mjw16

I've had my 05' gt for nearly a whole three weeks now in completely standard form, so thought it high time the tweaking began A modest start - just ordered a K&N panel filter. (actually the first thing I bought was a Z keyring but didn't deem that worthy of mention!) Next on the list is a Plenum spacer and that will be the car inhaling better. Then it'll be time to sort out the exhaling - I'm thinking HFC cats (Berks or similar) should do the trick. I want to keep the mods effective but understated so don't want too much extra noise or the expense of a whole system when the stock pipes seem in pretty good nick. Lastly and most importantly I think I may be acquainting myself with the guys at Abbey for a remap to realise the potential of the bolt on goodies. Oh and when the pads need doing something from EDC will go in the calipers instead (yellowstuff? redstuff? Not researched the difference yet!) and while in that vicinity some braided hoses will be in order methinks. Was just wondering if that plan sounded sensible to those far wiser and experienced than me? Cheers

First purchase made today - K&N panel filter. And so it begins.......

So, It’s been a few days of ownership now and I thought I’d share my initial thoughts. Maybe of interest to any browsing prospective owners? And very happy initial thoughts they are too! This may not be the best and fastest car I’ve ever driven but it is most definitely the best I’ve ever owned. I’ve read the Zed is fantatstic value for money - a great way to enter the performance car market, and I would have to agree. The fact that it was built for purpose to be exactly what it is rather than a family shopping trolley with lots of horses crammed under the bonnet shines through. And every time I get behind the wheel it feels like an event. A massively grin inducing one. I can’t think what else I could have bought for the money that would compete. I guess many would covet the Porsche badge and argue my budget was in Boxster territory. But the Boxster is neither as fast or as ‘me’. As Ms Butler Henderson said – get past the Nissan badge. And no matter how nice the Porsche badge would be to own I can’t help thinking I’d just feel a bit of a ponce driving it! (No offence to Boxster owners, they are a great car just not for me). What else is there in the ball park? TT? – Nope. RX8? – Not for me, M3? – great car but on my budget I’d have been buying one double the age with double (at least) the mileage and almost double the insurance premium. Not much else springing to mind at the moment.... When I drove it for the first time the first thing I was aware of was the power available (obviously!), the fact that the power was instantly at my disposal with no wait for a turbo to join in, and the flexibility of the engine. When I want to drive it smoothly there is enough low down torque that you just don’t need to keep stirring the gearbox. However when you do feel playful and drop a cog or two the transformation is spectacular and instant, helped along by the great sound it makes! It feels extremely sure footed. Very little body roll and what seems like almost limitless grip. I do have respect for the fact that the grip does eventually have a limit though. In a front wheel drive (often four wheel drive too) taking liberties will produce boring and easy to control understeer. In the Zed it will of course produce loads and loads of hugely fun oversteer! Brilliant on a track day, not always such a good idea on a roundabout in a Kentish village! To address a couple of weaker points that seem to repeatedly come up in reviews and forums.. Interior trim: My car is an 05’ and, while I understand they improved the standard on the 06’ model I really can’t see what the problem is. I love the interior. Granted I came from a 51’reg Impreza (worse trim than Zed) and an 09’ Navara (same standard of trim as Zed) so maybe that’s why I don’t see it as a failing. If I’d come from an Aston I guess I’d be picking it to pieces. These things are all relative! Heavy clutch/Notchy gear shift: Again these things are very personal preference orientated. But to me the clutch feels exactly as heavy as it should and the gear shift feels very precise and positive. Difficulty in starting off smoothly (1st and 2nd gear changes that don’t cause whiplash!): It’s not one of those cars that everyone will instantly drive like they’ve owned it forever. In the lower gears the power the car has is very obvious. A seemingly mild squeeze on the smiley pedal will have you flying off like a whippet with its bum on fire and your passenger pinned back in the seat. It is, as others have said, just a matter of a little practice. Learning to control the throttle more delicately, and controlling that relatively heavy clutch rather than letting it control you. Also using the torque and flexibility – you don’t need to be dropping down to second and dumping the clutch out as you roll on to a clear roundabout, it’ll be happy and a whole lot smoother in third or even fourth. Unless you’re giving it the beans of course! So as you can tell this is one very happy new Zed owner. When I park it and walk away I have to look over my shoulder at it at least once, then look around to see if anybody’s caught me looking back at my own car and is thinking what a sad tosser! At my age I really should know better. Ah well, growing up is overrated

Found time for a few piccies...

Got it! My only complaint so far is that I seem to have developed a medical condition called coathangar gob syndrome! Will get piccies on over the weekend

One more sleep till Z day...

Was just wondering, as you're not a lover of the popcharger, what induction do you favour? Hearing a few good arguments for a good replacement filter (K&N or similar) dropped in to the original air box...?

Ok so this afternoon I get a call from the Nissan dealer to say the car will be prepped checked and ready to pick up on Tuesday morning. Good times! Then five minutes later a call comes from work asking me to cover a contract in Scotland all next week. So I won't be able to pick up the Zed until Friday pm when I get back. Nooooooo!!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone Sarnie - Yes I've driven the Zed but it was the very briefest of test drives and I had to behave as the sales guy was in the passenger seat. It felt like it had a lot to give though! But I won't really get the feel of it until I can collect it and and play for a few hours..

Hi all, Tedious questions from a new boy I’m afraid! – picking up my 2005 gt from the Nissan dealer in a couple of days. Can’t wait! My last car was a 2001 WRX Impreza. A great car to drive I have to say but I’m expecting the Z to be even more fun, not least because it’s power figures are more comparable to the STI than a lowly WRX. I appreciate it’ll be a very different drive to the Impreza, being rear wheel drive and normally aspirated. Quite looking forward to the consistent pull of a 3.5 though rather than needing to stay ‘on boost’ to get moving. Anyways, I was fairly clued up on the obvious upgrades to the Impreza, of course being a turbo it was quite easy to get lots more bhp with a decat, induction and remap. The Z though I need to educate myself on. I don’t want to go mad and certainly won’t be going down the turbo or supercharger route, but it would be good to squeeze another 20bhp or so, nudge over that magic 300 mark. I’ve been looking at the forum and see that a plenum spacer seems to be a good starting point. Does an induction kit and or decat have a worthwhile effect for the cost when normally aspirated too? Or is that all academic because I'll be so chuffed with it in original form that I won't want to mess with it?! Any thoughts and advice welcome from those in the know. Apologies for the current numpty status!