I haven't created a post in a while, so what the hell. My buddy at work just picked up a 2006 350Z Enthusiast 6MT. I was handed the keys and told not to kill anyone or get a ticket (autox mode can get you into trouble on the street).

The exterior lines of the car are exceptional. This thing screams "I'm fast and sleak". It's got excellent proportions, stance, and styling. Opening the door reveals a nicely excecuted cockpit layout with the critical controls all pointing to the drivers attention. It looks mint standing from about 5 feet away. Closer inspection, however, uncovers some not-so-nice interior plastics quality. Poor extrusion molds with flashing left intact, disproportionate gapping, cheap materials, etc. The seats are wonderfully comfortable and supportive; a duality typically uncommon in many of todays sports cars. I felt like I could drive this thing for hours out on track, then back home without flinching.

Starting the car is like poking a cheatah at the zoo. The car meows to life with a sleepy snarl. The critical controls fall within easy reach as you ease the car into gear, give it a little gas, and smoothly engage, the oh #@#$Fck bucking grabby clutch and stutter off the line. Ok, so the drivetrain took a bit of getting used to. It seemed perfectly smooth for the first 6 inches of clutch travel, then suddenly grabby for the last inch.. I pulled out onto the main strip, and let all 300 horses rip... Grrggaaahhhh, eeeeerrr, wwwwaaaaaa.. WTF, where are the other 40 horses? I expected this thing to rip into a tire shredding oblivion through 1st gear, then catch with a squal into 2nd. No such luck with a rather tall 1st and 2nd gear and big sticky meats on the rear.. From 3rd gear on the car really takes form with each upshift staying in the sweet 4000rpm+ zone.. You honda guys know what I'm talking about.. This car was quick, but not quite what you'd expect from a 300 horse V6. The smaller 3.2 BMW I6 from the last M series feels way stronger with "only" 33 more peak hp. Maybe those 3400 lbs do hurt a bit.

Steering and handling were well weighted and responsive. You approach a turn at a velocity that you expect to have to correct for, and are rewarded instead with tenatious grip and not a word from the tires. It was only when I went in at ludacris speed and stabbed the throttle at mid corner did I get the ass to step out a bit.

Overall, a fun car that seems to be above average in all areas, but excellent at none. I came away impressed, but ever so slightly dissappointed. I guess I was half expecting to have that "I gotta find an excuse to tell the wife when I come home in this car" feeling, but it just wasn't there for me. Maybe it's the car's extra heft or the cheap feeling interior, but going from this car with a $25k price tag, back to my $1k (and 2600 lb) E30 for the drive home, I just couldn't seem to find a compelling arguement for spending another $24k..

And for those who are visual thinkers...

 

*Agrees*

I test drove the convertible before. The instant power is VERY nice and the seats are VERY VERY comfy. But yeah, the interior plastics... ugh.

 

I agree with all of the above, in particular, the power.

I think Nissan has always considerably over-rated the VQ engines, they've never been as fast as they should at a given HP rating. I can't really think of any 300hp cars that are slower than the Z. 335, IS350, Cayman S, etc, they'd all dust off the Z without breaking a sweat.

 

aren't the new 07 350z's better though?

 

 

I think the latest 350Z got a 0-60 time of 5.2 with a 1/4 mile time of 13.6 (S2000 best run) if I'm not mistaken. Not bad but as Chuck said, it can be better.

I'm guessing it's one of two things:

Drive Train Loss or conservative gearing.

Anybody compared the RWHP of the IS 350 and BMW 335i to that of the 350Z?
The 350Z is not a lightweight but it's not much of a pig either at ~3200 lbs. I hope the new G37 coupe can run a sub 5 second 0-60 and mid 13 1/4 mile time with 330HP.

 

I know 335s are usually in the mid 270s rwhp, and Cayman S's are pretty similar. Not sure on the IS, but I'd guess 270-275ish from the way it drives.

AFAIK, the 07 Zs will put down 250ish rwhp, with the old models putting down 230-235ish.

Only dyno numbers I've seen of the new VQ37 put it around 285-290whp, but who knows what kind of dyno. Given the variation from dyno to dyno, these numbers should all be taken with a grain of salt. I've seen stock 335s dyno over 300rwhp, it's all a mater of what dyno you put the car on.

All that said, I do really like the Z. It's an excellent car, and performs well for the price, and IMO is more fun to drive than the Turbo/AWD competitors. Just not quite up to the level of the S2K.

 

My guess is the gearing. The old Z32 300ZX was also about a half-second slower to 62 than almost everyone in its class in its day. Of course, the Z32 was also about 300 pounds heavier than the 350Z.

I would think that drivetrain losses can't be too bad, because the Z isn't as long as the G35/37, and so theoretically the G should be slower. But who knows.

 

I believe the Z gained a few pounds at the same time it gained the extra horses to round it out to 300 horsepower. It would be interesting to see who would win between a base 04 350z with 287 horsepower and an 07 350z with 300 horsepower. My guess is it would be about even up to 60mph, but after that the 07 would slowly distance itself.

That said I love the styling and the power of the Z, it is just that the s2000 won me over.

 

i do like the Z. its got a nasty interior, but hey i drive an s2k so i really dont have much room to talk i guess.

i think the best way to put it is. if the s2000 didnt exist i be driving a 350z.