Screamer
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Posts posted by Screamer
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On the look out for some Info on the 370Z. Its on my shortlist of cars for my next purchase. Just trying to get as much background as i can, before the test drives. Also keen on the Cayman Gen2, Exige and Z4M.
Hi there! I'm a new member myself having just got myself a 370Z. Thought I'd post as I used to have a Z4M (Coupe) and one of the new Z4's too (Z4M to new Z4 to 370Z). I wouldn't hesitate to go for the 370Z, to be honest! It's at least as good as the Z4M was to drive (waaaaay better than the new Z4's and I suspect better than the M, although I'd be guessing a bit as it's not the car I jumped out of and directly into the 370).
They're both similar cars in terms of feel (meaty controls, etc), but I'd take the 370 every time. The Z4M was one of the last cars BMW made before they got their act together in terms of interiors, so it's certainly no more 'luxury' in feel and you won't get some very-nice-to-have's like iPod input (which can be achieved in the Z4 with a third-party option that allows full control via the screen, although it was very buggy and required taking the 'wall' behind the seats apart). My M also developed a fault with its engine Vanos units, just before the warranty expired fortunately, but the dealer had it for 2 weeks and had to remove the entire front-end of the car to replace them! I daren't think how much that could have cost had I been paying! The M also has a habit of snapping its rear springs every couple of years (£100 each if I remember correctly) and its clutch is awful (even with the CDV removal trick).
I'd expect the two cars to be comparable on fuel costs and tax, with like-for-like tyre costs being more on the 370Z (although the standard Bridgestone's have waaaaaay more grip than the Z4M's Continentals ever did, so I might consider not bothering with buying the best-of-the-best Michelins or Goodyear F1's for the 370 as I have done with previous cars) and servicing costs of the 370 being very significantly lower (about half by the sounds of it - £250 ish vs £500-600).
As for your other cars: I considered a Cayman S or Boxster S when looking at the 370Z and once having driven the 370, it was again a no-brainer, and that's before you consider Porsche's 2 year (instead of 3) warranty and servicing costs that would make BMW's look like a bargain! I'd not rule out going for one somewhere down the line after a bit more research on the true reliability (assuming it really is good), but this time, I just couldn't justify it over what the Nissan offers. A more brutish car has always appealed to me, too, which a Porsche just isn't.
As for the Exige - a new friend of mine has an Elise S, which I think he's happy with, and I'm sure it's great to drive quick, but they are very spartan/loud/etc and he recently posted a photo of it being towed away due to something engine-related having gone pop..! £500 right there and then, apparently! Oof!
Out of all the (sports) cars I've so-far owned (Mazda RX-8 PZ, Z4M, Z4 sDrive35i), it's the 370Z that already gets loads more looks than any of the others - it's just cooler!
Hope that's all of some help
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Hi everyone,
Signed up, put myself down for the Wales meet and then forgot to jump in here to say a quick hello, so erm, hello!
Had my 370Z GT Edition a couple of weeks now - absolutely loving it! A proper brute of a car, yet with all the gadgets (reversing camera, full iPod integration, nav, etc, etc). I've added (currently unpainted) mudguards in an attempt to protect the side stripes and have an Evo-R carbon front bumper cover on order - in part for the looks and in part as a descent way of protecting the most vulnerable part of the paintwork from chips! Think I'm going to leave the mudguards unpainted as they kinda go with the stripes and darkened wheels well enough to mean I don't have to worry about the guards themselves picking up chips and the like!
Extras that I'm considering are wheel spacers, an (OEM-looking-ish and only subtly louder) exhaust and some kind of blackening to the lower part of the rear bumper (either a black/carbon diffuser or a vinyl wrap).
Previous cars of note were a black Mazda RX-8 PZ (1 of 500, Prodrive tuned suspension, wing, lightweight dark alloys), a red/cream leather BMW Z4 M Coupe (great car to drive, marred by an only half-fixable iffy clutch and the engine Vanos units dying just before the warranty ran out, resulting in 2 weeks of labour!) and a BMW Z4 sDrive35i (incredible interior, folding roof, but amazing just how poor it was to drive compared to the 370 now looking back... Oh, and it had a fairly lengthly list of issues by the time it was 2.5 years old, including escaping coolant, an 'Engine problem! Reduced power available' error after 3 laps of Oulton Park, a boot leak, some broken heater elements in the rear window, chipped rear lights, lots of rattles from the boot/roof probably caused by a naff dealer having to fix it after 2 weeks of ownership, constantly hot-then-cold air con and a dodgy bonnet sensor..!).
As much as parts of the Z4's were great, assuming the 370Z proves to be as reliable as it could be (being a Nissan), it'll blow them both out of the water!
Can't wait to meet many of you at the, um, meet... and other events after that!
Mike
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Thanks for the kind comments. If you haven't seen mine at the rear it too has some carbon wrapping.
I did see your, ahem, rear (!) - those shots are the ones that made me realise how good the black area looks on a white car, as with the fang cover You've got a stunning car 
On closer inspection, I see that it's not a diffuser that's been bolted on, but (as you say), a wrapping... Very interesting - tbh, the idea of a 'diffuser' part is a bit OTT for me, but seemed like the only way to black it out... I presume the wrap you have is simply sticky-back and cut to the correct shape? Is that something that has to be done by a bodyshop, or a DIY job?
If you don't mind me asking, what exhaust do you have fitted? I like the 'stock' look and am looking for something that adds a little more noise without really compromising sound levels at a cruise. Same question re the spacers, too! Are they just a wheel off, spacer on, wheel on job?
Thanks!
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You come from Frodsham!!!!!! Thats my home town
Hehe, crikey!
Well if you ever fancy a quick drink or anything, let me know I'm actually from Ewloe in North Wales, but moved out here with my girlfriend about a year and a half ago. Lovely place.Welcome to the forum and good to have you along in Wales .........in a particulaly desirable ZED
You would need to be at Moreton at 9am for the drives, but it may be possible to join us en-route - let me know nearer th time if that is your aim. We should be back at Moreton around 2pm after a 100 mile (approx) drive on the Saturday - so its up to you how early you want to get up on the Saturday
I'm going to pass on the posting in the garage section (having not done it myself
) but would be good if you posted up a little introduction in the appropriate section Thanks for the warm welcome, Colin! Hehe, thanks - can't wait to give it a proper stretch of its legs!
I used to be part of the RX-8 Owners Club and loved their meets (the Z4 forums were always a bit too 'international' to easily find out about UK events), so I can't wait for this one! Thanks for organising it 
Before I even signed up, you were responsible for my first additional purchase (well, after mud guards) - the Evo-R front lip/fang cover! Wanted to see what it'd look like on a white zed and found you
Might just have to go for a diffuser to blacken the lower area of the rear bumper, too - adds so much to the look I think!Thanks for the info re the Saturday - I'll let you know nearer the time if that's ok... Looks like we'd need to be out the door at 8, so it depends whether I can even remember how to drive at that time on a Saturday
I'll find the intros topic and leave a post as suggested
Tbh, I was only interested in the garage as a way of providing my car spec, seeing as the control panel claims I'm not authorised to add a signature 
Thanks again for the warm welcome! -
Hi all! Not long got myself a (white, manual) 370Z GT Edition (after 2 BMW Z4's - M Coupe and then sDrive35i - which both proved to have iffy reliability and can't touch the 370Z for handling!) and have just booked the Sat night for this
Not sure how early we'll be able to get down on the Saturday, so would it be OK to meet you guys while you're on your drive/back at Moreton?
While I'm here - any ideas how I add my car to the forum garage section?
NAME & if with +1...DAYS ATTENDING.......NIGHTS BOOKED AT MORETON
1. Ebized+1.............sat & sun................18/19/20 May (Fri, Sat, Sun)
2. Wasso+1.............Sat & Sun ...............Fri, Sat, Sun
3. Maccaman...........(Sat & Sun)..............18/19/20 May
4. ChrisS+1..............Sat & sun...............staying at own 5* accommodation
5. Ken....................Sat & Sun...............18/19 May
6. Chesterfield+2......Sat & Sun...............18/19/20 May
7. glrnet+1..............sat & sun................18/19/20 May
8. Bockaaarck+1.......Sat & Sun...............18/19 May
9. JetSet...........}....Sat & Sun...............No accommodation needed
10. 350ZCaroline.}....Sat & Sun...............No accommodation and Sunday drive only
11. Will 350z+1 ........Sat & sun...............18/19/20 May
12. Blacky+ 1...........Sun.......................19th May
13. Andyvvc+1.........Sat & Sun...............18,19 and 20th May
14. Madmarky...........Sat & Sun ..............Fri, Sat, Sun
15. Lincolnbaggie.......Sat & Sun..............18/19/20 May
16. octet(+Leti)........Sat, Sun................18/19/20 May
17. choptop+1..........Sat & Sun..............18/19 May Booked
18. Darren-b.. .........Sat & sun................18/19/20 May
19. Shire350z........... Sat & Sun ............. 18/19/20 may
20. Ricey & Carla........Sat........................Chez Moi
21. M13KYF................Sat......................No Accom required
22. Marzman...............Sat......................No Accom required
23. RC182+1...............Sat&Sun...............18/19/20 May Booked
24. R35LEE +1...........Sat & Sun.............. 19th May Booked
25. daveparkin+1.......Sat & Sun................ 18/19/20 May
26. Atkin666+ 1..........sat& sun ............... 18/19/20 may booked
27. zippy+1.............. sat & sun ............. 18/19 booked
28. garetgax +1............sat & sun........... 18/19 booked
29. GT4 Zed +/-1............Sun.................No accomodation required
30. mattbowey .............Sat&Sun ............ Will be booking the 19th soon
31. zDan +1..................Sun.................... No accomodation required
32. Screamer + 1.............Sat & Sun................19th May (Sat)
Hi! 370Z GT Edition :-)
in Introductions & Welcome Messages
Posted
Thanks for the replies and kind welcomes, everyone!
Sorry for the delayed reply... long few weeks of work!
It's a bit difficult to give much detail having had the newer Z4 in between the M and the 370Z, but I can tell you that there's very, very little in it. The 370Z definitely has better grip (I seem to remember an issue of Evo comparing the Z4M against a tuned version of a 350 and their verdict being that the tuning had brought the 350 up to the BMW's engine performance, while they were surprised at the M's lack of rear grip - so as a result, the 350 was quicker overall) - the easy test for me was some fun in the Trafford Centre's overflow car park
The Z4M would relinquish grip easily, even on Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric's, whereas the 370 on the standard run-crap Bridgestone's really, really has to be persuaded! My guess as to why would be that the Z4 uses trailing arms, whereas the 370 does it properly with multilink cleverness.
In a straight line, I can't tell the difference at all, although having not come from one straight into the other, I can't be 100% sure... The stats for the Z4 were 0-62 in 5.0 seconds, which is a bit quicker than the quoted times for the 370, although a few of the US car mags have done it in 4.8 with the Nissan (
Oooh, how'd it go?! Can't wait to stretch the car's legs properly on some of those great roads
and meet all you guys 
I wouldn't bother - go for a 370 instead
They're certainly no nicer inside than the 370 (the newer sDrive ones are by a big margin, but then you lose the driving experience) and the reliability just doesn't cut it. On top of servicing and other repair/parts costs (around double Nissan's rates, I'd have thought), you've got to factor in a replacement of the Vanos units every 3 years ish (it took Williams Liverpool 2 weeks with my car, so that won't be cheap - mine was JUST under warranty) and replacing the rear springs every 1 or 2 years as they snap at their base. The springs themselves were £100 I seem to remember, plus time or cost for fitting them.
Nowhere near the same levels of kit, either.
Hehe, thanks Colin! The moment I came across the forum, I knew it was a great community, so decided there was no point waiting around when you'd got a meet planned up this way! Other similar things might be a nice excuse to see other parts of the country, too.
Thanks to Maccaman, Ian, flexib, CS, EH 370z, NeilMH, DoogyRev, ATTAK Z, Will370z, Pr1ngle, dragon, Ken, bronzee, Keyser, Ruddles, Beavis and Sarnie for the welcomes, too!