I already ordered an 05 touring a month or so ago. I am expecting to take delivery in mid/end of dec....I am just worried about this tire feathering issue. I haven't heard anything about the suspension changing on the 05....has anyone else?

Thanks

 

Why did you order? There are many 05's out on the lots right now. Maybe a special combination?

And as far as the tire feathering issue goes, it was rare to see it happening on the 04.5's. Not every single Z had this problem, many people had to deal with it during the early 03 productions but it is rare to see it on the 04.5's and up, meaning the 05's.

 

I ordered it b/c I am going through the VPP program...2.87% under invoice.....and I wanted the Black/Burnt Orange combo ...navi..areo..etc etc...I didnt want to settle for not having the color/option

 

What is this VPP program?

 

It is the discount that you get If you are a friend or family member of a Nissan employee. They reduce the price by 2.87% under invoice, but then they add back (not sure on the number) 2.5% of the amount discounted. So basicly you get the car for about $500 under invoice. This is the Friend discount and the Family discount is a lot better. I will be getting the Friend discount when my Z comes in.

 

So the suspension has not changed from 03 to 05? (nooo...WHY?!?!)

 

Yeah the suspension has changed. It is not as stiff as the 03's. The handling has been reduced minimally for comfort.

 

But has it changed to address the tire feathering issue directly?

 

you will not have feathering, it was only a problem in SOME of the early 03's. Mine had it and it has been taken care of. All it was was a toe in correction (suspension geometry) not the parts bad themselves.

 

From what i've read on this board and various others, it's much more than just SOME early 03's and extends into the 04's as well. Also, i have seen an uncountable number of complaints from people who have had their alignments fixed by the TSB and then continued to experience feathering less than 10k miles later.

 

OH man!

 

<~~2004.5 with feathering. I'm just waiting for the tires to come in. (they were suppose to be installed today, Tuesday, BUT someone put MY ordered tires on another Z on Saturday)

 

You have to remember these are sports cars not grocery getters. You are going to have a stiff ride, and with very soft tires like ours it will "mesh" with the road. So yes you will have faster wear and more road noise.

Try driving in a Viper or a ZO6. Loud roar and really bouncy.

 

I just think this entire tire feathering issue is just poor design on Nissan's part....they should step up and say yes there is an issue we will fix it...not just on 03's but also 04's which are affected (and maybr 05's)...but even after all this i still want a ZZZZZ

 

At least some of us get it. So you had your alignment fixed, who cares. When you left the dealers lot and you hit that big pot hole, there went your alignment. I think a big part of the problem is people calling it feathering when it is inner camber wear. These cars run alot of negative camber as do all sports cars which no matter what you do will wear the inside of the tire faster than the outside. If you don't want that, then I recommend a Maxima or an Altima.

 

WERD

 

From putting the NISMO suspension on an 05 I can tell you this...

The car doesnt get lowered at all but the car then rides on rails. It is a solid performing car just like when the NISMO Suspension was put on an 04.

So this leads me to believe they have a suspension on the car similar to the NISMO Suspension but different spring rates / damping rates for ride comfort.