This is from the latest CAR magazine comparo of the Crossfire/350z (Z wins BTW):

 

dude that looks like ron jeremy driving it

 

Kinda, but Ron has a stash, not a goat.

 

Whoever it is, it looks like they left the parking brake on...?...

 

... and the air conditioning. I don't see any knee pads, do you??

 

Why are there buttons on the left side of the steering wheel??

 

Here:

 

heh, that hurts, the Zs cabin is sportier and better quality?

I thought that was gonna be the one thing the crossfire had. but now its just slower, more expensive, and lower quality.

but hey, more money means better car right? yeah itll sell.

now the question is whether I want to put in the new 04 pads or not... maybe. wonder how much theyll go for standalone.

as for the buttons, if those are radio controls Im gonna be pissed with a capital P. I WILL put those into my car if its physicly possible.

 

Those left hand steering wheel buttons are either for controlling the knee pads based on knee height............or they turn on the bass for the "Premium Bose Sound System"..........yeah, that is probably it..........cause you sure have no way of turning on the bass in the "03 Bose system.

 

those knee pads are ugly in my opinion. i won't be spending my money on those. can you get the 04 without those??

 

Brad4rdhay-do you have a link to that article in Car magazine?

 

Actually, after seeing a few 2004's, and not paying attention enough to the 2003's I thought they all had those buttons. The buttons control the volume of the radio plus the selection of the song/station. Don't 2003's have that too?

 

No they don't and a lot of 03 buyers were pissed about not having them.

 

No, I scanned the image from the magazine. The article basiclly says the Z is more hardcore (but still compliant enought to be a daily driver). The chasis is rigid as hell, and the car "goads you to go faster". They say the hadnling is great...come in too hot and the Z will go wide, but "tickle" the throttle, or let off it a little, and the Z tightens up. The Z is easier to drive fast than the Crossfire.

Their complaints were that the chasis seems built to handle the "worser side of 400hp", and that the engine is a little noisy in th cockpit. They said the orange guages are a little immature, but "look the part"

 

Did you notice the warning labels on the visors look smaller?

 

Ares, knee & armrest pads have been available from the get-go in Japan. Contact Japanparts.com if you need them right away.

Yes, those are radio buttons on the steering wheel. The Maxima and Murano steering wheels (or even the G35C wheel) could be changed to the 350 if you REALLY had to have them......

 

Would like to know how much $$ to get the steering wheel swapped out?

 

that steering wheel would be useless if you have an aftermarket stereo...or don't have cruise control! haha.

 

But I don't. And I do. (haha.)

So anyone care to hazard a guess how much to swap '03 steering wheel for "upgraded" '04 model?

 

DrBonz. You're Brickyard is outstanding. Makes me regret getting a Chrome Silver.