ok before i get flamed about searching i am in iraq and only have a little bit of time on the computer a day, i did run a search and didn't really find what i'm looking for so here it is, when i get back from iraq i am going to buy a new 350z and then commence to build it up, i'm new to the z world but not car world, i had a 2001 mustang gt that i built up over 450 rwhp and it was a coupe, well my cousin had a similar mustang but it was convertible, i came to envy the convert feature during nice weather haha even though mine did handle better and was a little quicker due to weight, now to my question.........

how much handling/acceleration difference is there between the coupe and the roadster? also can the roadster with a new suspension be fixed to handle similar to the coupe, i say similar b/c i know it will never handle the same as a coupe with suspension upgrades and the coupe will always handle better, i really don't wanna be sucking in the performance department (both handling and speed, due to extra weight and body flex) just for a convertible, but i will accept being a little behind as long as its not too great of a difference, so anybody with experience or who knows any links or articles to read, it would be greatly appreciated, thanks

 

Go for the coupe man. No matter WHAT YOU DO, the coupe will always be the lighter, better handling, and the better responding car. Plus, with the top up, the ZR is hideous.

 

IMO the roadster looks worse with the top down. The trunk looks like a landing strip!!!


+1 for coupe! Less parts to break, and safer too!

 

The primary difference is weight. The Roadster carries an additional 7.8 percent weight. How much do the extra pounds effect performance? I dont know. You would have to drive both and see.

 

i personally like the zr looks, top up doesn't matter b/c it won't be driven on crappy days in which the top needs to be up, beater suv for those days, and i know that the coupe will always be lighter and have better handling i posted that in my original message, just wondering how great of a difference the performance is gonna be between the two, basicly i'm weighing the odds of having the luxury of dropping the top on nice warm days vs. decreased handling and acceleration, and as i stated previously if its a small difference i don't mind but if it is drastic then the coupe is what i will roll with, oh and as far as the coupe being safer i'm in iraq right now anything, including a roadster, is safer then being here hahaha

 

Faster, More Agility, Cheaper, Better Looks > Dropping the top down on a nice day.


End of thread.

 

Stick with the primary decision: Do you want a coupe or roadster?

The roadster will be heavier and handle a little different, but it is a ROADSTER! I test drove both -- the roadster first. When I test drove the coupe, all I could think about was how much I loved the roadster!

Let everything else be secondary...

 

^^ Arent you a bit biased?

 

Thats what I am talking about. I love the way my roadster looks with the top down. If the top must be up then the Z is in the garage and I drive my TL. I can't compare the roadster vs coupe but my roadster is a fun car to drive. I drive in the mountains all the time, I live in Colorado. My roadster kills up the twisty mountain roads and mountain passes. I am sure both cars handle pretty much the same. What it really boils down to is do you want a vert or not.

 

You are indeed entitled to your opinion but in my opinion all your taste is in your mouth.

 

After a long weekend of wakeboarding at the mountain lake I can't think of anything more enjoyable than driving my Z home on a crisp Colorado evening in a Z with the top down. I love it, the car is fast enough, agile enough over the mountain pass, and looks like the bomb with the top down.

 

Alpha... I agree with the poster suggesting that it just comes down to how badly you want a convertible. If you want a convertible then just get the roadster. I think that everyone should own at least one convertible in their lifetime. Unless you are racing the clock, performance is subjective and I much prefer the "performance" of top down mountain driving in the roadster, even if I am going slower than I would in a coupe.

I added NISMO anti sway bars to my roadster and it handles just fine at autocross. If you need more handling than this, then get the NISMO factory coupe which has special ground effects and dampeners for track racing. Top speed is artificially limited on both the coupe and the roadster. So, IMHO, the most significant performance penalty will be the 0-60 times. I fixed that with a supercharger .

 

I love the roadster, actually went for it b/c of the top of course but also because I see hundreds of 350Z coupes whereas only a fraction of them are roadsters....

 

ZR's are fugly. Coupes are sexy.

Who cares if the weather is nice. You're supposed to be paying attention to the road and how your car is ripping up the competition.

As far as I can see, there are nothing but negatives for roadsters.

Did I mention they are fugly and a lot of women drive them?

 

Have you moved from your parents house yet?

 

Handling aside...Reach down into your pants. If you feel ballz, get the coupe, if not, get the roadster, If you're a man, nobody want to look at your ugly mug anyway...

just kidding... Hah!

 

[QUOTE=Blu_Blur]ZR's are fugly. Coupes are sexy.
Again thats your opinion of which you are entitled too.

Who cares if the weather is nice.
I do.

You're supposed to be paying attention to the road and how your car is ripping up the competition.
If I cared only about speed I would not be driving a Z.

As far as I can see, there are nothing but negatives for roadsters.
Unless you like the look of the convertable and want a convertable as I did. Big negative for me for the coupe was the fact I could not put the top down.

Did I mention they are fugly
Yes you did, and again thats you opinion.

and a lot of women drive them?
Meaning what? That I am so insecure about how masculine I am I care if women drive my car? If you are really that insecure about yourself that you avoid a car because "women drive them" I recomend some ***** enlargement pills. That might boost your confidence a bit.

 

What he said...

 

...its not like the roadster is a slug and you have to take turns at 3 mph...

I have the Roadster with some suspension upgrades and waitin on a 3.9 and exhaust to arrive. Yes its a little slower due to weight, and wont handle quite like the coupe, but its still no slouch. Im gettin the 3.9 to make up for the weight difference on acceleration and because everyone says the HR should have come with that anyways. At that point I figure the Roadster would be able to keep up with a stock coupe.

The weather has been 72 degrees for a while now and nothing beats running the backroads with the top down. Road noise, wind noise, exhaust noise, etc..thats the experience I wanted with my Z, so No Im not timing myself on each run to see how fast I am.



However, If you plan on 'ripping up the competition' then go coupe.

 

giant douche?