twinzz

I wanted to continue on this thread, because it is a happy ending...but felt the review warranted it's own thread.

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....&threadid=4087

Full pics here:
http://www.inetaccess.com/twinzz

<img src="http://www.inetaccess.com/twinzz/home2.jpg">

I have taken delivery of my Brickyard Performance!!!! Just took my baby home from a 450 mile journey, no sleep, and a very happy man.

Found a deal in St. George Utah (129 miles from Vegas), guy ordered on January 15 and was the first to receive at the dealer. Paid him $500 for it, he got MSRP at dealer. My girlfriend and I got on the next San Diego to Vegas flight, rented a car, and drove to the dealer. Keep in mind the dealer was closed at 7pm on Saturday, and is not open Sundays. The Sales Manager, his son, and the owner were there at 11pm to deliver the car to me so I could have it NOW. Steven Wade Auto Group in St George Utah, for your customer service and willingness to go the extra mile for me, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

First impression: OMG! Pictures do not do this color justice. The color is so deep and rich, it seems like you can stick your whole hand into it. It seems to change color, depending on lighting, angles, etc. For those with getting Brickyard, prepare to be left breathless.

Took it to the gas station, and some guy pulls up in a Grand Cherokee. Stared at my Z the entire time walking to the attendant, and walking back to his car. Next stop: Vegas baby!! Getting on the onramp, I give it a little leg. The exhaust sounds so mean, a low throaty VRROOOOMMM.

It’s just me, my Z, and my girlfriend following me in the rent-a-car on a two-lane pitch black desert highway. The xenons rock! You can guide a ship to shore with those things on high beam, kinda like the Xterra commercials. A brilliant white with a tinge of blue. Just beautiful. I get to the Virgin River Gorge with some nice S curves, and obeying the manual, I adjust my speed. I get to 100 entering the S, the sign says 55, the Z is gripping the road with bear claws. It felt planted and solid. The VDC was on, I don’t have experience with such a system, but it probably helped.

I LOVE THE INTERIOR!! You sit IN the car, like a fighter pilot getting ready for takeoff. Looks high-tech and fast just sitting in it. The navi door opens pretty slick, but closing takes getting used to. The top of the door is not flush with the dash. The gauges are easy to read. The joystick mirror adjustments are slick. AC and heating controls are intuitive and clean. Ergonomically, almost everything is where they need to be.

My gripes (cuz I’m ****-retentive): The power window controls felt a little low, I reached for air the first few times I went for them. The sound system sucks (distortion, no bass), but I’m kinda spoiled and will be putting in a system anyways. The audio controls (bass-treb-fad-bal) took getting used to. You push AUDIO to toggle, but to adjust you have to push TUNE UP OR DOWN, not turn the volume ****. The hazard light is a single button on the center console, it seemed out of place, and would be better suited somewhere on the dash or instrument cluster. All the storage compartments are behind you, can’t reach them while driving. The pull out cup holder is a godsend!! Fuel cap release is under the dash by the hood release, you have to look for it to find it, can’t do it by feel. WHERE THE HELL IS THE TRUNK RELEASE???

The big question, Visibility. I’m 5’8”. If you look in the real view mirror, because of the sloping roofline, the back window looks like a 2”x6” window. The rear quarter windows are useless. Use your mirrors and look over your shoulders and you should be fine. It’s not the best, but you can live with it.

Comfort. I used to drive a lowered Integra and my lower back would hurt on long drives. At 80 miles into the trip, my lower back started killing me. I’m fairly young and work out regularly, so it’s not like I have back problems. I had to vary my driving position from granny-face-to-the-window to lowrider-reclined until I got used to it. The suspension attacks the road, rather then embraces it. The Z handles extremely well, on par with a Boxster. I love it, even though my back doesn’t. My girlfriend couldn’t get into a comfortable position trying to sleep because the passenger seat doesn’t recline all the way.

The fun part. Vegas on a Saturday night. 1:30am on the strip, oh yeah. A taxi starts following me, and everybody in it is staring. A limobus full of people starts honking. The guys cruising the strip in their lowered Hondas and what-not are checking it out. A dude in an IS300 turns 180 to check it out. I’m at a gas station and a guy in a minivan busts a U-turn to check it out, and give me props. I’m feeling like I’m driving a Ferrari.

I pull up to the Venetian, 3 valet dudes swarm on my car, and 2 bystanders. One guy thinks it’s a $50,000 car,. ****ing Valet at Venetian. I gave him a 10-spot, told him to park it in front, DO NOT MOVE THE CAR, and he’s like, OK, but we might pull it forward just a bit to the front. My girl and I eat some dinner, we come back, and the car is gone. He’s like, no cars are allowed to park in front. There were .6 miles added when I got it back, and my trip computers were on the wrong setting. ****ers got their grubby little hands on it and probably revved it. NEVER AGAIN.

I go to Palms Hotel to see about getting tickets for next weekend’s party on Labor Day. More Valet dudes are checking it out, they run to the back to see what kinda car it is. It’s now 4am and the clubbers are leaving the hotel. 2 girls come up and shamelessly flirt, and asks to sit in the car. About 5 guys give me props. One guy even threw a dollar bill into the window, like a wishing well, for good luck. I’m looking like a big baller, and feel like a lottery winner. They take my keys and I’m like, DO NOT MOVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE, hand him $5 and he’s thanking me like I’m Mr. Moneybags.

I’m coming back to Vegas next week to party!!!!

The 320 mile drive home was nice, took some pics, saw the sunrise. Got used to the seats/suspension so my back was OK. A few more gawkers. Freeway cruising at 90 was effortless. The fastest I took it was 110 in 6th gear because that is 4000rpm. It felt more like 80. Filled it up at 266 miles with 13.25 gallons for MPG 20.07. I’m gonna go get some sleep, wake up and drive some more. Only 700 more miles to go for the break-in. Alang, rpgonzalez, when you get your cars, email me and maybe we can meet up!! timwin@inetaccess.com


I FREAKING LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SELL YOUR LEFT KIDNEY IF YOU HAVE TO, JUST GET THIS CAR!!!

nizl

Sweet write-up, thanks man!

It makes it even harder for a fellow SD'er to wait.........

BTW, those are some of the best car still pics I've seen of the Z, and hands-down the best Brickyard pics available. In all honesty, have you ever considered trying to make some cash doing car photos?

Oh yeah, and you should join in on our stereo discussions in the Modifications section.

Dr Bonz

iTrader: (1)

Twinzz: Thanks for the write up and especially the pics! I can't wait until I can join the club and pick up my Brickyard Track!

ICYBLUE1203

Tim, you are one crazy ****. LOL, congrats! Hope to see you at the next GroupZ meetings. Oh yeah, you should sell your spot at Cerritos and make some cash. People will soon start getting desperate.

twinzz

Sorry, forgot about you nizl! Hope you get yours soon. It's sweet man.

And the pics. THANKS, glad you liked them!! I'm strictly amateur, but picked up a few things as a photo assistant from my friend, who's a real photographer. Basically, I just held a light deflector and stared at the models while he took pics. You can see his work on http://www.modfxmodels.com

thanks for the invite, I'll be sure and visit the stereo discussions from time to time.

gammbino350z

what car would you compare the clutch feel to?

RainmanZ

Excellent post. Great Pics. Fantastic car. Congrats.

twinzz

Oh man, forgot about the clutch/transmission/stick!!! The best part. blasphemy!

The cluth is super easy and light, takeoff is smooth, no jerks. Not spongy at all, and very precise. I never stalled it once, like I do on Boxsters. I can't compare it to much, driven a '90 Eclipse Turbo, G20, Boxster, Boxster S, PT cruiser, 84 200sx (hahaha). The Z is the best out of all of them, yet easy on the foot, and will be sweet for stop/go driving in traffic.

For those getting the auto because you're lazy, or plan on driving in traffic, try the 6speed first. It's ez cheezy.

Power is EVERYWHERE, even though I didn't go past 4000 RPM. This car just wants to go fast.

Shifts are click-click swift, it pops into gears effortlessly with a short throw. Dead Center is where it wants to be, so 2-3 shifts are a thing of beauty!! Watch out for the 5-6 shift, because I found myself doing 5-4 a few times.

Reverse is like on the old old VW Bugs, push down on the stick itself and then move. No problems with reverse if you know that.

twinzz

Yeah, he's a good friend of mine, and I knew him before he "made it." I used to hang out with him on photoshoots. Went to Hawaii last year to do one. But since I have a gf now, I don't get to anymore. Wonder why? hahahaha.

Not ****, more like lingerie and swimsuits, with some models doing topless or baring it all. Sexy-yes, sex-no. He started out doing import models, they just wanted exposure and a portfolio. His worked sucked back then, but he kept at it and got better, started making some money. Some girls (Martika Ibarra, Playmate of the year 2001 I think?) sought him out because they like his work. The premium girls like Martika charge $2000 plus for 2 hours, she charged him only $500. He pays $1000 for some, most $500 or less, or not at all. He's friends with a handful of them.

Some guys have all the luck...

But I'm waaayyyy off topic here.....Let's mention THE AWESOME 350Z so this post won't get moved. hehe.

wxtornado

TwinZ, thanks for that great write-up and pics man, that's a beautiful ride no doubt. Look under the strut brace behind the driver's seat and you'll see a hoop hanging down. Pull that and the hatch will pop open!

wxtornado

TwinZ, are you a Pinoy by any chance? You'll know what that means if you are.............

z350z

That pull is only for emergencies, like when there is no battery in the car. The correct way to open it is

1) The button on the key fob

2) The button at the rear of the car (when it's unlocked). Grab underneath the lip at the top of the license plate recess, and there is a large rubber button. Push it in (upwards) and the hatch will pop open.

ethan84ae

twinzz:

I've got to tell you, those are some AMAZING pictures you've got there. To be honest, up until this point, Brickyard was my least favorite color, but after seeing your pics, I have totally changed my opinion- car looks fantastic- your pics should be on nissandriven instead of the crap that is there now (sorry Nissan!).

Best of luck w/ the new car and thanks again for the great pics!

Ethan

twinzz

twinzz

I thought that was the secondary emergency release?! Sheesh...thanks for the info.

And I'm pure Viet btw, most people say I look Pinoy.

twinzz

THANKS!!!