It’s rare to find people who review Manual Transmission here in Canada/US and you do a great job, as we can feel the enthusiasm and passion you got with Cars! Thanks for an unbiased review.
Its very hard to actually find reviews of the Z that arent all praise so I really appreciate your neutral take on the car. Great review as always Eric!
Hello - i know it is an old comment but did you notice any 2nd gear grind or find the 2nd gear notchy? I hear it is a very common problem in the Z Manual.
@@PikaQPika Oh ok - thanks for the reply. So, the new Manual trans Zs are all fixed and good now? Asking cause it will be my next purchase as soon as my loan on my current car gets paid ;)
On point review! I have had my Z for 3 months and have not been on the track yet but your interpretations support my experience to date. However I did not buy it to leave it stock. Z1 and Nismo have me covered and look forward to before and after track comparisons.
If you own a z. Get downpipes, nismo intake, a lightweight flywheel/clutch and solid shifter bushings. Will wake the car right up and will improved the shifting 100%. The damped flywheel from factory is the heaviest of any z ever made and doesn’t like fast revving/shifting
Never heard about the throttle delay in like 15 other reviews.. Are you sure this wasn't an issue with just this specific car? I'm considering buying one and you have me spooked now lol
I am very sensitive for those kinds of delays and tend to notice / take issue with them more than others. So some people might not event notice. And I'm confident it's not just this Z unfortunately.
Why do Canadians keep mistaking mustangs and camaros for sports cars. THEY ARE MUSCLE CARS. They are loud, obnoxious, in-your-face, brash, crude, anything-but-subtle, muscle cars. The Z is a sports car. It's a smooth and polite cruiser when you want it to be. It's sneaky fast when you want to surprise some A-Hole in a Mopar Challenger. You can use it as a daily driver and be very comfortable. Comparing a Z to a Camaro is like comparing a Samurai or a Ninja to Macho Man Randy Savage or Hulk Hogan. They go about their business in completely different ways. The Z was developed to be a sports car, not a track car. The Nismo is the track version if track times are your main concern. However, the ride is not as refined on the road. I suppose they could have equipped the z with adaptive/adjustable dampers but that would have added weight and probably subtracted from long-term reliability. As someone who just leased a 2024 Z Performance manual, I can happily say it has never disappointed me. It's fun. It's gorgeous. It's comfortable. The ride/handling balance is perfect for back roads. When I take it to the track, it will be just as fun since I'm not trying to set a lap record. Obviously, it's just a set of tires, springs, and software tweaking away from being perfect. I guarantee it will outsell the BMW Supra.
Coming from a 370Z Nismo, this new Z just needs a few mods to wake it up, and I figure since the aftermarket support is there, it can fix the issues you mentioned. Throttle response can be fixed with bolt on mods and a tune, suspension and tires can be changed to a set of good coil overs and tires. At its current price point and even a year after launch, you can find some of these rn for about $50K to $55K on the used market, which I think is a bargain. Also a car that’s a little wilder and more raw and analogue feeling is something I’d pick over a car that’s too digital if that makes sense. Great review of the car!
Hopefully as supply increases the price will drop even more. As you said, with the right upgrades this car could be great - and I really want it to be!
Good review. Pretty accurate description of the car. Can’t say I’ve noticed the pedal delay you speak of after 5000km in mine? There’s certainly a hint of turbo lag at times but that is minimal. The car definitely needs a set of coilovers and an exhaust to wake it up if you really enjoy driving hard. Other than that I’m loving it!
I think the car is brilliant. Nissan did it right. The styling is brilliant and so are the engine/transmission combos. The interior was updated where it needed to be. The car is a nostalgia trip in a very good way. I'm okay with the relatively soft suspension for a stock car.
One's impression of the Z really depends on the expectations. I wanted it to be an engaging sports car, which it sadly (from my point of view) isn't. However, it's a great GT with plenty of charm and beautiful looks.
Every single review I’ve read says the same thing regarding the tires. Driving mine feels like it could slide at any moment. Question for anyone here: What would be the best tire recommendation?
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are somewhat of a safe choice when looking for performance tires. The 4S don't have the smoothest "traction loss" than some other tires, so I'm not 100% sure how well they would get a long with the Z's rear suspension but at the very least you'll have much more predicable and capable tires.
Rev hang and delay? I don't prefer Bridgestones, either. (especially not on MX-5 Miata) The Z would seem "compromised" by its strengths versus weaknesses.
Great review Eric! I enjoy the look of this new Z, while its not perfect, I hope we see more cars that use this kind of styling. The rear end reminds me of that Hyundai concept car, with its boxy design.
The 1LE has a hideous interior with more complicated lines than the Nazca desert. Yeah, it has more practicality with a back seat but I can't look around and enjoy the interior. Also the ride is not as comfortable as the Z.
It's actually not an issue stemming inherent to electronic throttles. The vast majority have good throttle response even with these systems... this one is on Nissan itself.
@@GCCarsCA that is true, i drove a GMC Terrain 2012 model at one of my old workplaces. i was able to floor the gas pedal and immediately lift off with no engine response whatsoever. i also drove a 2009 Mustang bullitt with no gap in throttle response. felt like a cable throttle. i just dislike electronic throttles. harder to fix if/when the electronics go bad. cable? far easier to fix.
I don't believe these exist. I live in Toronto and have never seen one of these on the roads, and Nissan Canada website keeps mentioning Covid (!) for supply issues.
It is fine....Yes the Supra is faster but this is fine for what 99% of the people that buy one want to do with it. Also this car is beautiful. The Supra is ugly and there are plenty of cars that are faster than the Supra
The BMW 2 series has a crooked drivers seat. Guarantee that will bug you to no end if you buy it. The cockpit layout is way better in the Z. It feels like a racecar. The BMW feels like a silicon valley cubicle. The Z's shortcomings are easily solved compared to the major quirks/flaws in the 2 series. If you like the inline 6, you could try the BMW Supra first. It probably doesn't have the crooked driver seat but it also doesn't have a manual hand brake. Hill starts will be a nightmare. I also hear it's extremely cramped inside and difficult to see out of and get in and out of. The rear hatch opening also has difficulty with luggage. The cargo volume is fine if you can figure out how to finagle anything through the opening.
@@07wrxtr1 I recommend you at least test drive the new Z. Today's "automotive journalists" tend to piggy back off each other's critiques so as not to sound like they're "bought" by the manufacturer with the free weekly press vehicle. You'll note that this review featured zero track footage. All driving footage was on local roads. The only way you'd conclude the new Z was too soft is by taking it to the absolute limits on a track. You'll not even come close to its limits on local back roads without killing yourself. I worked as an automotive journalist for 10 years. And, I can assure you I've never felt the Z's suspension was too soft or chassis not rigid enough on local roads. I've yet to track it but I plan on doing so asap. I will agree the tires are a cost-cutting choice. They do break free on hard acceleration in second gear. But, that's an easy fix. And it's also a testament to the torque swell provided by the twin turbos. Also, let's be honest. It's fucking fun to break those tires free every once in a while. The ride is excellent. Not too stiff yet well-controlled. Not "float-y" as some suggest. Small pot holes don't upset it. It's a sports car suspension. Not a track car suspension. That's the way it should be. If you like your 370z, you'll love the new one. Oh, I guess I didn't make it clear. I leased a Z Performance manual. So I know what it's like to live with for more than a week. If it was any stiffer, I'd be sick of it by now. I hate riding in lowered or "track-tuned" cars on anything other than a track. The Z feels sporty. Not race-y. Not soft...It's basically the one Goldilocks would choose. It's just right.
@@quesnoy1 Yeah I would do the tires and front swaybar = best way to improve the new Z... and perhaps a basic off the shelf tune for 91 octane...drive it for a bit and then figure out if it needs anything else... I am keeping my 370z - paid off and the last 10 years have been a great experience
While that is true, it would be nice if Nissan would have "fixed" the car from the factory. And I'm afraid the suspension is the hardest and most expensive to fix.
As an American I have to ask: There's just a Z there. there's no ed. What's the logic behind adding it and expecting everyone else to? No hate, genuinely curious.
@@shadowharu well, I suspect “Zed” used in English (UK, CAD, AUS, NZ) comes from the French language. Some argues that a lot of the English (UK) language was influenced by the French language (and others languages, too). We pronounced it Zed in French and the Uk uses the same prononciation. Same for spelling: programme, organisation, metre, centre, litre, etc all are French spelling. UK used to be very much influenced by the French. I am fluently bilingual (french and English, being French Canadian married with an English speaker for 30 years …), and I am amazed at how many words came from French. I also did 7 years of Latin (poor me) so words etymology is something I notice. Ergo, Zed. But pronounced it the way you want it. This segment was filmed in Ontario, and he is Canadian. I assumed he wants to please a larger audience, and used the Zee prononciation for this purpose. Enjoy your Easter!
@@Canadian_Icecube That's quite interesting. I admit I'm fairly uncultured when it comes to languages other than American English. Always game to learn more. Thanks!
Thanks a lot! And as a transplant to Canada I have to admit that my defiant pronunciation of "Z" is something I'll never give up, ha! But I appreciate the insight you gave in terms of where the differing pronunciations originate from. Happy Easter!
@@shadowharu Don’t sell yourself short my friend! I can learn so much from you, of that I am certain. We are both so lucky to live where we do, with the open roads and the nice people around us. Cheers!
i think this car is a disappointment, i was very excited for this hoping it to be the savior keeping the spirit of jdm cars alive, unfortunately it’s very bland, unlike it’s predecessor it’s not a very pleasant car to turn sideways it’s heavy the suspension is very floaty the opposite of what the gr86 so it fails as a drivers focused car, and for the current price point you’re better off getting supra or mustang for straight line performance unfortunately
I think that's a fair verdict. It's a shame really, but luckily the Z is not beyond saving in terms of sports car appeal. I'm hopeful that the upcoming NISMO version can fix my complaints. Also, GR86 / BRZ review should be coming this year, super excited to test it!
You're basing your disappointment off the opinion of one person. Wait until you drive the car before you make those judgements. I've owned the car for more than one weekend. I was also an automotive journalist for 10 years. I've driven many performance cars. The handling is great. The ride is great. The tires could be better. It looks great. The overall experience inside the cabin is great. If you like Japanese sports cars, it will not disappoint you. If you're into American muscle/Pony cars, you'll miss the obnoxious V8 exhaust but that can also be very fatiguing on a daily driver or even a weekly driver. The Z is more refined than any American muscle car. I'm not including the Cadillacs in that statement. The CT4 blackwing has a very nice interior and is pretty refined. But, it also doesn't like to rev. Again, most people (other than Canadians, I guess) don't cross shop Japanese sports cars with American muscle cars. They just have completely different characters. Both are great. Both can be very fun. Both inspire a completely different mood. Both provide completely different feelings of nostalgia. The Z will remind you of Japan's golden age (the 90s). The Camaro, Mustang, Challenger, etc. will remind you of America's golden age (the 60s). It all comes down to which posters you had on your wall as a kid.
@@GCCarsCA So you are saying that is the Performance Model with the better suspension. Yet it does NOT have a Black top? Does that mean the Black painted roof does not come Standard in the Performance Model?
I really don't like the look at all the interior has a similar look to the Subaru BRZ and is not as sporty as the 370z and now with new technology you can add a Tesla screen to any car now not worth the high price.