How long for a test drive? 350z
Discussion
Have a E92 330d and I love it. So need a second car. Was looking at an MX5, but when my girlfriend drove it she didn't like it. I did though, so will pick a cheaper one up at some point. I think I'll go basic MK1, rather than MK3. We're in no rush.
However I was thinking another coupe, but something with a bit of noise, a manual, a bit more involving to drive etc. I want to tick off a few more cars as my car history is a bit boring. Start around the 8-10K mark and work up to a nice 911, which I have always wanted.
Now I like the 330d for what it is, comfortable, reasonable mpg for the performance, makes mince meat of a 90 mile return commute, reasonable running costs. Only thing I will ditch in the future are the run flats. I never really noticed it before, but the below will explain why.
Drove 45 miles to look at a 350z on Saturday. Gave me an excuse to go for a spin and a spot of lunch as I was home alone and bored. Told the dealer I was looking at other cars. Didn't want to say I was only looking at 350z's, I'm sure that this will put some dealers off, but I would rather be honest that I am looking at driving other cars, trying to get an idea, rather than giving him the impression that I am buying today.
The 350z is lovely to look at, so so interior (subjective I know, but I like its brutish looks on the outside). Now the important bits, nice noise on start up, nice noise through the gear changes, nice seating position and it felt quite planted on the road without that squirming feeling you get from the run flats of the BMW. It was really pronounced on my way home. Appreciate it is also a touring car and not a lightweight Elise etc.
However it just didn't feel that quick and the condition was not as described, (mint doesn't mean scratched bumpers and a cracked headlight). Two factors to this, it was only a quick spin and I opened it up only the once, so I'm looking for another to drive properly.
The question I'm asking, is should you fall in love with a car as soon as you pull off, or does it take time to like a car?
I'll admit I've not driven that many sports cars so I need to try other stuff and I appreciate that the 350z etc will take a good driver to get the most out of it. With practice this will happen.
I think I'm just so used to the nature of the 330d, point and squirt and it just picks up and goes whether travelling a 30mph, 45mph, 60mph etc.
I'm not interested in the traffic light grand prix, but something that makes you feel alive, sounds nice and goes. Any owners/drivers of both able to share their views of both. Will the 350z be as quick on the move? Did I drive a duff one?
However I was thinking another coupe, but something with a bit of noise, a manual, a bit more involving to drive etc. I want to tick off a few more cars as my car history is a bit boring. Start around the 8-10K mark and work up to a nice 911, which I have always wanted.
Now I like the 330d for what it is, comfortable, reasonable mpg for the performance, makes mince meat of a 90 mile return commute, reasonable running costs. Only thing I will ditch in the future are the run flats. I never really noticed it before, but the below will explain why.
Drove 45 miles to look at a 350z on Saturday. Gave me an excuse to go for a spin and a spot of lunch as I was home alone and bored. Told the dealer I was looking at other cars. Didn't want to say I was only looking at 350z's, I'm sure that this will put some dealers off, but I would rather be honest that I am looking at driving other cars, trying to get an idea, rather than giving him the impression that I am buying today.
The 350z is lovely to look at, so so interior (subjective I know, but I like its brutish looks on the outside). Now the important bits, nice noise on start up, nice noise through the gear changes, nice seating position and it felt quite planted on the road without that squirming feeling you get from the run flats of the BMW. It was really pronounced on my way home. Appreciate it is also a touring car and not a lightweight Elise etc.
However it just didn't feel that quick and the condition was not as described, (mint doesn't mean scratched bumpers and a cracked headlight). Two factors to this, it was only a quick spin and I opened it up only the once, so I'm looking for another to drive properly.
The question I'm asking, is should you fall in love with a car as soon as you pull off, or does it take time to like a car?
I'll admit I've not driven that many sports cars so I need to try other stuff and I appreciate that the 350z etc will take a good driver to get the most out of it. With practice this will happen.
I think I'm just so used to the nature of the 330d, point and squirt and it just picks up and goes whether travelling a 30mph, 45mph, 60mph etc.
I'm not interested in the traffic light grand prix, but something that makes you feel alive, sounds nice and goes. Any owners/drivers of both able to share their views of both. Will the 350z be as quick on the move? Did I drive a duff one?
FWIW:
About 5 years ago my local Nissan dealer were offering 24 hour test drives on the 350Z. I took them up on it (as I was seriously looking). The car was nicely put together but really didn't gel with me; it didn't feel quick, and it was ridiculously noisy (so much so that I got out and checked whether the rear hatch was open).
I timed things so that during my 24 hour tenure I had a test booked in a Monaro VXR; on the back of that test drive and the comparison, I bought the Monaro and kept it 4 years.
About 5 years ago my local Nissan dealer were offering 24 hour test drives on the 350Z. I took them up on it (as I was seriously looking). The car was nicely put together but really didn't gel with me; it didn't feel quick, and it was ridiculously noisy (so much so that I got out and checked whether the rear hatch was open).
I timed things so that during my 24 hour tenure I had a test booked in a Monaro VXR; on the back of that test drive and the comparison, I bought the Monaro and kept it 4 years.
on the 350z i had, i thought it was great, however after sitting in traffic for a while, the clutch changed, the pedal travel got longer and there was only an inch or so pedal travel available, which made it horrible to drive, obviously something wrong! but without an extended drive you wouldnt have known.
and make sure if you get an import, that if its a bose you are happy with only a few fm channels!!
and make sure if you get an import, that if its a bose you are happy with only a few fm channels!!
What age of 350Z was it? The engine changed a few times in it's lifetime from 275-313bhp I believe. I had a 300bhp 06 plate roadster for a weekend test drive and thoroughly enjoyed it, I believe that engine revs better than the earlier 275bhp version. It is a heavy car though and more of a cruiser than outright sports car.
The trouble with the 300 and 313 versions is that they attract the highest road tax, which I am not sure I could live with!
Have you considered a Z4 coupe, slightly over budget but i preferred the engine and handling to the 350Z.
The trouble with the 300 and 313 versions is that they attract the highest road tax, which I am not sure I could live with!
Have you considered a Z4 coupe, slightly over budget but i preferred the engine and handling to the 350Z.
Just as a note, I'm not looking for a massive diesel vs petrol debate.
Petrol cost isn't a worry. Well I don't want to throw money away, but we accept poor mpg with these sort of cars. Just comfort, reliability, drive and smile factor is important.
I was looking at ticking off a few brands. Not quite after another BMW, although it might be a good idea for comparison.
It was an 06 with GT Pack.
Petrol cost isn't a worry. Well I don't want to throw money away, but we accept poor mpg with these sort of cars. Just comfort, reliability, drive and smile factor is important.
I was looking at ticking off a few brands. Not quite after another BMW, although it might be a good idea for comparison.
It was an 06 with GT Pack.
Have to say I was a little underwhelmed by the only Zeds I've driven (370s admittedly, but I think they're generally thought to be an improvement rather than a retrograde step?)
They're good fun in a somewhat crude way, but they do feel a bit agricultural and performance won't blow you away if you're used to a performance diesel.
Don't get me wrong, I quite like them, but they're not big on sophistication or dynamic finesse. Think of them as a slightly slower but rather more reliable TVR and you're not far off.
They're good fun in a somewhat crude way, but they do feel a bit agricultural and performance won't blow you away if you're used to a performance diesel.
Don't get me wrong, I quite like them, but they're not big on sophistication or dynamic finesse. Think of them as a slightly slower but rather more reliable TVR and you're not far off.
First off that sounds like a bad one you saw, its very important to feel confident when you buy - or else when things go wrong later on you will always beat yourself up that you didnt wait to find a better one. Second, the 3 series is a lovely car to be inside (I had an E92 M3) - though in mine I didn't notice it ever acting like you said (not sure if mine had runflats, but I don't think so.).
I remember I went to a local garage to see a 911 Turbo when I was totally happy with my M3, just bored one day so thought i'd look it over. It was overpriced and they wanted to give me nothing for my M3 with 14k miles. I took the 20min test drive and agreed to buy it on the spot. The car just had me hooked 100% I couldn't let it go!
Same happened when I test drove the M3 before that and my SL55 AMG too. I tried many cars in between and you just get in one and it all feels right.
A 330d is a car which probably feels pretty quick, torque delivery. As such I think you might need to step up from a 350Z to really fall in love. You should keep on going for the 911, the driving experience alone should be enough.
Birdster said:
The question I'm asking, is should you fall in love with a car as soon as you pull off, or does it take time to like a car?
Yes, I really think you should. When you drive it you will really just know - and this certainly should be the case when it's not even your primary car!I remember I went to a local garage to see a 911 Turbo when I was totally happy with my M3, just bored one day so thought i'd look it over. It was overpriced and they wanted to give me nothing for my M3 with 14k miles. I took the 20min test drive and agreed to buy it on the spot. The car just had me hooked 100% I couldn't let it go!
Same happened when I test drove the M3 before that and my SL55 AMG too. I tried many cars in between and you just get in one and it all feels right.
A 330d is a car which probably feels pretty quick, torque delivery. As such I think you might need to step up from a 350Z to really fall in love. You should keep on going for the 911, the driving experience alone should be enough.
The 350Z isn't that quick (it is quite heavy), but remember that power is limited in the first three gears (65%, 75% and 85% IIRC) so it should feel pretty linear up to about 6,000rpm. Peak torque is 4,200rpm (certainly on the early 276bhp model).
I liked mine, but as a daily driver I just didn't think it was up to scratch. I'd modded mine slightly with high-flow cats and a Blitz exhaust which made it loud enough to wake the dead, but I was always disappointed with the gearchange and brakes.
I certainly think you should try at least 3 cars - on different days - before making your mind up.
I liked mine, but as a daily driver I just didn't think it was up to scratch. I'd modded mine slightly with high-flow cats and a Blitz exhaust which made it loud enough to wake the dead, but I was always disappointed with the gearchange and brakes.
I certainly think you should try at least 3 cars - on different days - before making your mind up.
Birdster said:
The question I'm asking, is should you fall in love with a car as soon as you pull off, or does it take time to like a car?
That's a really interesting question. I have never driven a 350Z, but the two cars that have rocked my world the most (Mk1 Golf GTi and 944S2) have both been bought on the basis of storming reviews and a lot of research. The first time I drove either of them I wasn't that enamored with them, but I bought them all the same and they both grew on me over time. I fear that if I bought a car on the basis of a single test drive only then I could be letting myself in for a lot of disappointment later on. I don't know what the solution to this is in terms of buying cars tho; either much longer test drives or finding a journalist whose opinions you share and only buying cars that (s)he likes. Or being prepared to sell cars after a month or so if they aren't to your liking after a period of time.
Oli.
All interesting points. I was wondering if it was the diesel to petrol thing. Driving a manual N/A car again.
Also willing to admit it might be my lack of performance cars experience.
Don't have a garage at the mo, so not sure if the hardcore stuff like a TVR etc are suitable. I kind of wanted to work my way up the car ladder.
It's strange, as I was looking for a 335d, but fell in love with this and the price was so right.
I think a few more drives will be in order. It just got me pondering the whole fall in love thing.
I also think that I'm finding it hard to decide, as I could never afford to run these sort of cars and now that I can I don't know which way to turn.
Also willing to admit it might be my lack of performance cars experience.
Don't have a garage at the mo, so not sure if the hardcore stuff like a TVR etc are suitable. I kind of wanted to work my way up the car ladder.
It's strange, as I was looking for a 335d, but fell in love with this and the price was so right.
I think a few more drives will be in order. It just got me pondering the whole fall in love thing.
I also think that I'm finding it hard to decide, as I could never afford to run these sort of cars and now that I can I don't know which way to turn.
Birdster said:
All interesting points. I was wondering if it was the diesel to petrol thing. Driving a manual N/A car again.
Also willing to admit it might be my lack of performance cars experience.
Don't have a garage at the mo, so not sure if the hardcore stuff like a TVR etc are suitable. I kind of wanted to work my way up the car ladder.
It's strange, as I was looking for a 335d, but fell in love with this and the price was so right.
I think a few more drives will be in order. It just got me pondering the whole fall in love thing.
I also think that I'm finding it hard to decide, as I could never afford to run these sort of cars and now that I can I don't know which way to turn.
I think you should look at turbocharged/supercharged cars. You 'feel' the power a lot more (as in your turbocharged BMW) and I think you would find it more rewarding in that sense. However, as I said, a 911 for driving experience is well worth it and feels quick.Also willing to admit it might be my lack of performance cars experience.
Don't have a garage at the mo, so not sure if the hardcore stuff like a TVR etc are suitable. I kind of wanted to work my way up the car ladder.
It's strange, as I was looking for a 335d, but fell in love with this and the price was so right.
I think a few more drives will be in order. It just got me pondering the whole fall in love thing.
I also think that I'm finding it hard to decide, as I could never afford to run these sort of cars and now that I can I don't know which way to turn.
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