Question about cars

[Alex_1]

Too bad OGHT isn't around. But hey, I have a couple questions. I like cars, not for racing or any of that but just driving - touring. I try to keep up with what's new but of course probably don't know as much as others here.

The car I'm thinking of looking into in about a year or so is the new 350 Z. Does anyone know much about this car - how it's been? The specifics I want to know is if Nissan plans to make this into a T-top or convertible like they did the 300z in the 90's.

Also, does anyone know much about the RX-7 and how that compares? I want to look into something sporty. If anyone knows of anything else that might be good in comparison, that'd be cool. Thanks!

[houstonmls]

Originally posted by Alex_1
Too bad OGHT isn't around. But hey, I have a couple questions. I like cars, not for racing or any of that but just driving - touring. I try to keep up with what's new but of course probably don't know as much as others here.

The car I'm thinking of looking into in about a year or so is the new 350 Z. Does anyone know much about this car - how it's been? The specifics I want to know is if Nissan plans to make this into a T-top or convertible like they did the 300z in the 90's.

Also, does anyone know much about the RX-7 and how that compares? I want to look into something sporty. If anyone knows of anything else that might be good in comparison, that'd be cool. Thanks!

The new Z's are ************ing unbelievable. I had the chance to drive one on a road trip I took with a friend and it was ************ing amazing. I loved it. Handles great and is an overall great car. I think that the quality of Nissan has dropped a bit, but with the Z being their flagship car (and how the old Z's have lasted and I still see them all over today) I wouldn't question it at all.

The RX-7's are hard to find. I believe they stopped production on them in 96 but they are still pretty pricey. I haven't driven the later body styles, but I've driven a 91. The RX doesn't have cylinders and I'm not as familiar with the engine as I am with the Z or any I4's, but I haven't heard any complaints about the car. Either way would be badass.

[Alex_1]

Thanks for the info! I know that Mazda's releasing a new RX model - I think it's the RX-8. It's supposed to be some sort of hybrid thought with 3 or 4 doors. The RX-7's of the nineties were pretty sweet looking - except the engine was hit or miss. IF you got a good one, you were set. If you got a poorly constructed one, the thing was a toilet. I forget the details, but something about the engine was always needing to be replaced every winter - something to do with the interface/rotary engine.

But yeah, I really want to look at Z's. Seems like they're really neat cars. They handle great? Smooth driving - how was the 6 speed/stereo? The one I'm thinking about is the performance one. Not the Track though.

I hope they make the T-top version of them like they did the 90's styled one - since the new model can't support a sun-roof. I want to hold out to see if that comes out. Hopefully someday!

[Suckafree]

Check out the RX-8 here:

http://www2.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/rx8/rx8_main_flash.jsp

[Stogey23]

Originally posted by Alex_1
I hope they make the T-top version of them like they did the 90's styled one - since the new model can't support a sun-roof. I want to hold out to see if that comes out. Hopefully someday!
I think soon. I was looking at Zs, but the dealerships are putting ridiculous markups on them right now.

[Premium Hamatachi redded]

stay away from ford. i'm telling this even though i knew fiddlestick's gonna run over me with his mustang again.

[fiddlestick]

Originally posted by Premium Hamatachi
stay away from ford. i'm telling this even though i knew fiddlestick's gonna run over me with his mustang again.

I would, but I can't afford a tank of gas.

[Alex_1]

Thanks for the pic suckafree. The RX-8 looks better than I first thought it did. The front end is pretty neat looking. Kind of like a cross between a "new" model S-2000 and something else. But I guess the weight of the car - you should probably not get into an accident in one of those! But I want to drive that one - the engine sound should be really cool. It doesn't look like it has the four doors - which is pretty cool too.

Originally posted by Stogey23
I think soon. I was looking at Zs, but the dealerships are putting ridiculous markups on them right now.

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I wouldn't even think about looking at something until next year or maybe even next spring when I get rid of the car I have now. There's no real rush for it now I - I just want to put some dough aside to get the one I want + will try to get a decent/crap car for the winter or until I find one/they release the T/convertible.

So I guess it's just deciding between the two. Watch... I'll waste so much time, by the time I decide I'll be married, have kids and see both of them zoom-zoom into my field of dreams! Or there will be something else out... :D

But the Z has more power, but I guess there's no way to really really see the relevance until you drive both since they're engineered so differently - one with a six, the other a rotary engine.

[Alex_1]

Found it out - Z will come in a convertible in 2004. Thanks for the help!

[Own Goal Hat-Trick]

holy piss...

i dont like the 350Z nearly as much (design wise) as i do the 90-96 300ZX... i would love to have a 300zx twin turbo, and that car would be absolutly amazing if it had 4wd...

i say, however, screw the 350z, and screw the damned rotary cars... get a WRX STi when it comes out... 6 speed tranny, 300hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque put on the pavement by all four tires. you cant beat that.




and yes, fords, and mustangs, do suck. why the hell do they have a hood scoop? crampin on my wrx's style, i tell ya...

[Fah Que]

Alex, if you have the money, look for Infinity G35. It uses exact same engine as Z plus all the cool stuff. It looks very slick. In fact, G35 is motortrend car of the year.

[Alex_1]

Originally posted by Own Goal Hat-Trick
holy piss...

i dont like the 350Z nearly as much (design wise) as i do the 90-96 300ZX... i would love to have a 300zx twin turbo, and that car would be absolutly amazing if it had 4wd...

i say, however, screw the 350z, and screw the damned rotary cars... get a WRX STi when it comes out... 6 speed tranny, 300hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque put on the pavement by all four tires. you cant beat that.




and yes, fords, and mustangs, do suck. why the hell do they have a hood scoop? crampin on my wrx's style, i tell ya...

What's up OGHT!

I was really thinking of getting the WRX actually. Those things really kick. A buddy of mine has one - the four door and he hooked it up a bit and it's pretty sweet too. But I dig the style a little more of the STi I think. I want to see them when they come out. The good thing with the Subaru - I wouldn't have to get a beater (88 Jeep or something) to drive around in the winter! I hear the Subaru's are pretty damn solid.


Alex, if you have the money, look for Infinity G35. It uses exact same engine as Z plus all the cool stuff. It looks very slick. In fact, G35 is motortrend car of the year.

What's up Fah Que too!

I was looking at some of those - and right now, they are actually less expensive than the Z coupe! They're pretty sharpe too man.

I have my fingers crossed. I'm not gonna go with one or the other until 2004. Hopefully by then the demand will have shrunk a bit for both. But knowing me, by then, there will be something else I will drool over! (first, it was the RX-8. Then it was the Subaru. Now it is the Z...)

[Fah Que]

You should test drive first to see what you like. I test drove both Z and G35. Z has very tight suspension. The ride is a lot rougher. G35 is both sporty and comfortable. The downside is G35's interior looks cheap for a sports "luxury" coup. The analog clock inside the car looks nice on Q but looks strange inside G35. The engines itself are exactly the same. G35 is actually going after the market of BMW 330i. It blows it away in my opinion.

Nissan Maxima is really good too. The whole mechanical design is very similar.

Nissan's quality track record as a whole doesn't quite match up with Toyota or Honda. I decided against buying G35 because it's resale value. If you are the type who likes to drive a new car every 3-5 years or so, resale value makes some difference. I prefer having a few grands more in my pocket.

[Alex_1]

I think the residual on both cars is a bit risky now - that's one of the main reasons why I'm not going to get one until next year or - fall of 2004. I don't want to fall for the victim of demand - the Z coupe that I like is actually more than the G35! So it wouldn't be worth getting the Z.

As for the ride - I'd be willing to go with a slightly rougher ride but not if the price isn't right. It is a sports car I guess. Right now, I have the IS 300. I picked it up brand new and it's a good car. But even it's not as smooth a ride with 17 inch tires as the GS or even Camry. Also, I live in New England so I wouldn't even be able to drive it for the winter. We had a rough one here this year, so to get a rear-wheel drive car shouldn't be the only one you have... I learned that with my car now.

The thing I was wondering before looking at Z's was if Lexus was going to upgrade the IS 300 - give it a bigger engine, develop a little convertable that would fit into the 325/A4 category, etc. But it looks like that's not the direction they're going + they'll add a turbocharger instead.

What would be really cool would be if the "new" Skyline concept were released:

http://www.jbskyline.net/V35/GTR/Showroom/Bilder/V35%20GT-R%20Concept%20front%20left2.jpg

[FearM9]

Is it me or does it seem like the G35 is bigger than the 350Z? I've seen both up close and I just think the 350Z seems smaller.

*shrugs*

[Alex_1]

The G35 coupe is bigger. It has a rear seat. The Z doesn't have one - it's a pure 2 seater. Design is very similar though. I guess that's one plus for the G35 - but I think the convertible will only be available for the Z. I think that's one of the big reasons for re-introduction of the Z since Nissan (Infiniti) didn't really have a convertible for a while... at least not one that I could remember. 240Sx might have been the last one.

The convert is definitely what I want. But if I can only get the coupe, I think the G35 might be the way to go.

[Alex_1]

Hey I actually went to a few dealerships today and checked out a G35 coupe. It's pretty cool! But it's a little more than I saw on the net. I guess it's because of teh demand. The one I looked at was a 6 speed, firecracker red - pretty nice looking ride. But Fah QUe is right - the clock has got to go - and to be honest, I don't think the inside is as luxurious as the IS that I have now. It makes up for it with the engine though.

When I talked to the guy, he said that the G35 and Z are very different - just the general luxury and ride. the Z is supposed to be very very stiff of a ride. I guess more like a sports car (Imagine that!) But then again, he was a salesman so of course he was trying to up-sell the G35 coupe instead of the Z.

Anyway, it's a pretty nice car. A bit bigger than I expected and not quite as sharp inside as I'd hoped, but it's still a nice looking car.

[Alex_1]

I read that Infiniti is releasing a convertible version of the G35 as well. So the 350Z convertible that I want will be released probably this summer as a 2004 model. But the G35 convertible will probably be released in 2004 as a 2005 model. Go figure.

ANyway, I'm sort of over the "awe" of the car now after seeing it. In fact, after looking in the G35, I'm definitly thankful for my car right now and enjoying that instead. (well, that and I'm curious about the rumored 300 HP version of the IS300 that might go into production called the IS 430).

[Alex_1]

So this is the new Z convertible... the one I've been harkin' about for a week or so now.

http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/word_images/6788232_image001.jpg

I saw one in red too - the one I want to go for is definitely either the black, but what does it matter as long as it is not the yellow or gold color.

[RaJitsu]

was really thinking of getting the WRX actually. Those things really kick. A buddy of mine has one - the four door and he hooked it up a bit and it's pretty sweet too. But I dig the style a little more of the STi I think. I want to see them when they come out. The good thing with the Subaru - I wouldn't have to get a beater (88 Jeep or something) to drive around in the winter! I hear the Subaru's are pretty damn solid.

Has the 350Z got 4WD or are you getting a beater after all? And if you're thinking about a STi, why not a Lancer EVO or a RS Cosworth (comes out in 2004 though)?