Hey Guys,

As some of you know, I will be deploying to Afghanistan in the very near future, so I decided to sell my ZR. It just sold today, so my adventure in Z ownership is over for now. I can honestly say that I loved my car and on one hand, it will be sorely missed - there is nothing quite like dropping the top and heading up the coast at sunset with my lovely wife listening to the baritone purr of the Z...

However, on the other hand, I will not miss any of the numerous top-related issues this car suffers from. I had the opportunity to spend many weeks/months at the dealership with my car's repairs, and seeing ZR after ZR with the same issues over and over was very disheartening - and not what I expected from a Nissan product. The latest TSB I saw had to do with the elastic roof straps that hold the roof bows together. Apparently, the newer-design roofs require these straps to be double stitched in order to prevent excessive wear on the roof. Basically, if the straps become over-stretched (and thus too loose), the screws on the posterior side of the roof bow will be pulled up and rub on the roof material - leading to holes in the roof!

It's frankly ridiculous that such a poor design was used to begin with, but I think we were more willing to deal with these issues because we loved our car so much! After I sold my car and left the service bay today, there were 5 ZRs in the shop for various roof related repairs - all of the cars looked well cared for - it's just the design Nissan uses for their roof/operating mechanism is garbage. The really bad news is that my tech today informed me that the "rumor" is that the 370ZR is going to use a similar design soft-top roof from the same supplier...IF that turns out to be true, I honestly don't know whether I will buy a 370ZR when I get back from deployment... I may just wind up getting a C6 Vette or something else... I really don't know.

My wife's Infiniti G35 has been bullet proof with no major mechanical problems in the 4 years that we have owned it. I guess with the way we maintain our cars, I fully expected that's how Z ownership is supposed to be as well... Anyway, you all take care - I will still be around if you have any questions about your top. I may not be able to answer as quickly while I am gone, but I will try to keep in touch from Afghanistan.



~KK

 

As far as the elastic issue, that is correct. I had the problem on my top and there were runs in the material where the screws were going to town. Aside, the elastic once worn out forces you to physically move the third bow if i recall in order to properly close which i had to do. was still worth it though!

I don't feel it was a poor design; I just don't think Nissan anticipated and thus never tested for the extent it was going to be used by the average ZR owner...

Good luck in Afghanistan. I just got back from Iraq so you have my empathy...

 

Thank you for defending our country. prayers are with you! wish you the best of luck... hey maybe theyll be a 370 ZR when u return!!!!!!!!!!

 

Maybe when you come back you gat get a coupe?!


I just returned in October, stay safe and know all your brothers and sisters are here thinking of you.

 

Sorry about your ZR problems and thanks for your service - wish you the best.

 

Thank you, KombatKing. I'm taking it that you were one of the 17K troops deploying to Afghanistan?

 

Yes Sir,

I will be going over there sooner than later to support the surge operations. I do anesthesia for a living, so my main job is to help the surgeons keep our wounded alive and stabilize them for eventual transport back to the States...

I already miss the Z, but I'm sure it will find a happy owner in the near future. It has still been the nicest car I've ever owned but it's not like I could take it over there with me.

Anyway, you guys take care and enjoy the Spring and Summer for me with lots of top-down driving!



~KK

 

Godspeed, sir.