Nissan 350z or TVR Griffith

NB

Risking considerable abuse, might I suggest you wait for an export C6 Corvette. New Z-6 version will have well over 400hp, has had vastly improved fit and finish over the past few years, is reliable, and is likely to be a bargain given the lowly status of the dollar.

Clay

Bosh wrote:

quote:

---

You need to live with one for at least a couple of months before making a decision.

---

But thats the fun part of getting a new car! After a couple of months one is allready bored. So why buy it after that?

JohanR

quote:

---

Originally posted by NB: the Nissan gives the better feeling of security, is solid and heavy

---

Why not go the whole hog and buy a Camaro?

Having recently driven the 350Z I can thoroughly recommend it. The only real downside is the luggage space but other than that it's an utter bargain.

It hasn't got quite the grunt of Rockindoc's Evo or my STi admittedly but the power delivery is much more linear. Nevertheless, if you want more grunt there are several turbo options including one which was featured in EVO a few months back that got a rave review (apart from the add on bonnet bulge which looked ghastly). There are a number of US based performance kits that look interesting too.

If you're going to use the car more often than weekends only, it's the one to go for. As an alternative, if you fancy a convertible, have a look at the latest version of the Honda S2000. I was surprised at how much better it is than the earlier models.

Dave

Dave,

Torque development in London do a Turbo kit for the Nissan, they also do twin stainless steel exhaust's, air filters, and management sistem up-grades so there are plenty of modifications already!

I have taken one out for a test drive and it was a real surprise. I was very impressed, the car looks better in real life than it does in the brocures. Its much bigger as well. I am a big guy, over six foot and well built so getting in some cars can be difficult. The TVR Griffith and chrysler crossfire are too small, I can't sit in them. Yet with the Nissan there was plenty of headroom and although the seats gripped me tightly they were comfortable.

I let the sales rep drive out of the showroom, which he did and imediatly accelerated to 60 in a 30 zone, impressive! He pulled over and let me take over. Everything is nicely laid out and I had a comfortable driving possition. I thought the centre console was a bit high but thats all.

I drove steadily as it was a car I didn't know, but the cars handling was very impressive and gave me the confidence to "boot" her hard without fear of loosing the rear end. Acceleration was sharp and immediate and present from low down on the rev counter. The gear box is very impressive, a six speed manual with real precision, the gears are close together but very easy to find.

Both the brakes and steering were sharp and precise, I had the feeling I could really throw the car around and the chassis would handle everything I threw at it.

I had about 20 miles on both motorway and small rounds in town and out in the country and loved every minute of it. The car was very comfortable and gave confidence. Its quick but not as brutal as the Supra, really hard acceleration was impressive but no where near as fast as the Supra, I did think "and" and I missed hearing the air filter sucking the air in, whistling it around the turbo and spitting it out of the exhaust, the sound of the Supra was something else and I was a little dissapointed with the sound of the Nissan. Having a four inch exhaust popping and burbling behind you is something else.

Having driven one, I want one but there are none available until at least October, bugger I want a sports car for the summer!


Regards


NB

Quote:-


posted Wed 12 May 04 10:00
Bosh wrote:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You need to live with one for at least a couple of months before making a decision.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



But thats the fun part of getting a new car! After a couple of months one is allready bored. So why buy it after that?

JohanR

________________________________________________

Johan, Bosh was having a swipe at the Jaw thread


Regards


NB

Dave,

I have a Jeep for carrying space so I am not worried about the lack of luggage space, its going to be a fun car, for the weekend or any other time I fancy driving it!

Regards


NB

Are you going to tell us what happenned to your Supra ?

Brian OReilly

Brian,

She failed the MOT and needed so much work that I gave her away. The amount of work needed was more than the car was worth and it was one bill too many. The last two service bills were over a thousand each and enough was enough!

Regards


NB

There are probably some good TVRs about - but how can you tell which? Quite rare though. In a 2000 mile week I see around six tops. Tow or three of them are usually on the verge waiting for the tow truck. Sad but true.

RX8 is clever but they seem to do 1000 miles per litre of oil and lumpy engines/power losses have been reported.

The 350Z has it. But if it was me I'd be looking at a loaded 3-3 years old BMW 330Ci Sport. Unless you hate the badge I suggest you try to have a thrash in one. They're rather good.

Cheers

Harry

Harry,

BMW's are nice cars but not for me,

regards


NB

Sadly though I may have to sell one of my 300's to fund it! Unless the stock Market picks up which I very much doubt,

Regards


NB

What about the Elise? I had one of these for a week last month - definitely the best handling road car I have ever driven. With the new Toyota engine it is much faster than the old K-series and more reliable.

lovelly cars BLT, I drool over them when I take the Jeep in for service, what puts me off them is the lack of a body! I felt very safe in the Supra as it was deceptively big and offered plenty of protection in an accident. I would feel very vunerable in an elise.

Regards


NB

Politely put Alex, I sat in a Chryler Crossfire and couldn't move. My knee's obstructed the steering wheel and my shoulders were wedged against the drivers door. Anything more than 5 minutes would be painfull.

Regards


NB

I'm 6 foot tall and 16+ st (that's 225lbs for Americans) and I fitted in the Elise no problems. I know what you mean about feeling vulnerable though, but I used to rally a Clan Crusader (much, much smaller than an Elise) and it was nowhere near as bad as that. The biggest problem that I had with the Elise was visibility, I frequently had to come to a halt at roundabouts as I couldn't see over the roadside barriers.

You need to do some yoga Alex! I can get in and out no problem.

BLT,

lets just say the Nissan is bigger than most sports cars and it was snug! Being an ex-swimmer I am wide in the back and shoulders and the Nissans seats pinched a bit on the upper back muscles.

I do like the Elises but to me they are overblown go-karts and thats not what I want.

Regards

NB

Finding the right car is always difficult, I always end up with specific requirements and then I find that no car matches them!

I can relate to that BLT, I very much liked the Supra and finding a replacement is very difficult, almost as difficult as choosing speakers!


Regards


NB

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keith J:
Shouldn't this thread be called -
'My Jaw has just hit the Tarmac' ???

---

or alternatively, given the performance of the cars involved;



'My foot has just hit the Floor'??



Regards,
Steve

PS. It was nice to meet you at Cymbiosis the other day, NB.

quote:

---

Torque development in London do a Turbo kit for the Nissan, they also do twin stainless steel exhaust's, air filters, and management sistem up-grades so there are plenty of modifications already!

---

Sounds interesting. The 350 is definitely on the short list for me (although I won't be changing for a couple of years, yet) and I wouldn't say no to a bit more power.

What you said about the exhaust note is also surprisingly important - it was one of the reasons for choosing a Subaru and the Prodrive exhaust sounds ace.

Have you tried a P1, by any chance? There are some excellent examples about, totally reliable and quite a few grand less than a 350 so you wouldn't need to part with a 300 to fund one. It would make a great weekend tearaway.

Dave

A friend of mine had a griffith. It cost a bomb in running costs. He changed it for a boxster s very quickly and never looked back.

Dave,

If I buy a 350 I will be looking at changing the exhaust pronto, the Supra had a HKS 4" Hiper muffler that goes all the way to the manifold. I also had the Cat removed which gave another 10% of power. The exhaust burbled and popped beautifully.

I don't really fancy a Subaru, I know their quick reliable cars but not for me.

Regards


NB

quote:

---

Originally posted by NB:
Dave,

I also had the Cat removed which gave another 10% of power.

NB

---

Blimey! that leaves you liable to a ten grand fine and whatever additional penalties you get for being uninsured. As it is illegal, it cannot be an approved mod, unless the Supra or Z-car magically meets emission regs sans-cat.

I'd love to remove the cat from the Evo, because it does sound a bit weedy for a >300 bhp car, but I've seen people pulled over for road-side testing around here.