Even better, take a ride with an instructor at an autocross school!

First time the guy drove the car in the corner, I thought we were going to buy a fence. After that, I had much more respect for the car's limits.

I guess that doesn't really show acceleration, but it is great if you've not done that type of thing before to know what the potential of the car is.

 

OK, nazz, sorry. I read the whole thread and I picked up the wrong impression of you. I thought you were another one of the 100s of BMW trolls we have been blessed with on this site and we are a little touchy.

The BMWs are good cars and I recommended them to my corporate type brother-in-law in Dallas 14 yrs ago. He bought 2, a 535 for him and a 735 for her. His 535 was a great car, great ride, smooth straight 6, the big 3.5 liter that they don't make any more. He drove his for 10 yrs, bought her a 2000 740iL, and drove her old 7 for a couple of yrs., waiting to go to Germany and pick up his 540 and an M3 for me. It didn't work out, but I am not sorry, given the engine problems they had for awhile.

I, and many others on this site, preordered our Zs months in advance, some of us w/o ever seeing the car, you've been here, you know the drill. The engine does seem to need some breakin miles before it starts to really impress, it did in my case. The breakin period is too long, 1200 miles, and a lot of us tiptoed around way too much, especially w/the tire feathering. At 1150, I decided I'd had all I take of the tiptoe crap and took it to redline in 2nd and 3rd on my 5AT in manual mode.

You have to take it over 4-5000rpm a lot before you begin to feel the power, then it becomes addictive. I'm 59 yrs old and I am drag racing, for a short run, SVT Mustangs/305hp like a 16 yr old and staying very close to their doors in full auto mode! I have the Brickyard/Frost leather/5AT and I love it. People driving by me yell out their windows, great car! Everyone likes it, I've had it to 125mph once, 80-120 many times and the car is rock solid at those speeds. The car has charisma, I'm not lying to you. Yes, I am anthropomorphizing an inanimate object, but its true and I am amazed at how much fun it is to drive. You could do a lot worse in your choice of a new car.

Boomer--use it or lose it, I don't care.

 

I have to agree with you. I've decided to purchase a used Z06 corvette for the low 30's from a private party since I am into "stink" fast performance.

The 350Z is a great car, and IMHO, the 350Z is one of the most beautiful cars ever produced.

 

"Test drive"?? What is that? I bought mine from the show room floor, way before they allowed test drives.

I'd do the same thing all over again

 

The only thing that's important is the stopwatch and spedometer, not the feel. Feel can trick you. Did you know the 350Z can do the 0-60 MPH sprint in just over 5.7 seconds??? (tested by a dutch racedriver).
Also, the majority of the USA drivers do not know how to work their way around with a stick. An automatic may feel faster because it has less gears, so it will shift less often. But it is slower.
By the way, I do own a 350Z Touring 6 speed, and this is the best car I've ever bought.