Toyspeed.org.nz Message Board

by **Adamal** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:28 am

So, 2 fairly new cars on the horizon. The 370Z due probably some time this year, and the IS-F due out sometime in the next, I don't know, few minutes or something.

I was just attending to some, *ahem* 'business' and was reading Top Gear mag. They just so happened to have a mini feature on each car, on opposing pages.
I was wondering which one I would choose.
They're both really good looking cars to me. The IS250 was a car that grabbed my attention, and the IS-F is much of the same. Despite it having a bulge in the bonnet which resembles an uncontrolled pre-pubecent 'woody'.
The 370Z on the other hand looks like its digging its fingers in its roots. A profile view of the car sees things shifted back, giving an aparent long nose, much like that of its originator, the 240Z. It manages this while still retaining a similar look to the current 350Z. The headlights though... People will either love them or hate them. Either way, I can see them being too 'complex' to be affordable to manufacture.
Under the hood, the IS has the guts with 300kw on tap, yet the Z will aparently make an admirable 246kw. What gets me though is more the gearboxes.
The IS is a tiptronic/auto only with 8 forward cogs. Remember the days when 4 was sufficient and 5 was a luxury? Sheesh!
Now we all know these column mounted shifters are on top of the game. Switching from one gear to another in a fraction of a second, giving ultimate response for the greatest driving pleasure! I'm sure you've heard all the hype before. It's something I can appreciate, and I know it makes for some quicker lap times, but for me, letting a computer take over for something I'd normally do takes away from pure driving pleasure.
Thats what makes it difficult for me to decide between the two. The Nissan comes with a 6 speed clutch-pedal operating gearbox which requires user intervention in the form of a left leg pressing in said clutch pedal! No computers here! Or is there? It is said that there will be a device in the Z which detects the user intervention, in combination with the user shifting the aptly named 'gear stick' into a position which results with a lower gear being used, and it automatically 'blips' the engine to match the revs with the appropriate selected gear!
This still leaves me in 2 minds then. From what I've read, that will be optional in the 'Sports' package, and lets hope it is. However, lets say that hypothetically, it isn't optional and you're stuck with it like herpes.
Everywhere I drive, I drive like I'm racing. Well within legal boundries, but still its a legal race. I can't help but come up to a red light, start braking, change down, shift my heel over to the throttle and give it a blip! There isn't a feeling quite as satisfying as pulling off a successful downchange blip! The time it took to get it right, to get a feel for the revs and the gearing. The mistakes made, the pity taken on the poor clutch, who tollerated my over and under revving.
Now the sense of acheivement is to be taken away by a computer. To think some average schmuck off the street can now hop in one and get it right thanks to the aid of a computer while they shout "Look at me! I'm just like a race driver! Wheee!" is like a crushing blow to all enthusiest like us.
But, such is the way with technology. It'll just be the next thing like traction control, ABS and all the rest that go with it.

Theres not really that much more info out there yet on the Z, so it'd be hard to say which one I would choose.
If I wanted to go fast, as in really fast, I'd probably choose the IS. Flappy paddles prevail. More of a driver experience probably belongs to the Z. Despite its self blipper, that is.

no grip · by **Akane** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:59 am

How can they compare the 2? the IS-F is in a totally different class, leather, 4 door luxury with a lot of power that you can still impress your mates while feel total comfort of those leather seats. the 370Z is a sports coupe.... WTF?

by **2jayzgte** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:51 am

I agree with you when you comparing the gearbox setups and driving pleasure but I'm afraid the writing has been on the wall with these flash autos for years now and unfortunately the next generation of driver will learn how to drive a car on a TV set ie PS 5 or whatever number there upto.

On the flipside though most articles that I have seen about the IS-F's gearbox is that it is brilliant and in this case most say if they prefer a manual are tripping as they reckon the auto in the IS-F is just that good.

For me its not much of a choice really I was'nt a fan of the 350Z so 370 is for people who can't afford a GTR.So I'd take the IS-F its a great piece of kit I've sat in one started one up not driven it though but have had feed-back from people who have driven it on the street and at Manfeild and they reckon its real good.Let downs for this car well the only one I can see the interior is a bit off for a car that retails for $137 K but apart from that I really like it.

Also the IS-F has been on sale in NZ for about 2-3 months now and they have sold 24 nationwide,NZ was allocated 28 so for a car that retails at $137 K and in these economic times the car is also selling well which is another good sign.

by **Lloyd** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:28 am

As above, the IS-F has been out for a while. And the gearboxes feel brilliant, you can hardly tell they're shifting as you're going up through the gears. When you floor it and it drops 5 gears in one go, thats a different story though :lol:

by **solitaire** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:00 am

Had a look at an isf on sunday... oh my god the thing is pure sex... comes in a factory pearl color... beautifull beautifull machine, the $145,000 price will depreciate like crazy though :lol:

Website · by **Mr.Phreak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:29 am

Akane wrote:How can they compare the 2? the IS-F is in a totally different class, leather, 4 door luxury with a lot of power that you can still impress your mates while feel total comfort of those leather seats. the 370Z is a sports coupe.... WTF?

They didn't compare the two, they just both happened to be in the same magazine

And for me it'll always be the IS-F, best of both worlds.

by **Lith** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:41 am

Why are the two cars being compared, they are a completely different target - one is a luxury car with a big V8 and huge price tag and the Z is an "affordable" sports car with a comparatively small revvy V6.

I expect the 370Z to shock a few people in terms of its track ability when it starts getting thrashed around the popular test tracks by competent journos. It has "more power" than any of the previous GTRs/Supras/NSXs, a better chassis, no lag, lots of torque, great brakes etc - I am pretty sure it will prove to be one of the best Japanese sports cars you can get your mits on.

If you want a coupe equivalent to compare with the IS-F, use the R35 GTR - same price range, more fancy gear shifting gizzmos and quite importantly is also targetted at being a flag ship model.

Website · by **Mr.Phreak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:44 am

Lith wrote:The small matter that you could buy two 370Zs for the price of a IS-F should probably come into it? Why are the two cars being compared, they are a completely different target.

Because Adam was bored on the head?? :lol:

by **touge rolla** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:23 pm

2jayzgte wrote:370 is for people who can't afford a GTR.

Not really. "Z" cars have a very large following of their own, and personally I think I'd prefer the 370Z over the new GT-R. They're lighter (isn't that a change from the Z's and GT-R's of old), manual, RWD, and IMO a better looking car. Granted they aren't as fast as the GT-R but they still make more power than you'll ever really need.

by **Lith** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:52 pm

Yeah I kinda quite like the 370Z as well, they are a sweet revvy motor and a mint chassis and quite mint looking. Definitely not as quick as the GTR but still quite good.

by **frost** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:09 pm

does the new 370 still have a Renault engine?

by **Alex B** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:41 pm

frost wrote:does the new 370 still have a Renault engine?

Someone has been watching old top gear :lol:

Nothing wrong with VQ engines. VQ30 i think was rated one of the worlds top 10 engines for quite a few years.

by **frost** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:55 pm

pyro_sniper2002 wrote:
frost wrote:does the new 370 still have a Renault engine?

Someone has been watching old top gear

Nothing wrong with VQ engines. VQ30 i think was rated one of the worlds top 10 engines for quite a few years.

guilty as charged. i do like the 350z but when i saw it was Renault powered i had memory relapses of the renevers that came into the work shop. needing pretty much everything replaced.

by **AE86less** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:19 am

I saw an IS-F yesterday and wooded up.

by **Lith** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:55 am

frost wrote:guilty as charged. i do like the 350z but when i saw it was Renault powered i had memory relapses of the renevers that came into the work shop. needing pretty much everything replaced.

Well you'll be happy to know the 350Zs etc were never Renault powered, the VQ/VG series of Nissan motors go way back - as eluded to by someone else the motor is related to the VQ30 Maxima (and others) engine which won engine of the year for years in a row before Renault came on board.

Whoever (ie Topgear) told you that are very misinformed. The VQ37HR makes around 250kw and revs to over 7000rpm making good noises and fun times as it does so

by **groupagt4** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:10 pm

+1 for the 370, just looks like a way better track car, and its better looking. if i wanted something like a isf i would get the new m3

by **Mr Revhead** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:20 pm

good thing its not a Renault V6! bloody horrible things!

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