Great! Thank you very much.

 

Great Idea!!!!

ADD #3 - Install Nismo Sway bars.


See I want to "work" with Nissan. I'm showing them the courtesy they're not showing me.

 

Ok. The server's up and the DNS zone has been created. It will take a little time for the DNS info to propigate though. I've put a very simple default page up which I'll post below. It will have to do until I can work on it this weekend. Unlike kbsig106, I'm not showing Nissan any courtesty at all at this point. One question though. Should I seek legal council now or wait for Nissan to file suit?

The default page currently looks like this:

Welcome to 350ZBuyersGuide.com

Our site is currently under construction. Our purpose is to provide perspective Nissan and Nissan 350Z buyers with the information that they need to make informed and logical purchasing decisions. And we’re confident that an intelligent and informed consumer will choose not purchase a 350Z or any Nissan vehicle for that matter. We are working diligently to provide you with the content that you will need to make an informed decision. And we will be updating our site very soon.

In the mean time, if you are considering the purchase of a Nissan 350Z, we would like you to consider the following. The vehicle is fresh, new and exciting. There is no question about that. But don’t be ruled by your emotions. It has been our experience that the 350Z suffers from numerous severe technical problems that Nissan has not adequately addressed or addressed at all. Our 350Z, a $36,000 Touring model, has destroyed three sets of front tires in 13,000 miles. And we are not alone in this issue. It is our belief that most or all of the 2003 and 2004 model year 350Z’s suffer from this same problem. Don’t believe me? Look in the 350Z Internet forums such as my350z.com and zcar.com. Search the forums for “tire feathering” and read the mass of information that will be returned. My350z.com has perhaps one of the longest running threads in the history of Internet forums and it is dedicated exclusively to this tire feathering issue. Still not convinced? Get copies of Nissan’s technical service bulletins related to the tire noise issue.

Unfortunately the tire problem is just the first of many reasons why we feel that purchasing a 350Z, or any Nissan product, would be a mistake. Check back with us soon for additional content if you wish, but please, by all means, do your homework before buying a 350Z or any Nissan product.

 

Nicely done, overZealous!!!

I'm still debating on whether I should install my D2 coil-over suspension kit (12-way adjustable) on my Z (hoping that it'll correct the tire cupping problem), should I install them?

 

OK, I just got off the phone with the district manager of Firestone out here in Chicago and first he told me he has seen nothing like this happening...and hes a district manager...but he was a nice guy. He said it probably your alignment and told me to take it to his best store to have a look at it. I told I would, though it wouldnt accomplish anything. The he called me back because saying that the Tires were being recalled as a few of his shops said they were?...Is there a recall or what?

 

Trading or selling your Z at this time would cause you to lose several thousand dollars. It would be cheaper to just replace the suspension bits that seem to be the offenders. Tires, shocks and camber adjusters for the front may be all that is needed. Even paying top dollar for them would save you $2-3000 AND, you get to keep the Z. There isn't another car for the price you can buy for the same money with the Z's performance and styling, not even the G35, which I like.

I would have to buy a less expensive car like the RSX-S to stay within my budget where cars compete with art, audio/video home theater, travel, etc. This would lead me to seller's remorse and I wouldn't enjoy its replacement as I should. I urge owners put away their moral indignation against Nissan and fix their Zs themselves, its the only way to secure their investment, IMO.

 

I think overZealous is just about right. Not his page, his handle.

 

Scoff if you must Mr. Hobson. I'm just exercising my First Amendment rights. Just like you. And if you chose to exercise yours by ridiculing me, I suppose that is your perogative. Just don't expect me to follow suit as I have better things to do.

 

Lemon Law is not just for buy backs but also to "require" a fix for a problem that existed prior to warranty period and warranty (12k/12 month) may have expired with problem not being corrected. So long as complaint is filed within appropriate time frame. (LL is state by state so this is a paraphrase not exact interpretation).

If the 2004+ suspension fixes the ride and "feathering" issue then LL may help get this installed on an older Z. This can be made part of the LL filing.

I am not sure of the number of Z NNA has had to buy back due to BBB or LL complaints filed but if number continues to rise NNA will look at the expense of fixing vs buy back (including cost of loss of "face" or consumer confidence in Nissan products).

So the more BBB or LL complaints filed the more likely NNA and Nissan corporate will consider fixing the problem. Again the complaint may be of the form "fix or buy back". Ten or so buy backs out of 30 000 Z is a small percentage but say 100 or so complaints filed well it still may be a small number but it starts to be a big number in public opinion.....

My Texas LL complaint was for "fixing" the car, part of the settlement states that NNA will continue warranty with zero deductible for 100,000 miles. Now I have a legal settlement approved by NNA to fix car (under Tx DOT).

However, I have not seen anything that will fix suspension or tire problem that has been verified by time. I have not checked out the 2004 Z to see if ride was better or what built date has corrected the feathering issue (i.e. cars fixed with built date of ??).

For now I continue to take Z to dealer to apply updates and correct tire problems. Last visit was about a month ago. Again this is on NNA dime and not mine. If NNA refuses to honor agreement, well legal standing may be improved by the agreement/settlement paper.

This is a layman's opinion and may be incorrect but so far it has simplified things when I take Z for work past the 12K miles.

 

I love my Z. I will never sell it. Yes, I've had some problems with tire feathering. Team Nissan in Oxnard, CA has been easy to work with as they attempt to correct the situation. My tires have been rotated and the torsion bar has been replaced. Now they have ordered new front tires and will install them for me, all of this with no out of pocket expense to me. I guess that I have been fortunate and for that I am thankfull.

 

while i differ slightly from you on attitude towards my z, i must applaud you overZealous for taking this initiative. i am without a doubt keeping my z and will attempt to work through this issue. like the one poster said to trade in now would result in 5k less than blue book and that money is better spent on the suspension, if that proves to be the real fix (which i cant seem to find a real answer on). nontheless i plan to fully support your website and would like to suggest some type of log sheet, or petition so fellow owners can sign in and represent the true number of cars that suffer from these problems. This way people can see the magnitude of this. then hopefully the site can start to gain national recognition so that nissan will have to answer publically. NISSAN MUST SUFFER AT LEAST A LITTLE FOR THIS MAJOR F**K-UP.

 

Picked up my baby yesterday, with a new pair of front Bridgestone Potenza RE040 tires. The exact same that experienced the feathering problem the last time around. I do not notice any new markings on the tires themselves. I am happy to get new fronts as my rears seem to be in good shape still with almost 11K miles. My only complaint is the jokers forgot to take the stickers off the tread on the tires (pain in the *** to remove with the wheels on the car). My steering wheel is still not perfectly straight, and when I asked if the car needed to be aligned again I was told that "it should not be a problem". Well, my ****ing god damn steering wheel not being straight after 2 alignments in less than 2 weeks and a brand new of tires IS a problem. WTF! I cannot see myself getting rid of this car, but holy **** ... what is it going to take to get my stupid wheel straight? It's all I think about when I am driving. And whether or not my tires are feathering as I drive. I wonder if this is the result of having the compression rod replaced, I remember some of you posters out there eluding to this fact. I really hope their is a prescribed fix that works by the end of this month. Before I drive my 350Z off a bridge...

 

It has been our experience that the 350Z suffers from numerous severe technical problems

Numerous? You only mention tire feathering. You bought a domain for that! And you only got 4333 miles per set of tires before they were destroyed as you put it, ok not buying that one. I got my alinment at 7200 miles with a new set of tires, but I would not even call them tires destroyed that they replaced, not even close. Your alittle over dramatic dont you think?

 

Question #1: Would selling your 350Z ever be an option?

Question #2: Would you be able to sell your 350Z to someone knowing that there are problems, and you are going to have to put them through the same crap we are going through?

Well if you can wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and still feel good about yourself

Question #3: Why do you want to lower the resale value of your car?

You may want to consider this before trying to market your website on-line.

 

Then they did not do the alignment right. My Z's wheel was off center from the day I bought it. I got the alignment done, after that it was perfectly straight.
See, this just goes to show that most dealers are fukin up, and not doing the alignment right.

 

So I have searched all over my350Z.com, looking to see whether the G35 coupe has basically the same suspension as the 350Z, and if so does it have the feathering problem. From what I can see, the answer is:

1. Yes it has the same suspension
2. No it does not have the feathering problem

I am thinking of trading my Z in, the local Infiniti dealer has informally spoken about a deal I can live with. It's not just the feathering, it's all the other niggling crap. In summary, it's just the whole Z experience has gone from excitement to disappointment to irriitation to pissed.

The main thing that would stop me getting a G35 is the thought of giving even more money to Nissan.

Comments?

 

Well, my wheel was straight as an arrow from the second I picked her up until the day I got it back after tire swap / compression rod TSB. They still haven't gotten it right. What should I do? I have to go back there to get my driver side interior door molding replaced (since they scratched it up trying to pry the door handle off without removing the screw when performing the grease streak TSB).

I will be demanding the following information:

1) Whether the alignment is being done visually or electronically with a computer

2) Before and after alignment settings (wish I could watch the mechanic do the TSB) - maybe I will set up surveillance - I bet my car just sits in the bay.

3) Test drive with service advisor or mechanic in vehicle to verify wheel position is correct.

This will be the last chance this dealership gets, which really disheartens me because my service advisor has been great.

Maybe the 'incompetant american' argument from the japs is true. Who the hell knows... All I know is that my problems AREN'T getting fixed.

 

I don't entirely understand your questions. No I would not want to sell my Z to someone knowing that it has chronic problems. But this has nothing to do with whether or not I have a web site. In any case I don't plan on selling it to anyone. If Nissan will not fix it then I intend to take action under the lemon laws of my particular state and the Federal laws pertaining to consumer protection. On the other hand, would you want Nissan to continue selling this vehicle to other people knowing that they will have to go through the same crap that we are? Think about it. You may have a point on number 3 although I doubt very much that anything that I do will have an impact on Global resale values or anything else for that matter. More likely, the web site will just trigger some sort of suit by Nissan who will probably be willing to utilize more resources trying to restrict my freedom of speech then they are willing to use fixing the 350Z. But people should not assume that because I am fed up with this problem and Nissan's attitude toward this problem that I don't like my Z as this is not the case. Does that mean that I prohibited from seeking a remedy or speaking my opinion? Perhaps Mr. Hobs is right and I am taking this too far. Or perhaps not.

 

I posted my little jibe because IMHO the tone of your proposed site was punitive bordering on extortion, instead of being constructive; with that post and this one you seem to relish the idea of Nissan filing suit against your site.... Others reacted more strongly than I did, which doesn't surprise me.

I understand your frustrations. You're not prohibited from seeking a remedy or from speaking your opinion, but perhaps you should examine your short-term motivations and your long-term goals and re-evaluate what is the most productive tone for your site to take.

 

here is what i see. the "inside" knowledge has already begun and is already bad enough to where, from what i have read, resale, and trade-in values have plumetted. in my opinion the next step is to get "joe public" aware of the major screw up on nissans part. if that means an individually managed web site then so be it. this again shows my support of a site dedicated solely to this feathering issue.

ps: the fact that i check this site on a friday night at this hour, while partying with the boyz, should be proof enough that this has gone far enough. NISSAN HAS TO PAY FOR THIS SOMEHOW!!