Its a 135 - and it will probably be my next car if it lives up to the hype. They are going to have brembos on it as well..

 

Ooops, yes, I meant to say its the 135i.

BMW is using an assortment of brakes, suspension and other parts from the M3 on it too. It will be a powerful but tiny car with big tuner potential.

Nissan better be really careful because a NA 370Z at the same price won't compete very well against it. And for exactly the reason you mention.

If it lives up to the hype, a lot of Z people here will consider getting one.

Consider this... A track car of 135i caliber will open up a new market. Most everyone on this board would love the track capability of a Evo or Sti but wouldn't be caught dead driving in one because of the "rice-boy econobox" image they portray.

The Z is anything but econobox and neither is a BMW.
They both have class. But if the 135i outperforms and costs just as much as a Z, Nissan has trouble comming. I can see the 135i pulling a lot of new buyers away from the Z.

Nissan better give us a damn good Z. Not just a little better, but a lot better than what it is now. As in TT.

 

I don't think they need to. Drop 300 lbs from the Z. Sell it with the same GREAT handling they have now. Put a REAL LSD in the backend instead of this crappy Viscous diff, and give it at least 350 hp.

The 135 is very limited in where you can go safely in power. I've been talking to my friend with BMW NA and he said they are starting to see cars coming in that have procedes (obviously removed when the dealer sees it) and overheated head/exhaust manifold/turbo problems. You can't upgrade the injectors yet and the head is welded to the exhaust manifold which is cast with the turbos. Pretty much SOL for getting beyond 350 hp on the car.

Plus side is that it uses the same bottom end from an E46 330 so there are already forged bottom ends available, and all its going to take is someone figuring out how to cut the exhaust manifold off (harder than I make it sound) and get 2 slightly larger snails in and the car will be a monster. For now its just going to be a hair under an E92 M3 in performance, and I'm not so sure that with a procede its really going to work as a track car.

Not to mention - it WILL not have an LSD, and aftermarket LSD's completely eliminate the ability to use the stability control on the car.

 

I dunno about you guys...but I am sooooo waiting on the 420Z!

 

i was planning to get the 350z 2 months ago... then some people told me to wait as the Z has been going on for quite a while and is bound to get an update soon. went and bought a 08 Lancer GTS. Didnt go for a new Z as for some reason the Z's drop A LOT in value after a year where im from. figured my lancer.. if i like the evo X i'll just go trade that in next spring.

hopefully we'll get to see the next gen Z at an auto show soon so i can decide.

 

The turbos are welded to the manifolds but the manifolds are not welded to the heads.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38856
Scroll about half way down this page for pics of the assembly.

And here are a couple more links for general info.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14884
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17829

The biggest problem to greater HP so far is space for larger turbos. There isn't much room in the engine compartment.

Being such a new engine, I'm sure it won't be long before they find a way to fit bigger turbos in.

I hope Nissan drops 300 lbs and adds a TT. It sure would make a very nice ride. I would buy it tomorrow if they had one.

But its just wishfull thinking on my part.

 

a twin turbo on a Z would mean less attractiveness for the GTR no? i dunno that just came to mind lol

 

Possibly. But then again, the rumors are that Nissan only plans to build around 5000 GTR's. ...5000 is nothing more than a symbolic gesture.

They can build the chassi out of carbon fiber and make it AWD to give it a good technical and performance edge.

 

that is true. the GTR is not an every-day car by all means... and the target market is definitely much smaller than the 350z. i am all for the next Z getting TT... would be like paying the 300zx homage.

 

not meaning to bust your bubble, but from what I've seen the car looks exactly the same but with minor changes. the key element though is it is supposed to be a couple of hundred pounds lighter and you get 30 more bhp.

 

Dont know what the big deal is.. In 2 or 3 years it will be time for a new ride anyway.

 

A Z is a Z no matter what they are all special and awesome. Whether it is a 240Z/260z/280z/x , a AE z31 , Shiro special Z31, Z32 NA/TT 2+2/2seater/slicktop ... or new HR Z33. The 240z is still just as badass as it was nearly 40 years ago. The Z is the first true mass produced world market japanese sports car (It's a japanese corvette). No matter which one you buy you are buying a car that holds alot of significance, and has earned more then it's keep on the race track. To me this is like waiting to ask the girl in highschool out to prom... you keep delaying and procrastinating ... meantime she will probably end up getting asked out and going with someone else.

 

Wait! Everyone here has the current model and you'll be ballin soon with the new one. Wait.

 

Some how I doubt it?
I had a 07 335i which puts rings around cheap 135i and I sold my 335i.
BMW's are great handling cars by far but way over rated & very costly to keep up.

I love my Z Big Time More than my BMW. Much more fun to drive.
When I had the BMW I got no where near complements I get with the Z!

 

i drove a 08 335i with paddle shifters the other day it was nice but i would take a g35s sedan over it

 

+1 - I have an 07 and love it to death!

 

My opinion is that Nissan will wait until the complete redesign before they drop the 3.7L. The reason is, and I am not completely certain, is that they just put the HR in the 07s and 08s, and dropping that engine that quickly would not be financially smart for Nissan. Then again, they may slot it over to the Altima Coupe or another model in a year or two and then give the Z the 3.7L, so thats what makes me uncertain in my assumption. Sort of like the Z is the debut of the HR before it hits other models, just like the G is the debut for the 3.7L before it hits other models.

I just bought my 07 in August, and I love it. If they drop the 3.7L into the Z in the net year or 2, I will be a little miffed, but it won't compel me to trade, because the performance increase won't be that substantial in the current chassis (HP will increase, but so will weight, thus negating the increase).

I will consider a trade up after the next gen has been around for 2 or 3 years and all the major bugs have been caught and squashed. So we figure ~2010 release for the next gen, plus 2 years for issue resolve = 2012 is my next Z Perfect!

 

 

I completely agree.
Nissan changes through engine designs like like underwear. And the change up's have always been in small increments. (IE - Too much change and not enough improvement for each change made.)

I personally would like to see less engine changes. And if a change must be done, make it really count. Just my 2 cents.

 

If you can stand to save for 2 years get a GTR.