03 Z for ME

I admit it, my Z feels slow. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Z. Every time I get in it and drive, she puts a smile on my face. I get tons of compliments, and I love to look at it. But.... recently she just doesn't feel as fast. Seems like she lost her "edge"

I wonder if any of the following might be the cause... What do you all think?

1.) I've been driving the sport bike a lot lately. The bike REALLY is much quicker and faster than the Z. I must just be used to the bike and the Z really is that much slower...

2.) I haven't given the Z a good "thrashing" lately. I've driven pretty conservatively, mostly on the highway back and forth to work. Maybe the ECU "learned" my recent driving style and I need to go Red line her a bit to "loosen up" the ECU again.

3.) Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to do more modding...

4.) Maybe I need to go Drag Race / Road Race / Dyno the Z again just to remember how good it feels to "let her rip"...

5.) Heaven forbid, maybe the Z gets slower with age... NAH, couldn't be. Maybe I just "got used" to the feel of the Z.


Anyone else feel the same as me at all? How did you "cure" your feelings? Maybe I need to go rent a Ford Focus for a day or two...

KrazY-2K

No problems here. All in your head
Then again I do drive her anything but slow...

LBSOHK

most likely you just got used to the feel of speed in your Z.. do some mods , the great feeling will come back.. or rent some eco car and drive around in it for a day...

EL Diablo

your just use to your Z.

your Z is even faster than a stock one with all your mods

Drive a friends "Regular" car and see if you think your Z is slow.

wildone_106

yea it just takes a drive in a "normal" car to appreciate the steering and smoothness of the throttle, it worked for me

phile

I have no sportbike to ride yet, and my Z feels slow as ***. The only time my Z feels like it has grunt anymore is when the engine is cold. And since it's not recommended to drive it hard when the engine is cold, i'm left with a slug for a Z. Can't wait till I get a sport bike.

Apexi350z

iTrader: (3)

You should add two more important mods to your selection:

1. Underdrive PULLEY
2. Plenum (Intake Manifold)

These two mods will make a WORLD of Difference!

spitfirez

iTrader: (1)

Time for a TT!

AZZGUY

Perhaps you aren't driving it like the sports car it s - do you let it get up to 3500 rpm in 3, 4 and 5th gear? This auto was meant to be fun - dont worry about ruining the engine when driving sanely but still having fun. I had mine to 110 with less than 500 miles on it - but that was on the expressway and probably not more than 10 or 15 seconds. (what a thrill!!). - and the car still runs good! ( 1900 miles). I think the 1200 mile break in is meant - dont drive it steady 115 mph for the first 4 hours. I've always been told a new auto should be driving at inconsistant speeds for the first 1000 miles. Running at 3 to 4000 rpm for inconsistant times wont hurt - regardless of gear you are in. Use good sense! and still enjoy- isnt that why we bought the Z.
I bought the 300ZX new in 1990 - had it to 125 a couple times - held the road like a rock - but what a burst of adrenalin!! I took a mercedes in grand style on the last one.
Hope this puts your mind at ease.

ares

iTrader: (2)

its summer.

the motorcycle isnt helping, but the hot air is hurting your performance. Ive notice mine too feels "sluggish" compared to a brisk winter day. intake temps prove it, they say you lose like 1.5% of your hp for ever 10degrees. when you figure your intake temp has probably risen 50-60degrees from sunny days and hit air, thats 9% loss, or about 20hp. thatll make anyones car feel a little bogged down.

03 Z for ME

Thanks for all the helpful replies guys. I pretty much wanted to know what everyone thought and if I was the only one.

I think I'll go drive her like I stole her on the way to work tonight.

I do think that compared to the bike, the Z is a bit slow and that may have changed my perception. There's no comparison of very many cars to a bike. Going 100 MPH + and a simple twist of the throttle, look down and see 130 with NO effort. WOW, plus the open air at speed is REALLY a rush.

OK, back to the Z. I think I'll order me a pully first. I'm still reading about all the Plenum positives and negatives.

I'm tracking her on the Pocono South Road Course this summer. I can't WAIT for those two days. NOw THAT should really wake me and the Z up!

jeffie7

iTrader: (4)

Drive around in some crappy beater car for a few days then get back in your Z and say it still feels slow =)

A, you're use to the power of the 350Z
B. you have a sport bike and after riding that the Z feels like a pansey " I know this first hand =)"

SharpST77

give the Z to me.

ZIABLO

iTrader: (7)

Mine felt slow...cause it was. For some reason it wouldn't do much at all in 1st and 2nd gear. I reset the ECU and that fixed my problem :P

phile

Hmm...I'll try that

kcobean

iTrader: (2)

What's the ECU reset procedure? Is it some weird key on/off sequence, or is it just unplug the battery for some period of time?

Thanks.

ryanfromsocal

ohh... i thought this was about how it seems like ur going 30 but u look at the speedometer and ur going about 60. thats probably cuz the other car that i drive is a truck and the height difference

Jsn350Z

The Z is not a slow car by any means. It only feels slower because it has such a flat power band so you do not feel any surge in power, like you would in say an S2000.

The s2k sure does feel a LOT faster to be then the Z, but the one I ran was getting a nice view of my Z's a$$.

Also the Z has a pretty stiff suspension, so there isnt much nose lift when under throttle, that also takes away from the feeling.

Amnbex

Check your air intake filter too.

BENJ-AMG

Maybe your aftermarket air filter has caused your MAF to malfunction. When I had my Maxima I was constantly hearing guys on the Max forums complain about their MAFs blowing from the excess oil on their air filters. Something about the oil from the filter screwing with the sensor. They would experience hesitant acceleration and decrease in overall power. Nissan has admitted that the VQ series engines may have bad or "sensitive" MAFs on the Max, Alti, Murano and Z. Maybe something worth checking out???