I know I have the same reservations about the performance of the Z that most of you have - it seems everyone is trading up from a cheaper but potentially stronger performing car than the z

- M3
- modded HSV
- modded WRX
- modded S15 S200

I don't like this "<6 sec" thing especially since the official quote for the australian spec is 206kw not 214 as in the US and Japan, it could mean anything like 5.9 and 14.4 figures. Does anyone know if the 206 is truely 206 because of a more restricitve exhaust or something like that to pass australian emissions? Or is it an underrated figure?

I know there will always be cars that will be faster, this car isn't primarily about straight line speed, but I don't want to be beaten by stock rexes etcs

 

Well..... 206 KW is just the power output at the FLYWHEEL!!! Not the wheel power! So that means we are getting a 206KW engine for sure as what they will have in Jap!!!

About the regulation and thingy... well... if our laws are tougher on the emission control or exhaust control, we might not be able to get as much power FROM THE WHEELS compare to what they have in Japan! But still have the same engine which is producing 206KW at the flywheel!!

Hope this help!

cheers,

richie

 

I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure the Z will be slower than my current car. I'm not buying the Z as a performance upgrade.

The power figures quoted by manufacturers are always flywheel. I'm sure that we'll have the same engine as other markets. Where the difference will be, if any, is ECU tuning and possibly exhaust.

Also every car will be different. Some will have a few kw more, some a few less. Also don't bother comparing one dyno result to another. If you want to compare dyno runs it has to be the same dyno on the same day. Dyno figures are only for tuning, not bragging rights as most people want to use them for.

Finally while I think of it we will always see dyno results 5% - 10% lower than those in the US. I'll try and check the details tomorrow but essentially we measure in a different way than they do.

 

apsilon is dead right.

My 2000 model Clubsport LS1 Chev motor was rated at 250kw but mods to the ECU + intake & exhaust = 280kw. Its the crap fuel we have, if you tune/replace the ECU on the Z to use the 98 ron (Optimax, etc) we should get close to the US spec. Remember the first batch of STI Rexies, 206kw now 195kw detuned for aussie conditions. Protecting there warranties.

 

Just read the review in wheels... semi-estimated times of 6.0 and 14.5

 

That has got to be THE crapiest article I ever read.
Why didn't thet just wait till they got thier hands on a Australian Z for a proper test drive rather than going on about Nissan sharing platforms.
Very weak journalism.

 

Agreed... at least i got to see more pics in my color

 

LOL I bet you did the same as me.......went to newsagent knowing WHEELS was due out, picked up the issue, saw a Z on the cover and excitedly bought it straight away, only to read it later and realise that they to were impatient and need a taste of the Z
Ahh well a few more days

 

I thought that I was the only silly one that went to the newsagent expecting a Z article in the February edition. I have to agree that the going on and on about shared platforms detracted from the main line which was supposed to be about the Z.

 

Motor Magazine is doing a full write up on the 350Z streaming through the Tassie countryside in the Feb issue, on the streets 12th Feb it also does a write up on the new MY03 STi Impreza I'll be interested how they compare purely on the performance side of things.

 

Motor is out now and they reckon the MY03 STi is the best WRX ever.

0-100 in 5.64
0-400 in 13.87

excellent for a stock car.

The Z review is fair ... excellent grip and handling ... needs more power. More a tourer than a hard edged sports car.

No times though.

 

Yep looks like the STi will have the edge in straight line performance! but its still dam UGLY

 

The Motor mag article on the Z quotes a time of 6.2 for 0 -100k's. If that is true, it will be disappointing. U.S. times of 5.5 - 5.6 0-60mph sound much better. Maybe it is true and the 206kw rating is correct, compared to the US 214kw. It may have been de-tuned because of our fuel. Possibly the ECU could be re-calibrated to take advantge of 98 RON fuel. They may have tuned it for 94 RON which is more common in a premium fuel.

It was also interesting to note in the Motor Magazine article that the reviewer was disappointed in the exhaust note.

On my recent drive of a dealer demo model, the exhaust was indeed very muted. Maybe it needs to be pushed more to get a better note.

 

All true, but can be fixed later, also those times are Nissan's Aust. quoted times we'll just have to wait and see it's all to early yet.

But what a stunning looker!!!