EnthuZiast

iTrader: (4)

Had a 2000 Maxima and loved it. Gave it to my little sister. But the 350Z IM IN LOVE WITH! I still have permagrin months later and have test driven everything from the EVo to the new M3 and thinks the Z is easily in the same league.
Nissan123 cracked me up though. I live in Scottsdale and the only people have Ferraris in Tucson only live there for a week out of the year being that the ****hole is so dirty and umbearable. Thats a little rough and there are people with money in Tucson. Not knocking Tucson just people who perpetrate and cant even make a descent story up. Thats like saying I drive a McLaren and live in the most exclusive neighborhood of Compton.
Anyway you know your car is sweet when people go out of there way to join a 350Z website just to bash something they cannot have.

Primaltone

Well said.

tommym

iTrader: (2)

2002 Xterra...the Z is actually my first car. I have always had trucks.

EnthuZiast

iTrader: (4)

Thanks Primal...we shut that guy up.....by the way I want your bike. I think it will be my next major purchase. Just afraid I would be too out of control for my own good on that thing.

Primaltone

EnthuZiast, my ZX-6R is my first street bike. I was terrified before my first ride on it - I didn't think I'd be able to keep the front wheel on the ground. Quite the contrary. It IS a rocket ship with 2 wheels, but it is very easy to control. The throttle goes both directions!

Jetpilot718

Same here. Im starting to hate my car now, because until I sell it, I cant afford the Z. Its the only thing that stands in the way between me and euphoria lol

jmombour

20th Anniversary Edition Maxima. I really enjoyed that car. I traded it 6 months after I bought it for my Z. Never looked back.

SSZVirginia

iTrader: (1)

I had a '95 Altima with 136,000 miles. I went to the dealership and bought a 2003 SL (4 cylinder). I took it in for service with 6,000 miles and traded for a Touring Silverstone. This is my first performance car.

EnthuZiast

iTrader: (4)

Im afraid the ZX-6R might be the end of my driving priviledges. Ive never driven a speed bike but with good reason Id be hooked, jailed, and broke from speeding tickets. Love to try and race them in my Z though.

Primaltone

hehe. It might be fun to play with a sport bike, but a skillled rider can get a 600 to 60mph in ~3 seconds, to 100mph in about 6 seconds, and through the 1/4 in under 11 seconds at about 125mph. And that's a middleweight bike!

Ironically enough, the only chance you may have at actually keeping up or even surpassing a bike is in the twisties. It's not that the bike can't take it, it's because of the uncertainty of the road surface that causes a rider to take it a bit slower. If a bike hits loose terrain, it's all over. The Z would probably just skid a bit, regain traction, and take off again.

I do have a friend with a Vette that'll challenge bikes just to see them pop wheelies......

supirio

do bikes have less top end though?? from say 80-130? like the 500cc ones, hmm ill look it up online somehow

ShaftEd

I've had bikes of some sort for the past 30 years. Bikes have a tremendous power to weight advantage to almost all cars. So a bike can accelerate and get to it's top speed usually quicker than most cars. A ZX6R should also smoke a Z in the 80-130 roll on too, as long as the bike is in the correct gear. I believe a ZX6R also, can hit a top speed of low 160's too. Where a sportscar can have an advantage is in the twisties. Cars just have more rubber on the road. Cars can usually brake harder too. So the bike can out accelerate, but a good driver in a decent sportscar may be able to brake later and corner a bit faster. Due to all the variances though it's hard to predict a winner.

I was out in the Z Roadster this last weekend on one of my favorite backroads. Granted, I'm still learning the car, but as I was parked on the side of the road for a minute, a buddy I know on his bike came by me. He didn't recogize me in a car, so I pulled out to try and chase him down. Now he's an ex-racer and goes pretty good and this is a very tight and bumpy road. He pretty much left me like I was parked. His skinny bike was able to fly into blind corners and stay way inside on rights, or way outside on lefts to avoid oncoming traffic. I had to be more tentative, since the road was so tight, and an oncoming car or truck could be a real problem. Lots of variables to whether a bike or car can be faster, just don't try to take a bike off the line.

Primaltone

As far as top speed is concerned, I've seen specs on my bike that indicate anywhere from 155mph to 165mph - there are many variables. Liter bikes will top out near 180mph, and 1200's and 1300's can be around 200mph!

ShaftEd - you pretty much said it. I've only ridden a fraction of your time and I am still VERY much a novice (this coming spring will be 2 years), but I agree with you.

I don't doubt a rider's capability to out-handle a car. It's just that most riders (including myself) aren't willing to risk any surprise loss of traction (or wildlife). The power to weight ratio? It's sick on a bike. Try 110hp for 400lbs. Add a 160lb rider and it's still far better than any production car. I don't know how to ride a wheelie. I have, however, had the front wheel hit the ground before, not even knowing it was airborne.

600's are not torque monsters, so engine speed must be kept up in order to stay in the powerband (peak is at about 12,500rpm). That's one of the fun parts about riding a 600. A 1200 class bike (not neccessarily a sport bike) doesn't seem like it'd be as much fun to me. They have so much torque you hardly have to shift.

p.s. didn't intend to turn this into a bike thread....

Lee3Z

Prior to my 350Z had a 1993 Mazda RX-7Twin Turbo. I kept this car and now use it as my daily driver. It is a really fast car. Since I drive both I would have to say my RX-7 is slightly faster than my Z. The top end acceleration of the RX-7 is awesome. I have never had a car with this much acceleration. When it accelerates it makes other cars seem like they are standing still. I love them both and feel fortunate to have two outstanding sports cars

DriveI65

I really liked my 2000 Eclipse GT. It ran well and was trouble free. I kept it way too clean for the money I got for it when I bought the Z. Too bad Mitsubishi depressed the market for the Eclipse with all those interest free loans and other sucker deals.

It was the dark red with a sunroof which I do miss. The only thing that consoles me is driving my Z with the windows down and the radio off so I can hear it talk to me.

CelticPride2

The car I drove before I got the Z was a 1999 Acura Integra LS. It was my first car, and I loved it to death. Sporty-looking, quick, and relaible as can be (and currently on sale if there's anybody in Massachusetts looking for one )

It wasn't 'til after I first drove the Z that I learned the difference betwen a true sports car and a "sporty" car like the Integra. I come from a whole family of Honda drivers, so I never really understood the Honda's lack of low-end torque until I compared it to all that oomph in the Z. Needless to say, I was amazed! At that point, I just had to have the Z. I was also considering a BMW 325xi, but I just didn't have the means to consider it seriously...

--CP2
SuperBlack Enthusiast, 5-speed auto...tunes courtesy of iPod

EnthuZiast

iTrader: (4)

Lee3Z Have you upgraded your Rx-7 I hear exhaust and intake improve the car by leaps and bounds. Either way I love the performance on those things! Your lucky to have both.

zmann

In the past 3 years cars that I drove: 1993 Maxima SE to a 2001 Maxima SE Anniv. Edition traded to a 2002 Maxima SE traded to my 350Z Roadster.

My wife: 1993 Lexus LS 400 to 2003 Maxima GLE to 2004 Maxima SL.

My oldest son- 1993 Maxima SE (my old one) to 2002 Sentra SE-R Spec V to 2003 Acura RSX Type S.

My youngest son- the same 1993 Maxima SE, 2001 Honda Civic LS to 2002 Honda Civic SI. And doing duty for all of us is the trusty 1994 Ford Ranger.

Other cars- 1990 Mazda 929S, Buick Riviera, Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac Catalina, Ford LTD (1972) Ford LTD (1971)...I think that is it...enough, I'd say.

Drumtemp

Prior to the Z it's been a '90 240SX. Great little daily driver--just a few quirks, but still runs fine.

Before that, a '72 240Z. Yea, the one that started it all--still one of the best. Easy to hot wire (I'm guessing) cause that's what happened. Was picked up about 4 days later looking really sad, but still operable. Insurance paid me $3400, and I got another $1000 selling it to a friend.
Kinda wish I still had the 240Z, but the 350 is just fine!!!

myinfinitig20

2002 infiniti g20

slowest car on the planet