Has anyone driven the new 400Z?

[HardDrive]

I have zero interest in the new Supra. Fugly in my book. Really don't like the lines of the rear fenders.

[john walker's workshop]

The whole damn thing looks odd. Ripe for a photoshop.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by masraum

I remember many years ago when the 350Z was fairly new. Leland Pate got one and had nothing but problems and got rid of it.

And here on the board, I've heard lots of chatter about Nissan not being made to the same level as Toyota and Honda (not reliable, etc...). THere was a guy in our old apt complex probably 4-6 years ago that had a modified Nismo (not sure if it was a 350 or 370) that was REALLY something.

The back end pic posted above looks decent.

I've got an '03 350Z (first year of the 350). It's been nothing but bliss. 154k miles and all I've HAD to replace was brakes, tires, cam sensor (twice) and had to put in a new clutch when the daughter was driving it. Gave it to my daughter when she turned 16, bought it back from her a few years ago when she wanted to get herself an automatic, and now giving it to my son next week for his 16th. Have taught several people to drive stick on it. It has the most forgiving clutch/shifter/transmission of any car I've ever driven. VERY easy to learn on. Goes very fast when you want it to (and gets there quickly) and handles like a dream.

I want the new Z BADLY...but am really trying to hold back the urge and be responsible.

[David Inc.]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

nissan is the Chrysler of japan.

so no.

Boo this man, boo!

I'll defend my last Xterra till the day I die. That was the perfect tow-car, runabout, and off-roader for the hobby track day driver.

[gacook]

Some Nissans have had production issues. Quality went down a bit (I want to say 5-10 years ago), mostly on their economy models. The Z has been a flagship and they do it well, though I wasn't really a fan of the styling of the 370. My '03 has tech in it that still isn't standard in many/most cars today.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk View Post
nissan is the Chrysler of japan.

so no.

Originally Posted by David Inc.

Boo this man, boo!

I'll defend my last Xterra till the day I die. That was the perfect tow-car, runabout, and off-roader for the hobby track day driver.

I was thinking the AvtoVAZ of Japan. Nissan used to be partners with AvtoVAZ through the Renault alliance. Cars are still Volga's.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by David Inc.

Boo this man, boo!

I'll defend my last Xterra till the day I die. That was the perfect tow-car, runabout, and off-roader for the hobby track day driver.

We have had more issues with our Nissan than all of our Chrysler products combined.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by flipper35

We have had more issues with our Nissan than all of our Chrysler products combined.

the Z car always promises to be a great car, and then somehow never even is a very good car.

i think japan needs to to focus on what made their cars so great in the first place: cheap, cheerful, and fun. going upmarket in the 1990s is what destroyed the Japanese sports car industry in the first place. the only one that survived that was the miata. the cheapest, cheerfulist, and most fun one.

nissan should bring back the 510 as a 86/miata competitor. thats where japan brings something that no one else can.

if you want a big 400+hp car, there is no beating the mustang.

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

the Z car always promises to be a great car, and then somehow never even is a very good car.

i think japan needs to to focus on what made their cars so great in the first place: cheap, cheerful, and fun. going upmarket in the 1990s is what destroyed the Japanese sports car industry in the first place. the only one that survived that was the miata. the cheapest, cheerfulist, and most fun one.

nissan should bring back the 510 as a 86/miata competitor. thats where japan brings something that no one else can.

if you want a big 400+hp car, there is no beating the mustang.

Good points.

I think the days of 510 type cars and cheap 2 door sports cars are numbered, although I hope I am wrong. Mazda nailed it with the Miata and Toyota did well with the FRS/BRZ.

Surprisingly, Nissan sold 190,000 350Z cars and about half that number for the 370Z. I thought the 370Z was a huge improvement over the 350Z and a neat car. The 400Z does not really "talk" to me but I need to drive it and see it in the flesh. Toyota's new Supra (BMW Z4) has really grown on me.

In my eyes, I commend an auto manufacturer for committing and providing a car like the 400Z to enthusiasts as it is tough being an auto manufacturer in this low volume segment with fickle tastes and ever changing auto / gov't, manufacturing rules.

[David Inc.]

Originally Posted by flipper35

We have had more issues with our Nissan than all of our Chrysler products combined.

Huh. I had zero issues with my Xterra from brand new to 90,000 miles when a relay for something went on the fritz and needed to be replaced. Oh and the rear leaf springs needed a bit of lubrication a thousand miles in, some sort of factory issue with the springs. And I beat up on that SUV big time.

Edit: Honestly though which manufacturers have serious issues anymore? Well aside from my Alfa, but it's Italian and I knew what I was getting into.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

Good points.

I think the days of 510 type cars and cheap 2 door sports cars are numbered, although I hope I am wrong. Mazda nailed it with the Miata and Toyota did well with the FRS/BRZ.

Surprisingly, Nissan sold 190,000 350Z cars and about half that number for the 370Z. I thought the 370Z was a huge improvement over the 350Z and a neat car. The 400Z does not really "talk" to me but I need to drive it and see it in the flesh. Toyota's new Supra (BMW Z4) has really grown on me.

In my eyes, I commend an auto manufacturer for committing and providing a car like the 400Z to enthusiasts as it is tough being an auto manufacturer in this low volume segment with fickle tastes and ever changing auto / gov't, manufacturing rules.

it wouldnt be if people actually made cheap, reliable, fun to drive small sports cars again.

the magazine racing really got out of control, and that caused the price points on all these cars to rise. all these "the 86 should have had a turbo" morons who wont look at cars without 350+ hp are what is killing the market. the 86 and miata work so well because they bring the fun to drive. you start making them serious performance cars, and they double in price, and then no one can buy them again.

the future of sports cars is CHEAP, reliable, and fun to drive. Japan is uniquely qualified to bring to market cars like these, but they insist on trying to fight the americans and germans in the horse power wars, and they will lose. the corvette and the mustang are already doing that thing (and to a lesser extent tesla, and BMW).

mark my words, the Japanese sports car will die again, and soon, because of moving up market.

and the small, reliable, fun to drive sports car will win the day AGAIN.

ironically, internal combustion will only survive in small, cheap, light, fun to drive sports cars anyway. its the only thing EVs dont already beat ICE at.

[flipper35]

The 510 should be a GTI or Mazda 3 competitor. Small light, upright good handling car that is inexpensive.

[ramonesfreak]

moving up scale/market why? because people who can afford a second car that is a 2 seat sports car can afford and want a nicer car as their second car. i like the 86 but i wouldn’t want that interior. if i was 25 maybe. but at 51 i’m looking to go up not down in quality

the 4 cycl emira will be of great interest to me but with no local lotus dealer, no way.

people who can afford just one car let’s say below $50k realize they are better off with a more practical hot hatch. even those will be gone soon too unfortunately

[aschen]

Love the new GR86, really wanted one. Amazing that it exists in this day and age really. Interior seems nice enough for me but my daily driver is a zero options focus st and my last sports car was a lotus so its relative I guess.

I ended up with a preowned cayman gts because I could afford the splurge and even as a guy that doesn't prioritize straight line speed or drag racing, I appreciate the 50% more power.

300-400hp on the road still feels like a lot to me, on the edge of sensibly usable. Not sure what I would do with 500-700hp not uncommon these days.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

moving up scale/market why? because people who can afford a second car that is a 2 seat sports car can afford and want a nicer car as their second car. i like the 86 but i wouldn’t want that interior. if i was 25 maybe. but at 51 i’m looking to go up not down in quality

the other solution to this problem ... is make the cars cheaper. so that more people can afford them. and younger people can afford them.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

the other solution to this problem ... is make the cars cheaper. so that more people can afford them. and younger people can afford them.

I agree. Not sure who to blame, the market or the maker. Look at VW with no more Golf in this country except the R and GTI.....because Americans dont like hatch backs? Growing up I always had a golf....great as a student to haul your crap from one apartment to another etc..I still have a Golf GTI. I have had 6 of them - 4 golfs and 2 GTIs!

You can still lease a jetta or civic pretty cheap, and I would guess Hyundai....if your into leasing

The price of all new cars today is absolutely outrageous

[ramonesfreak]

The Savagegeese wrap up review of their 86

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

I agree. Not sure who to blame, the market or the maker. Look at VW with no more Golf in this country except the R and GTI.....because Americans dont like hatch backs? Growing up I always had a golf....great as a student to haul your crap from one apartment to another etc..I still have a Golf GTI. I have had 6 of them - 4 golfs and 2 GTIs!

You can still lease a jetta or civic pretty cheap, and I would guess Hyundai....if your into leasing

The price of all new cars today is absolutely outrageous

this is why i blame the "86 should have a turbo" crowd fully.

like there is a car, that is the 86 with a turbo, its called the 2.0T supra. and no one wants one. because it has a supra badge on the back. so these folks actually didnt want a 86 with a turbo, they just say they want an 86 with a turbo.

and manufactures believe them. and then they make an 86 with a turbo type of car, and its 40+ thousand dollars, and they sell 5 of them, because everyone else just bought the mustang GT cause its better and cheaper.

and then everyone is convinced that no one wants to buy, CHEAP, reliable, fun to drive sports cars, like the 86 and the miata.

meanwhile, when the coming sportscar-pololyps comes ... the only cars that will survive will be ... the CHEAP, reliable, and fun to drive.

and with the EV transition, this will only accelerate because if you want a fat, fast, expensive car ... EVs do that better than ICE anyway. the only place ICE can compete against EVs, is SMALL, CHEAP, and LIGHT.

so, yeah, i blame 100% of the problem on the "86 needs a turbo" brigade.

[aschen]

There is not really that much complaining about power deficit on the 2nd gen 86 twins. There will always be whiners but the press and internet peanut gallery are pretty positive as a consensus on it as a package.

[ramonesfreak]

I understand what your saying but its not just because of the supra badge. I think the 2.0L is the better of the 2 supras. but, the 2.0 is not available with a manual so for most people looking for this type of car - its a deal breaker and a lot more money than an 86

and, its a BMW

maybe toyota will release a manual 2.0 supra then see what happens

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

this is why i blame the "86 should have a turbo" crowd fully.

like there is a car, that is the 86 with a turbo, its called the 2.0T supra. and no one wants one. because it has a supra badge on the back. so these folks actually didnt want a 86 with a turbo, they just say they want an 86 with a turbo.

and manufactures believe them. and then they make an 86 with a turbo type of car, and its 40+ thousand dollars, and they sell 5 of them, because everyone else just bought the mustang GT cause its better and cheaper.

and then everyone is convinced that no one wants to buy, CHEAP, reliable, fun to drive sports cars, like the 86 and the miata.

meanwhile, when the coming sportscar-pololyps comes ... the only cars that will survive will be ... the CHEAP, reliable, and fun to drive.

and with the EV transition, this will only accelerate because if you want a fat, fast, expensive car ... EVs do that better than ICE anyway. the only place ICE can compete against EVs, is SMALL, CHEAP, and LIGHT.

so, yeah, i blame 100% of the problem on the "86 needs a turbo" brigade.