to be desired, but it should handle a little better than our Zs. Maybe you should take a look at the G35c. My father bought one and loves it. Its is a little top heavy and more of a luxorious ride compared to the Z. For 33k(MSRP) I bought a Performance, got crappy Bridgestone Re040 tires, no Brembos, and no leather. For 33k(MSRP) my father got Michelin Pilot Sports, Leather, Brembos, sunroof, and Bose(debatebly good). It seems to be a little better value if you are looking at other sports sedans, 2+2s. I made the right choice for me, but the G35c is a very nice car.

 

1) I've been a big complainer about the bounce, but most of my complaints stem from the car's drive home in the cold winter of the midwest across rough concrete interstates. Around Nashville, it isn't that concerning. The standard belief is the bounce is a result of poorly matched stiffness between the shocks and springs. Many that have put on inexpensive Eibach springs or the more expensive S-Tune Nismo suspension have said the bounce completely goes away. I'm personally waiting on stiffer shocks, to see if they would get rid of the problem with no lowering of the car.

2) Blind spot - I do not notice this at all after about the first week. I've always looked over my shoulder changing lanes, though (as you should).

3) I don't notice the engine being particularly rough, although when I first got the car, it seemed a bit buzzy at high rpms. I think that feeling has reduced, but I may have just grown used to it.

 

Already posted but I think looking into the NISMO S suspension is going to slove the issues of ride/bounce. Every guy that puts it on has nothing buyt good things to say such as no bounce, incresed responsiveness, only slightly rougher ride. Try searching for post on it.

 

Here's my take:

1. The ride is definitely stiff, and can be bouncy on concrete highways with uneven seams. I don't mind the stiffness, the bounce on the highway is a bit tiring on long drives. Not a big issue to me though.

2. The blind spot can be an issue, but for me it's mainly in the parking lot when I'm afraid that some little kid will walk back there and I won't see him. On the highway I just try to pay close attention to the cars around me, and I try to change lanes after passing someone so I know there won't be any body sneaking up from behind. Angling the side mirrors out a bit helps as well.

3. The engine definitely vibrates. I don't think it gets any better. I have 15,000 miles, and mine actually seems to be getting a bit worse. Maybe it's just my imagination after reading all these comlaints about the vibrating engine.

The only thing I'd add to your list is interior rattles. I've got a couple annoying ones that make the car seem less solid than it used to. I've found the source of some, but others I still haven't located. Hopefully I won't get any more, but with the stiff suspension I'm not holding my breath. If you get annoyed by rattles though, you may want to try and drive a used Z to see if you notice anything that will get on your nerves.

Overall, I really love the car.

-D'oh!