[sgrewal]

Just an idea- has anyone considered selling their MCS for the new Nissan 350Z - I am talking about the new coupe which is similar in price to a high spec JCW MCS . The reason I ask is due to Nissan reputation of reliability and (for a first) stunning looks! So do let me know - that gold/orange colour is appealing....

[guru220]

the 350Z is really great. i got drive one the other day and my dad has the infiniti g35 sport coupe which it the same engine, chassis and stuff just different body and interior and it is really quick. 5.8 0-60 times for the g35 and a little better for the 350Z even

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by sgrewal

Just an idea- has anyone considered selling their MCS for the new Nissan 350Z - I am talking about the new coupe which is similar in price to a high spec JCW MCS . The reason I ask is due to Nissan reputation of reliability and (for a first) stunning looks! So do let me know - that gold/orange colour is appealing....

I have just been in Aus and the States and have seen loads of them. They Certainly are a stunning looking car. I considered one as an alternative, but was woried about the depreciation being a Nissan.

[geminiCS]

The Z was one of the cars DH and I looked at before purchasing mine (he ended up going with an S2000 )

Have you test driven it? I never felt comfortable in it because of the blind spot, but I love the look of the car (and it's fast too!).

Unfortunately they are getting to be pretty common where I am (DC metro area), but I say check it out if you're interested!

[KJ_daGreenMini]

is this the car ya'll tlkin about? one for sale on import in the UK. hehe.

http://www.j-garage.com/sale/usedcars/stock/110265.html

its called a Fairlady... is this the newer model then?

[d2create]

In the states i can get a loaded mini s for waaaaayyyy cheaper than a Z. We almost bought one, had one of the first ones on order for 6 months, then canceled that order last minute and bought a TT.

I would rather have the Mini believe it or not. The 350Z is slower than the numbers indicate, I know, we prepped 2 of them as race cars, and they were dogs. Just couldn't get the understeer out of them. The car is much less refined (as in engine, powertrain, and suspension) than the mini, and just feels clumbsy. Just my opinion.

-Andrew

[ayn]

Nice cars, very common where I live... The Renault V6 is really rough compared to the I6 M54 in my car... I remember the MINI and MCS was quite smooth... I'll know better tomorrow after we take delivery of our car! WOHO!

[LuckyRVA]

Here's some video's of a very fast 350Z at the drag strip....

350Z running 250 shot of n2o

http://www.inertia-usa.com/350.wmv

That same car going BOOOOM!!!

http://www.pmpdesigns.com/boom.wmv


-Jason

[GTmini]

350Zs are nice, but at the time I was shopping around, they were a bit too pricey for me

[Kitlyn]

I was really impressed with the handling and V6 numbers when I went to check em out at the dealer last fall, I was turned off by the dealership as they wanted to run a credit check prior to allowing me take a test drive. Get out of here! I turned around and walked. They apparently didnt want my business.

btw my credit rating is mighty fine...

[CooperS4us]

A co-worker of mine has a new '03 350Z. Very nice car but totally different beast from the MINI. Ask yourself, what are your driving priorities? If you must have lots of horsepower (278HP), the smoothness of a V-6 engine and a finely tuned rear wheel drive platform, then the 350Z is the car for you. Remember that when you buy a 350Z you are paying mostly for the powertrain, chassis and looks. I personally found the car to be very uncomfortable, you sit much lower than in a MINI (The seats are good) and the window sills are practically at the same height as your head, so if you want to rest your elbow on the window sill, you can't. The car has too many blind spots for my taste and generally feels too cramped and confining. Cargo and storage area is virtually non-existing. the tiny rear cargo area fills up complete with 2 grocery bags or a small hand bag. There is a cross member structure built in the rear hatch area that further restricts cargo space in the trunk.

The ride is rough and you feel every bump and dip in the road more pronounced than in the MINI. The interior is a bit "Blah", some materials are cheap for a nearly $30K sports coupe, the stereo is average and there are areas where you can see that "Corners were cut" to keep the price under $30K. For example, the hood (bonnet) has an antiquated prop to keep it in place when opened instead of hydraulic lifts like in the MINI. The clutch pedal engament is a bit rough as the car jerks if you don't engage the clutch properly.

the car overall is very nice and if you like GT Sport Coupes, the 350Z will make you happy. To me this car is too uncomfortable, too impractical and too "Macho" for my taste. This car embodies all the traits that I personally dislike about GT cars of its kind.

To me the MINI is first of all way cheaper, more fun to drive, more tosseable and has "something" that is missing from the 350Z. The Nissan suffers from the "Boredom" malady that seems to affect nearly every Japanese made car in the market today. Sure a 350Z is 10 thousand times more fun than a Honda Accord but the car has a "Blah" aspect to it...feels stirile, when you drive it you'll see what I mean.

The MINI is also way more practical.....you can seat 4 people in the car, carry a reasonable amount of cargo in the back and the square design allows you to put a 35" TV (Box and everythting) with the rear seats folded down.


If you are gravitating towards a GT Fastback sports car, I would strongly suggest for you to check out the new Mazda RX-8...it has a very interesting and cool 4 door design, you can seat people in the back and probably has a bit better cargo space. But better overall, the RX-8 has a sweet Wrenkel Rotary engine that beats the pants off of any V6 or even I6 powertrain available in the market today. To me the RX-8 is more unique, has a better engine and it is more user friendly than the 350Z for about the same money.

Have fun.

[chiph]

I drove a Z the other day, and the blind spot is more of a blind 120-degrees. During the test drive I nearly changed lanes into another car.

CooperS4us's comments all apply -- it has terrific power. The ride is about as rough as a MCS with the Sport Package (I drove the track edition of the Z), but not as harsh on the bumps. I actually prefer the G35 coupe over the Z, as I found it more usable.

The local dealership is one with whom I've had dealings with in the past (none good), so that was a big "don't buy" indicator.

Chip H.

[sgrewal]

Thanks guys for your fair comments - I really appreciate some informed views - thats what I love about this forum!
Yes I have considered the Mazda RX-8 - my only concern is that buying new it is pricey - and since it is a Mazda - it will make sense buying a 2 yr old one - as Mazdas here in the UK are just ultra-reliable! The REAL issue is I love my MCS (but the creaks and rattles and soon to re replaced CLUTCH!) is making me think twice as I planned to keep my MCS until it fell apart - it is doing that sooner than expected......................

[BoostingMini]

i had an experience with a new 350z on the highway while driving my little mini, i had to see how i faired up against him i was bone stock at time, we started off around 70 i dropped it into 4th that sucked should of went to 3rd but he only pulled a car till i got my rs then i started catching up i soon passed him around 110 as i was pulling away once i hit 6th almost at 140 just forget it u know how sluggish sixth is he caught up to me and was advancing im sure id get my butt handed to me from a dead stop cant seem to launch very good no matter how much i ease on the clutch

id like to catch up with him now that i got a pulley and a exhaust

[Hobbe]

Real cars are not made in Japan...