Renewed appreciation for my 350z
10-26-2009, 06:38 AM
#1
Renewed appreciation for my 350z
Back in 2006 I traded my 220HP FWD mazda6 for a brand new 2006 350z, which was a huge step up in the performance department. Up until September of this year the Z was my year-round daily driver. It's tons of fun to drive, but after 3.5 years of daily driving it I got a little bit 'numb' to it. In September I bought a 2003 wrx as a daily driver and have been driving it most of the time, while the Z sleeps in the garage.
I've been trying to take the Z out at least once per week but for the past week and a half I've been doing projects around the house that required the wrx for transporting materials, or the weather has been crappy and I didn't want to get the Z dirty, or something that kept me from getting into the Z.
Then this morning I woke up, it was a crisp 43 degrees out with the promise of 64 and sunny, so I opened the garage door and rolled out the Z. I let it warm up for a few minutes and by the time I reached the main road by my neighborhood it was all warmed up. I got out onto the road and after a crappy start in 1st and en even crappier shift into 2nd (Subaru clutch engagement point is just a tad different than the Z...whoops!) I was off and running. At about 2700 RPM in 2nd gear I put my foot in it. bbbBWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Popcharger whistling, plenum with spacer roaring, fujitsubo exhaust getting louder, and louder, and louder. Heat was blasting and windows were down at 60 mph. Just awesome.
The Z car never fails to put a **** eating grin on my face. Don't get me wrong, I like the WRX because the clutch throw is nice and short, the transmission shifts well, turbo spool-up is always fun and the engine makes harley davidson-esque burbling sounds out the tail pipe, but there is something about the smooth power delivery from just about any engine speed in the Z that makes all of the money spent very worthwhile every time I get a chance to drive it. I guess I had lost some of that appreciation when I drove it every day, but now I understand again.
Just thought I would share.
I've been trying to take the Z out at least once per week but for the past week and a half I've been doing projects around the house that required the wrx for transporting materials, or the weather has been crappy and I didn't want to get the Z dirty, or something that kept me from getting into the Z.
Then this morning I woke up, it was a crisp 43 degrees out with the promise of 64 and sunny, so I opened the garage door and rolled out the Z. I let it warm up for a few minutes and by the time I reached the main road by my neighborhood it was all warmed up. I got out onto the road and after a crappy start in 1st and en even crappier shift into 2nd (Subaru clutch engagement point is just a tad different than the Z...whoops!) I was off and running. At about 2700 RPM in 2nd gear I put my foot in it. bbbBWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Popcharger whistling, plenum with spacer roaring, fujitsubo exhaust getting louder, and louder, and louder. Heat was blasting and windows were down at 60 mph. Just awesome.
The Z car never fails to put a **** eating grin on my face. Don't get me wrong, I like the WRX because the clutch throw is nice and short, the transmission shifts well, turbo spool-up is always fun and the engine makes harley davidson-esque burbling sounds out the tail pipe, but there is something about the smooth power delivery from just about any engine speed in the Z that makes all of the money spent very worthwhile every time I get a chance to drive it. I guess I had lost some of that appreciation when I drove it every day, but now I understand again.
Just thought I would share.
10-26-2009, 10:00 AM
#5
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I love it when I get a **** eating grin... oh wait, I like the **** eaten grin, my bad lol.
Very nice story, I feel ya when you say it wears off at times. My mom asked me the other day if I felt important when I drove my car, and I said no, but it really is such a better driving experience than most cars. So I changed my answer.
Very nice story, I feel ya when you say it wears off at times. My mom asked me the other day if I felt important when I drove my car, and I said no, but it really is such a better driving experience than most cars. So I changed my answer.
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10-26-2009, 01:31 PM
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Thanks for the story telling time! I've always said my best mod was a daily driver. It makes you appreciate the Z that much more when you stop using it to go to work, and when you use it for the sake of cruizin 
01-07-2010, 09:11 AM
#11
Well it happened again. Daily driver WRX is down for the count due to dead starter so I had to bit the bullet and drive the Z to work today. I had apprehension about driving the Z with its summer tires and expensive wheels installed with all of the rock salt and brine on the roads, but man was it a blast! 32 degree morning air meant torque all over the place. Couldn't stop looking back at the car as I walked into the office. I'll wipe the wheels down before putting it back in the garage tonight to get off any unwanted salt or other road debris.
Hope everyone else is enjoying their Z as much as I am!
Hope everyone else is enjoying their Z as much as I am!
Last edited by sry110; 01-07-2010 at 09:13 AM.
01-07-2010, 11:11 AM
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Man I read this and after a year and a half of owner ship - new mods still arriving - I still get the feeling. My opinion is that if you got to get up each day and go to work... Let the chariot be a Zed!
Here's a note to ponder... I always put 93 octane in the tank, but sometimes I find myself wondering if the company I buy from is actually putting it in Their underground tank... I know one thing. I stopped on the way home last night at a Shell station and filled up with some V-power. How does one spell "SHE_IT"? What a difference! Smooth & powerful acceleration, No hesitance, and of course I found that same renewed sweet feeling as described above... GAS MATTERS!!
Here's a note to ponder... I always put 93 octane in the tank, but sometimes I find myself wondering if the company I buy from is actually putting it in Their underground tank... I know one thing. I stopped on the way home last night at a Shell station and filled up with some V-power. How does one spell "SHE_IT"? What a difference! Smooth & powerful acceleration, No hesitance, and of course I found that same renewed sweet feeling as described above... GAS MATTERS!!
01-07-2010, 01:03 PM
#19
The same thing happens to me. When I was living in denver for a year, I only had 1 car and my job was litterally 3 blocks away, and all of my hang-out spots were a $5-7 cab ride. I went an entire month+ without driving ANYTHING. I pulled the Z out a month later (after waiting another couple of days since the battery died 
) and it was awesome to be driving it again.
I feel like going a long period without driving it, and jumping back in it is more fulfilling than the first time I drove it ever. I guess that's because I had some expectation of the performance when I first bough it, and now I at least know what it's like.
Or it could be that I had a 12 second LS1 before I had the Z
) and it was awesome to be driving it again.I feel like going a long period without driving it, and jumping back in it is more fulfilling than the first time I drove it ever. I guess that's because I had some expectation of the performance when I first bough it, and now I at least know what it's like.
Or it could be that I had a 12 second LS1 before I had the Z
01-07-2010, 01:09 PM
#20
