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Origins of the Nissan 350Z


hmmm... Lately, I've seen alot of banter over the Nissan 350Z in this forum. Some pro, some con.

Well, I don't know if many of you know this... but the 350Z was chiefly designed by an Indian guy working for Nissan Design America! Ajay Panchal, a Britain of Indian descent, actually used concepts he previously came up w/ while under the auspices of another car manufacturer!

Anyways, considering the 350Z is built on perhaps the world's most versatile platform (more than a half dozen other models come from it, ie. Altima, G35 coupe/sedan, Murano, FX35/45, M35/45!), one the most solid drivetrains in the market at any cost (Nissan's fabled V6), the endless aftermarket support for tuning & styling (GruppeM, Nismo, etc), contemporary looks & class inspiring performance... all at a very attainable cost of entry, it's perhaps in it's own league for now.

Impressive stuff, very impressive.


 

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Login to find out (December 19, 2005 at 1:16am)
the 350Z doesnt have any 'kick back' only if your used 2 driving toyota camery. It is a fast car, but it really depends on what your used to driving.
 
Login to find out (May 19, 2005 at 4:54pm)
no no, not a GT. the 350Z is supposed to be a sports car, it just needs to go on a diet. as for the track numbers, you guys must realize that the track figures are for someone driving around a track. so power isn't the end all-be all. for example, the vette beat out the much more powerful viper, but that was a technical issue (having to shift in the middle of turns for the viper). and so the Z4 probably did a lot better than the Z because it was able to remain poised and go through turns much faster (in addition to not being too much far behind in the 0-60 sprints). don't know if that's actually true, but that's my guess
 
Login to find out (May 19, 2005 at 1:23pm)
The 350Z is closer in size and configuration to the roadsters then to the coupes you compared it to. It's pretty sad to have to compare it to the Toyota Solara to declare it tops.
 
Login to find out (May 19, 2005 at 1:34am)
The Z4 should be compared w/ the Honda S2K, Mazda Miata, Mercedes SLK, Audi TT, Porsche Boxster, and perhaps Lotus Elise... all generally smaller/compact, 2seat, lighweight roadsters. The 350Z is more akin to a GT (Grand Touring), sports-coupe genre. It's peers would be: Accord Coupe, Acura RSX, Toyota Solara, Mazda RX8, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Ford Mustang, BMW 3series-coupe, and possibly Mercedes CLK. In that class, the Z easily is tops. Regarding the Z4's h.p. "disadvantage" compared to a 350Z, this adds bouyancy to my assertion that gearing/drivetrain, curbside weight, tuned-suspension, and weight-balance easily make up for shortcomings in h.p.! The Z4 being a BMW has all these aformentioned advantages over others. But we should keep car's in their own genre/mkt segment when comparing.
 
Login to find out (May 19, 2005 at 12:39am)
For the record I don't dislike the 350Z, I actually was thinking of buying one my self and changed my mind because of the lack of back seats. If I did buy one however I'd have to keep an eye out for those hard core ultra sporty Z4s! ;-)
 
Login to find out (May 19, 2005 at 12:33am)
The BMW Z4 costs a little more because of the quality and luxury put into the car. Quality the relatively cheap to built 350 does not have. Not because of any extra performance upgrades that the Nissan does not get with it's lesser price tag. The bimmer is not a sports car - rather a luxury roadster that happens to be a BMW (all BMW's are sporty in nature and handle very well). It should NOT beat the Nissan at the track by any means especially with 75 less hp and a softer suspension. I can understand your argument when it comes to the 350 vs. the Porsches and Vette, but not the Bimmer. We're not taking about an M3 which probably would have beat them all out.
 
Login to find out (May 18, 2005 at 10:39pm)
LIke i said .. apples to oranges. The Z4 they tested was $40,900 .. enough said. Oh ya, and why should it have not beaten the Z? They are close to the same speed straight line. The low hp number is deceiving on bmw's. They tend to be a lot faster then their hp numbers show.
 
Login to find out (May 18, 2005 at 8:53pm)
The BMW Z4 was more expensive but it should not have beaten the Z around the track.
 
Login to find out (May 18, 2005 at 7:34pm)
spddev - I read that article you are referring to. If you look at the cars that the Z was compared to, it shouldn't have even been in the same league. Outside of the S2000, those all our EXPENSIVE cars. I think they just threw it in there and yes, the S2000 is a TRACK built car. Unfortunetly we mostly drive on the street. For this price, you can't top the balance of looks/performance period. Iamadesifob - I wouldn't go as far as saying no performance whatsoever. 0-60 in the mid 5's, quarter mile in the low 14s high 13s, braking from 60-0 in 113ft, slalom at 68mph .. the numbers don't lie. As for the blindspot .. well, the majority of sports cars have blind spots. I dont understand all the hate ..
 
Login to find out (May 18, 2005 at 5:40pm)
Man you have to hand it to Toyota/Lexus. Taking the top spot 10 times out of 18 car/truck segments! Can't wait for that new Supra (if it ever becomes a reality).
 
Login to find out (May 18, 2005 at 3:41pm)
I won't argue that the 350z is a pure sports car, but in its defense, quality issues are being tackled--it topped the JD initial quality survey for premium sports car this year www.autoweek.com). now if they could only put it on a diet...
 
Login to find out (May 17, 2005 at 2:11pm)
Spddev well said..The 350z is all about looks..no performance whatsoever...Have any of you people actually driven one...? Let just say blind spot galore

and aaks i rather have a sti over an evo anyday
 
Login to find out (May 16, 2005 at 7:33pm)
Well i know the term sports car is subjective, but the reality is the 350Z is car for the masses whom want a "sporty" car, its not purposely built as the S2000, elise, 911, or let alone a EVO for outright sports car performance. If you want to argue performance for price, the reality is the S2k and EVO will outperform the 350z in most performance categories..Those of you whom race amateur or professionally know you very rarely see a 350 at a autox or road race..
 
Login to find out (May 16, 2005 at 4:55pm)
For you Z lovers, Road and track tested the 350Z (35th Anniversary) on a Best All-around sports car test. It placed 8th our of 9 cars! "it posted the slowest lap times of the group, even with a former factory Z-car driver behind the wheel". Even the S2000 beat it. I guess you get what you pay for ;-) The article is off of their website.
 
Login to find out (May 12, 2005 at 8:29pm)
just make sure you keep adding oil to that Rx7 (or 8). now those rotary engines are definitely engineering marvels. it's crazy how they work.
 
Login to find out (May 12, 2005 at 8:22pm)
woohooooo! :)
 
Login to find out (May 12, 2005 at 8:20pm)
lol inthamix I have my white flag up
 
Login to find out (May 12, 2005 at 7:37pm)
ehhh... (throws in the towel, too difficult to convey insights online; I think APC, Aaks, and myself all are on the same wavelenth), lol! My last 2pence, there's more to a car's performance/accel than just adding hp, hp, hp!?!
 
Login to find out (May 12, 2005 at 6:55pm)
Inthamix, actually in a gas engine, the sae spec requires auto manufacturers to calculate hp by using the formula... 5252/ speed of the crankshaft times torque in ft-lbs. This in essence plots the torque/hp/speed curve as seen on a dyno. Work calculations are more important in electrical motors and generators due to the source being a a battery where current and time are factored for power..
 
Login to find out (May 12, 2005 at 6:30pm)
*Torque* at the wheels is torque at the crank, times gearing (less any drivetrain losses).
Horsepower is based on a measurement of time (HP=Torque/time), indicating how much work can be done in a certain amount of time. To get the car from point A to point B requires a fixed amount of work. Horsepower is torque times revs. Horsepower is thus a figure that encompasses torque at the crank AND gearing. Torque vs. horsepower is representive of what you are using your car for. Velocity - horsepower. Acceleration - torque. And recall, we were discussing 0-60's, 1/4mile's, etc.