datzenmike Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I remember my first EFI drive (not mine) I pumped the gas to set the choke. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Most Ratsun guys don't even want a bare bones 510. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Future Z car must: The Big Three RWD. Above all else. Be a 5 or 6 speed NO automatic option. This isn't for driving the larva to school. Two seater. This isn't for getting groceries and keeps the weight down. Weigh no more than 3,000 lbs. less would be better as brakes, tires, motor could all be made smaller and lighter to match. It's a sports car! NOT a 'Personal Luxury' car with sports option. No air, heated seats, and mirrors, GPS nav., electric windows bull shit. You want air-con? roll the goddamn window down by hand. Engine size proportional to body weight. Should have minimum 10 to one (3,000 lbs for 300hp) weight to hp ratio, less is more. Surely they can find some direct injection, maybe a small turbo all aluminum, under 350 pound, under 2.5 liter 4 or V6 for this? Brakes... rear disc but fronts don't have to be 15" rotor 8 piston calipers.... the car weighs less than 3,000 pounds! Keep the weight down. Just something that stops very well, (ABS of course and power assist) and grips the road. Tires don't have to be a foot wide either. Steering.... power assist (electric?) R&P. IRS I suppose, perhaps with a rear trans/axle for good weight distribution. Sit low to the ground and meant for pavement only use. Rigid light composite body, minimum creature comforts, comfortable seats, good front and side view. Quote Link to comment
metalmonkey47 Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 (edited) IMO, they need to continue into a high revving V8. I think a low displacement V8 is what they need for sure. EDIT: Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing them do something with the VR38 from the GTR. It wouldn't hurt for it to be lighter, but at the same time... 240Z = 2.4L L24 or L20A(Fairlady only) 260Z = 2.6L L26 280Z = 2.8L L28/L28ET 300ZX = 3.0L VG30DETT/VG30ET 350Z =3.5L VQ35 370Z = 3.7L VQ37 Get what I'm sayin? Downgrading the engine would be an insult to the Z cars memory, as the first TRUE import sports car. Edited July 2, 2012 by metalmonkey47 Quote Link to comment
metalmonkey47 Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I remember my first EFI drive (not mine) I pumped the gas to set the choke. At work, my commercial truck is a 2011 Ford Ranger. The transition from 70's Datsun to a brand new ranger is phenomenal. Still rather drive my truck day to day though. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 IMO, they need to continue into a high revving V8. I think a low displacement V8 is what they need for sure. EDIT: Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing them do something with the VR38 from the GTR. It wouldn't hurt for it to be lighter, but at the same time... 240Z = 2.4L L24 or L20A(Fairlady only) 260Z = 2.6L L26 280Z = 2.8L L28/L28ET 300ZX = 3.0L VG30DETT/VG30ET 350Z =3.5L VQ35 370Z = 3.7L VQ37 Get what I'm sayin? Downgrading the engine would be an insult to the Z cars memory, as the first TRUE import sports car. A 1,500 pound 150 horse car will out perform in every way, a 3,200 (or whatever a 350/370 weighs) except top speed. A lighter car will always stop faster and turn shorter radius. You can keep the 370 motor then but drop the car weight 500 pounds. Get rid of all the crap. The lighter the car gets the lighter you can make other things like brakes and suspension, wheels and tires. This would give incredible handling and braking performance. To keep everyone happy make a new V8 engine under 3 liters. Quote Link to comment
Silky_Johnson Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 While I feel like Donnie from The Big Lebowski (being out of my element), maybe this video will help prove Mike's point? And before anyone throws a fit about the accuracy of the test, I know that the results are subjective. It's just making a point. I saw a video once where they rallied a 510 against the new Nissan Juke, and the results were similar. The problem is that the 510 had a KA24DE in it. Not really a fair test... Quote Link to comment
goonfan Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Top Gear is a great show but keep in mind it's mostly entertainment. A stock 260z is not as fastas a 370z, its not even close. Those were cars owned by a local Zedd club. I would like them to come in under 3k curb weight. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 The problem then it to put the buying public on a diet to reduce the bloated weight of their cars. The zx was the worst for options and creature comforts added to the beautifully simple, simply beautiful 240z. A race horse turned into a Clydesdale. Why? because there was money to be made selling an option package to the public and the more creature comforts, the more people, (like more older people) would be attracted to buying one. I remember when the new zx came out..... it had sadly become an old man's car like the Corvette and the Thunderbird. No longer was it a two seat sports car. I fear that limiting the weight will limit the comfort options and reduce sales below a threshold level of buyers that can support and justify the car's profitability. It could become a niche super car great to drive but poor on sales. I further doubt that Nissan will make a car solely for those who like to drive a sports car like they did in with the early Fairlady. Why do we buy old Datsuns? Because they are light and simple and with a few motor, brake and suspension up grades become superb fun cars to drive. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Yep, they wouldn't sell many, but would have to spend the usual 1/2 billion dollars to create such a car. More realistically they could do a "track" version like Porsche does. A standard 370Z, totally street legal but 500 pounds less weight. No air, no automatic, no sound deadening, etc. Then like Porsche, charge more for it than the regular version. Quote Link to comment
OmakZ Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I just hope that cheaper and lighter doesn't mean turning everything into cheap ass plastic. But if they do it will be just like the original ;) Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 But if they do it will be just like the original ;) The difference being the original had style. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Wouldn't it be great if they re-manufactured some original Z-cars? Quote Link to comment
goonfan Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Wouldn't it be great if they re-manufactured some original Z-cars? They did that already. Quote Link to comment
Rhapakatui Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I agree with Mike in all but the air conditioning. If I'm going to pay for a new car, I have to be able to daily drive it. I'd rather a daily driver with no heater than no ac. I can sit still for an hour in traffic on the coldest day southeast Texas has to offer, but when it's 100 plus with 50% humidity, temperatures inside a car can quickly reach 130 with the widows down. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 And I need the automatic or my wife won't drive it. Original Zs came with automatics so it's keeping it old school! Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Well lets have 4 door then. Quote Link to comment
Silky_Johnson Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Well lets have 4 door then. Haha! That's sick - and not in a good way. We don't need Z cars going the way of the Porsche Panamera. Quote Link to comment
ArchetypeDatsun Posted July 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I don't even want to see 2+2 models in that case but they sure make good parts cars! Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I don't even want to see 2+2 models in that case but they sure make good parts cars! No 4 door please.. lol Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 ... ok Quattroporte then. Quote Link to comment
Silky_Johnson Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 I don't even want to see 2+2 models in that case but they sure make good parts cars! Yeah. At the risk of insulting 2+2 owners, I think they look disgusting. Quote Link to comment
Rhapakatui Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 No Mike. No 4 door. No automatic. No radio even, but us southerners need ac as much as canooks need heaters. It's all moot anyway. Only way it'd happen would be if Ratsun won the lotto and built it. Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Ill take a fly by wire manual/auto tranny, they shift faster, and less linkage if they put the tranny in the rear for weight distribution. Radio, yes please, even my 510 has a stereo in it. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Looks like almost no one wants a bare bones Z-car. Only Mike. Quote Link to comment
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