Car and Driver Tests the 350Z: Time to Magazine Race Again!!!

[Keyshawn]

The August 2002 issue road tests Nissan's 350 Z. It's numbers are impressive, though not mind-blowing. The best part: Horsepower is slightly higher than the previously quoted 280: It boasts 287 hp at 6200 rpm, and 274 lb/ft of torque at 4800. It has a 6600 redline and weighs a hefty 3322 lbs.

0-60: 5.4 sec
1/4 mile: 14.1 at 101mph
Roadholding: 88g
Braking - 70-0: 164 ft
Top Speed: 156 mph
Price as Tested: $34,619 (the top o' the line model was tested)

I wonder how the base model's performance numbers would differ, since it's so cheap at $26,809. If similar performance can be had with the cheaper base model, that car would be one of the best deals available today.

[TheX-Man]

magazine racing... normally, not always, MT will have better times the c&d

[spwolf]

maybe you will get less grip and slightly worse brakes on cheaper car, but the engine is the same...

and yeah, I doubt you will be able to get it at 26,809... heh... be lucky with $29k

[2001REDCELICAGTS]

You won't get this years model at 26k. Maybe next year. I would not spend the money for the track model when the base model has the same engine.

[autxr]

Heavier than a Corvette with less power.

Nuff said.

I need to do the math, but I bet the power to weight isn't a whole lot better than a celica. The car is just balanced better.

I'd rather spend $6000 on a used Miata and turbo/supercharge it and have a car that would eat the 350Z for lunch.

Also, what idiot came up with the idea of a "track" pacage that included EVERY option. Yeah you get the brakes and the wheels (the wheels that suck as soon as you want to buy racing slicks for them), but you also get all the interior upgrades...

I should be able to ORDER the track package with stereo delete, AC delete, power windows delete, etc.
Nissan will sell a lot of them, it isn't that good of a performer, and it *is* a very good price. The engine is a nice one.

Scott

[WillyK]

Originally posted by Keyshawn
0-60: 5.4 sec
1/4 mile: 14.1 at 101mph
Roadholding: 88g
Braking - 70-0: 164 ft
Top Speed: 156 mph
Price as Tested: $34,619 (the top o' the line model was tested)


Aren't the Maxima and Altima fairly close to that 1/4 mile time too?

[TeeAREdee]

damn those numbers are dissapointing, I was gonna trade in the Celi for it. But 14.1???? ugh, I was hoping at least mid 13's. dammit..........

[Camry2000]

Originally posted by WillyK


Aren't the Maxima and Altima fairly close to that 1/4 mile time too?

Yes the manual versions of the Altima and Maxima are about that performance wise. This car is just too heavy for the power it is producing.

[celicatalk]

Did anyone even see that the cover headline for the 350Z is not valid? I mean, they tested a $35,000 dollar model and say you can get that performance for $27,000. That is funny.

[LimpMasterJ]

.88g's? It's decent, but wasn't this car supposed to be the ultimate handler? The only thing I see going for it is that it has a well known engine, so it will be easy to upgrade.

[GTS LAID]

Originally posted by autxr
Heavier than a Corvette with less power.

Nuff said.

I need to do the math, but I bet the power to weight isn't a whole lot better than a celica. The car is just balanced better.

I'd rather spend $6000 on a used Miata and turbo/supercharge it and have a car that would eat the 350Z for lunch.

Also, what idiot came up with the idea of a "track" pacage that included EVERY option. Yeah you get the brakes and the wheels (the wheels that suck as soon as you want to buy racing slicks for them), but you also get all the interior upgrades...

I should be able to ORDER the track package with stereo delete, AC delete, power windows delete, etc.
Nissan will sell a lot of them, it isn't that good of a performer, and it *is* a very good price. The engine is a nice one.

Scott

I agree with scott... i think the only thing tracklike about it besides the brakes is the name...

when you buy the NSX's track package in japan they take everything OUT... and you cant get any of it as an option either... its a ..... ghasp.... track car!!

[SlasherX]

you guys are gonna hate for me to say this, but the Mustang GT is capable of all those numbers stock, and beats that braking distance...and at 22k.

sad :(

[iwantaferrari]

HAHA! :-D

[gts24]

Dunno what to think about this car at this point, I've been very apprehensive. As we know on this site, every single car that comes out anymore is just hyped beyond belief, and quite frankly most times doesn't live up to the hype.
Case in point....... RSX-S, Spec V... yada yada, both very good cars but do you guys remember the **** we took when those cars were fresh?

Remember guys like Blk00SS comin on here and entitling his post

"You guys are gonna get your asses kicked... RSX-S" blah blah, and he made up some BS about how an RSX-S was at the track and got a 14.6 stock ... man he was so full of it.

I also remember the same with the Spec V. I realize the 350Z is a totally different class of car than ours, but it'll be interesting to see how the hype comes and goes with this car as well.

[ArchangelX]

Holy crap...

You just posted the same numbers as the Subaru WRX, LOL!

Subie is 0-60 in 5.4 and 1/4 in 14.1. LOL.

Wow....I can't say that I'm impressed AT ALL. Blah...

[Kinezo]

aww..that's weird. According to a local article about the 350z there's only a ~2k difference in price between the models

Performance (6MT + stability control) and Touring (5AT) 44,900CAD (~28k US)

Track - 6spd, front/side/rear skirts (apparently fugly too?) lighter alloy rims, bigger brakes, cloth seats, low end system ~$46500CAD

[t2000gts]

101mph out of the box run by a magazine is impressive to me. they should be trapping well into the 100s with a few mods.

[BRAK]

I welcome any new beutifully designed car to the import world. Keep in mind that they could change the specs on it allitle in a year or so, They did to the maxima ... and now its got 255HP .. not bad. With the right suspension ... mods ...and driver , this car will be a joy to drive.
Quit downing the car.

[2002GT_Celica]

I remember posting my thoughts on this car a while back and saying how the car is nothing like Nissan made it out to be when they first announced it. This article is testiment to that. The car is underpowered, and is not the monster Nissan makes it out to be. Yes, it is a great vehicle, and if the aftermarket for this is strong, then it could be made VERY fast. But, Nissan really dropped the ball on this one, IMO if they had upped the hp it would have been a true performance bargain. No offense to anyone getting one of these though, I think they look great.

[Keyshawn]

It doesn't seem like these new versions (350Z, Supra, etc.) are going to be quite as awe-inspiring as their turbocharged predeccesors from the 1990's. It's almost impossible to live up to the standards set by those older models. They still sound like their gonna be great cars, though. Especially since the 350 and the next gen Supra are gonna be a lot cheaper than the the old 90's versions were.

[Redline]

Originally posted by SlasherX
you guys are gonna hate for me to say this, but the Mustang GT is capable of all those numbers stock, and beats that braking distance...and at 22k.

sad :(

Everyone always says the new mustang gt costs the same as a celica gt-s, but when I checked the price tags on the mustang gt's at the ford dealerships, they were all starting at 27k.... I dont get it.

[WAR]

I'm disapointed, I'd go with a S2000 instead.

[Keyshawn]

One positive thing about the Z is that with a 10.3:1 compression ratio, it won't be quite the nightmare to turbo or supercharge like our GT-S's are.

[Keyshawn]

Originally posted by WAR
I'm disapointed, I'd go with a S2000 instead.

Actually, Car and Driver usually gets fairly slow times with cars they test. They clock the S2000 going 0-60 in 5.8 sec and the 1/4 mile in 14.4, both alot slower than many others have gone with that car. Same thing with our Celicas. They've printed that the GT-S goes 0-60 in 7.3 and the 1/4 in 15.6. In other words: you never know. The Z may be a whole lot faster than their numbers indicate. This could possibly be a 13 sec car for under 30K. Not too shabby.

However, I do agree that the $34,000 "track-model" has too many luxury-related options and is very over-priced.

[SlasherX]

Originally posted by Redline


Everyone always says the new mustang gt costs the same as a celica gt-s, but when I checked the price tags on the mustang gt's at the ford dealerships, they were all starting at 27k.... I dont get it.

You went to an awful dealer then. MSRP isn't even that high!

[HilfigerCelica]

Originally posted by Redline


Everyone always says the new mustang gt costs the same as a celica gt-s, but when I checked the price tags on the mustang gt's at the ford dealerships, they were all starting at 27k.... I dont get it.


They go for $22K around here, don't know what's wrong with that dealership.

[Dave B]

14.1@101 is pretty impressive for a NA 3.5 liter V6. This car rivals the performance of the last generation M3 (3.0-3.2 varients) and is damn close to the 300ZX TT performance of high 13s at 103mph. People need to understand that the new Z is a completely different animal than the 90s twin turbo version. This car isn't a the 3600lb turbo-whoosh brute is was in the 90s. The new Z is suppose to bring back the orginal Z car roots which were excellent performance, good handling, and a fairly small car (ie a true sports car). 0.88 on the skidpad is pretty damn good. Remember that there are different diameter skidpads that make for different skid pad numbers. Some mags use a 300' skid pad, some use a 200' skid pad, etc. The smaller the diameter, the lower the ultimate skid pad number. C&D got a 14.1@101 out of this car. Most 2k2 Maximas and Altimas are stuck in mid to upper 14s at around 95mph. The Z, even though it weighs about the same, is crushing the performance of the other 3.5s, like it should. The quickest modded 2k2 Maxima ran a 14.28@98mph. That's modded. The quickest stock 2K2 Maxima ran a 14.29@94.5mph. Give someone some time in the 350Z and I'm sure you'll see 13.7-13.8s stock. 101mph trap speeds indicate 13.5s with a 1.9 60'.

Turbos on larger displacement gasoline are pretty much a thing of the past in the US due to tight emissions regulations. Turbos require enormous amounts of fuel to be dumped under boost. This excessive fuel burn (or lack there of) creates higher emissions and requires some pretty nifty engineering to make the engine pass sniffer tests under intial boost.


Dave

[gts24]

Originally posted by Dave B

Turbos on larger displacement gasoline are pretty much a thing of the past in the US due to tight emissions regulations. Turbos require enormous amounts of fuel to be dumped under boost. This excessive fuel burn (or lack there of) creates higher emissions and requires some pretty nifty engineering to make the engine pass sniffer tests under intial boost.


Dave

Interesting comments. But I guess I'd have to disagree. The TT supra can actually get outstanding gas mileage, and more than pass emissions. In fact some tuned Supra's can do the same.

Case in point, look at the "Ultimate Street Car challenge" in SCC last year. The Supra in that challenge netted 32mpg..... and yet ran outstanding times in every single event.

[AkUmA]

Originally posted by Dave B
14.1@101 is pretty impressive for a NA 3.5 liter V6. This car rivals the performance of the last generation M3 (3.0-3.2 varients) and is damn close to the 300ZX TT performance of high 13s at 103mph. People need to understand that the new Z is a completely different animal than the 90s twin turbo version. This car isn't a the 3600lb turbo-whoosh brute is was in the 90s. The new Z is suppose to bring back the orginal Z car roots which were excellent performance, good handling, and a fairly small car (ie a true sports car). 0.88 on the skidpad is pretty damn good. Remember that there are different diameter skidpads that make for different skid pad numbers. Some mags use a 300' skid pad, some use a 200' skid pad, etc. The smaller the diameter, the lower the ultimate skid pad number. C&D got a 14.1@101 out of this car. Most 2k2 Maximas and Altimas are stuck in mid to upper 14s at around 95mph. The Z, even though it weighs about the same, is crushing the performance of the other 3.5s, like it should. The quickest modded 2k2 Maxima ran a 14.28@98mph. That's modded. The quickest stock 2K2 Maxima ran a 14.29@94.5mph. Give someone some time in the 350Z and I'm sure you'll see 13.7-13.8s stock. 101mph trap speeds indicate 13.5s with a 1.9 60'.

Turbos on larger displacement gasoline are pretty much a thing of the past in the US due to tight emissions regulations. Turbos require enormous amounts of fuel to be dumped under boost. This excessive fuel burn (or lack there of) creates higher emissions and requires some pretty nifty engineering to make the engine pass sniffer tests under intial boost.


Dave

yeah, but the 96 300zx tt's could only pull a 14.4 in the 1/4 and 0-60 in 6seconds flat. the 90-95's, they were the ones to get. its kinda like the celica, 02' celicas with there rev limit'd, 96 300zx's with 15 less hp. i just want to see with nismo has in there bag of parts for that car. and other aftermarket part makers. nice to see a comeback of the z, now the supra shouldnt be far behind.:)

wish i still had my z:wtc: but i love the cel!!!