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Last week I happened to come across my old Z on craigslist. OMG...OMG...OMG. The new owner totally destroyed the poor car. She's done for....R.I.P. I almost cried. It really was a sad day for me. What a shame.
I guess I was secretly hoping I would one day find it in the same condition that I sold it in, and I would buy it back. LOL. It was not to be.
These days, I drive a Prius as my daily. For the last few months, I've been looking for, and doing extensive research and extended test drives (many days, dozens of hours) for a new weekend "toy", mainly new/newer 911's and low-mileage 997-GT3s (not a fan of PDKs, I'm a "manual" guy), and some Bimmers and one EVO. So far, I've been extremely disappointed with the handling, comfort, and what I call "a sense of being 'connected' to the car" in these so-called newer sports cars. Honestly, my '03 Z with a couple of minor bolt-on mods (headers, exhaust, pulley), would eat these 911s for breakfast & spit out the pieces without breaking a sweat, any day of the week. Yes, REALLY, I mean it. When I had my Z, not only I knew every inch of the car, I also knew its every capability and limitation. And now I have a pretty good idea of of those same parameters for the cars that I've test driven, and I drove them pretty hard, and I'm not impressed AT ALL. In my opinion, the driving pleasure of my old Z is not comparable to what I'm seeing in these newer cars: The overall driver feedback, the predictableness, the neutral handling, the precise steering, the accurate shifts, the reliability factor, the driver position, the stability and confidence you felt in high speed turns. I got none of that in the 911's I drove. For example, I was in a new gen2 911S a couple days ago in Carbon Canyon doing a sharp hairpin turn, doing maybe 20-25MPH at most, and the rear end upped itself and planted a couple of feet away, without checking with me or giving me any indication whatsoever. FTW? I remember thinking to myself that my Z would never do such unmentionables, LOL. Back when I had my Z, I walked every EVO and STI I came across, again with very mild mods, and I could take just about any car, except ZO6's in the OUTSIDE lane in corners. I am yet to drive another car that gives me that level of confidence.
I remember when I first got my Z, about a month into it, car was completely stock, I was driving up 55 N one late night, almost no traffic. I was still trying to learn where everything was, checking the gauges, instrumentation, etc., so I was probably ever so slightly distracted, but I had 90% focus on the road ahead as I always do. I remember doing maybe 80/85 (yes I know, but it's late night and there's no traffic) in the left lane, slowly gaining up on the car ahead (I think it was a GTI or something, but not sure), waiting for him to pull over to the next lane since there's no car in front of or next to him, but he's not moving, so I'm trailing him at a safe distance for a while but he's still not moving. Then I speed up, intending to pass him on the right (yes, I know, but blocking traffic in the fast lane is illegal at ANY speed, here in Cali), or dip into the carpool lane, if all else fails (yes, I already checked). Then all of a sudden the guy pulls into the carpool lane, no signal, no indication, and as soon as he clears, right in front of me, I see a full size sofa, less than, I would say 40-50' away by the time I spot it, sitting sideways in the middle of the lane. I check again the lane next to me, even though I'm always aware of cars behind and next to me anyway, swerve and avoid the sofa, with plenty of clearance, and get back into my own lane. This whole sequence takes no more than one second, start to finish. As for my Z, there is absolutely no wobbling, shuddering, drifting, no tire screeching, no swaying from side to side, no understeer, no oversteer, no rear end coming loose, NOTHING, as if the car was on rails (and as if the car was asking me "is this best you got, hehehe?"). Holy crap, I was so amazed and grateful as to how stable and predictable the car was, as if it was nothing, not even close to its performance envelope. I eventually got to my destination, got out of my Z and kissed the hood of my car and said "thank you", because it had probably just saved my life. I do know this though: If I had tried this same maneuver in a stock 911, or ANY other car that I've driven to date, I'd probably not have survived that incident with whole skin.
Honestly, the only complaints I ever had with my Z were the notorious 4 o'clock blind spot and the slightly under-powered, under-revving VQ35. That,and the crappy stereo. Everything else was exactly spot on, and as I would have wanted it. Yes, the 911's are slightly faster, but not that much (Yes, REALLY, maybe one or two car lengths in a quarter mile, on a good day, but that's about it). My budget is fairly open (low 100's), so I'm open to just about anything: (no AMGs, because no manuals unfortunately), no GT-Rs for the same reason, M3s/M5s/M6s, (Lotuses seem too dangerous to me), all the way up to, but not including Ferraris or Lambos or 911 GT-RS pcars (not practical daily cars in my opinion, and out of my budget range anyway), but frankly I can't find a new or newer car that holds a candle to my old Z and I'm actually considering going back to maybe a new 370z?? (Yes, I did try looking for a low-mileage, clean 350z track - couldn't find one. and I have yet to test drive a new 370z Nismo). What are you guys driving that is equal to or better? I really would like to know.
These days, I drive a Prius as my daily. For the last few months, I've been looking for, and doing extensive research and extended test drives (many days, dozens of hours) for a new weekend "toy", mainly new/newer 911's and low-mileage 997-GT3s (not a fan of PDKs, I'm a "manual" guy), and some Bimmers and one EVO. So far, I've been extremely disappointed with the handling, comfort, and what I call "a sense of being 'connected' to the car" in these so-called newer sports cars. Honestly, my '03 Z with a couple of minor bolt-on mods (headers, exhaust, pulley), would eat these 911s for breakfast & spit out the pieces without breaking a sweat, any day of the week. Yes, REALLY, I mean it. When I had my Z, not only I knew every inch of the car, I also knew its every capability and limitation. And now I have a pretty good idea of of those same parameters for the cars that I've test driven, and I drove them pretty hard, and I'm not impressed AT ALL. In my opinion, the driving pleasure of my old Z is not comparable to what I'm seeing in these newer cars: The overall driver feedback, the predictableness, the neutral handling, the precise steering, the accurate shifts, the reliability factor, the driver position, the stability and confidence you felt in high speed turns. I got none of that in the 911's I drove.
I am not so sure I would agree with you since I currently still own my '05 350z and a '10 Evo X. The steering ratio alone in the Evo X is 13:1 while the 350z is 15.9:1, which gives it a closer 1:1 feel. I used to own a '10 911 but unfortunately sold it due to a growing family. I still feel least connected to the road when driving the 350z. I love switching cars for daily, and have owned a long list of cars (all manual) in addition to my Z, so I can tell you respectfully, that I am not getting the same impressions. The best cars that I felt like I was "wearing" and not just driving was the '01 s2000 that I used to own, second to that was a '00 Miata which felt like a go kart. I do have a certain love and bond for my 350z which I have kept the longest of all.
I bought and babied my Z in 2007. Kept low and easy miles on it. Started to mod it cause it was Fast & Furious days, and this site did not help...
I had the Asuka Type II hood on and it has not held up nicely. The quality of the hood was poorly constructed and I stopped driving it because I was not confident in the hood holding up to regular freeway driving!
It is a shame because it was a great design. Now thinking of either going back to OEM hood, or looking for suggestions - y'all got any?
I bought and babied my Z in 2007. Kept low and easy miles on it. Started to mod it cause it was Fast & Furious days, and this site did not help...
I had the Asuka Type II hood on and it has not held up nicely. The quality of the hood was poorly constructed and I stopped driving it because I was not confident in the hood holding up to regular freeway driving!
It is a shame because it was a great design. Now thinking of either going back to OEM hood, or looking for suggestions - y'all got any?
Yes- put the OEM hood back on and drive that Z again!
damn.. wuddup OGs. I was lurking to sell off my volks and saw this thread. I've sold all my cars several years ago. I drive a prius now. Lurking around the 400z though. This forum is pretty dead.
Still here after owning my Z for 15 years and being a member of this forum for just as long. Unfortunately my priorities have changed over the years but I still love my Z and have no intentions of letting go.
Wow some OGs and have moved onto some dopeeee cars. Buying my first G soon add to my 4th VQ. Garage queen is currently a 7.2L 443 Chrysler 300 SRT8 with 610whp and 640trq. N/a. Glad to see these OGs posting though. Take me back
I got an 05 De at the beginning of this year but sold it and bought an 08 HR with 60k miles. Now this forum has all my answers from 10 years ago haha
You're all legends
Haven't gone anywhere.
Custom made wide body and widened Front suspension width is done.
Still currently doing the first dry sump gen v lt4 swap.
My life has no meaning otherwise..
Much thanks.. K Bai. Lol.
Last edited by bmccann101; 08-18-2021 at 10:56 PM.
Still, here, sorta lol Check this forum once in a blue moon. I miss this forum and the activity during 2009-2012, best years I would say. Met a lot of cool people through here. I still have my Z, but it's just a garage queen now, only driven it less than 500 miles in 10 years!! lol
i am back to paying some attention to this forum.. the children on the fb groups are stealing my literal will to stay alive on the is planet any more.. lol.
07-21-2018, 11:57 PM
R.I.P.
