Saw My First 350Z today

Jim T · 09-07-2002, 12:40 PM

I didn't get to see it for too long, but I must admit, it looks a lot better in person than in the pictures. My wife said it looks like, well, a Porsche!

I wonder if at any time in history there have been so many nice sports cars to rival Porsches. Porsches basic lineup, with the Carrera and Boxster, is ok, but there are so many cool sports car and sports sedans now, from so many makers, with so much power! The Z with 280 or so hp, at $27,000, the M3 for the price of a Boxster (more than standard, less than Boxster S) with 333 hp, etc.

Oh well, at least Porsche makes a kick-ass minivan!

It is nice, however, to start to see the streets fill with some interesting cars again.

Jack Olsen · 09-07-2002, 01:01 PM

If they could just fix that little Accord-or-whatever rear trunk bump, then it would look like a nice, low-cost alternative to a 996.

Here's what I mean. In this photo I removed the little growth on the backside. I think it's better:

Still too chunky below the sill line, in my opinion.

Jack Olsen · 09-07-2002, 01:04 PM

Without the change:

jkeyzer · jkeyzer's Garage

I got to ride in one around the block the other day. It's a very rough ride. The owner claims it feels stiffer (might just be more harsh) than an 02 Vette. Maybe it's just the low profile tires on those 18" wheels?

911tmaster · 09-07-2002, 02:24 PM

i saw one yesterday. it flew by at about 115 on the freeway and it looked pretty good going that fast. i don't to many of the newer cars but i like this one.

speeder · speeder's Garage

I just saw my first one an hour ago on the street; I was sitting at an outdoor cafe and it caught my eye. Thought it was an Audi tt for an instant, but actually liked it better. Only saw it from side/rear 3/4, MUCH better than pictures, IMO.

Lucky · 09-07-2002, 02:48 PM

A silver one. It was nice, but to me it still isn't a Porsche substitute -- there is no substitute, after all!

I've been admiring the pictures of the 350Z in the mags for a few months, expecting the in-the-flesh view to be just as nice. My conclusion: photographers are quite good at making something look its best.

Overall I think the Z is a great design and the on-paper specs are surprising for the price, but it is far from perfect visually. It looks terrible from dead-on the front and the rear end just doesn't work well. Conspicuous in their absance in the magazine layouts are exactly those two views. Now I know why.

The rear shape and tail lights just don't relate to the rest of the car. It is easily mistaken for a Lexus SC430 from the rear. Like Jack, I think a rounded 911-esque rear end would have worked better and they should have used horizontal tail lights to accentuate the wide and low stance.

The other oddity is the glass area. It looks too small for the rest of the car -- somewhat like the TT coupe. And from the rear, I expected the tires to look meatier than they did... the car I saw looked like another couple of inches of rubber in the rear would be required for a more aggressive look.

In the end, however, it is a very good design which will sell very well and still look good in 10 years. If I were in the market to buy a new sports car, the Z would be darn tempting.

Lucky · 09-07-2002, 02:56 PM

One more thing... I think the new Z is a nicer 911 than the 996.

Porsche needs to get its act together in horsepower and styling. The competition is getting really stiff.

H20911 · 09-07-2002, 03:18 PM

I brought this up a year ago and few seemed to agree that it looked like 911.....to each his own.

the new nissan 350Z due out soon looks like a new 911 rip off

I still think that it favors one.

Jack Olsen · 09-07-2002, 03:33 PM

To take my Photoshopping another step, consider if they hadn't gone with the goofy headlights. While my retouching is very crude, it shows the beginnings of what could have been a very cool looking update of the old Z-car shape.

89911 · 09-07-2002, 04:03 PM

Glad to see my post a few months ago still has some believers.

I remember when Porsche used to build cars like this.

Elombard · 09-07-2002, 04:40 PM

I went and looked at one at the dealer last week. I looked at the "enthusiast" model, silver with 17" wheels. It looked much better in person than it did at the auto show or in pictures. Even pondered trading the 911 for a few secs. 287 HP, RWD, 6 speed, LSD, all for $28K. The Interior was particularly nice.

Today I went for a spirited ride in my friends 02 996. holy cow. fabulous - but more than twice the money??? I am glad I dont have to make the decision : - ))

Wilbur888 · 09-07-2002, 04:54 PM

I was on vacation in Hawaii last week and was amazed to see one on the road, well it was parked.

For a manufacturer that, in australia, isnt really renowned for the quality or design of their vehicles they have come up with what i consider to be a winner.

In Australia we have a serious lack of decent coupes and if the 350Z is finally confirmed as a starter down here it will go a long way to changing the poor state of our two door cars, and from what i have seen of the specs it seems that there is a decent car under the 996-esq exterior.

ZAMIRZ · ZAMIRZ's Garage

Wow, I felt bad for the M3 driver, he got his rear-end handed to him badly........the Z was a track model with the Volk wheels, Brembo brakes and subtle body kit. The car itself was silver, first gear the Z pulled about a car and after that he just kept gaining steadily......that's what a 40 hp edge will do I guess. Either way, for the money I don't think there's a better sports car out there right now, the Boxster seems like a joke when the new Z is out and plus.....the Boxster isn't a real Porsche anyway it's just something to keep the company profitable and to develop cars like the Cayenne, Carrera GT and that new front-engine V8 return-of-928 thing they're working on. FInal thoughts on the Z: wait for forced induction which is coming within the next 2-3 years if sales stay strong.

regards,

amir

HeBeGB · 09-07-2002, 07:09 PM

They're nice cars, but I think that $27K is a bit optimistic. All the ones I've seen have been at least $36K moving into the low 40's... Even those already on ebaymotors are over $35K.
gb

billwagnon · 09-07-2002, 07:21 PM

Revisions --

Jack Olsen · 08:22 PM

Now we're talkin'.

Next, combine the front engine with a rear transaxle for wait distribution, bring the whole project in at $30,000, 300 hp and 2500 pounds (with fiberglass body panels), and you've got what the Boxster should have been in the first place.

Eric Coffey · 09-07-2002, 08:46 PM

I saw one up close today in a parking lot. It did catch my eye, I'll give it that. However it was more of a double-take, as I first thought it WAS a 996. After closer inspection, I found that the 996 wasn't the only car who's styling was "borrowed". I would have to say that the new Z car looks to be 25% 996, 25% Audi TT, 25% Toyota Celica (headlights), and 25% Honda S2000.

billwagnon · 09-07-2002, 09:07 PM

picture it in purple or gold metalflake...

Jim T · 09-07-2002, 09:13 PM

I'm sure they will sell above sticker for a year or two, but after that they will be at or below sticker.

Its a good looking car as it is. Jack, the tail end is at first a little odd, but that appears to be where styling is going. Look at the new 7 series BMW, for instance.

"Porsche, there is no substitute"? I'm afraid these days there are.

996? I'd rather have a 350Z daily driver AND a mint, 25,000 mile Ferrari 308 Quattrovalve weekend car than a new 996.

Boxster? There are so many other cars I'd buy before spending $50K on a Boxster its hard to even list them all.

Lots of substitutes, indeed.

And, if not the 350, there are a lot of other really nice cars out there in the sub-$35K range these days. Heck, even the new Mitus Lancer Evo VIII that will be hitting the US looks like a real runner (270+ hp, all wheel drive, 17 inch wheels, etc. etc. for LESS than $30K).