What will the legacy of the 350 be?
Registered User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 0
From: Tempe, Az
Originally Posted by LeMans 05
^^^^^
I don't know why, but that post made me want to mock you. I won't, though.
I don't know why, but that post made me want to mock you. I won't, though.
You know nissan could easily have given the Z some ***** in 03 but didn't. Let's see.. In 03 we had...
Mustang GT = 265hp
Mustang Cobra = 425hp+
Recently Killed LS1 F-bodies = 350+hp
As a former G owner i ask you. Wouldn't 350hp from a nice larger VQ been better then the 286hp offered in 03? Duh.. YEAH.
Don't get mad at me for wanting more power. Power is fun.
Originally Posted by 280z/300zx
A classic? most definetly not. As far as comparing it to the Z32 it will never match it's status either. The cars of the 90's such as the Z32, supra, RX-7, 3000Gt, etc will remain of legnedary status due to their supper car status during that time period. The 350z right now is nothing special. A great car, yes, but nothing that makes it really jump out. It'll be similar to the Z31 in that it was just another Z cont. the legacy but will have the status of the Z car come back.
As for some of the other comments: Of course you will see more 350z's in the next few years compared to the Z32. The Z32 is a decade older than the 350z and as such fewer are being maintained to be kept road worthy. Not to mention the 350z is so easily obtainable financially that every 16 year old kid will probably be driving one in 5 years. As for the comment about the 350z being faster than the Z32, lets remember that it's only the 07-08 that is faster. The 03-06 is roughly the same as the Z32. Lets also not forget that the Z32 has much more potential than the 350z. So lets not downplay the Z32 just because you like the 350z better.
As for some of the other comments: Of course you will see more 350z's in the next few years compared to the Z32. The Z32 is a decade older than the 350z and as such fewer are being maintained to be kept road worthy. Not to mention the 350z is so easily obtainable financially that every 16 year old kid will probably be driving one in 5 years. As for the comment about the 350z being faster than the Z32, lets remember that it's only the 07-08 that is faster. The 03-06 is roughly the same as the Z32. Lets also not forget that the Z32 has much more potential than the 350z. So lets not downplay the Z32 just because you like the 350z better.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
Originally Posted by 350z_racer05
I wouldn't call Z32's, supra's, rx-7's and 3000gt's supercars, in their stock forms, those cars don't even come close to a supercar status.
+1
I wouldn't call them legendary either, except maybe for the Supra.
Originally Posted by daryl.blas
It'll be called something like:
Nissan's Z car comeback car. Period.
Nothing more.
Nissan's Z car comeback car. Period.
Nothing more.
Pre-Z -> Nissan = boring, dying, "3-sedan" car company
Post-Z -> Nissan = unique, active, "cool car" company (and capable of releasing the GT-R)
New Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,091
Likes: 15
From: seattle
I think some of you guys are seriously undervaluing the future classic status of our cars.
Lets look at Nissan in the late nineties. The company was in a rut, it was failing to keep up with Toyota and Honda. Remember, Nissan USED to be the biggest Japanese car company in the United States. They had just gone through a huge merger and needed a product to prove to the world they were competitive and profitable. Using the resources they had (a brand new platform and a world beating engine) they designed the best looking car to come out of Japan in years. Yes IMHO the RX-7 was better looking etc...etc.. but do some research. Look at the way the press went absolutely wild about the redisgn of the Z. And look at how much better off nissan is now than they were 8 years ago.
When the 350Z came out it was a revelation. It created an entirely new segment, the sub 30K serious performance car. Remember before the Z you had two choices for performance cars: FWD 20K cars with around 200hp or 40K plus corvettes and Porsches.
Now let's look at what makes a classic: Nostalgia. Love the 350Z, hate the 350Z, think its under or over rated...whatever it doesn't matter. The fact of it is that people and not just car people, know about the 350Z. Everyone has an oppinion. It's got presence. Little kids give me the thumbs up when i drive by, and that's going into the end of it's life cycle. Most cars are forgotten, because few people REALLY cared about them in the first place. But the 350Z has left an imprint on popular culture its been in (bad) movies, its on the cover of numerous magazines, car show flyers etc. And all those people who hate 350Z's now are going to look back and say to themeslves "man I used to hate those" but they'll say it with a big grin on their face, because memory is a funny thing. It shines a positive light on the things we do remember. What was scary becomes funny, what was annoying becomes endearing.....but most of it is just forgotten. Well the 350Z has made much too big of an impact to be forgotten. It will be a classic later on down the road.
Lets look at Nissan in the late nineties. The company was in a rut, it was failing to keep up with Toyota and Honda. Remember, Nissan USED to be the biggest Japanese car company in the United States. They had just gone through a huge merger and needed a product to prove to the world they were competitive and profitable. Using the resources they had (a brand new platform and a world beating engine) they designed the best looking car to come out of Japan in years. Yes IMHO the RX-7 was better looking etc...etc.. but do some research. Look at the way the press went absolutely wild about the redisgn of the Z. And look at how much better off nissan is now than they were 8 years ago.
When the 350Z came out it was a revelation. It created an entirely new segment, the sub 30K serious performance car. Remember before the Z you had two choices for performance cars: FWD 20K cars with around 200hp or 40K plus corvettes and Porsches.
Now let's look at what makes a classic: Nostalgia. Love the 350Z, hate the 350Z, think its under or over rated...whatever it doesn't matter. The fact of it is that people and not just car people, know about the 350Z. Everyone has an oppinion. It's got presence. Little kids give me the thumbs up when i drive by, and that's going into the end of it's life cycle. Most cars are forgotten, because few people REALLY cared about them in the first place. But the 350Z has left an imprint on popular culture its been in (bad) movies, its on the cover of numerous magazines, car show flyers etc. And all those people who hate 350Z's now are going to look back and say to themeslves "man I used to hate those" but they'll say it with a big grin on their face, because memory is a funny thing. It shines a positive light on the things we do remember. What was scary becomes funny, what was annoying becomes endearing.....but most of it is just forgotten. Well the 350Z has made much too big of an impact to be forgotten. It will be a classic later on down the road.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: USA
Originally Posted by moflow
When the 350Z came out it was a revelation. It created an entirely new segment, the sub 30K serious performance car. Remember before the Z you had two choices for performance cars: FWD 20K cars with around 200hp or 40K plus corvettes and Porsches.
New Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,091
Likes: 15
From: seattle
Originally Posted by JCSVT
Mustang Cobra, Camaro SS, S2000...
OK S2000 i'll grant you, thought that car is so impractical it's more like a niche vehicle.
Camaro and Mustang are muscle cars, not sport cars. Not saying they're bad, just saying that their emphasis was more on straight line speed than balanced performance. The general perception of the Camaro and mustang is that they don't really handle. This may or may not be a fallicy, but it is the general perception.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Henderson
Originally Posted by 350z_racer05
I wouldn't call Z32's, supra's, rx-7's and 3000gt's supercars, in their stock forms, those cars don't even come close to a supercar status.
Sure, now and days they aren't but back in the early 90's they were. Back then these cars were on top of their game and could compete with cars much more expensive than them. Back then these cars could compete with the likes of the Corvette, porsche 911, etc. Hell, for the first few years they even did it for quite a bit cheaper too until the car companies started jacking up the price partially leading to the death of sports cars in the late 90's. Still, back then these cars, while not supercars in their own right, could still hang with supercars of the same era.
Nissan changed with the 350z and went back to having an entry level sports car like the 240z used to be. Problem a lot of people have is that since the dawn of the 240z the Z has always been able to compete with the Vette and 911. I mean there are even pics showing these cars in the Nissan factories while the Z was being designed so that they had a benchmark. The 350z is the first Z that has fallen short of competing with the higher up models; but Nissan is also a different company than it has been in the past too so.....
Originally Posted by 280z/300zx
Sure, now and days they aren't but back in the early 90's they were. Back then these cars were on top of their game and could compete with cars much more expensive than them. Back then these cars could compete with the likes of the Corvette, porsche 911, etc. Hell, for the first few years they even did it for quite a bit cheaper too until the car companies started jacking up the price partially leading to the death of sports cars in the late 90's. Still, back then these cars, while not supercars in their own right, could still hang with supercars of the same era.
Nissan changed with the 350z and went back to having an entry level sports car like the 240z used to be. Problem a lot of people have is that since the dawn of the 240z the Z has always been able to compete with the Vette and 911. I mean there are even pics showing these cars in the Nissan factories while the Z was being designed so that they had a benchmark. The 350z is the first Z that has fallen short of competing with the higher up models; but Nissan is also a different company than it has been in the past too so.....
Nissan changed with the 350z and went back to having an entry level sports car like the 240z used to be. Problem a lot of people have is that since the dawn of the 240z the Z has always been able to compete with the Vette and 911. I mean there are even pics showing these cars in the Nissan factories while the Z was being designed so that they had a benchmark. The 350z is the first Z that has fallen short of competing with the higher up models; but Nissan is also a different company than it has been in the past too so.....
New Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,091
Likes: 15
From: seattle
Originally Posted by 280z/300zx
Nissan changed with the 350z and went back to having an entry level sports car like the 240z used to be. Problem a lot of people have is that since the dawn of the 240z the Z has always been able to compete with the Vette and 911. I mean there are even pics showing these cars in the Nissan factories while the Z was being designed so that they had a benchmark. The 350z is the first Z that has fallen short of competing with the higher up models; but Nissan is also a different company than it has been in the past too so.....
the 911 costs more than twice as much as the Z. The Boxster on the other hand is 10K more and (in 2003) had a measly 201hp. On paper the 350Z is pretty superior
Registered User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: California
Originally Posted by moflow
I think some of you guys are seriously undervaluing the future classic status of our cars.
Lets look at Nissan in the late nineties. The company was in a rut, it was failing to keep up with Toyota and Honda. Remember, Nissan USED to be the biggest Japanese car company in the United States. They had just gone through a huge merger and needed a product to prove to the world they were competitive and profitable. Using the resources they had (a brand new platform and a world beating engine) they designed the best looking car to come out of Japan in years. Yes IMHO the RX-7 was better looking etc...etc.. but do some research. Look at the way the press went absolutely wild about the redisgn of the Z. And look at how much better off nissan is now than they were 8 years ago.
When the 350Z came out it was a revelation. It created an entirely new segment, the sub 30K serious performance car. Remember before the Z you had two choices for performance cars: FWD 20K cars with around 200hp or 40K plus corvettes and Porsches.
Now let's look at what makes a classic: Nostalgia. Love the 350Z, hate the 350Z, think its under or over rated...whatever it doesn't matter. The fact of it is that people and not just car people, know about the 350Z. Everyone has an oppinion. It's got presence. Little kids give me the thumbs up when i drive by, and that's going into the end of it's life cycle. Most cars are forgotten, because few people REALLY cared about them in the first place. But the 350Z has left an imprint on popular culture its been in (bad) movies, its on the cover of numerous magazines, car show flyers etc. And all those people who hate 350Z's now are going to look back and say to themeslves "man I used to hate those" but they'll say it with a big grin on their face, because memory is a funny thing. It shines a positive light on the things we do remember. What was scary becomes funny, what was annoying becomes endearing.....but most of it is just forgotten. Well the 350Z has made much too big of an impact to be forgotten. It will be a classic later on down the road.
Lets look at Nissan in the late nineties. The company was in a rut, it was failing to keep up with Toyota and Honda. Remember, Nissan USED to be the biggest Japanese car company in the United States. They had just gone through a huge merger and needed a product to prove to the world they were competitive and profitable. Using the resources they had (a brand new platform and a world beating engine) they designed the best looking car to come out of Japan in years. Yes IMHO the RX-7 was better looking etc...etc.. but do some research. Look at the way the press went absolutely wild about the redisgn of the Z. And look at how much better off nissan is now than they were 8 years ago.
When the 350Z came out it was a revelation. It created an entirely new segment, the sub 30K serious performance car. Remember before the Z you had two choices for performance cars: FWD 20K cars with around 200hp or 40K plus corvettes and Porsches.
Now let's look at what makes a classic: Nostalgia. Love the 350Z, hate the 350Z, think its under or over rated...whatever it doesn't matter. The fact of it is that people and not just car people, know about the 350Z. Everyone has an oppinion. It's got presence. Little kids give me the thumbs up when i drive by, and that's going into the end of it's life cycle. Most cars are forgotten, because few people REALLY cared about them in the first place. But the 350Z has left an imprint on popular culture its been in (bad) movies, its on the cover of numerous magazines, car show flyers etc. And all those people who hate 350Z's now are going to look back and say to themeslves "man I used to hate those" but they'll say it with a big grin on their face, because memory is a funny thing. It shines a positive light on the things we do remember. What was scary becomes funny, what was annoying becomes endearing.....but most of it is just forgotten. Well the 350Z has made much too big of an impact to be forgotten. It will be a classic later on down the road.
Legacy of the 350Z = poor man's sportscar.
As with all poormens' sportscars of the past most of the individual cars will be very forgettable, if not laughable, with a very very select few cars being very well done and garnering respect from the entire car community.
As with all poormens' sportscars of the past most of the individual cars will be very forgettable, if not laughable, with a very very select few cars being very well done and garnering respect from the entire car community.
I think the z is just another cult sports car like the rx7, supra, mustang, skyline, nsx, evo, and sti.... each new version will bring good and bad things. If it was a new car like the s2k was then maybe it would become something but it already is part of something huge. I think it was a great generation though.
Originally Posted by racerfreakxxx
I think the z is just another cult sports car like the rx7, supra, mustang, skyline, nsx, evo, and sti.... each new version will bring good and bad things. If it was a new car like the s2k was then maybe it would become something but it already is part of something huge. I think it was a great generation though.
Originally Posted by 2TH PWR
Legacy of the 350Z = poor man's sportscar.
As with all poormens' sportscars of the past most of the individual cars will be very forgettable, if not laughable, with a very very select few cars being very well done and garnering respect from the entire car community.
As with all poormens' sportscars of the past most of the individual cars will be very forgettable, if not laughable, with a very very select few cars being very well done and garnering respect from the entire car community.
Camaro
Mustang
Two of the most iconic cars in American automotive history. IMO the 350Z will be remembered as the car that made Z's sexy again. It will also be remembered as the heir to the 240 throne as the most modded platform for Nissan.
Originally Posted by moflow
I think some of you guys are seriously undervaluing the future classic status of our cars.
Lets look at Nissan in the late nineties. The company was in a rut, it was failing to keep up with Toyota and Honda. Remember, Nissan USED to be the biggest Japanese car company in the United States. They had just gone through a huge merger and needed a product to prove to the world they were competitive and profitable. Using the resources they had (a brand new platform and a world beating engine) they designed the best looking car to come out of Japan in years. Yes IMHO the RX-7 was better looking etc...etc.. but do some research. Look at the way the press went absolutely wild about the redisgn of the Z. And look at how much better off nissan is now than they were 8 years ago.
When the 350Z came out it was a revelation. It created an entirely new segment, the sub 30K serious performance car. Remember before the Z you had two choices for performance cars: FWD 20K cars with around 200hp or 40K plus corvettes and Porsches.
Now let's look at what makes a classic: Nostalgia. Love the 350Z, hate the 350Z, think its under or over rated...whatever it doesn't matter. The fact of it is that people and not just car people, know about the 350Z. Everyone has an oppinion. It's got presence. Little kids give me the thumbs up when i drive by, and that's going into the end of it's life cycle. Most cars are forgotten, because few people REALLY cared about them in the first place. But the 350Z has left an imprint on popular culture its been in (bad) movies, its on the cover of numerous magazines, car show flyers etc. And all those people who hate 350Z's now are going to look back and say to themeslves "man I used to hate those" but they'll say it with a big grin on their face, because memory is a funny thing. It shines a positive light on the things we do remember. What was scary becomes funny, what was annoying becomes endearing.....but most of it is just forgotten. Well the 350Z has made much too big of an impact to be forgotten. It will be a classic later on down the road.
Lets look at Nissan in the late nineties. The company was in a rut, it was failing to keep up with Toyota and Honda. Remember, Nissan USED to be the biggest Japanese car company in the United States. They had just gone through a huge merger and needed a product to prove to the world they were competitive and profitable. Using the resources they had (a brand new platform and a world beating engine) they designed the best looking car to come out of Japan in years. Yes IMHO the RX-7 was better looking etc...etc.. but do some research. Look at the way the press went absolutely wild about the redisgn of the Z. And look at how much better off nissan is now than they were 8 years ago.
When the 350Z came out it was a revelation. It created an entirely new segment, the sub 30K serious performance car. Remember before the Z you had two choices for performance cars: FWD 20K cars with around 200hp or 40K plus corvettes and Porsches.
Now let's look at what makes a classic: Nostalgia. Love the 350Z, hate the 350Z, think its under or over rated...whatever it doesn't matter. The fact of it is that people and not just car people, know about the 350Z. Everyone has an oppinion. It's got presence. Little kids give me the thumbs up when i drive by, and that's going into the end of it's life cycle. Most cars are forgotten, because few people REALLY cared about them in the first place. But the 350Z has left an imprint on popular culture its been in (bad) movies, its on the cover of numerous magazines, car show flyers etc. And all those people who hate 350Z's now are going to look back and say to themeslves "man I used to hate those" but they'll say it with a big grin on their face, because memory is a funny thing. It shines a positive light on the things we do remember. What was scary becomes funny, what was annoying becomes endearing.....but most of it is just forgotten. Well the 350Z has made much too big of an impact to be forgotten. It will be a classic later on down the road.
When I first got this car people referred to it as the, "What? 350zx?" or "350 zed?" "the Nissan 300 Z??"
It wasn't until recently that non-car enthusiasts will just refer to it as the "Z".
Just one letter... It's been so many years since I've heard random people refer to the Z-car by just one letter. From old men to little five year old kids...
Beyond just the car culture, I think it's made a mark for itself.