Hey everyone, new guy here! Well actually, not net YET. I live in Austin and I have an 02 WRX, but I am thinking about getting rid of it and getting a 350z sometime within the next year or so. I really don't know ALL that much about z's, but I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on them compared to WRX's or STi's. I'm kinda spoiled with the AWD and such a great handling car, so I don't know how it would be to go to a RWD car. I hang out regularly with all the scooby guys here in Austin, so if I ever get a Z, then I will surely love to meet the "locals"! Are there any weekly meets in Austin that you guys have? I would love to come check out your cars and meet some of the austin guys.

Sorry for the rambling post by the way, I've had a very long day!

Rodney

my car if anyone's interested (to see, not buy!)

 

I know there's one less WRX in Austin after this weekend . . .

 

yeah yeah yeah, everyone and their dog has heard about that...old news! (but it wasn't me!!)

 

last Monday of the month, the Capital Zs of Texas (www.czot.org) meet at Fuddruckers on I35. A lot more of 350Zs have shown up, but most of the active club members have Z32s

 

awesome, I will try to make it out. There's no meet specific for 350z's? I figured you Austin guys (and girls) would have formed your own club by now!

 

----Ya --Hes kinda between a rock and a hard place

 

Ill race you and then youll see why you need to buy a Z. HAHA!!

 

But seriously. Do you know any meets here in austin. I used to go down to william cannon on mondays, do they still do that?

 

Oh and I am off work tomorrow. If you wanna hang out or check out my car shoot me a PM and we can arrange something.

 

solidsnake,

My car is only lightly modded (stage 2), but I do not race or track it since it's my daily driver. I know the Z's are fast; I test drove an 06 ZR (automatic) a few weeks ago and I love it. (although if I was to get one, I would get a 6mt coupe, in silverstone or DB ) Thanks for the offer to let me check out your car. I unfortunately have to work tomorrow all day, but hopefully I'll run into you at a local meet or something! I'm not familiar with the Monday meets, at least not with any Z's. But you should know, I'm also considering just upgrading to an STi too, instead of a Z. Can't decide. I really hate to give up AWD.

Oh and here's kindof another random question for you Texas guys. I've always had a car with cloth seats, but I think it would be nice to have leather seats. When it's so bloody hot in Texas, are the leather seats just horrible to sit on? (ie. butt sweat, sticking to the seat like velcro, burning your ***, etc) That would be my only deterrant since this IS hot-as-hell Texas!

Thanks for the replies guys, keep em' coming!

 

A big part of the reason I bought a 350Z was because it looked so cool, you know, like a "sports car". In fact, it IS a sports car. What I find a little puzzling is that you would consider the WRX/STI "look" as preferable to the 350Z. Maybe I'm not reading your posts accurately but, I really don't see a contest. Yah, AWD has it's attractions, Yah, those other vehicles are fast AND can be modded (like the Z), but, really, do you WANT a sedan look for your cool car? I don't. Hope I haven't offended, just wondering where you stand on this. Give me the logic.

 

The sti is a great car and can be modded highly and produce good #'s and the same is to be said about the Z. Basically what it all comes down to is which car do you think "looks" better. AWD is fun but I have driven RWD cars since I was a youngin. As far as your comment on leather seats. They look good and feel good but only in a cool climate. In the heat its all kind of nasty. If you get the Z just get an enthusiast with no extras to save you money and later upgrade to racing seats. Shoot me a PM and ill give you my #. Im home most of the time and always like to show of my car.

I actually considered buying an STI becuase I do think they look good for a 4door and they perform just as good. I decided to keep the Z because of the all around looks and performance. I love driving this car everytime I get into it. Its never boring. I just cant really see having a 4door sports car. If you want one get an IS300 and boost the hell out of it. Those cars actually look good(no offense). Good luck with the decision.

 

Well, I have to agree, the Z definitely is a better looking car then a Subaru, I will give you that. However, I don't think the STi's are bad looking at all, especially for a 4 door car. And of course they beat the Z for practicality hands down. That said, I don't NEED a 4 door car or a lot of trunk space, which is partly the reason I am considering a Z. Obviously everyone has mixed feelings on the look of the subaru's. Some (like me) love them, and some (like ol' Travisf and my girlfriend) hate them. It's that way with ANY vehicle, no matter what. What I also love is the awesome handling of the WRX. It's basically a rally car. I would love to see a 350Z fly over dirt roads at 130mph and drift around corners like a subaru can. Of course I pesonally don't DO that, but the cars have that potential. Like I said, each car has its advantages and disadvantages. That's just how it goes. I personally like both cars, each in their own way.

Solidsnake, thanks for your reply to the seats. I would be leaning towards cloth seats too, although I think a DB coupe with the frost interior is sweeeeeet!

 

Did you mean that a sti can DRIFT better then a Z. hmmm!! Anyways like I said if you want you can check out my car and ill give you a drive in it so you can see what your getting yourself into.

 

haha, yes yes i know that Z's can drift. My point was that they can't do it over a gravel road at high speeds like a STi can, that's all. Anyways, the point of this thread is not to argue the difference between the two. If I like the Z, I will get one. If I like the STi, I will get one. End of story.

 

Meet me at the meet down in hutto on 79. The old HEB parking lot. If you take 35 north exit 79 and go towards hutto. Youll see all the cars on the left side. Look for my car. black z with gunmetal 19's and front mount IC up front. SO GLOSSY!

 

I heard a WRX tried to drift on grass this weekend and slid into a wall . . .

 

Dude, not to be rude or anything, but is that all you can do is rag on someone you don't even know for having an accident that you or anyone of us could have had? Not cool. Not cool at all.

Solidsnake, when is the meet? I'm in SW Austin, so Hutto is quite a ways from me...probably 40 miles one way. So I doubt I would be able to make it to a meet that far. I'll try to make it to the next fuddruckers meet at the end of september. I just have too much personal stuff going on these days, sorry. Thanks again for the offer.

 

the AWD feels weird when you go into a hard turn. I drove in and evo 8 and he demonstrated the way it took corners ocmpared to my Z. I was not impressed. Its more pleasing when your rear end slides intead of the whole car. Also the power it totally different then my Z. I just couldnt see myself spending 30+K on a car with 4doors and a 4cylinder motor. This is of no offense to you firedancer. Im just rambling my loud mouth or shall i say fast fingers.

 

it's all good man. Of course a turbo 4, awd car will feel a LOT different then a RWD NA 6cyl. That's just a given!