why would that video cheer us up ? he was amazed with the rx8 ...

 

This should cheer you guys up.

http://www.provtech.co.uk/350z/Tiff350z.wmv

Tiff rocks, great review and he sure knew what he was talking about. The quality is a bit low.

"911 performance for half the price" - tiff needell

 

check the edit

 

I don't know if it was on this forum or another one, but, I remember people saying that perhaps he's on the take by Ford. Thus anything Ford owns (mazda RX8) he loves and anything that competes against it (Nissan 350Z) he hates... I wonder if we could compare his other reviews of Ford cars and see if he favors all of them...

 

i still don't get why he was complaining about practicality. IS THE KOENIGSEGG PRACTICAL? FOOL! it's a sports car! and the engine whine? what's up with that? he drives those exotics where the engine is right behind you _screaming_ into your ears. anyway, i do like his other reviews of other cars, but now i'm beginning to wonder if they're accurate at all. and i used to like watching this bloke too.

 

I concur. His reviews are usually entertaining, but he seems very biased against Nissan for no apparent reason.

Maybe he had a bad day?

 

maybe he use to own a nissan vehicle and was screwed time after time by their service

 

Isnt this the same guy that said that the best car he ever drove was the RX-8? He is an idiot. I think he hates cars that arent italian, french or german.

He does not hate everythihg that is NOT Italian. He loves the S2000, he loves the RX8, he loves a lot of British cars too. He loves German stuff as well as Italian ... I think he has a broad taste, but he likes car's to be 'performance cars' which is a very much a 'driver's car'.

I would actaaully say that I agree with 95% of stuff that he sais (not just about the 350Z) and his descriptions of different cars/characteristics generally agree with mine. The 350Z review agreed exactly with what I was saying after I took the 350Z for it's 1st (and 2nd ) test-drive. The engine was by far the biggest dissapointemnt to me ... it is/was not an engine that I'd want in 'my' sports-car. Nothing to do with the power, but everything to do with the delivery, sound and feeling it entices. I knew it was fast and that it delivered the 'numbers' (just oike JC), but it just did not put a smile on my face and if anything left me dissapointed after driving it (as it did JC).

I hear peope ask here as what do I expect from an engine? Well, something that these car's have and 350Z did not: Boxtser (and Boxster S), M3, S2000, RX8, RX7, F360, F355 and even Miata (ie. MX5). These car's beg you to rev them and push them to their limits. The 350Z (out of the factory) begs you NOT to do that (from my point of view).

I thought he seemed a bit biased before he even got into the car. He hates the noise of the engine, yet regularly drives Ferraris and Lambo's with whines that are much harder on the ears. Personally, I like the sound of the engine.

It's not about the volume/amount of noise. It's about the 'quality' of the noise. Me, I love engines that beg you to open the windows, find a nearest tunnel and floor it through there just to hear that marvelous noise.

Though, people have different tastes, and like you, some find the 350Z noise likable. Me I love the sound of the F360, M3, S2000 or even a Boxster.

As for the seats, I find them quite comfortable as well; much better than what you'd find in a Toyota Camry.

Yes, they are a lot better (and more comfortable) than in a Camry. Though again, Boxster, S2000 (and even STi and EVO) have what I'd concider better seats. Again, if you are a different size/shape to me, then you'll probably find different seats to your likeing.

He gives no notice to the actual performance of the car, only the dislikes that he notices while sitting in it.

Yes, this is exactly what the review was missing. Whether he would be happy with it or not is a different story, but how can you have a 'review' without mentioning (and spedning large part of the testing) the performance?!

Its almost as if he was expecting the 350z to be a bently, or an expensive luxury car (soft leather seats, no cabin noise, very nice instruments).

No, he was expecting an MX5 (ie. Miata) ... as he said at the start. That is in some ways a definitive 'sports car' and that is despite it's lack of hard perfmance credentials. The feel, sound and responsiveness is what he was looking for and he did not find it in the 350Z. For this the engine is mostly to blame as I was in the same boat as JC 1st couple times I drove it and I had to 'force' myself to keep on trying to like it. What convinced me to get a 350Z was another owner who has made some engine/exhaust mods to his car and 'that' car had the qualities that I was looking for. Not the one they had in the showroom. I'm sure there are other people like me, and JC seems to be one of them.

I guess he doesn't like Z's. That still doesn't make him a moron.

Very intellignet comment which I could not agree with more myself. Not everyone is going to like what you like. Some people look for different things and that is why there is a market for more than one make/type of a car.

I was actually pretty happy with the review (exept for the lack of mentioning of the perfromance/braking). I like reviews that don't go all 'gaga' over a car and do point out it's 'weak' points. Just a shame that JC did not mention the 'strong points' as well. Maybe he did not find them (or did not want to find them due to the displike of the engine)?

 

One word. PHUCKTARD.

What an ***. I miss the blond chick having an orgasm in our car.

 

DavidM@home,

When J. Clarkson meandered up to the unsuspecting British Z owner, I found his insipid comments rather insulting. There was absolutely nothing clever about is unprovoked remarks. Basically it was nothing short of a cheap shot lead-in to his blatantly biased review. It was right there that he clearly demonstrated his well deserved moniker by some individuals on this forum as a MORON!

That's M-O-R-O-N!!

While you might have been agreeing with 95% of his negative review and smug commentary, you DO realize that YOU are in the unfortunate minority as he is among his journalistic peers.

Suggestion: If you are so greatly disappointed in your "Z" then here's thought, maybe you should quickly sell it and begin your new postings on the 'boxster' forum when you're ready to fork over another $20K.

btw: In Mr. J. Clarkson's case, it's NOT a matter of disagreeing with his personal taste - it is more like the obvious lack of it!

 

J Clarkson is an idiot. Plain and simple. He's funny at times, but he's no Tiff. I have watched many of his reviews in the past and he has made stupid blanket statements and other ridiculious comments in the past.

Here is a statement from his recent Ford GT review (which he absolutely went ga-ga over BTW --- hmmn... pretty interesting... a Ford product he loves??)

"Of course, Americans have never had a problem making stuff go fast in a straight line. The space shuttle, the Corvette, the Boeing 747 and so on.

But they have never...I have checked this out with all the experts...they've never made a car that can take corners properly."

Hmmn.. The Vette, Viper, Saleen S7, etc can't handle huh??

The TopGear show went FAR downhill after Tiff left

 

When J. Clarkson meandered up to the unsuspecting British Z owner, I found his insipid comments rather insulting.

I don't know ... I think you guys are taking it too seriously. I think he was just trying to be funny. The guys at TopGear and always bagging each other and each others cars so to me it's part of the show. I did not care for those comments (as they had very little to do with the 350Z), but at the same time I got a laugh out of them. Afterall, they are there to provide primarily 'entertainment'.

Basically it was nothing short of a cheap shot lead-in to his blatantly biased review.

Yes, it was a lead in (ie. that's what they do). And I'm not sure how 'biased' it was. He get's paid to express his opinion and he did. I would much rather that than have the reviewer praise every car that comes to him/her becuase it guarantees more manufacturers' dollars. I'd rather some one who has some views and opinions than someone who likes everything and has only good things to say.

Though, as I said before, not sure why the handling/braking and track-test were ommited from this 'review' .... that is where most of the positives would/should have come from.

While you might have been agreeing with 95% of his negative review and smug commentary, you DO realize that YOU are in the unfortunate minority as he is among his journalistic peers.

I would not say that. There's a few threads here complainging about the engine, interior quality and some other bits and bobs. Also, not every review I've read is 100% happy with the Zed. The engine gets a fair few complaints (ie. not sporty enough, harsh, noisy etc) and also the interior quality never get's a positive write-up (like all the poor quality trays and materials). Yes, they generally like the car (most of the time), but they do often acknowledge the car's faults.

Suggestion: If you are so greatly disappointed in your "Z" then here's thought, maybe you should quickly sell it and begin your new postings on the 'boxster' forum when you're ready to fork over another $20K.

I'd rather the F360 that I mentioned, but if my Zed remained 100% stock, then I would not be happy with it (and would have not bought it). Engine can be addressed with some mods, noise with an exhaust and the seats can be replaced. Presto, I have a car that I like very much. Though, the jurno's don't review a car like that, but one that is 100% stock out of the factory. In that respect I would not be happy with it either .... that does not mean that there are not plenty of people who are thrilled with what they're getting, and thetre's nothing wrong with that. Each to their own.

btw: In Mr. J. Clarkson's case, it's NOT a matter of disagreeing with his personal taste - it is more like the obvious lack of it!

Is that just becase he does not like the 350Z? He does seem to like the Enzo, Boxster, S2000, RX8 and the old Elise (not the new one as much). You don't have to like what he likes, he does like some very nice cars.

 

Actually no, they can't. I absolutely LOVE the Viper... LOVE IT. It's been possibly my favorite car since its original introduction, and it's a great car.

The vette, I have little experience with, but I can guarantee you that the Viper does NOT handle well. Its got too much power to handle well, as does the saleen (and possibly the vette as well). These are all very fast cars (straight line), but they would be put to shame on twisties by the Z, RX-8, and S2000. And I DO mean put to shame... it wouldn't even be a competition.

Although, they are extremely fast in straight lines...

 

You are TOTALLY incorrect. The Z06 is one of the fastest cars around a track around right now. It OWNS in Auto-X. The Saleen S7 pulls 1.03g on the track. The Viper has a lot of power and doesn't handle as well, but the Z06 and S7 are some of the best handling cars in the world

And there is NO WAY a Z, RX-8 or S2000 is going to put a Z06 or S7 to shame in any way. Come on now. Let's get real here

 

cedusett - Admittedly you have little experience with the Vette, but you really should look into it a little deeper. The Z06 goes off the line, in corners, and handles pretty much anything you can throw at it. I wouldn't pit a Z, RX8 or S2000 against a Vette on a track. They would be *eaten* in my opinion.

 

You guys are getting my point wrong. I DO believe a Z would get eaten alive by a Vette, but only because of the power issue. From personal experience, I don't think the Viper and Saleen can handle as well. Keep in mind I'm talking about STOCK here... I've obviously never driven a track viper, or even taken a ride in one.

From my experience, I think lighter and smaller cars (like the Z or 8) are easier to handle than Vipers and Saleens. Just my opinion... don't take it as a law!

 

As that guy would say, WHAT A ******.

He is on someones payroll without a doubt.

 

Tiff was everything a true English car enthusiast could be. He was informative, interesting and actually looked as though he really enjoyed his job.

JC on the other hand is a plain joker, a personality not really a car enthusiast at all. Seemed moody, irresponsible and a little bit bias towards English cars (like Lotus).

JC comes from the regime of "small car=true sports car" pool of small minded elitists.

Tiff has more experiences with different types of sports cars, and is more forgiving to their vastly different styles.

If you compare JC's and Tiff review of the 350z, they are as different as day and night.

JC review of the Nissan Skyline GTR34 was also out of touch. He complained mostly about the DVD system which he felt gave useless handling information.
He gave more props to the RX8 than the GTR!

Topgear has become more of an entertainment show, less informative and more tongue in cheek. Luckily there are 2 other reviewers on the show who are far more realistic than JC.

I can't wait for JC to change his mind about the Ford GT and eventually call it FAT and TURNS LIKE A TRAIN.

 

haha the guy said he gives it a 'C-'...then he says a 3 outta 10...that'd be a 30% which would be an 'F'

 

This morning I came across the last 10 mins of Top Gear on BBC World. Clarkson was reviewing the new MG Supercar . He was drifting out the rear end, when the car snapped either into or out of shape. The results being JC slamed his head quite hard on the top of the door where the side curtain airbag is on the Z. It was so funny they replayed it a few times. I haven't found an online clip of it yet, but I am sure one will be released soon.

Bev