A Canuck Z
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From: Calgary
A Canuck Z
Picked up my Silverstone Track Z in Saskatoon on Wednesday. It's been a long wait, since I gave them my down payment in November! The guys at Oakwood Nissan were great to deal with.
Impressions:
Torque-o-rama! Coming from a VTEC Honda Prelude, this is awesome. The engine revs quickly and does not "hang" at higher revs when you let off the gas. This car will unseat the Prelude as the "best handling car under $30,000". Suspension is very well controlled, but not rough. Turned off the VDC and peeled out while still staying under my 4K break in rev limit!
Shifter is shorter throw than the Prelude, the same as an S2000, but a little harder to engage. Clutch is on par with S2000, a little easier than the Prelude and a lot more precise.
The auto climate control works really well. Pretty much set the temperature and let it do it's thing. Only had to override it a few times.
Seat was very comfortable, I didn't have a sore back after the 7 hour trip home.
The car is smooth as glass up to 160 km/h. I didn't try higher. Wind noise is the same at 100 and 160.
The tires didn't seem to have the dry grip that my S-02 Pole Positions had on the Prelude. Maybe they need to be worn in a bit more?
The fit and finish is great. Material quality is what I expected. However I think the panel gap around the hood is a bit large. It closes easily though, as do the doors, with a light touch.
The car crowd really knows this car. People were asking me at stop lights and coming into the dealer to see it. On my way to Calgary (changing speed/gear every song on the CD :-)) it got just as much attention.
Enough for now. I still have 500 km more break in mileage to put in this weekend!
Impressions:
Torque-o-rama! Coming from a VTEC Honda Prelude, this is awesome. The engine revs quickly and does not "hang" at higher revs when you let off the gas. This car will unseat the Prelude as the "best handling car under $30,000". Suspension is very well controlled, but not rough. Turned off the VDC and peeled out while still staying under my 4K break in rev limit!
Shifter is shorter throw than the Prelude, the same as an S2000, but a little harder to engage. Clutch is on par with S2000, a little easier than the Prelude and a lot more precise.
The auto climate control works really well. Pretty much set the temperature and let it do it's thing. Only had to override it a few times.
Seat was very comfortable, I didn't have a sore back after the 7 hour trip home.
The car is smooth as glass up to 160 km/h. I didn't try higher. Wind noise is the same at 100 and 160.
The tires didn't seem to have the dry grip that my S-02 Pole Positions had on the Prelude. Maybe they need to be worn in a bit more?
The fit and finish is great. Material quality is what I expected. However I think the panel gap around the hood is a bit large. It closes easily though, as do the doors, with a light touch.
The car crowd really knows this car. People were asking me at stop lights and coming into the dealer to see it. On my way to Calgary (changing speed/gear every song on the CD :-)) it got just as much attention.
Enough for now. I still have 500 km more break in mileage to put in this weekend!
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Calgary AB, Canada
beautiful Silver 
The Prelude has been unseated in that category for a couple years now. Oh, you should post up the head to head pic of your friend's S2K and your Z. They would love that on here
The Prelude has been unseated in that category for a couple years now. Oh, you should post up the head to head pic of your friend's S2K and your Z. They would love that on here
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Miami
Re: A Canuck Z
Originally posted by acid burn
Picked up my Silverstone Track Z in Saskatoon on Wednesday. It's been a long wait, since I gave them my down payment in November! The guys at Oakwood Nissan were great to deal with.
Impressions:
Torque-o-rama! Coming from a VTEC Honda Prelude, this is awesome. The engine revs quickly and does not "hang" at higher revs when you let off the gas. This car will unseat the Prelude as the "best handling car under $30,000". Suspension is very well controlled, but not rough. Turned off the VDC and peeled out while still staying under my 4K break in rev limit!
Shifter is shorter throw than the Prelude, the same as an S2000, but a little harder to engage. Clutch is on par with S2000, a little easier than the Prelude and a lot more precise.
The auto climate control works really well. Pretty much set the temperature and let it do it's thing. Only had to override it a few times.
Seat was very comfortable, I didn't have a sore back after the 7 hour trip home.
The car is smooth as glass up to 160 km/h. I didn't try higher. Wind noise is the same at 100 and 160.
The tires didn't seem to have the dry grip that my S-02 Pole Positions had on the Prelude. Maybe they need to be worn in a bit more?
The fit and finish is great. Material quality is what I expected. However I think the panel gap around the hood is a bit large. It closes easily though, as do the doors, with a light touch.
The car crowd really knows this car. People were asking me at stop lights and coming into the dealer to see it. On my way to Calgary (changing speed/gear every song on the CD :-)) it got just as much attention.
Enough for now. I still have 500 km more break in mileage to put in this weekend!
Picked up my Silverstone Track Z in Saskatoon on Wednesday. It's been a long wait, since I gave them my down payment in November! The guys at Oakwood Nissan were great to deal with.
Impressions:
Torque-o-rama! Coming from a VTEC Honda Prelude, this is awesome. The engine revs quickly and does not "hang" at higher revs when you let off the gas. This car will unseat the Prelude as the "best handling car under $30,000". Suspension is very well controlled, but not rough. Turned off the VDC and peeled out while still staying under my 4K break in rev limit!
Shifter is shorter throw than the Prelude, the same as an S2000, but a little harder to engage. Clutch is on par with S2000, a little easier than the Prelude and a lot more precise.
The auto climate control works really well. Pretty much set the temperature and let it do it's thing. Only had to override it a few times.
Seat was very comfortable, I didn't have a sore back after the 7 hour trip home.
The car is smooth as glass up to 160 km/h. I didn't try higher. Wind noise is the same at 100 and 160.
The tires didn't seem to have the dry grip that my S-02 Pole Positions had on the Prelude. Maybe they need to be worn in a bit more?
The fit and finish is great. Material quality is what I expected. However I think the panel gap around the hood is a bit large. It closes easily though, as do the doors, with a light touch.
The car crowd really knows this car. People were asking me at stop lights and coming into the dealer to see it. On my way to Calgary (changing speed/gear every song on the CD :-)) it got just as much attention.
Enough for now. I still have 500 km more break in mileage to put in this weekend!
Thanks.
Mike
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From: Calgary
On the Prelude I had SSR 17 inch rims with 215/40R17 Bridgestone Potenza S-02 Pole Position tires.
The ride quality is about the same, maybe a touch better. This could be because to get a good balance on the Prelude with these tires I had to run 38/36 PSI front/rear.
The suspension is much firmer, the body roll is much less. On the Prelude, the grippy tires seemed too much for the suspension. Sometimes the suspension would load up and then bounce back, maybe too much grip caused it to hit the bump stops on hard corners? But the balance was beautiful, to the point where I could do a 4 wheel drift on the highway on ramps.
I'm still getting used to the Z. I'll find out what tire pressures are best for the stock tires. I am thinking of getting S-02s for replacements.
I am not sure what the stock tires pressures are between 17 and 18 inch stockers, but I think what you mean is that the lower profile (45) of the 18s will ride rougher that the profile (55) of the 17s.
The ride quality is about the same, maybe a touch better. This could be because to get a good balance on the Prelude with these tires I had to run 38/36 PSI front/rear.
The suspension is much firmer, the body roll is much less. On the Prelude, the grippy tires seemed too much for the suspension. Sometimes the suspension would load up and then bounce back, maybe too much grip caused it to hit the bump stops on hard corners? But the balance was beautiful, to the point where I could do a 4 wheel drift on the highway on ramps.
I'm still getting used to the Z. I'll find out what tire pressures are best for the stock tires. I am thinking of getting S-02s for replacements.
I am not sure what the stock tires pressures are between 17 and 18 inch stockers, but I think what you mean is that the lower profile (45) of the 18s will ride rougher that the profile (55) of the 17s.
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congates on your new Z. I am from Edmonton and have a balck track on order, unfortunetly I could not get a Z until mid Nov. so I o decided not to take delivey until March. Gald to hear that the Z is "landing" in Canada in addition to the ones being received by our freinds in the USA.
Any comments you have on the Z would be appreciated. Just wondering what did you have planned in terms of storage during our harsh Winters.
Anyway enjoy the drive, trying not to think about Spring but it is hard not to start getting excited hearing about everyone getting their long awaited Z's.
Doug Z
One final question, why Saskatoon although a drive back to Alberta after delivery sounds like a great idea
Any comments you have on the Z would be appreciated. Just wondering what did you have planned in terms of storage during our harsh Winters.
Anyway enjoy the drive, trying not to think about Spring but it is hard not to start getting excited hearing about everyone getting their long awaited Z's.
Doug Z
One final question, why Saskatoon although a drive back to Alberta after delivery sounds like a great idea
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From: Calgary
The SSRs were great rims. Easy to keep clean and high quality. However, the Honda dealer bent a rim once on an inspection drive. I guess they didn't avoid pot holes and drive slow over speed bumps like I did. BTW, I expect this to be less of a problem with the Z because there is less weight over the front wheels and the 45s are taller than the 40s I was running.
As to why I got it in Saskatoon? The Calgary dealer "took my name and number" but never treated me seriously and never called me back to this day. ******. Saskatoon is my home town so a few visits were cool too.
As to why I got it in Saskatoon? The Calgary dealer "took my name and number" but never treated me seriously and never called me back to this day. ******. Saskatoon is my home town so a few visits were cool too.
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From: Boston, MA
Congrats on your new Z! I'm currently driving a 2001 Prelude, but considering the Z, so I was very interested to read your impressions.
One question: Did the Z feel like a heavier car than the Prelude (3200 vs 3000 lbs) or about the same? In particular, I'm thinking about the agility and tossability of the car during hard cornering, quick lane changes, etc. Of all the Z's stats, the weight was the only one that had me concerned...
Also, I know you're still probably taking it easy during the break-in period, but how does the acceleration of the Z at low revs compare the acceleration of the Prelude at WOT and high revs?
Thanks...
One question: Did the Z feel like a heavier car than the Prelude (3200 vs 3000 lbs) or about the same? In particular, I'm thinking about the agility and tossability of the car during hard cornering, quick lane changes, etc. Of all the Z's stats, the weight was the only one that had me concerned...
Also, I know you're still probably taking it easy during the break-in period, but how does the acceleration of the Z at low revs compare the acceleration of the Prelude at WOT and high revs?
Thanks...
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The Z feels lighter than the Prelude. Acceleration keeping the revs below 4K rpm is greater than the Prelude wound out to 7.5K rpm.
I haven't tried much corner tossing yet, but on one corner I did and the VDC invoked and braked the outside front wheel. The wheel made a short squeal (which startled a passing motorcylclist) but did not upset the car. I tried the same corner later with VDC off and there was no braking and no squeal. I will be driving with the VDC off now most of the time.
I can't wait until break in is over and I will rev it out to see what it can do. I hope the Nissan V6 endures the high revs as well as the Honda I4 does. I revved that one out regularly and it ran great. Also, fuel cut out did not engage until 400 hundred revs past the indicated red line. I have heard it is a common trait for Honda tachometers to read a little high. Anyone know if this is true for Nissan tachometers?
I haven't tried much corner tossing yet, but on one corner I did and the VDC invoked and braked the outside front wheel. The wheel made a short squeal (which startled a passing motorcylclist) but did not upset the car. I tried the same corner later with VDC off and there was no braking and no squeal. I will be driving with the VDC off now most of the time.
I can't wait until break in is over and I will rev it out to see what it can do. I hope the Nissan V6 endures the high revs as well as the Honda I4 does. I revved that one out regularly and it ran great. Also, fuel cut out did not engage until 400 hundred revs past the indicated red line. I have heard it is a common trait for Honda tachometers to read a little high. Anyone know if this is true for Nissan tachometers?
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From: Boston, MA
Nice pics!
On the Prelude, Honda intentionally set the fuel cutoff a few hundred RPMs above the redline, so it's not (entirely) the result of tachometer inaccuracy. It also depends on engine temperature. When the engine is cold, the fuel cutoff will trigger below redline...
I'd be curious where the cutoff point is on the Z. Anyone hit the cutoff on their new Z (intentionally or not)?
On the Prelude, Honda intentionally set the fuel cutoff a few hundred RPMs above the redline, so it's not (entirely) the result of tachometer inaccuracy. It also depends on engine temperature. When the engine is cold, the fuel cutoff will trigger below redline...
I'd be curious where the cutoff point is on the Z. Anyone hit the cutoff on their new Z (intentionally or not)?
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