Which Nissan Z Generation Is Your Favorite?

[FSUZ33]

Looks like you'll have one thing in common with your Z32...lack of space under the hood.

 

[Skytow]

I am absolutely loving my new to me ‘24 6MT but it all started with a ‘76 280. I loved that car and put over 100k miles on it - it had 100k when I bought it! Every time I look at the new ’24, particularly in profile I see that 280. Love it. Also had a ‘72 240 and ‘79ZX.

 

[Thefunk]

I was never really into the z34 body. Z33 yes. Then rz34 came out the rest is history.

 

[Zplz]

I am absolutely loving my new to me ‘24 6MT but it all started for me with a ‘76 280. I loved that car and put over 100k miles on it - it had 100k when I bought it! Every time I look at the new ’24, particularly in profile I see that 280. Love it. Also had a ‘72 240 and ‘79ZX.

It all started for me, many decades ago, when I saw my first 240Z. it became my first dream car. I'm with you, like many others. My posterior is in a '25 Z, though, to a large degree, because Nissan finally woke up and was smart enough to go back to the beautiful, classic look of the first generation.

 

[David Montgomery]

I just don't understand the hate for the S130 and Z31. I get they were plagued by the 80s, but my 81 Turbo with upgraded suspension and FI system is a blast to drive.

 

[trackratZ]

I just don't understand the hate for the S130 and Z31. I get they were plagued by the 80s, but my 81 Turbo with upgraded suspension and FI system is a blast to drive.

I just think the S130 then Z31 was Nissan trying too much to make that Z to be a GT cruiser, all the electronics digital stuff added and the softest sprung of all gens. Exterior was also over-designed, made the Z look heavy.

But then again when properly modified, stiffened suspension, wider wheels/tires to fill the huge gaps, mild tune, makes for a proper ride. So, interested, show us your Z31!

 

[supra93]

 

[wooferocau]

Great to see some appreciation of the old Z32 !!

 

[David Montgomery]

I just think the S130 then Z31 was Nissan trying too much to make that Z to be a GT cruiser, all the electronics digital stuff added and the softest sprung of all gens. Exterior was also over-designed, made the Z look heavy.

But then again when properly modified, stiffened suspension, wider wheels/tires to fill the huge gaps, mild tune, makes for a proper ride. So, interested, show us your Z31!

I have an S130. Here are my two Zs together near lake winnipesaukee in NH

 

[JWG]

Z34 is peak Z. Same performance as the new Nismo manual, no complex turbo systems, pulls hard to redline, naturally aspirated, lighter. Purist car. I wish they had kept the VQ37 and added the styling of the current car. That would be the best of all worlds, but if forced to pick, the 370Z due to the engine.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/nissan/370z/2010
"With a 332-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 and nifty "SynchroRev Match" six-speed manual, the 370Z rips to 60 in just 4.7 seconds on its way to a quarter-mile of 13.3 at 105.7 mph. Braking from 60 to 0 takes only 106 feet and lateral acceleration comes in at a Rubber Cement score of 0.99 g."

Keep in mind this is on tires with 17 years less tech...


Compared to the new Nismo:

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/first-test-2027-nissan-z-nismo-manual

MotorTrend Test Results
0-60 MPH	4.7 sec
QUARTER MILE	13.2 sec @ 108.0 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	107 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	1.03 g
FIGURE-EIGHT LAP	24.2 sec @ 0.81 g (avg)

 

[takemorepills]

Z34 is peak Z. Same performance as the new Nismo manual, no complex turbo systems, pulls hard to redline, naturally aspirated, lighter. Purist car. I wish they had kept the VQ37 and added the styling of the current car. That would be the best of all worlds, but if forced to pick, the 370Z due to the engine.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/nissan/370z/2010
"With a 332-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 and nifty "SynchroRev Match" six-speed manual, the 370Z rips to 60 in just 4.7 seconds on its way to a quarter-mile of 13.3 at 105.7 mph. Braking from 60 to 0 takes only 106 feet and lateral acceleration comes in at a Rubber Cement score of 0.99 g."

Keep in mind this is on tires with 17 years less tech...


Compared to the new Nismo:

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/first-test-2027-nissan-z-nismo-manual

MotorTrend Test Results
0-60 MPH	4.7 sec
QUARTER MILE	13.2 sec @ 108.0 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	107 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	1.03 g
FIGURE-EIGHT LAP	24.2 sec @ 0.81 g (avg)

I don't know what you're smoking.

I freaking hate the 370Z, what an ugly dog of a car, what's up with the headlight and tail light design looking like lobster claws?

And the VQ37 is the worst version of the VQ family, coarse, rough, low torque and poor fuel economy.

I've owned and modified several VQ vehicles, I've driven all of the VQ variants and have driven the VR upgraded ones that used to be VQ.... The VR is a far better engine.

 

[JWG]

I don't know what you're smoking.

I freaking hate the 370Z, what an ugly dog of a car, what's up with the headlight and tail light design looking like lobster claws?

And the VQ37 is the worst version of the VQ family, coarse, rough, low torque and poor fuel economy.

I've owned and modified several VQ vehicles, I've driven all of the VQ variants and have driven the VR upgraded ones that used to be VQ.... The VR is a far better engine.

I do like the looks of the 23+ car more for sure, but the VQ in stock vs stock trim is a far better engine. The cars perform similarly acceleration wise, and it has far less heat to deal with and less complexity as well. That sweet 7500rpm redline and pulling all the way to it is music. Never found it harsh and gearing made up for low tq. You just have to drive it. (Be in the correct gear) while the 23+ will allow less from you and still deliver similar performance.

 

[mikecarpage]

....I wish they had kept the VQ37 and added the styling of the current car. .....

I always wonder, what if Nissan offered both N/A and Twin Turbo for the new Z, satisfying both worlds. Supra had two motors to start but then cut their entry level option. Sport could have been N/A, Performance - TT. Nismo - TT with more power. Or make both engine options configurable in all trims?

It would have been 1 more nod to the Z31/Z32. Maybe further down the road the aftermarket will swap VQs into RZ34s. One can imagine.

 

[takemorepills]

The reason that the VQ and VR Z cars perform similarly from a dig is because the FM chassis really doesn't put down the power at all, even the VQ could overwhelm traction. LSD or open diff, OEM or better tires, the FM chassis struggles to get whatever engine power is powering it to the ground.

My coworker has a twin turbo Cadillac rwd that hooks up and launches HARD, that's a good rwd chassis.

However, in the AWD Infiniti cars, which had the same transmission and the same body but changed from VQ to VR, the difference was much more obvious. The low output 300 hp VR was as quick as the higher output VQ, but with better torque and lower RPM driveability. The 400 hp VR just smashed the VQ.

The Infiniti platforms were way heavier, especially with AWD, than the Z and that made the superiority of both VR engines more apparent.

The current Z is a GT car, I don't think even with heavy mods that it'd be able to launch like a BMW or GM RWD car. But there's no world where I'd rather have the VQ37. I put 60k trouble free miles on my VQ37, the only bad things I had to say about it were addressed by the VR.
Way better fuel economy
Way better torque (great for a GT car)
Easy to add 80-100 RWHP.

 

[JWG]

The reason that the VQ and VR Z cars perform similarly from a dig is because the FM chassis really doesn't put down the power at all, even the VQ could overwhelm traction. LSD or open diff, OEM or better tires, the FM chassis struggles to get whatever engine power is powering it to the ground.

My coworker has a twin turbo Cadillac rwd that hooks up and launches HARD, that's a good rwd chassis.

However, in the AWD Infiniti cars, which had the same transmission and the same body but changed from VQ to VR, the difference was much more obvious. The low output 300 hp VR was as quick as the higher output VQ, but with better torque and lower RPM driveability. The 400 hp VR just smashed the VQ.

The Infiniti platforms were way heavier, especially with AWD, than the Z and that made the superiority of both VR engines more apparent.

The current Z is a GT car, I don't think even with heavy mods that it'd be able to launch like a BMW or GM RWD car. But there's no world where I'd rather have the VQ37. I put 60k trouble free miles on my VQ37, the only bad things I had to say about it were addressed by the VR.
Way better fuel economy
Way better torque (great for a GT car)
Easy to add 80-100 RWHP.

I can't disagree there.