I was planning to get a 2004 Z, but this forum is making me think very hard about doing it. I did talk to some Z owners and other Nissan officianados and so of them are telling me that the bounce is happening only on the Touring model because it's made to be more comfortable unlike the rest of the models. Any comments and thoughts on this issue are greatly appriciated.


I called Nissan to find out more info on the upcoming 2004 model but they refuse to say anything. Any Nissan insiders out there can you give us some hope.

-Max

 

It is not just the Touring, my Enthusiast has it as well. However, it is only on certain undulating road surfaces, and it is much less now that the car is 7 months old, I think it settles a little over time.

I spoke to NNA today about the bouncy ride and asked if the springs had changed during the year as was rumored here. The rep said he called the engineers and they said there had been no change in the springs, all cars made thus far have the same springs, although the part numbers may have changed.

Having said that, the other strengths of the Z more than make up for this flaw, which can be easily cured with aftermarket springs, although it does suck that one would need to spend more $$$ to fix this type of problem on a new car, but most people will just live with it, it's not that bad. On the track and on smooth roads, the Z ride is sweet and handling in the twisties is awesome.

 

Thanks, that is pretty much what I wanted to here from someone. From the forum it seems that everyone is just bouncing out of control all the time. I wish I could take a Z for a test drive, but the dealer near me wants to run my credit history even though I told him that I don't have to buy the car if I test drove it. Unfortunatelly it doesn't look like they want my business. Anyhow, thanks again EZEE.

-Max.

 

Nissan insists that the suspension on all Z models is the same, so we'll have to take their word for it. That being said, my Track model exhibits the same "bounce" that everyone else seems to have. As mentioned in other posts, it doesn't happen all the time, and it wouldn't keep me from purchasing the vehicle. I think some early purchasers--those unable to test drive the early pre-orders--may have had unrealistic expectations that the Z would handle like a road racer but ride like a Rolls Royce. The ride doesn't bother me at all.

 

The problem isn't we want it to ride like a Rolls, and I'm tired of people misunderstanding this after all the explainations. Most of us want stiffer shocks, not softer. That would control the rebound better, and stop the bounce.

It is a mismatch of shock/spring rates. You could either soften the springs, or stiffen the shocks, and fix the problem. The reason I suspect the Eibach springs, for instance, fix the problem is that they are progressive springs, so the initial "hit" to the suspension is on the less stiff part of the spring, so it better matches the soft shocks.

That said, I don't have a problem with the situation on the roads I drive every day. Certain concrete interstates I've driven on in other areas are pretty bad, though. I understand what they are talking about.

As for the tourings riding different, that is just BS. The only real difference in suspension components across the models are wheels and I suppose brakes (and their respective weights). Shocks and springs are the same for all models.

 

I describe it as a "bunny hop". I used to get it twice or so every day on city driving to work (same road, same hop).

My Eibachs got rid of it. Have not felt it since. Same roads.