So Long Z - it was Fun(ish)

[rocksandblues]

It seems like we are in a little bit of a golden age of car culture. I mean the 90s was good, but I was too young to enjoy that properly.

I love that there are so many options for so many types at the moment. All of the new sports cars are just great in different ways.

Get in an older sports car and you realise how lucky we are today. The new M240i is such an incredible car, you get in a 2000 M3 and its just night and day.

I did a track day recently with a guy in a new M2, it was a rocket.

Older cars were too analog, future cars will be too tech heavy (looking at you 2024 Mustang) or electric. Today we have a really nice balance.

Hoorah for all cars!

I agree with golden age and hooray for almost any 2-door sports car.

h o w e v e r, as someone that still owns a 2002 M3- that analog/raw feeling is lacking these days. Lots of these sports cars have lost the driver/road connection with all the gee wiz ecus, sound deadening numb feeling/safe handling responses.
Yes, there are tons of run of the mill machines that can outrun my lowly 333hp. But none communicate back and have the personality.
In 2002- 333hp, built in pedal commander, 6 gears, was amazing. And it still holds up as an exciting and passionate ride. .02

there are a few older sports cars from different eras that just never get old. Friends 964 Porsche is another one.

 

[zpro_fast]

I agree with golden age and hooray for almost any 2-door sports car.

h o w e v e r, as someone that still owns a 2002 M3- that analog/raw feeling is lacking these days. Lots of these sports cars have lost the driver/road connection with all the gee wiz ecus, sound deadening numb feeling/safe handling responses.
Yes, there are tons of run of the mill machines that can outrun my lowly 333hp. But none communicate back and have the personality.
In 2002- 333hp, built in pedal commander, 6 gears, was amazing. And it still holds up as an exciting and passionate ride. .02

there are a few older sports cars from different eras that just never get old. Friends 964 Porsche is another one.

100 agree.

I’ve got 90s cars. That raw feeling is awesome.

The maintenance costs not so much.

The fact that we can still buy something new. Under warranty. Fixed price servicing. Turn key go fun yay.

I just feel lucky in that way that’s all I’m saying.

There are people who would say that a 2002 M3 just doesn’t have the same raw feeling that a M3 e30 had.

Everyone is right and we all win because we can choose old or new.

 

[trackratZ]

Us enthusiasts should ALWAYS keep one analog, sports car, my RB26DETT 240Z is so raw that no modern machinery can compare - the noise, notchy short shifter, no ABS, no power steering, etc. Modern sports cars/coupes are much faster and so effortless in getting up to speed and on-rails handling in comparison. Have both and swap rides often, grins at both ends!

 

[takemorepills]

It seems like we are in a little bit of a golden age of car culture. I mean the 90s was good, but I was too young to enjoy that properly.

I love that there are so many options for so many types at the moment. All of the new sports cars are just great in different ways.

Get in an older sports car and you realise how lucky we are today. The new M240i is such an incredible car, you get in a 2000 M3 and its just night and day.

I did a track day recently with a guy in a new M2, it was a rocket.

Older cars were too analog, future cars will be too tech heavy (looking at you 2024 Mustang) or electric. Today we have a really nice balance.

Hoorah for all cars!

Respectfully disagree.

New cars have one foot in the dumpster.

I had a 2016 GTI DSG SE PP LP, and my old 1987 Prelude Si concurrently.
No doubt, the GTI was by far superior in metrics. It was tuned and quite fast for a FWD 4 banger.
But, devoid of spirit.
The Prelude was so good that even my son, then 10 years old could tell the difference. With lower limits, big windows, and a feeling it rotated under your ass, instead of out front, somehow made corner carving way more enjoyable. Even though the GTI was faster in every way....

Modern performance machines are so saddled by regulation, quickly obsoleted tech and market share loss that they've become disposable or just a shadow of their former nameplates.

I do agree that BMW and Porsche are making the best of these headwinds, but too many have given up.

And many of the excellent German cars require an expensive software license to even repair them. Ford mustang does too.

It's all screens and firmware now, and all of that will become obsolete way too soon, weighing down an otherwise excellent platform with outdated bloatware.

The Z and GR Corolla are about the only vehicles left that could be considered collectable, but the tech-light approach they take holds them back with modern consumers....

With so few players in the game, this isn't a golden age IMO. I would say we are lucky that the few choices left are pretty good. But, they're expensive and oftentimes hard to find...
I have never seen a 3.0L Supra at any of the Toyota dealerships I routinely visited during my 3+ years long search for a new truck.....

 

[trackratZ]

Another example, observation. My prev E46 M3, lightly tuned was so visceral and twitchy at limits, and then compared to a friend's E92 M3 I was instructing, that the latter eventhough stuck really well on track, it was SO quiet and no tactile feelings driving it; the difference I'm talking about. Modern machinery are too capable with nannies (if numbers are the metric) but too muted. Keep an analog car somewhere in your garage or car port or barn, or you'll miss it.

The new Z thankfully still kept a lot of that, less electronics, more to tinker with and upgrade. My draw actually, still here on this form, and turning heads when passing a Nissan dealer LOL. Last few of the breed.

 

[DEUPRA]

The Z and GR Corolla are about the only vehicles left that could be considered collectable, but the tech-light approach they take holds them back with modern consumers....

Add the GR86/BRZ and Miata to that list? All 4 of these still have manual hand brakes

 

[zpro_fast]

Respectfully disagree.

New cars have one foot in the dumpster.

I had a 2016 GTI DSG SE PP LP, and my old 1987 Prelude Si concurrently.
No doubt, the GTI was by far superior in metrics. It was tuned and quite fast for a FWD 4 banger.
But, devoid of spirit.
The Prelude was so good that even my son, then 10 years old could tell the difference. With lower limits, big windows, and a feeling it rotated under your ass, instead of out front, somehow made corner carving way more enjoyable. Even though the GTI was faster in every way....

Modern performance machines are so saddled by regulation, quickly obsoleted tech and market share loss that they've become disposable or just a shadow of their former nameplates.

I do agree that BMW and Porsche are making the best of these headwinds, but too many have given up.

And many of the excellent German cars require an expensive software license to even repair them. Ford mustang does too.

It's all screens and firmware now, and all of that will become obsolete way too soon, weighing down an otherwise excellent platform with outdated bloatware.

The Z and GR Corolla are about the only vehicles left that could be considered collectable, but the tech-light approach they take holds them back with modern consumers....

With so few players in the game, this isn't a golden age IMO. I would say we are lucky that the few choices left are pretty good. But, they're expensive and oftentimes hard to find...
I have never seen a 3.0L Supra at any of the Toyota dealerships I routinely visited during my 3+ years long search for a new truck.....

When I said golden age I’m referring to two things.

1. We have options now. You can drive an old car, new car, whatever is your preference. Lots of people love new reliable and lots love the classics. I love both.

2. Car culture is really strong at the moment and I think lots of the new cars are the reason for that. The generation coming through can buy a cheap ft86 or brz and daily drive it.

I didn’t say new was better. I just said they are very different. And I love that we have all the options.

In Australia is easy to get sports cars. We don’t have dealer mark ups and we don’t have any shortage of decent second hand cars around. Cost of living is high here though.

We do, however, miss out on lots of cars in general. Which is why JdM is strong here, same side of the car we drive on.

 

[takemorepills]

Add the GR86/BRZ and Miata to that list? All 4 of these still have manual hand brakes

For sure! Manual hand brakes are a must.

I remember when GTI/Golf R was still manual hand brake. When they went to haptic touch buttons, killed the 6MT and added screens instead, they went off my list.

 

[ZillaZ]

The new Mustang GT is another one I am looking at. I am also not a "mustang guy" but I owe it to myself to at least drive one.

The BMW's just don't do it for me but you absolutely have to drive and own what you like.

Congrats!

 

[pbm457]

I had a 21 Mach1 prior to my Z, and I can tell you I have no regrets trading the Mach1 in on the Z.

 

[ZillaZ]

I had a 21 Mach1 prior to my Z, and I can tell you I have no regrets trading the Mach1 in on the Z.

Well I got my Z and passed on the mustang That interior on the new Mustang GT was so bad.

 

[XLSDriver]

I made the decision it was time to move on from the Z after nearly a year and under 5K miles. I loved the style, the nostalgia, the raw power. I loved forums like this one where fellow enthusiasts could share their passion.

I felt like a teenager the day I got my Z. That initial feeling lasted for quite some time. It masked the vehicles shortcomings, which became more and more apparent over time…. The lunging/imprecise transmission….the decent but nothing special handling…..the exhaust drone at 50 mph…..the lurches when coming to a stop at a traffic light…. the odd technology glitches like the parking sensors going off when just rolling up to a red light. I know some of these can be addressed with some tweaks and mods, but also, the dealer experience (you get treated the same if you have a Z or a Versa).

I took a weekend and drove several cars. I wanted to see if it was me or the car. Each car I drove as unbiased as I possibly could and compared it to what I had. Each car was a better experience and it made me a bit sad honestly.

The Supra - Did everything “Sporty” the Z did better. Crisper handling. Quicker off the line. Better Steering Feel. I just do not like how they look and it was hard to drive the Supra “softly” or as a day to day. Also, damn near impossible to see out of it. If it’s purely about a Sports Car, the Supra was just better.

Mustang Mach 1 - “felt“ more powerful with quicker throttle response. Handled better overall than the Z. Interior about on par. - Im just not a “Mustang guy” but could admit I thought it was a better car.

BMW M240i and M2 - The M240i was an absolute blast to drive. A revelation if you will. TONS of power, significantly better interior, fit finish, and technology. In its most comfortable settings - STILL plenty of power. In its most aggressive Sport+ setting - every bit the Sports Car the Z was and then some. While the M2 was just “more” for lack of a better way to put it. Gobs of power - stuck like glue on hard turns - BEGS to be driven hard.

At the end of the day - I wound up with the M240i. I thought I would be sad to see the Z go…but if Im being honest with myself, I was just sad it wasnt what I wanted. The M240i has been fantastic - and being treated at the BMW dealership vs the Nissan dealership is a definite improvement, not to mention the included maintenance.

The Z is still a great looking car. (The M240i looks better in person than in pics - but is not nearly as beautiful as the Z). But that is where the comparison stops. In every other metric I could find it was not even close.

This post is not to bash anyone here, or the Z car (everyone has different tastes and what they want out of the car) but just to share with someone else out there, who may be feeling the same way I felt after the honeymoon phase. You owe it to yourself to drive some of the comparable options.

Edit* Drove the top car, ultimately bought the second pic (identical spec’s but I liked the red calipers more)

Thanks for all the feedback, and love this forum has shown me. Keep mashing the gas!

 

[XLSDriver]

Just curious, was your Z auto or manual?

Really good article. Over a year ago I gave up on getting a Z. I was very particular about the color and manual transmission. I was not wild about paying a large markup either.
I decided to get a BMW M240i, ordered it to my exact specs and it took about two months to be delivered. BTW: Same color as yours with the upgraded interior, black with blue stitching.
Anyway, it's been fantastic, super quick and fit and finish were excellent. Believe it or not it actually gets good mileage in the Eco Pro mode.
Fast forward to this week. I see a performance Z for sale at MSRP at a dealer in Napa, CA. The exact specs I was looking for a year ago. What the heck, I'll go and check it out. This was only the second time I sat in a Z. The guys at the dealership were super cool, no pressure at all. It's in the showroom and the sales manager say's "want to drive it?" REALLY...SURE! They pull it out of the showroom and the salesman gives me the keys. I ask him where should we go? Take it and go wherever you want.
The Z was really fun to drive although I was nervous. Could hardly see out of the right side due to the sales sticker. A year ago I would have jumped at this but now it would make no financial sense.
The Z was fun but not enough to move away from the BMW M240i. If anyone is looking for a Grey/Grey manual performance Z, the guys at the Nissan dealership in Napa,Ca really treated me well.

 

[Twisp]

we


No doubt the Z is a more comfortable car to sit in and look out of than the claustrophobic Supra..the back window, high door trim, and curved/slopped side roof line make it feel so tight compared to the Z. Dukes of Hazard or not!
Unfortunately I did not have much luck with Nissan on my issues. I took it to the dealer twice just to be told “there is no service bulletin” for your issues and it doesn’t appear to be widespread….which I told them was funny considering how few of these cars have been sold and how many others are reporting the same issues (lurching forward, parking sensors going off at random, trunk not unlatching)…..none of it was addressed. It was treated like I should just “live with it” and it was acceptable…..
The final “weird glitch” for me was when about once every two weeks - the fake engine noise (that you can’t turn off) that comes through the audio system would cause Apple CarPlay to distort and sound like the speakers were blown. Restarting the car - usually - fixed that.

Maybe I just got one too early before the kinks were worked out?

I've experienced the lurching at stops, parking sensors go off at red lights and drive thrus often. Trunk has been fine and haven't had audio issues.
Not sure if a driver issue or the car, but sometimes if I accelerate but immediately get cut off and have to brake the transmission jerks and the car feels very underpowered for a few seconds.