What is the most pointless part of the car?
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 58
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From: Pasadena, CA
1. The turn signal clicker is wayyy too low.
2. No front 12v port. I use my phone as a nav on a mount and cable doesnt reach.
3. Tail lights are long but have no bulb at the top.
4. No inside trunk release besides key fob and under strut bar.
5. The Bose system. Its terrible. I think its Nissan equipment and they paid for the Bose logo.
6. The gears are way too close together. Sometimes im scared of mis shifting.
7. Oil dip stick is annoying to use.
8. Door handles. They stick out wayy too much and are ugly.
9. Sunglasses holder is only good for old man sunglasses.
10. I sometimes turn off my head lights when using turn signal.
I actually like the rear wiper. I use it when my rear window is dirty to give it a quick clean. Also when it rained the night before, Id rather use that to wipe the windows than a rag.
2. No front 12v port. I use my phone as a nav on a mount and cable doesnt reach.
3. Tail lights are long but have no bulb at the top.
4. No inside trunk release besides key fob and under strut bar.
5. The Bose system. Its terrible. I think its Nissan equipment and they paid for the Bose logo.
6. The gears are way too close together. Sometimes im scared of mis shifting.
7. Oil dip stick is annoying to use.
8. Door handles. They stick out wayy too much and are ugly.
9. Sunglasses holder is only good for old man sunglasses.
10. I sometimes turn off my head lights when using turn signal.
I actually like the rear wiper. I use it when my rear window is dirty to give it a quick clean. Also when it rained the night before, Id rather use that to wipe the windows than a rag.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Las Vegas
I would have been annoyed if i always had to use the remote to open the trunk.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: USA
Most useless to me is the sunglasses holder. I only use it to play open/close with it. Rear window wiper may be tops on the list, but I don't drive in rain, so I really don't know the experience of it.
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 146
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From: Wisconsin
I would have to say the sunglass holder and the rear wiper. Rear wiper has been used maybe 2 or 3 times and none of my sunglasses fit in the sunglass holder. Granted, I have Oakley Juliets which aren't very compact, but they're not the largest I've seen either. 
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Joined: Jan 2013
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From: Raleigh North Carolina
Most useless thing on my Z I would say is the rear wiper blade because the tint is so dark that you can barley see in it anyways so i just use the side mirrors if I have to look back.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Just to address a couple of the points made over the years:
The cupholder in the dash was modified in (or prior to) the 2005, so it is a little sturdier and more useable. Its still unstable though, I recently had to strip out the lower dash on my car to wash off the spilled coffee!!
The reason the windows drop slightly when opening the doors, and go back up when the door is closed, is specifically for the convertible. Instead of designing two separate doors (convertible and coupe), they use the same doors on both. On a convertible, since the rain-proofing is supplied by cloth, the roof overhangs the top edge of the window. Consequently, the window has to "duck" when the door opens and closes.
Sticking with the convertible, it is designed to be secure while parked with the roof down. For this reason, there is no trunk release button that is accessible easily. The manual trunk release is located inside the locking glove compartment. The emergency escape release is on the rear wall of what is laughingly referred to as the trunk space - I borrowed my neighbors 10yr old son, and he couldn't get in the trunk and close the lid! The only way of opening that trunk is with the remote, and it won't work if the keys are in the ignition! FWIW, the rear wheel of my motorcycle (170/60-18) is a very tight fit in the trunk, and the sticker only provides instructions for a single golf bag.
My 05 Roadster also has the power outlet in the passenger footwell, although I have now mounted a second one behind the panel to power the dash-cam that I mounted behind the rear view mirror. The wiring was run behind the trim, so it is almost invisible unless you are looking for it.
The window cut-out switch on the drivers side is a real PITA. I didn't know about it, just after I got the car. I pulled into a public parking lot downtown with the windows open, and could NOT close the passenger window!! Neither the drivers switch nor the passenger switch would work. I was late for work, so had to leave the car parked 1/2" away from a wall so people wouldn't see the window open! Quick google search, and I ran out on break, turned the darn switch off and closed the window!
For the worst designed features on the car, I would have to say the metal footplate (on automatic models), which bends and flexes with a click under any pressure. I even went to the Nissan dealership to ask what the switch under it was for, since that was what it felt like! The positioning of the heated seats switches leaves a lot to be desired, and the two console cup holders are usable only by a contortionist.
The most pointless part, on a convertible at least, has to be moving the passenger seat forward while lowering or raising the roof! With the engine running, release the roof catch, press down on the brake, press in the roof button, and hold it in until the roof lowers. It you release the button or the brake, the roof will stop moving. Part of the inside of the roof folds down into the passenger space, so they decided to have the passenger seat tilt forward so it wouldn't mess up the passengers hair!
With all that attention to detail, they couldn't make the switch on the back of the passenger seat into a release catch, so the back just unlocks and flips forward for quick access to the glove box?
All that aside, I do like this car - I pulled into the dealership in a red, 2 door convertible, and pulled out in a red 2 door convertible, just not the same car! The car left behind was a Mustang, doesn't hold a candle to this one!
The cupholder in the dash was modified in (or prior to) the 2005, so it is a little sturdier and more useable. Its still unstable though, I recently had to strip out the lower dash on my car to wash off the spilled coffee!!
The reason the windows drop slightly when opening the doors, and go back up when the door is closed, is specifically for the convertible. Instead of designing two separate doors (convertible and coupe), they use the same doors on both. On a convertible, since the rain-proofing is supplied by cloth, the roof overhangs the top edge of the window. Consequently, the window has to "duck" when the door opens and closes.
Sticking with the convertible, it is designed to be secure while parked with the roof down. For this reason, there is no trunk release button that is accessible easily. The manual trunk release is located inside the locking glove compartment. The emergency escape release is on the rear wall of what is laughingly referred to as the trunk space - I borrowed my neighbors 10yr old son, and he couldn't get in the trunk and close the lid! The only way of opening that trunk is with the remote, and it won't work if the keys are in the ignition! FWIW, the rear wheel of my motorcycle (170/60-18) is a very tight fit in the trunk, and the sticker only provides instructions for a single golf bag.
My 05 Roadster also has the power outlet in the passenger footwell, although I have now mounted a second one behind the panel to power the dash-cam that I mounted behind the rear view mirror. The wiring was run behind the trim, so it is almost invisible unless you are looking for it.
The window cut-out switch on the drivers side is a real PITA. I didn't know about it, just after I got the car. I pulled into a public parking lot downtown with the windows open, and could NOT close the passenger window!! Neither the drivers switch nor the passenger switch would work. I was late for work, so had to leave the car parked 1/2" away from a wall so people wouldn't see the window open! Quick google search, and I ran out on break, turned the darn switch off and closed the window!
For the worst designed features on the car, I would have to say the metal footplate (on automatic models), which bends and flexes with a click under any pressure. I even went to the Nissan dealership to ask what the switch under it was for, since that was what it felt like! The positioning of the heated seats switches leaves a lot to be desired, and the two console cup holders are usable only by a contortionist.
The most pointless part, on a convertible at least, has to be moving the passenger seat forward while lowering or raising the roof! With the engine running, release the roof catch, press down on the brake, press in the roof button, and hold it in until the roof lowers. It you release the button or the brake, the roof will stop moving. Part of the inside of the roof folds down into the passenger space, so they decided to have the passenger seat tilt forward so it wouldn't mess up the passengers hair!
With all that attention to detail, they couldn't make the switch on the back of the passenger seat into a release catch, so the back just unlocks and flips forward for quick access to the glove box?
All that aside, I do like this car - I pulled into the dealership in a red, 2 door convertible, and pulled out in a red 2 door convertible, just not the same car! The car left behind was a Mustang, doesn't hold a candle to this one!
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From: TX
Just to address a couple of the points made over the years:
The cupholder in the dash was modified in (or prior to) the 2005, so it is a little sturdier and more useable. Its still unstable though, I recently had to strip out the lower dash on my car to wash off the spilled coffee!!
The reason the windows drop slightly when opening the doors, and go back up when the door is closed, is specifically for the convertible. Instead of designing two separate doors (convertible and coupe), they use the same doors on both. On a convertible, since the rain-proofing is supplied by cloth, the roof overhangs the top edge of the window. Consequently, the window has to "duck" when the door opens and closes.
Sticking with the convertible, it is designed to be secure while parked with the roof down. For this reason, there is no trunk release button that is accessible easily. The manual trunk release is located inside the locking glove compartment. The emergency escape release is on the rear wall of what is laughingly referred to as the trunk space - I borrowed my neighbors 10yr old son, and he couldn't get in the trunk and close the lid! The only way of opening that trunk is with the remote, and it won't work if the keys are in the ignition! FWIW, the rear wheel of my motorcycle (170/60-18) is a very tight fit in the trunk, and the sticker only provides instructions for a single golf bag.
My 05 Roadster also has the power outlet in the passenger footwell, although I have now mounted a second one behind the panel to power the dash-cam that I mounted behind the rear view mirror. The wiring was run behind the trim, so it is almost invisible unless you are looking for it.
The window cut-out switch on the drivers side is a real PITA. I didn't know about it, just after I got the car. I pulled into a public parking lot downtown with the windows open, and could NOT close the passenger window!! Neither the drivers switch nor the passenger switch would work. I was late for work, so had to leave the car parked 1/2" away from a wall so people wouldn't see the window open! Quick google search, and I ran out on break, turned the darn switch off and closed the window!
For the worst designed features on the car, I would have to say the metal footplate (on automatic models), which bends and flexes with a click under any pressure. I even went to the Nissan dealership to ask what the switch under it was for, since that was what it felt like! The positioning of the heated seats switches leaves a lot to be desired, and the two console cup holders are usable only by a contortionist.
The most pointless part, on a convertible at least, has to be moving the passenger seat forward while lowering or raising the roof! With the engine running, release the roof catch, press down on the brake, press in the roof button, and hold it in until the roof lowers. It you release the button or the brake, the roof will stop moving. Part of the inside of the roof folds down into the passenger space, so they decided to have the passenger seat tilt forward so it wouldn't mess up the passengers hair!
With all that attention to detail, they couldn't make the switch on the back of the passenger seat into a release catch, so the back just unlocks and flips forward for quick access to the glove box?
All that aside, I do like this car - I pulled into the dealership in a red, 2 door convertible, and pulled out in a red 2 door convertible, just not the same car! The car left behind was a Mustang, doesn't hold a candle to this one!
The cupholder in the dash was modified in (or prior to) the 2005, so it is a little sturdier and more useable. Its still unstable though, I recently had to strip out the lower dash on my car to wash off the spilled coffee!!
The reason the windows drop slightly when opening the doors, and go back up when the door is closed, is specifically for the convertible. Instead of designing two separate doors (convertible and coupe), they use the same doors on both. On a convertible, since the rain-proofing is supplied by cloth, the roof overhangs the top edge of the window. Consequently, the window has to "duck" when the door opens and closes.
Sticking with the convertible, it is designed to be secure while parked with the roof down. For this reason, there is no trunk release button that is accessible easily. The manual trunk release is located inside the locking glove compartment. The emergency escape release is on the rear wall of what is laughingly referred to as the trunk space - I borrowed my neighbors 10yr old son, and he couldn't get in the trunk and close the lid! The only way of opening that trunk is with the remote, and it won't work if the keys are in the ignition! FWIW, the rear wheel of my motorcycle (170/60-18) is a very tight fit in the trunk, and the sticker only provides instructions for a single golf bag.
My 05 Roadster also has the power outlet in the passenger footwell, although I have now mounted a second one behind the panel to power the dash-cam that I mounted behind the rear view mirror. The wiring was run behind the trim, so it is almost invisible unless you are looking for it.
The window cut-out switch on the drivers side is a real PITA. I didn't know about it, just after I got the car. I pulled into a public parking lot downtown with the windows open, and could NOT close the passenger window!! Neither the drivers switch nor the passenger switch would work. I was late for work, so had to leave the car parked 1/2" away from a wall so people wouldn't see the window open! Quick google search, and I ran out on break, turned the darn switch off and closed the window!
For the worst designed features on the car, I would have to say the metal footplate (on automatic models), which bends and flexes with a click under any pressure. I even went to the Nissan dealership to ask what the switch under it was for, since that was what it felt like! The positioning of the heated seats switches leaves a lot to be desired, and the two console cup holders are usable only by a contortionist.
The most pointless part, on a convertible at least, has to be moving the passenger seat forward while lowering or raising the roof! With the engine running, release the roof catch, press down on the brake, press in the roof button, and hold it in until the roof lowers. It you release the button or the brake, the roof will stop moving. Part of the inside of the roof folds down into the passenger space, so they decided to have the passenger seat tilt forward so it wouldn't mess up the passengers hair!
With all that attention to detail, they couldn't make the switch on the back of the passenger seat into a release catch, so the back just unlocks and flips forward for quick access to the glove box?
All that aside, I do like this car - I pulled into the dealership in a red, 2 door convertible, and pulled out in a red 2 door convertible, just not the same car! The car left behind was a Mustang, doesn't hold a candle to this one!
Hmm didn't consider the window drop due to it being a design from the convertible.
I thought I read somewhere that BMW first did this on their coupes for aerodynamic reasons or something along those lines.
I thought I read somewhere that BMW first did this on their coupes for aerodynamic reasons or something along those lines.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: New Zealand
Without a doubt, it has to be the tape deck. Even when some of us purchased our 350's coming up 10 years, or some 11 years ago, I'm sure none of us use a tape. Never had one in my Z in the near 10 years of ownership.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,683
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From: Long Beach, CA
I didnt know the window ducking was for the Verts. always thought since there was no window frame on the door it did that to create a tight seal against the weatherproofing, learned something new today.
Mos pointless part = door cupholders
Mos pointless part = door cupholders
No way, that's where my wallet and phone go. Perfect fit.
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Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Long Beach, CA
When I first got my Z, it came with no keyless entry fob. Also, not even a couple of weeks later my door handles stopped working (yes, both), so I had to use the key in order to roll down my windows and open my door from the inside. Lol, yeah that's right, a lot of you Z owners probably had no idea that if you stick your key in and turn it counter clockwise and hold it there, your windows will roll down.............your welcome
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 41
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From: Ohio
When I first got my Z, it came with no keyless entry fob. Also, not even a couple of weeks later my door handles stopped working (yes, both), so I had to use the key in order to roll down my windows and open my door from the inside. Lol, yeah that's right, a lot of you Z owners probably had no idea that if you stick your key in and turn it counter clockwise and hold it there, your windows will roll down.............your welcome
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,683
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From: Long Beach, CA
When I first got my Z, it came with no keyless entry fob. Also, not even a couple of weeks later my door handles stopped working (yes, both), so I had to use the key in order to roll down my windows and open my door from the inside. Lol, yeah that's right, a lot of you Z owners probably had no idea that if you stick your key in and turn it counter clockwise and hold it there, your windows will roll down.............your welcome
You really need to spend more time on the forum, this has been a known fact since 2004
Last edited by stuartc323; Oct 1, 2013 at 12:32 PM.
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From: Long Beach, CA