There is really no difference in performance b/w pre-order and later cars. I honestly believe you didn't notice how fast you were going. The Z is a damn fast car. No STI but DAMN fast.

One last question: did you have the parking brake up?

jk

Take another test drive, floor it and stare at the speedo in the trip computer. you'll be hooked.
NzZ

 

Former E36 M3 driver here...glad to be in a Z. The M3 rode smoother...and in every other category I can think of the Z wins. I prefer the Z's steering feel, Z feels more planted, Z accelerates more quickly, Z has more imaginative interior (E36 is just as cheap or even cheaper), and when I got a good trade in for the M3 well...it was time that the Roundel and its accompanying $90 oil changes and oxygen sensor failures took a hike.

Window streaks? Tire feather? Yes. But both can be fixed for less than 1/4 of what I paid to fix that damn O2 sensor

NzZ

 

Just got my z and keeping it under certain RPM range and speed. At first the Z did not feel very fast because there is no jump or jarring I get with other cars. I took it out again a second time after I was use to the way the car drives. Boy can it be fast!

Glancing over at the trip computer while going on an on-ramp to a local freeway put me in I knew I was going fairly fast but the car was at 85 before it even got on the freeway. I wasn't even flooring it and the ramp was super short too!

I'm getting use to how the car drives now and it gets faster once you know how much the throttle delivers when stepping down. If you drive it like a commuter car it's going to be civil but once you give it it some pedal it's a beast. The effect is amplified when the windows are down too because I think the 350z cabin does a good job of keeping alot of the exhaust noise out.

 

my friend who is also a german car driver (328) drove a s2k the other day and then drove a z today to compare the two. He also felt that the z didnt feel fast and that it didnt handle as well as the s2k. Wierd since i've driven an s2k and had a completly different theory. I personally felt that the s2k drove slow and it had a rough bouncy ride that didnt really inspire confidence in the turns.
Different people have different opinions, but in the end it comes down to numbers which we have plenty off.

 

thanks alot guys...... and sorry to a few who misunderstood my post thinking i was trying to get a rise out of anybody. The thing that never entered my head really is that I AM used to the turbo feeling of acceleration and going to a NA car, ...... i probably didn't realize how fast I was actually going. My plan is to drive a few more Zs, mash the pedal, and watch the speedo. I think i'll try to drive a couple of used Z's actually, so the break-in issue doesn't come into the equation either.

 

trust me, it's a good bit faster that yor 1.8T....turbo or no turbo!

 

Oddly enough, I drove my friend's modded 2002 1.8t A4 last night. (someone had too many beers) heheh
You're right, there is a spike feeling of speed when the turbo kicks in. I can understand how it'd feel fast when accelerating because you have your regular momentum then all of a sudden *gush of air* and the car is significantly faster than a second before.
Driving the Z then right over to the Audi I can tell that the Z's normal acceleration is constantly pushing harder than the 1.8t at it's gear peak. The Z doesn't have any pushes unless you shift abruptly. I love the 1.8t's gearbox though...my friend had a short shifter and it was easy to throw the car into different gears. However, "stop and go" could use a little more *umph* off the line instead of waiting for the turbo to kick in.

 

Man i dont know what this guy is on. I have a WRX that will tear the crap out of a 1.8. I havnt dynoed it yet but it should be around 240-250 whp. When i test drove the Z that n/a motor pulled hard. Its power band surpassed my car. Nice and smooth and no turbo lagg, It was refreshing. I dont know it just has that pure sports car feel that a 4 door cant give you.

 

I used to have a turbo car before. Here's what you do to feel an NA car's linear power as a "kick": (in any gear) drive smoothly until RPM is in mid range (dead center from 0-redline) and hold the gas so that the car holds its speed, neither gaining or dropping, then lean back in the seat, relax your body and let go the gas all the way for one second and then quickly punch it all the way. Repeat from 3/4 of the RPM range. I wouldn't recommend doing this every 5 min, it's kinda hard on the tranny/clutch/crankshaft.

Also, next time you test drive the Z, hold the RPM's until at least 6500 before shifting, and go through at least 2-3 consecutive gears of this. Even my friend with a 250HP GSX couldn't get enough of it.

 

I had an '86 911, normally aspirated, sold it, and was looking for another 911 ('95-'98) or a Boxster. A friend of mine gave me a ride in his new Z Roadster, and I was impressed with the room inside versus the Boxster or S2000 (another car I was considering). So I took a test drive in a Z coupe (Touring automatic w. cold air intake). I wasn't interested in the automatic, but that's all the local dealer had to drive. I was totally impressed compared to my 911 and the Boxster. The new S2000 was pretty awesome also. I found a used (low mile) 2003 Z, bought it (cold air intake and stainless steel exhause) and I'm have more fun than I've had since my 1968 Olds 442 that had 365 hp. It's a great car, ride a bit bouncy, but the quickness and sound of the engine are worth the price. To me, the value of the Z compared to the Porsches was worth a try. Good luck with your decision.

 

ps: all too often I see/hear/read people who have or test drove turbocharged cars and complain the Z doesn't feel as fast (when it should be). You guys have to realize the different outputs (power curves) of each engine design (NA vs. FI) and how that feels behind the wheel. It can be deceiving.

 

Just from reading this post, you seem like a G35 Coupe perspective owner!! About the same price and you get some back seats (for people 5'8" and shorter). Granted, you give up a little of the performance ( 7hp and some softer handling), but you also get the Pilot Sports which are much better tires (though they only last 15K miles at best). You might just want to look into the G Coupe, you may be suprised!!

 

This post particularly caught my attention.....

I too own a 99.5 A4 with mods (277whp), including an APR Stage 3. I also have an '04 350z Roadster with Nismo suspension and engine mods. The 350z is linear, provides awesome mid range torque, and is a very entertaining drive to toss into turns. The a4 (with a ball bearing turbo) is linear, provides awesome mid range torque, and is a very entertaining drive to toss into turns.

Nonetheless, the driving experiences are still very different. They are both satisfying in their own respects, and should be considered that way. If you're looking for a purpose built GT with a large N/A V6 tied to a solid rwd chassis, the Z fits the bill. The A4 is an excellent platform as well (lighter than the S4), but do expect to do more preventive maintenance, as you would for any modded turbo vehicle. Which vehicle gives the bigger grin? I'm still trying to figure that one out.

 

One thing that wasn't mentioned was that the SOUND changes very little in acceleration. Once you get past 1200 rpm, there is very little difference at part or WOT throttle. It seems to be how the stock exhaust is tuned, you can hear it at every speed, just off idle. I fell in love with the stock exhaust sound and drove around for months in town just listening to it at low revs while it was breaking in, not listening to the soundsystem at all.

A polar opposite would be a V-Tec, which changes sound significantly at high revs. It appears Nissan tuned the sound to enjoy most at low revs, which is where we have to drive most of the time in city traffic. Most of the torque comes in not far off idle and the sound doesn't change a lot all the way to redline. Drive it on a highway in a group of cars running 80mph and watch the other cars dwindle when you floor the throttle to 100mph. Its rather dramatic.

 

Sweet, my old car was a 2001 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro 5sp as well. I had the APR Stage II setup (chip and exhaust) as well as 17" wheels/tires and Eibach springs/Bilstein struts suspension. Very fun car to carve corners with, but trust me, the Z absolutely stomps it in straight line acceleration.

Like others have said, I've found the DBW throttle to be very tricky, you really have to stomp on it to get full acceleration unlike my A4 which also had DBW. Plus the torque curve is soooo linear, it's just smooth pulling all the way thru. But once you hit 5000rpms or so with your foot to the floor, you know there's no way a chipped A4 can pull or sound like that.

 

Did you have the VDC off????

 

Ryno==Is this Redline Track sitting out at St Charles Nissan? I recall looking at a Redline Track model with the black leather there when I was buying my Z last June. If it is the same car that I drove, it just didn't seem right. I couldn't put my finger on the problem but it was not a fun car to drive. Maybe that explains why it has been sitting around the lot for so long. I think I saw that Z still sitting there last weekend. I ended up buying my Z from Lou Fusz.

Les

 

While I wouldn't recommend doing this to a car with only 100 miles. Find someone who will give you a ride in one that is broken in. Take off in first gear pretty hard. Shift close to 6000 rpms. Once you hit second gear, drop the pedal to the floor and shift between 6000 and 6500 rpms. Continue in third (you may want to make sure the road has either a lack of cops or a triple digit speed limit). I promise you won't think the car is slow. I came from riding a crotch rocket and this car always puts a huge grin on my face. A lot of that has to do with getting the car practically sideways when taking turns but you get the point.

 

Dude...I want whatever you're drinking

 

what does "from a german owner" have to do with the price of a coke?