today I am driving home from work, my gas light has been on since I left tis AM (50 miles ago) and my "dte" light has been blinking for the past 15 miles, so I am driving pretty conservative.

all of the sudden I need to merge, and look to get over, when a red SC430 w/ after market wheels, gets RITE on my butt when I finally get over (like he is mad or something). after a break in the traffic, I take off, he takes off too and after some spirited driving (I NEVER down shifted to 4th or below, b/c I was worried about running out of gas), I pull away a bit (probably more do to driver skill then cars). He is trying to catch me, so he gets in an outside lane BUT if he stays there, he gets on another freeway, I thought he was going to head the different way and call it good, when at the last second (I mean last second) he cuts over and gets just behind and to the side of me. I proceed to go over 100mph on an "onramp", and he follows (I lose him a tiny bit on the ramp).

as we proceed, he stays right on my butt as I back down a bit (85-90-I don't like driving too fast for very long). I down shift to 5th and accelerate a bit and pull away a bit, then a few seconds later he is right there again (as I slow to about 90-95). They he gets on the lane to the right of me (I thought he was going to get off the freeway/toll road) and he takes off, so I follow for a bit (I look down and I am at 125 and think to my self-"holy crap"), I am DEAD even with him but following, again, I NEVER downshifted to 4th. After driving like that for a little bit and watching him weave in and out of traffic (when you are going that fast even a fairly uncrowded hwy gets crowded and you pass people going 85 like they are standing still). I realize that this isn't very safe and shut it down, while he keeps going and gets off the freeway. He was a little too wreckless for me, and I don't feel to good about it now, looking back on it. I haven't had the car very long and 125 comes up very very quickly, so be careful, the car is very stable, so you don't realize how fast you are going so look at the speedo.

I am not sure what the guy was trying to prove, I know the SC has about 300 HP, but is heavier and is an AUTO (which actually can help when punching it at freeway speeds). I know that I had a little left in it, as I wasn't driving as aggressive as he was and NEVER downshifted to 4th or below.

The Z has very very good torque that allowed me to hang without downshifting.

I like the SC, it is a pretty car, but I am not sure what the other driver thought, does he think "hay, I won, I have a luxury car and kept up with the Z car" or "hay, I won. I got in front and stayed there for a longer period of time" or "man that little Z car that ONLY starts at $27k did pretty well"???? I just don't know what goes through his head. I have kept a very cool head with my car until this incident, too bad there were other drivers on the road and I needed GAS asap.

literally 10 seconds after this, I continued driving and I see the rear tails on a Ferarri 575 (I wanted to give him a thumbs up, but didn't want to draw too much attention to myself since some owners of those cars might think a nissan 350Z is a joke). As I drove by him (he was going VERY slow, and you could hear that V12 puuuuuuuuuuur). I look over and he immediatly looks at me, I give him a thumbs up and he gives one in return, NICE to see him showing a little respect for a "cheap" car like the Z. (btw, I love the 575).

btw, my car has about 600 miles on it.

btw2, has anyone else run a 430, what were the results??? I am NOT claiming one car is faster than the other, just giving my expereince

 

I also love the 575. Although, I liked the few exterior differences of the 550 better (except for the 575's headlights, which look awesome). I have had a few brief "Hey I like your car even though it will kick my ***" & "Hey I like your car, even moreso as my car will kick your ***" with a few Ferraris in my M Roadster. Just a few second gear runs. Fun, especially since with my top down I get to hear my deep exhaust contrasting with that high pitched scream.

 

My boss has a black SC, and it is no match. Top end: not sure what they top out at.

Thumbs up: i got a thumbs up from a viper GTS several weeks ago. (after i initiated the initial thumbs-up) Always love the GTS look, and i'm not a fan of the newest body. looks like the old R/T.

 

zs kill sc430s

 

Hmm sure it was a 575 M? or just the 550? No difference in appearance. Just curious. If you did see one you are 1 lucky dude.

 

There is a subtle difference in appearance between the 575 and 550. For those details, I shall defer you to http://www.ferrarichat.com

Michael.

 

I am NOT 100% sure, but the lights and details looked like it was a 575, plus it had new tags on it