I had an experience this weekend that if you'll let me gush like a love-struck teenager, I'll recount.

This weekend justified me buying my roadster. When I was considering purchasing, the perfect image I had in my mind was cruising along mountain roads with the top down at near break-neck speeds.

That's precisely what I did Saturday.

A girl friend of mine and myself took off Saturday morning towards Stone Mountain, NC (for those of you in the area: 40W->77N->21N). It was a gorgeous day: 80 degrees and sunny as all. And it would be the first time I took my car on any sort of trip (>30m ... I'm a city dweller).

The trip is approximately 2 hrs or so from where I live. We made it in 1h25m. Driving fast on 40W wasn't that terribly exciting, except that I have never used 6th gear before

I averaged about 80mph up and 92mph down on 40/77. While I have taken my car upto 115mph before locally I've never driven a sustained >90mph rate before. I was terribly impressed with the smoothness. To me it seems that the car actually settles down and drives better at speeds > 75mph. But while driving really fast is fun (I had stretches of 95mph for 10 minutes) it doesn't come close to what I experienced driving in the mountains proper.

For those of you not in the know, the mountains of NC (and particularly the area I was in Stone Mountain) have some incredible mountain roads: 2 lanes, thin, mountain face on one side, a drop on the other.

I absolutely SCREAMED around corners up there. In areas that were 35mph (and below), I think I averaged around 60 or 70. I mean, I just flew around the turns.

I would pull off the side of the road and wait until the last car on my side had passed 5 minutes ago and then launch at full speed.

The Z was unbelievable. Going around corners it would just settle in, hug them and fly around. The tires made a WONDEFUL roar; they didn't chirp any; they didn't skip; they just sucked me to the ground. And on every corner my passanger would SCREAM in delight! (It was ****ing amazing having a ... uh ... "appreciative" passenger -- she thoroughly enjoyed the riding experience).

Now, I've auto crossed in my Z and that, at the time, was the most fun I've had in a car. This trip to the mountains however changed that. Now this is the most fun I've had.

I believe I've finally driven my Z like the engineers designed it to be driven. And it performed beyond my wildest expectations. Even my afore-metioned passenger (who has ridden in a number of hi-end cars) could not believe the ride. I like to think that autox'ing my car taught me to be comfortable in it, know it's qualities and abilities, and drive it closer to it's limits. The question of "And it only cost you $XX,000?" came up a few times

It was exactly like I had envisioned it to be when I was buying my car. It, in fact, justified me owning it.

Now if I can figure out how to limit the ol' "truckers' tan" I have, I'll be all set

Thanx for letting me share!

(in the mountains)

 

My weekend was a little different.... Where I live and work is rural and mountainous. I was already very familiar with the performance of my ZR in the twisties and that's how the first 2800 miles got put on it. My weekend trip however was a thousand miles of mostly interstate driving, the first such driving since buying the car. I agree, the faster you go the more stable the car feels. I had lots of extended time at 90+ and the car just begs to run at those speeds. I really believe I could drive the thing 150 (given enough road with no other cars) and be perfectly comfortable doing so. What fun!

 

Thanks for sharing MrNicholas! I got a slight adrenalin rush just from reading it Was better than a cup of coffee.

I'm close to getting a roadster of my own, just trying to decide on the color now.

There are some places around where I live in LA that I'll need to explore and get more familiar with like Sunset Blvd, Sepulvida, and others that I'll just have to discover on my own.

-Aaron

 

I got my Pikes Peak White roadster 2 months ago in L.A. (actually bought the car in Ontario, but, live in L.A.) I have to tell you that driving the length of Mulholland on a Saturday afternoon during a clear day overlooking the Valley is nothing short of miraculous. During the evenings, I suggest dropping the top on a warm summer night and twist through Beverly Glen, come out on Sunset, and jump on Sunset to the sea in Malibu. God, I think I might call in sick a few days soon to do some more of this!!
p.s. avoid Universal Nissan at all costs!

 

ummm, why does your satisfaction have to be justified? Just b/ c it costs 39K? Personally I don't think so, the best things may cost but don't need justification!! Happiness will do it right?

 

I like your taste in cars Mr. Nich, SS/BO w/18's. I'm looking at a position about 2 hours NW of Stone Mountain in the Appalacians. Awesome mountain roads! I was up there Monday but took my FX45 because it was raining. My next trip (next week) will be in my 350ZR (SS/BO, 18's).
rich

 

in ur post u say it settles down at high speeds. i agree i was suprised first time i went on a highway that it was so stable doing a hundered feels like cruising speed.