Bored of my cars look...what am I missing?
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 76
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From: Centralish CT
Many people love everything about the 350Z; also, many people think it’s too big, too heavy, not nimble enough, too slow etc. However, everybody tends to agree that the shape, the proportions, the styling details are perfect, beautiful, iconic even. In the same league as the super iconic 911, but priced for the everyman’s (woman’s) pocketbook. You have done a great job of keeping the Z’s organic shape while adding your own personal look. Be careful tossing a bunch of contrasting bits and colors into the mix. A Z can be built to emulate a GT3 class race car, bright colors aggressive body kit, wheel flares etc and look good. Anything between your car as it sits now and the “in your face aggressive race look" rarely looks right and never stands the test of time.
Next time you find yourself in Midtown Manhattan, pop into the museum of modern art. In addition to traveling exhibits of some of the most beautiful cars of the last 100 years check out the cars in the permanent collection. Mostly plebeian things like the first jeep, beetle and so on, but then you see it, a Cisitalia. An unassuming thing, but also a thing of perfection, a continuous flow of unbroken curves. This mid 1940s sports car was one of the Pininfarina design studio’s early masterpieces, a two-seat coupe with a sloping rear hatch, much like a 350Z.
Standing back and studying the little Cisitalia, you will be hard pressed to see how a bunch of stick-on canards, wings, off tone painted door handles etc could in any way improve on its look. 60 years from now, somewhere in a che che design house, people will gaze on a 350Z in the same manner. Right now your Z could be that car in the museum, but if you over do it….
Next time you find yourself in Midtown Manhattan, pop into the museum of modern art. In addition to traveling exhibits of some of the most beautiful cars of the last 100 years check out the cars in the permanent collection. Mostly plebeian things like the first jeep, beetle and so on, but then you see it, a Cisitalia. An unassuming thing, but also a thing of perfection, a continuous flow of unbroken curves. This mid 1940s sports car was one of the Pininfarina design studio’s early masterpieces, a two-seat coupe with a sloping rear hatch, much like a 350Z.
Standing back and studying the little Cisitalia, you will be hard pressed to see how a bunch of stick-on canards, wings, off tone painted door handles etc could in any way improve on its look. 60 years from now, somewhere in a che che design house, people will gaze on a 350Z in the same manner. Right now your Z could be that car in the museum, but if you over do it….
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 13
From: Greenwich, Connecticut
Totally agree with Jen. It's hard to improve the look of the 350 if it already looks so good. The only exterior mods I ever did to mine was paint the brake calipers the same gray color as my car and take off the radio antenna. Nothing needs to be improved exterior wise. Even the stock wheels look beautiful on it and I wouldn't change them.
Totally agree with Jen. It's hard to improve the look of the 350 if it already looks so good. The only exterior mods I ever did to mine was paint the brake calipers the same gray color as my car and take off the radio antenna. Nothing needs to be improved exterior wise. Even the stock wheels look beautiful on it and I wouldn't change them.
I don't have the funds for such a wickedly incredible paint job which I'm estimating costs about $45,000. Besides none of these mere mortals in my area are capable of creating such a masterpiece. That paint job can only be bestowed upon your vehicle by the gods.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,901
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From: Greenwich, Connecticut
The Z is alright in stock form (minus a few glaring problems), but I love the idea of driving a car that when you take into consideration the modifications, it's one of a kind. I like the cars that you can look at and instantly see that a lot of effort went into modifying it, yet everything still works well together and doesn't look overdone.
1. Stock height is much too high
2. Wheels are too sunken in, especially the rear
3. Front bumper looks weak without a lip
4. The stock antenna looks silly
5. Rear wiper
Honestly the height and wheels are the only things that really look bad. The others are more minor.
2. Wheels are too sunken in, especially the rear
3. Front bumper looks weak without a lip
4. The stock antenna looks silly
5. Rear wiper
Honestly the height and wheels are the only things that really look bad. The others are more minor.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 13
From: Greenwich, Connecticut
Stock height is fine. Mine is stock and I've scraped on a few driveways multiple times so I don't want it to be any lower. The antenna I definitely agree with and took it off the first day. It looks like an RC car with it. Rear wiper is functional and makes sense, everything else is in the eyes of the beholder.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 31
From: Vancouver B C
Well, 350Zs do have a kinda big a$$. However, this isn’t a fault, it just shows a good and successful collaboration between the designers and the aerodynamic engineers. In contrast look at the first edition of the Audi TT, its designers wanted to make a unique design statement. This car’s signature was the strong arch shape of the roof that flowed into the low hood and dainty trunk. Notwithstanding all the excellent aero work on former hi-performance Audis, this was a disastrous design that created massive lift at the rear. Hit anything over 110 mph on the autobahn and do a quick lane change to let something faster by, and you will find yourself spinning out of control. The Z is perfectly stable at high speeds due to a nice zero-lift design. Form following function, well executed.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 13
From: Greenwich, Connecticut
Well, 350Zs do have a kinda big a$$. However, this isn’t a fault, it just shows a good and successful collaboration between the designers and the aerodynamic engineers. In contrast look at the first edition of the Audi TT, its designers wanted to make a unique design statement. This car’s signature was the strong arch shape of the roof that flowed into the low hood and dainty trunk. Notwithstanding all the excellent aero work on former hi-performance Audis, this was a disastrous design that created massive lift at the rear. Hit anything over 110 mph on the autobahn and do a quick lane change to let something faster by, and you will find yourself spinning out of control. The Z is perfectly stable at high speeds due to a nice zero-lift design. Form following function, well executed.
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 629
Likes: 16
From: Miami, FL
Honestly phenom your car is good as is. Put your money into something else..... I got a Hell of a good deal on a vortech supercharger and I ended up turning it down because nobody needs 400 whp for street driving and that money can be spent on better things.
disagree...
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 13
From: Greenwich, Connecticut
Of course nobody needs 400whp, but nobody needs 275whp either but for some reason we all bought cars with about that much. Nobody needs 200whp either. I don't think anyone here modifies their car out of necessity but rather out of enjoyment.
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 629
Likes: 16
From: Miami, FL
I'll always be figuring out what the next mod will be. My Z probably brings more joy to my life than anything that isn't a person, so as long as the bills are paid, I have a comfortable amount in my savings, and a steady income, my Z is my prefered way to spend money. I'm not into shopping sprees at the mall and buying clothes every few weeks or having a collection of sneakers or expensive sunglasses or any of that stuff, so with my disposable income this is my priority.
Of course nobody needs 400whp, but nobody needs 275whp either but for some reason we all bought cars with about that much. Nobody needs 200whp either. I don't think anyone here modifies their car out of necessity but rather out of enjoyment.
Of course nobody needs 400whp, but nobody needs 275whp either but for some reason we all bought cars with about that much. Nobody needs 200whp either. I don't think anyone here modifies their car out of necessity but rather out of enjoyment.
Instead of replacing what is already good like the body kit stuff and rims.....
Replace all your bushings....SPL
Hotchkis Sway Bar Kit with SPL endlinks
quality camber kits...SPL?
Change out your motor and transmission mounts? Momentum performance?
Id rather leave the outer appearance of your car as is and put money in replacing some of the OEM suspension stuff
sounds reasonable,
Instead of replacing what is already good like the body kit stuff and rims.....
Replace all your bushings....SPL
Hotchkis Sway Bar Kit with SPL endlinks
quality camber kits...SPL?
Change out your motor and transmission mounts? Momentum performance?
Id rather leave the outer appearance of your car as is and put money in replacing some of the OEM suspension stuff
Instead of replacing what is already good like the body kit stuff and rims.....
Replace all your bushings....SPL
Hotchkis Sway Bar Kit with SPL endlinks
quality camber kits...SPL?
Change out your motor and transmission mounts? Momentum performance?
Id rather leave the outer appearance of your car as is and put money in replacing some of the OEM suspension stuff
If your Z is not a dedicated track car there is literally no reason to swap out all of your bushings to SPL solid bushings; it will make your ride incredibly rough/loud and most people would highly suggest against it.
If you're going to replace bushings (like the notorious leaking rear diff one), I would suggest Whiteline polyurethane if you havn't done so already
I apologize for going off-topic on your exterior mod thread
If you're going to replace bushings (like the notorious leaking rear diff one), I would suggest Whiteline polyurethane if you havn't done so already
I apologize for going off-topic on your exterior mod thread