Many people have posted on both sides of the fence regarding the 370 vs. the 350Z. Yesterday I tried to look at old emails dating back to when the 350 first arrived but unfortunately the threads do not go back that far. I wanted to see what the actual reactions were back then.

It's normal for people to resist change and in many cases, that's what's behind a lot of the emails but not all of them. Some people genuinely do not like the new Z to different extents for a variety of reasons. The most salient of these being the overall shape of the car, the lights, and the front grill.

There are many posts now appearing where people are "complaining about the complaining" so to speak. It made me wonder if the "I don't like" posts continue long enough, would that be an indication that perhaps the new Z really is not that great of a design after all? I mean, eventually the car will have been around long enough that the initial resistance to change will subside and the emails will cease if that's all it is; otherwise, people who don't like the car will have a made legitimate point. This is something only time will tell.

 

Here's another thought: People like different things. This doesn't mean one is right and another is wrong. Only the Sith deal in absolutes. Some poeple like Art Deco, others French Country and most of these whiners are referring to the asthetics of the car. Performance numbers are better. Interior is better. Storage space improved. These are measurable. From these standpoints, the car is an improvement.

Don't look for validation in liking or disliking something in others. If you don't like it, fine. If others do, fine. When the dust settles there will be people that understand this and those that don't; People that accept the way things are and and others that look for validity within fallacy.

 

"Only the Sith deal in absolutes."

dont mention this around the ladies, might hurt your chances. but I get it....lol

 

Yes...that's a good point, too. For me, I'm interested in the arc this will take over time. I studied "diffusion of technology and information" when in college as my thesis which deals with early adopters, late adopters, and the whole bell curve. Back then I used acupuncture and it's acceptance by western medicine which brought out some very interesting points.

Every time something new comes along, this "acceptance" dynamic repeats itself.

 

Well then you of all people should understand the infinitely various decision making variables involved in the thought processes that people use.

For example, some early adopters have delusions of elitism, thinking that having something before others makes them better than others, having come to the conclusion before later adopters. These people take on the expense of having the latest and greates with the justification that these material objects are what make them superior or that not having it leaves them out of an exclusive group.

For an example in the opposite direction, you have poeple that resist change that will justify not getting the latest and greatest by putting down something that is undeniably better. Often these people suffer from not being able to pinpoint the real reason they do not jump onboard something new, or even being embarassed of their not being able to afford the latest and greatest (which is confirmation for the early adopter's ego trip).

When all is said and done and the barriers to entry are lower (mostly price at this point), the 370Z is still imperically better. In fact, removing artifical differences between the two cars, such as price you can ask yourself which you would rather be given. On the subjective front, the style is slightly different from the 350 and is getting a lot of love amongst the automotive community, even if not this one. If the style of the 370Z would make you prefer to be given a 350Z, then you are a person that puts more emphasis on your own personal taste, which is a legitamate decision making variable. It doesn't make you wrong, it makes your priorities different.

Your original question is also missing something, and that is a point. The complainer's point to be more specific. You did not point to what point it is that they would be legitimizing by being immovable in their stance. I inserted the idea that the complaining is from the aesthetic changes. I think that this is the correct assertion. From there, the question is of whether they have a legitimate point about the aesthetics and that was answered in my first post: no. Their complaints stem from either not liking the new design language Nissan is employing, or from not beng able to overcome the barriers to entry, which does not disqualify the 370Z from being a superior car

 

My initial post has no point to make per se and I am not trying to second guess the point complainers are making because I'm not them. It's really stating a question based on a theory or sorts. My theory is that if the negative posts persist past a certain point in time, would this be considered empirical evidence that the 370 design was a mistake on Nissan's part? The population of "adopters" is the people who have been exposed to the car either in person or through the various media.

Obviously there are many ways to slice the pie and I'm not venturing into a true study here. I'm really interested in the outcome down the road which we will all have to wait for. Even the "threshold" of when the car passes from being a "new arrival" to an established part of the choices people can make when buying a car (in essence "old news") is not something we can definitively nail down. We are still in the early stage right now...that much is a given.

As to the many examples you have offered, I understand all of them and agree there are many ways to interpret what's going on. The fact that the Internet makes it effortless for people to misrepresent themselves doesn't help either. I also agree that most of what is being debated about the car is really personal taste versus engineering (which is much more empirical and easier to measure). So perhaps what's really being examined or tested here is, "Did Nissan gauge the public's appetite accurately or not?"

 

It's refreshing to read a thread with intellectual posts

 

You will probably continue to see negative feedback and comments regarding the 370Z on this site. It is a site catered to the 350Z, not the 370Z. That does not mean that Nissan has failed with their design. The new Z is quite a popular car in the Z line up already. Go visit sites that cater to the 370Z and you will see different comments and points of view.
Also keep in mind that when the 350Z was first introduced it to took a while to capture it's followers. Today it has a huge following in the Z community.

 

i really don't think people who dislike the new Z will have made a legitimate point -- as has been established, the new Z is an overall improvement in performance and interior. This is non-debateable, what is debateable is the exterior. Just to echo what others have stated, the 03-08 design is a timeless look. The new design will take some getting used to.

I wonder if people who hate the new look have seen it in person. I admit when I first saw the 370 pics I thought the design was whack. Then I saw the new Z personally early this week, and tonight I was actually at the dealership getting an appraisal done on my 350 so that I could purchase the 370!

People will resist change, but I like the point in.thedark. made: "Often these people suffer from not being able to pinpoint the real reason they do not jump onboard something new, or even being embarassed of their not being able to afford the latest and greatest (which is confirmation for the early adopter's ego trip)."

 

there is definitly resistance to change..I post at zcar.com which is a forum for all z's and the s30-z32 owners used to talk so much trash about the 350. I think theyve come around a little bit but when you love a car that much the newest model can't replace your baby. you also then have to deal with all the new 370 owners that have no idea about the heritage of the car you love so much.

I've been around since way back when(350Z #189) and while i like the 370 in general there's some cosmetics that i would change for sure. I think the people that claim they dont like the 370 are just being stubborn. As soon as someone takes the fangs out with an aftermarket bumper, adds a tint and volks you'll see people come around.

 

Exactly right!

 

Happens with every new model car...All immaterial imo though, as in year or two? This debate would just be a distant memory. Always been like this, always well..

 

I think that there is a large enough response to state that the 370Z is a good implementation of the design language, and having widely recieved praise elsewhere and mixed results here, it can probably be said that Nissan made a good choice in designing a more aggressivly lined and proportioned car that looks more like the S30 than the Z32 (as the 350 did).

The idea that if as time goes on and there are still complainers that it's was a bad choice is still lacking a defined quantity. Even then it may remain a popular sports car amongst non-Z33 owners. If it sold very poorly at this point it would be hard to gauge if that is from the economy or the design. I don't think this is a question we will find ourselves asking.

There are still intellegent people to be found on this board. Some may not feel the need to step into every petty internet argument.

 

Exactly. It is very obvious this site is biased towards the 350Z. Well, what do you expect, look at the title. I have been going to other sites and there is almost NO major complaints about the 370Z, mostly praise. I think you just need to venture out of this forum sometimes to get a real gauge of what is going on. it almost makes me wonder about the future of this site. I remember other sites that were almost "too attached" to a specific model, and didn't adjust to the new. As the popularity of the old model declined so did the forum in readership and content.

 

^^^ I agree

However... MY350Z and whoever is in the background turning gears isn't going to lose much people to the 370Z crowd...trust me

I think the 370Z forum on here hasn't been policed enough. There has been several threads opened on the same topic which I love the best "the 370z sucks"......A useless thread would of been a little beneficial IMO.

 

I think the 350Z crowd is pretty entrenched here and this forum will be a good source for the outgoing model. But for the 370Z, another site may have to take the torch because it looks like there may be just too much resistance to the new model on this forum. So don't come here expected a source of objectivity.

 

WORD

 

+1

One thing I have noticed is that forum members will fall into the below categories with the their thoughts on the 370z:

1) Like the improved overall characteristics of the new car, but are not willing to fork over additional funds for a car that they perceive as marginally better than their own.

2) Hate the new car, and will continue to focus on keeping their 350Z as long as possible and will mod it to keep their car looking fresh.

3) Have neither the 350z or 370z, but post on the forum to antagonize members about how better the 370z is with little to no real world experience in the the 350z or 370z.

4) Current 350z owner who likes the 370z and will upgrade after the initial production issues are vetted out and the price drops considerably.

To be honest, I would put myself in the 1st category.

 

^^^ I definately see your points Waizzz

In my opinion, I think the new Z is badass, BUT I'm keeping my '05 to mod it and pay it off. Maybe at some point I might fall into Category #4, but I've also considered looking into other used fast cars. Just really depends on what I want at that time and what my situation is. I'd love to have both Z cars in the driveway though.

All in all, I love the Z just as much as the next person so hopefully I'll be in the game for many years to come.

 

Lots of good posts here. Sorry to be out of the picture for the last couple days...I'm building a new computer which I'm typing on now.

Looking at that list of categories, I would say I fall mostly into catagory one. There isn't one that covers people who aren't all that excited by the new appearance and don't think they ever will be but if there were, that would be me as well. My 350 keeps me smiling and will hold me over until the next Z arrives (hopefully). My thought is that whatever comes after the 370 generaton(s) will be a much bigger step from the 350 and therefore worth it.