Ok, so far no one has asked if my car is a porsche.
But if some one did, I would cringe and reply, Oh phleeze! don't compare my baby to that ugly toad.

At least around here they are so many of them and they're just so blah and ordinary. They have those ugly google eyes, they're design has practically remained the same since like, 30 years ago... They may be great to drive, but they're uuuugly! I wouldn't trade my 350 for one of those things ever!

Also, I don't think that many Porsche people buy that car because of the performance. They just want that logo in their garage because they feel they need to show something off. Its just an ego thing. JMHO

 

HAHA...I feel that way about the drones who continue to buy BMW's. IMO, that entire line of cars is among the ugliest on the road. Yes, they perform very well....that I give them. But to me, what is performance when you sacrifice good looks and style. I'll get flamed for sure...but SOOO many bimmer owners are little more than status seekers, and don't know their exhaust from the air filter! You have to hand to BMW marketing that they've been able to sell such a classless, no-style car to the masses like that. They are SO common on the roads. And yes, I know there are "some" who do indeed purposely and knowingly give up looks for performance. Hell, they wouldn't sell any EVO's if they didn't!!

 

ThoughtZ, yeah, I've also had people think my car cost upwards of around $40K-$50K. All goes to show the car does have the looks of a high end.

 

I love Bimmers and Porsches.

In fact a nice little Carrera4 would be my dream car...in black please.

As it is, I am pretty young, and the Z is my first new car. My first sports car too. And I LOVE IT. I could care less if others think it is a Porsche or a Datsun, to me, it is how I feel about it that matters the most.

When people used to ask me what kind of car I was in, I would just say "It's a Nissan".

Having said that, the foremost reason I bought the car was it's beautiful styling, and if it shares some of it's lines with the 911.
That is fine by me! :-D

In fact, I parked it a couple of spots away from a silver 911 out in the "boonies" at the mall in Plano a couple of weeks ago. I had this huge grin when I looked at my "dream car" (the Porsche) and decided that my Z was almost as good looking!!

 

when asked "IS THAT A PORSHCE?",

the response should be "that i passed up? oh yeah it was"

Hahahaha

 

this thread reminded me of my friends silverstone s2000 alot of people mainly girls always thought it was a BMW. Im guessing because of the Z3 or Z4 commercials where they always had the car in silver.

 

Hahha... well, I'm no BMW fan but I find the styling on most of their cars except the Z3 and Z4 to be very conservative... not ugly, just nothing special. As for performance, umm, the 325s and 525s are slugs.... REALLY slow for the money (partly due to being heavy). At least the M3 and M5 are fast and the M3 is known for its handling. The Z, WRX STi and Evo would smoke the any non-M3 3 series on the track in a straight line (without a question) and on a track in terms of overall lap times.

I kinda know what you mean about the snotty BMW owners. Many of them have never even taken them to the track and taken a class at a racing school. What a waste!

BMWs are pretty common around Microsoft (near Seattle), but they're actually not that common in the US. BMW in fact sells very few cars in the US every month. BMW (+ Mini) sold 25,086 cars in the US in November vs. 63,930 for Nissan vs. 147,731 for Toyota vs. 363,181 for GM! Toyota sells more Camrys each month than all BMWs and Minis combined. Heck, sometimes in the past, the POS Chevy Impala has outsold BMWs + Minis combined.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031202/nytu161_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/031202/mi_g...r_sales_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031202/latu085_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031202/25745_1.html

 

hehe, i got the variation of the "is that a porsche?" question yesterday, but the kid was more blunt. pulled up to the drive thru window, kid does a double take, looks at me and asks,

"are you rich?"

 

LOL! what did you say?

 

I owned a new '86 944 and a used 1986 911. Both great cars, so I locked in on a used Boxster S or a '95-'97 911. I made a couple of offers on Boxsters and 911's, but got turned down. Since then, I drove the '04 S2000, the RX8 and the 350Z (after driving in a new Z roadster). I was so impressed with the Z that I looked and found a great '03 coupe with low miles, bought it and am very pleased after a few months.

My final decision came down to performance and looks (orig. owner installed Injen cold air, Stillen exhausts, 18" Racing Harts w. Michelin Pilot Sports and a few other minor add-ons that made it an unbelievable car. I must say the ride is a little bumpier than the others, but it is a sports car and I won't be putting too many miles on it anyway.

The S2000 was probably my second choice after driving the new one, but it is more cramped inside and does not have the luxury items the Z Touring car has. The Boxster is also cramped and price-wise I would have paid more for an '00 that had very little warranty left (my Z had two years remaining). The Porsches do cost more when service is needed and problems occur. The RX8 doesn't look as good (in my opinion) and the power just is not comparable. There is also no comparison in how the RX8 sounds compared to my Z.

Honestly, I buy a car that I like to drive and one that I personally think is great looking. I'm not sorry at all and wouldn't be initimated at all sitting next to any Porsche.

 

I've had several people ask if my Z was a porsche. I replaced the 'nissan' emblems with 'Z' emblems so I can kinda understand since the manufactures name is no longer on my Z. I think it's a cool complement and proudly tell them that it's a 350Z. Many will usually say something like "oh, like the old 2xx, 3xx Z" or "my __ used to own a 2xx, 3xx Z". My sis bought me a calendar named "Dream Cars" for x-mas. It includes the Porsche GT2, Viper GTS, Lambo Mercialago, various Ferraris, and you guessed it a 350Z! The Z is by far the least expensive car in the whole calendar but I though it was cool that it was even included.

 

"if i was, would i be here at Long John Silver's?"

 

I like "smart men's porsche"! Because it's really not flattering me to be called "pure man" when I just spend $35K on an unpractical two-seater.

 

I get this all the time. I think most of the guys getting these comments are in silver or black. The brickyard also resembles certain Porsche colors

 

It's just like asking a Tiburon owner what kind of Ferrari he drives...

 

Um....yyyyeaaaah...

Whoever mistakens a Tiburon for a Ferrari needs a serious eye exam! No offense but daaayam you'd have to question what planet that person is from...much less..if they were even into cars!

 

I still have yet to decide on the Z...the more I look at it online and in person, the more i want want. if someone came up to me and asked me what kind of porsche i had, I would be flattered. You gotta admit, if you do a 360 around the car, the lines form very similiar to the 911.

on another note, you guys are great...I like visiting this board once in awhile. My heart says to go with the Z as I am also looking at a G35c and some other sedans. You guys make me feel at home.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Blackie
[B]Ok, so far no one has asked if my car is a porsche.
But if some one did, I would cringe and reply, Oh phleeze! don't compare my baby to that ugly toad.

Funny you should say "OH, phleeze" When I ordered my 350zr I was soooo excited. My husband said; that car is every bit as nice looking as the Porsche. I said to my neighbor "I'm so excited I ordered my car and it's "almost" as nice as your porsche. (I didn't want to sound like a snob) She replied "Oh phleeze... don't compare that to mine. Funny thing is everyone in my neighborhood raved about my car when it came in...she has never said a word. A little jealous perhaps....spending double. And I do think it's every bit as nice looking. If I wanted to spend more money I would not have gotten a Porsche I would have bought a Lexus SC430. I have had people tell me it looks like that. and I just say thanks.

 

My friend has an NSX. People have thought it was a ferrari, corvette, and the one that really does not make since, a mustang? How the hell can you think an NSX is a mustang..

 

Great, entertaining reading above. Here's my addition.

I spent the last 6 years in Japan and the last four of those driving a gray, right-side drive, '90 300ZX TT with 'T' tops. It was an awesome car and even turned quite a few heads of the locals. Knowing it wouldn't be worth it to have it shipped over due to the cost of installing "real" bumpers and having the doors reinforced, I sold it before returning to the US.

Another car I fell in love with in Japan, besides the Skyline GT, was the Toyota "Altezza" (which never had "Toyota" emblems afixed). So come to find out that unlike the Skyline, the "Altezza" AKA Lexus IS300 was being exported to the US.

When I returned to the US, I test drove it and was close to closing the deal, but decided to wander next door to the BMW lot and ended up with a re-certified 2000 323. It was a nice practical car, but aftermarketing it to death, I came to the realization that I was trying to turn it into something it wasn't.

So on my last birthday I set out to drive the 350Z and RX-8. I got no farther than the Nissan dealer and closed the deal. Yeah, I lost a little on the BMW as a trade-in (a knuclehead move by most peoples' opinions), but I couldn't be happier.

I've never been asked "What kind of Porsche is that?," but people think I am crazy to have traded in a "BMW for a Nissan!?!" I try to explain, but cannot. I love what I got!!!

Getting 19" HRE 545Rs, 9.5/10.5 mounted next week. Maybe I'll get the crazy questions then...

Happy New Year Z enthusiasts!!!