1. Why are we even comparing the 350Z to anything other than Corvette, which blows it away in economy vs horsepower?

2. Why are we comparing the FX45 to a Cadillac that hasn't been reviewed by anyone yet, let alone hit the streets?

3. Why even mention Renault when after they took over AMC, and turned them into a Renault distributor (instead of investing in new products as promised), they ran AMC into trhe ground?

4. Why are we comparing a FWD G35 with a RWD Cadillac CTS that had most it's chassis development in Germany, and has a reputation of being one of the world's best handling sedans?

5. Why are we comparing that extremely ugly full size Titan truck to the better looking mid sized Colorado?

I may be missing alot here, but doesn't Chevrolet alone greatly outsell Nissan, while both have roughly the same reputation in quality?

Just wondering.

 

1) 350Z costs a lot closer to a Z28 than a Corvette. Still, the Z28 beats the crap out of it. Nissan coulda/shoulda built a smaller/lighter car at about the same price, with the same engine, and been right there with the Corvette, performance-wise. They didn't, which sux. (note: I love the Corvette, but the more cheap really-high-perf sports cars on the market, the BETTER).

2) SUV=I don't care

3) We'll see.

4) Who told you the G35s were FWD??!! RWD, my friend. Great chassis can be developed in Germany, America, Japan, or elsewhere.

5) trucks=Idontcare

What you and most Americans are missing is that, despite maintaining overall market share, American CARS continue to lose ground to imports every single year.

Dan Baldwin
'95 Z28 M6 convertible
'71 240Z 3.1

 

Yup. That's true. I didnt realize they stuck the same engine in the harley edition

 

Ooops. I stand corrected : RWD, $27-32,000, 0-60 in 6 seconds.

Point retracted. I'll give that one to the G35.

 

LOL

I know what you mean... sometimes I think I was "sleep-posting" when I read some of Z28Wilson's posts for the first time!

 

For some reason I dont think the 350Z's 10.3:1 compression ratio will be very forced air friendly.

 

Peak Hp and Peak Torque really don't matter. It's the SHAPE of the torque curve that really matters.

I would much rather have a 5.3 with its relatively flat and broad torque curve, than an import with a very peaky torque curve. The flat curve is just more driveable for most situations.

The problem is, the general buying public really falls for the high Hp ratings.

 

I'd rather have a Buick Regal GS than an Altima. I'd take an SVT Focus over the SE-R (GM truly has nothing in that class that is competitive, unless I am forgetting something). And I would certainly buy a Silverado, even with 285 hp, over the Titan, which is the worst looking truck I've ever seen. I would say I'd take CTS over a Maxima, but they cost more, so it wouldn't be a fair comparasson. Perhaps a Bonneville, but I don't care for all the ridges and fins.

 

Most of those trucks seem to be owned by folks who think they are just a little better than everyone else. Maybe they think it's an exclusive club due to the 10 to 1 sales thing.

 

As one of the resident Chevy Zcar guys (as in Z/28 ), I see your point....except for me it applies to the '02 Z/28.

BTW, I like the 350Z and really, really like the G35 coupe.

 

you can get a 345HP 380tq 6.0L in the 1500 Chevy Ext cab

The Titan will be an '04 out this Dec. by then Chevy should have new V8s with DOD and more HP

I also think Dodge, Ford, Chevy and GMC trucks look better than the Titan.

 

Oddly, when Ford came out with a supercharged Mustang, the compression changed from 9.9:1 to 8.5:1.

Not sure how that happened, usually when a company comes out with a forced induction motor they just "slap a turbo on it" right? What? Change a motor for forced induction? Heresy!

Call me old fashioned, but I'd still prefer to be buying an American car. It makes me sad that GM is the worst of the "Big 3" American brands. Who'd have thought the days would come that if you wanted a car with some HP, you'd go to Nissan, and if you want something that's dull and bland and underpowered, you get a Chevy.

I expect more from GM, so yeah, I'll complain when they insist on putting out crap because I'd like to see them do well.

If people just went and bought a 350Z and were happy with it, and stopped holding the torch for performance to come back to GM, they'd happily go on making trucks forever, since no one cared that they killed the F-Body.

If you're so happy with GM cars now, then why are you looking at the future GM cars forum? Just go buy a Cavalier and be happy with it.


Right now GM has some competitive trucks. Note I said competitive, they're not running away from the competition or anything. The cars, as a whole, are subpar. Everyone keeps defending GM trucks, but there's not a whole lot to be said about GM cars.

The GTP is about the only "fast" car GM makes. One day I decided to look into one. Hell, why not, right? Oh, they cost $27,000! Well then, I guess I'll just move right along.

I'm sorry, but the GTP can not compete with a Mustang Mach 1, Nissan 350Z/G35 Coupe, or base RX-8.

If the GTP cost, say, $22,000 it might be worth buying. As it stands now, it's overpriced and still not very sporty (FWD?!). Hell, for $4,000 less I can go buy myself a WRX. I think the new 300hp WRX is supposed to cost ~$30,000, so it's not a far cry from the GTP.

I know, I know, I neglect to mention the Corvette. That's because it's well out of my price range. Just because Dodge makes the Viper doesn't mean they have any decent cars to offer me now. But at least they'll let us know what's coming down the pipe! (Magnum, Neon SRT-4, RWD LX Platform, etc.)

My Camaro was the first GM car in the family. And now, looking at how little GM seems to car about car consumers, it might be my last. It makes me sad to think how many other people are just abandoning GM in favor of the multitudes of other companies that try to put out CARS that are actually exciting. As someone else pointed out, you can't even get a manual in a GM mid sized car.

The company's car division is pretty lackluster, and we could all be mum about it and take whatever crap GM gives us (or just quietly move on to other manufacturer's, like god knows how many people have already) or we can make a fuss and maybe some people will catch on and change something.

Or maybe they won't. And then if I end up going to buy a Nissan, at least we'll know it's because GM refused to listen to consumers, and not because we chose not to speak up.

 

MunchE, your post is valid except Nissan isnt the company developing the turbo kit for mass production, the aftermarket is. To make a forced air friendly car out of a current 350Z would require modifying the current car with new pistons and is it really worth the cost and hassle at that point?

 

I wasn't really sure how you meant, so I was just assuming factory.

Aftermarket turbo kits, yeah, they'd probably be a whole lot of trouble.

But hell, guys seem to be doing it on Hondas and whatnot as well.

Your post made me flashback to some thread where a guy likened the new Cobra to just "slapping a turbo on to get hp"

It made me sad.

 

you can get a 345HP Hemi in the 1500 Dodge Ram NOW. THe Titan doesn't come out until about Dec.03/Jan.04. Don't sell Chevy short just yet. New Gen IV V8's will be out soon.
also the GTP you were looking, don't forget, only chumps pay MSRP, you should beable to get at least $2K of MSRP. And with the $3,000 rebate that brings the price down to $22K.

Also in less than a year GM will put out:
260HP S/C Monte Carlo
260HP S/C Impala SS
285HP V8 Pontiac GXP
200HP+ turbo Saturn Ion

Ford also has a 300HP 5.4L 3V V8 coming out in June for the F-150, so by the time the new Nissan truck is out 300HP won't be anything special