fairladyZ in Japan

The new FairladyZ’s are at the dealers here in Japan.

I have never seen the car in person… only pictures from about 28 magazines scattered all over my study and pictures on the Internet.

On Sunday at 9:30 Am, I was the first person to visit to my local Nissan dealer. Flags were outside the dealer announcing the arrival of the new Z. I was personally helped by a salesperson parking my car, escorted into the dealership, served ice-coffee, and given a beautiful FairladyZ hardbound catalog with all the pictures and available Nissan options. This is simply a beautifully designed catalog – in the same fashion as was done with the introduction of the R34-GTR in 1999.

There was a Le Mans automatic (Version T) on the floor with the orange leather seats. It just arrived yesterday at the dealer.

I spent one hour in the car, looking under the car, opening the front hood, rear door, the passenger door – repeating the process three times. The dealerships here are great … no push, hurry-up -- just a leisurely process at the customer’s own pace,

First impression…I absolutely love the car. Compact, low, and aggressive.

Driver’s seat……...I have Recaro's in my current Z. However, the stock leather seat has excellent side-lateral support. The only thing I miss was the high Recaro hip support on both sides of the seat.

However, the lumbar support… is excellent. I am 5’11”, 155 lbs, with a 32” inseam. So with my legs, I like a high seat angle on my right leg. I cranked the lumbar support **** to its highest angle and it was perfect. In fact, it was much better than my Recaro.

Driving position….Somebody in an earlier post described the driving position like an Austin Healy. Well, I had a 1967 Austin Healy 3000… light teal blue… and the legs were straight out.

The new Z, while not as straight as the Healy, has a much better driving position than does the previous Z32. The seat is lower… and the legs almost go straight out. I loved the driving position and think it is a significant improvement over the Z32. The pedal area seems smaller than the Z32 – and I like it better.

Overall feeling in the new Z…. was great. It feels more compact inside that the Z32. Like many people have mentioned, the rear window visibility is smaller than the Z32… and the visibility between the passenger window and rear window is more limited than the Z32. However, I think most people will soon adapt to the change very soon. Also, the height of the doorsills .. I like… a more snug feeling.

I liked the interior. Any feeling of “cheapness” or lack of quality – absolutely NO, in my opinion. I really liked the interior. Very, very nicely done.

The door openers, both outside and in… are great… and a breeze to open.

The sound of the door closing… very tight and solid.


Automatic transmission…. Although I plan on getting 6MT, the automatic shifter really surprised me. From the pictures I have seen, it looks like one, ugly, big blob. However, the shifter is much smaller than I thought. It is much smaller than the Z32 auto shifter. Overall, for those people who ordered the auto shifter, I think you will be very happy with it.

Options

There is so much to choose from here – either Nissan or NISMO… I feel sorry that the US does not yet have this selection.

Summary

I am very happy to have waited to see what options… particularly NISMO….will be coming on the market here in Japan. I will still be getting the Version S FairladyZ that includes the 6MT, fabric seats, Brembos, and the standard 18” wheels. I once thought I definitely wanted the Rays – but I have changed my mind to buying the NISMO wheels since they will put a 240 patch on the front and 275 on the rear. This has influenced my color selection as well… from Daytona… to possibly a gray – either Chrome Silver or most likely, Silverstone.

The only dislike I have, like other people, has to do with the huge Nissan silver logos on the front and back. I would have much preferred a small Z logo on the front and nothing on the rear. This criticism is pretty small bananas – in consideration of the overall phenomenal outcome of the new Z.

bayarea-sunset

Nice recap of your trip to the dealer seems like a different level of service in a Japan Nissan dealer as apposed to the average north american car lot.If I ever got that type of service here in California I would probably faint.

AudioPat

I am one of the lucky few that have actually driven the car and your review made me crazy all over again...thanks for you impressions..it's always good to have someone else echo your feelings...BTW..if I had the choice between Daytona Blue and Silverstone...I would go the Silverstone...just my 2 lire....thanks again for a great review

AudioPat

I don't think we'll need the amonia caps anytime soon!

EnthuZ

iTrader: (2)

fairladyZ in Japan, when is your Z, sorry, Fairlady coming?

Glad you liked the seats, as we are about the same size. I sat in a VW GTI 337(?), whatever it's called, with Recaro's. I swam in the seats. They seemed like they were made for extra large people. Looked great, but NO lateral support. I owned a bunch of Triumph Spitfires with "Bucket" seats......an evenly curved seat back that worked!

Thanks again for the post

As to your color dilemma........

Boomer

Thanks for the extensive report on the Z in Japan. It gave me a real feel for what the car will be like. I also appreciate your comments on the Auto trans, which I have ordered. This is one more astute, favorable view of it and makes me believe I made the right choice for me.

Boomer
BR/FR/AT

3rdpower

Thanks for sharing with us that wonderful review!

Since you saw the Lemans in person what do you think of it?

rai

thanks for your review.

I am a little Po'ed about the NISMO deal, I think since I am getting a track I should have had the choice of the larger wheels and the more aggresive spoiler. Now to get the NISMO spoiler I have to ditch my OE spoiler. But what really gets me mad is the floor/trunk mats, it seems like the ones I ordered are going to be really cheap looking compaired to the optional NISMO ones. If I had known this before hand I would have waited and got the NISMO ones. Sounds like you were smart to wait for the options to be shown.

LowFuel

Hey rai, you might want to talk to your dealer about he trunk and floormats. Like the splash guards, I wouldn't be suprised if these are a "Dealer installed" option, in which case I'm sure you could easily cancel them and wait for the Nismo verisons.

fairladyZ in Japan

You are all welcome... I still can't stop smiling... what a day !

Audiopat... again you are welcome.. I read your review with great interest.

3rdpower...regarding the LeMans exterior color with the orange leather seats -- never thought these colors would work together. But they looked great. While not my favorite color, I liked the LeMans -- it is not bright... but a very nice subtle color.... much better than I expected...eye-catching.

rai

I never thought of that. Good idea. I want the best for my Z.

AudioPat

No matter what color you have chosen, I've heard this over and over again "Photos don't do this color justice"...It seems every color looks so much better in person...think we will all be happy with our choices

king

What about the Navi door?
Is it fixed?

ncrecordkeeper

glad to hear the burnt orange seats work well with the sunset. After seeing more and more pics, I was wondering if the seats would seem to yellowish and not match the exterior.