SavedByFaith_
Well-Known Member
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Hello fellow Z enthusiasts and all alike, this post is my journey in acquiring my Z, driving her 3000km / 1850mi back home and my overall impression of the car thus far.
I need to start by saying how much of a journey this all was -I thank Jesus Christ, my King & Savior, for everything, and to bring her back home during this past Easter/Resurrection weekend really put everything in order to top it all off.
Getting/Owning the Car:
As many of us have experienced, this was by far the hardest part throughout this endeavor - this is an understatement. To be honest, I didn't really follow the launch of the Z in the early days. It's been a dream of mine to own a sports car and the Z is my first. Back in April of 2022, I was in a fortunate situation to be able to afford a sports car (be it one of my goals before I hit 30yo [currently 29!]) after talking with my Wife and checking the finance I had put a budget together. Now it was a matter of "which" car. I looked at everything within a 80-120k CAD budget, considering both new and used, cars like: AM V8 Vantage (my absolute dream car), Lexus LC500, Corvettes, M2/M3/M4, you name it. Being a 90s kid, I had that nostalgia for F&F / Tokyo Drift and overall the JDM scene (having owned only JDM cars both growing up and as my first set of cars.), so during my search, the moment I laid eyes on the Z - it was sealed, need that! it was sexy!!!! it had a Turbo!!! decent modern tech, but the look and the turbo engine sealed it for me.
So in early May 2022, I go to my local Nissan dealership to put in a "$1000" deposit for a "reservation". The Sales agent was clear that this isn't a reservation or anything, but just a way to get into the queue. When asked at that time when the car would arrive, it was optimistic for end of Summer 22 - I was okay with this, even if I only got to drive it for a handful of weeks before storing due to Canadian winters, I was okay with that and waited patiently. So end of summer comes, and the update now is... Early Spring for 23. Okay... well as long as I get that car by May 1st 23, I'll be content; being able to drive for the whole season of 23. Now throughout these 7/8 months of waiting in 22 - the sales agent was a "dick" to be frank.... never providing updates unless I texted first (often waiting a handful of day before answering) and coming up with "gimmicking" excuses (car is rare, covid, no one buys sports cars, made in Japan, etc.) As we've all experienced - I was losing faith QUICK.
Started to hit my limits around Christmas time in 22, I started to see the Z pop up on Autotrader on a national filter (I'm obsessed, was checking daily since Aug...). I called each listing and every dealer basically said "these are allocated cars, we're just putting the ad up to get marketing and bring people into the dealership to see the car in some cases and get an order in for themselves in all cases. [I swear, I called and asked about the cars for all the canucks on here who got their car in the last 4/5 months]. I was livid... started to contemplate cancelling my deposit and buying the LC500... walked into my local Lexus dealership just before Christmas and almost signed, reason I didn't... i t was a 4-8 month wait time, and i just couldn't fathom possibly getting the car in Aug, near the end of the season. So I held on... still searching Autotrader and then it happened... right after the new year, there was a listing on Autotrader for a white Auto Performance in Regina, SK (Note: I live in Montreal and I was leaning manual, but given the opportunity, just went for it!) and it said "immediate delivery", called and basically bought the car the same day. Started with a 1k deposit to "hold", they removed the ad and kept their word; by the end of the week; got approval from the bank and credit checks. The following week - signed and owned (Jan 15, 2023). Told the dealership to keep it in the showroom (no touching, no sitting) and I'll pick it up early spring. I also worked a deal to pay my down payment in 4 portions (each month until April, where I'd pay the last portion in person. This was all extremely kind of the dealer/agent and worked in favor of my financial situation as I was able to pay off the bank loan before picking up the Car!!!)
*** Dealer markup was 3k through "Mandatory Packages"****
The relief I felt on Jan 15 was priceless.... I got the car and more importantly... I was getting it in time for Spring to enjoy a full season of driving glory.
During the few months of waiting, I was able to get a full Paint Protection Film Service, Ceramic Coating and window tints with a reputable shop in Regina [costed 8k Cad for those wondering].
Driving her Home:
As mentioned above, I bought the car out of Regina, SK and needed to driver her back home to Montreal, QC (about 3000km / 1850mi). I was to do this in 4 days, 3 nights, where I drove the majority and gave my Wife a stint of around 2hrs per day. It's still very early spring here in Canada, so needed to drive through salt/sand, but had absolute fabulous weather with sunny skies & dry roads. I broke her in with the first 1200km, that is warming the car for 15m (cold morning up here!), driving long periods of time, keeping the RPMs under 4k and trying to maintain a variable speed of around 5-10km (basically not using cruise control), a little bit of variable braking here and there and swerving / aggressive turn into corners to adjust the suspension and body roll. the first 1200kms were boring, both cause of the break-in and the roads in that stint were straight and no elevation/turns (welcome to the prairies of Canada).
Nearing the 1200kms, I was in north Ontario (Thunder Bay) with better turns and nice roads, started to open her up - varying pulls (3-5k, then 4-6k, finally full hammer down at around 1300-1350kms), aggressive turn-ins with winding roads and just enjoying amazing back roads. The drive out of Thunder Bay into my next destination, Sault-Sainte Marie (SSM) was the highlight/glory road. about 600kms of back roads winding through the mountains and hills of Ontario riding along side the great lakes. Roads were empty (perks of traveling in the middle of Easter weekend) other then the average 18 wheelers and a few pickup trucks. On this stretch is where I hit 200kph / 120mph - let me tell you, the car gets to these speeds quick and it makes carrying these speeds look like rookie numbers. I'm turning into corners at around 100-140kph depending on the turn - smiling the whole day and just made me cherish the moments and journey of acquiring the car!
The last leg was from SSM back to my home in Montreal. I was quite tired from all the driving and the excitement from the previous day, so I took it easy on this last leg. Still some nice roads through middle of Ontario and overall enjoying the car. More relaxed here, so not surpassing 160kph (really just to pass those slow movers, as most of the Ontario highway was two lane, with oncoming on the other lane.) Did some more pulls here and there and I was more focused on reading the temps of the car to understand the moving parts and how they relate to performance. All in all, it was a great trip which allowed me to really learn the ins and outs of the car (tech, cabin space, settings, steering feedback, tire feedback and grip perspectives, g-force and body roll through corners and pulls, etc.)
My Impressions of the Car:
First I must state that this is my first "sports car" that I've owned, all my previous cars were under 200HP; although I've driven nicer/more powerful cars in my past; albeit for short periods of time and not being able to fully push these cars as they were not mine in all cases (rentals, friends, etc.). Secondly, I have watched 90% of the reviews on the Z (like most of us I imagine, be it Canadian, American and Australian reviews) but really didn't pay attention to much in these reviews and surely did not obsess over them right before driving my car (basically, the last few weeks before sitting and driving my car, I cleared my mind of bias and pre-judgements and just wanted to feel her out myself).
Without doubt, approaching the car to get in, it's that deep joy you feel - because it's super beautiful to look at and you know you're about to sit in beauty and the beast.
That being said... The car is a Grand Tourer first and becomes a "Sports Car" quickly when needed (call it 60/40).
It's hard to put into words how this comes to be; basically when you're on good roads and cruising (regardless of speed, say anything between 2k-3k RPM) the car is smooth as butter and you feel confident in everything the car offers. Sure, it's a little noisy in the cabin, but I had my music volume anywhere around 15-20 and I barely heard "road noise" (disclaimer: depends on the road, I experienced "more" noise on roads with more "texture"); but when I say confident in everything the car offers, I mean, you know you're in this helluva fast car that wants/should be aggressive as heck - but it gives you the choice of not going all in every time you're on the accelerator, brake, steering wheel. Then... when you want that "jazz" it'll give it to you - as many have said, the turbo power comes linearly and is fun at all ranges, but man oh man, after the 4.5k RPM, it's a beast (this is where the exhaust volumes, at least in an auto are "feasible / passable" for an enthusiast). Same with the corner-in speed, grip, steering feedback kicks in (some reviews mentioned how the steering was soft, all the electronic stuff ruined the hydraulic feel, blah blah. I can understand why they said this, when the car is in "GT" mode, yes the steering is a little soft [tbh the steering is actually "heavy", takes some effort to turn and all, which I was surprised given it's electric steering, but the soft feeling is just a little lack of steering feedback, you get more feel out of the tire grip in these "soft" moments]). It's as simple as, when you want to be "that guy", either the "Fast Guy" or the "I'm a racing car driver who takes the racing line Guy" - the car will provide... the steering, tire, brakes, engine, suspension all come to life in that moment and allow you to do with it as you please.
This dichotomy of "GT / Sports" Car is truly bliss in my honest opinion... allows me the space and time for comfort but easily allows me to be more then satisfied with truly running the car to the limits (and trust me, I didn't even get to these "limits", I feel there's still the "last two/three chapters" in the car that I've yet to explore [extreme spirited driving]).
Lastly... you get out of the car of the car and it's just pure Sex.... the "lookback" - every time, 5 times at least...that breath you take out of the car after the drive (whether it be a grocery run, spirited back roads stint) is priceless.
The car physically.... Pictures will never do justice
The car emotionally / experience..... don't think it may be expressed to virgins / foreigners...
The car.. the Z, is a Japanese Sports Car, built by Japanese people who both love and more importantly understand what it means to be proper in public but crazy on the back roads.
As for future plans, at the moment - run it stock for a little. I'm in the process of booking time with a garage who specializes in JDM / Q50s to get MAP full downpipes and catback exhaust installed (probably early May), thereafter.... maybe a Tune. What I can say... I'm more then impressed and content (other then exhaust, and I know I didn't really explain why) with the Car and don't feel the need to rush into all those mods - I want to appreciate and cherish what JDM legends have built for us.
I'll gladly answer any questions!!!
PICTURES:
I need to start by saying how much of a journey this all was -I thank Jesus Christ, my King & Savior, for everything, and to bring her back home during this past Easter/Resurrection weekend really put everything in order to top it all off.
Getting/Owning the Car:
As many of us have experienced, this was by far the hardest part throughout this endeavor - this is an understatement. To be honest, I didn't really follow the launch of the Z in the early days. It's been a dream of mine to own a sports car and the Z is my first. Back in April of 2022, I was in a fortunate situation to be able to afford a sports car (be it one of my goals before I hit 30yo [currently 29!]) after talking with my Wife and checking the finance I had put a budget together. Now it was a matter of "which" car. I looked at everything within a 80-120k CAD budget, considering both new and used, cars like: AM V8 Vantage (my absolute dream car), Lexus LC500, Corvettes, M2/M3/M4, you name it. Being a 90s kid, I had that nostalgia for F&F / Tokyo Drift and overall the JDM scene (having owned only JDM cars both growing up and as my first set of cars.), so during my search, the moment I laid eyes on the Z - it was sealed, need that! it was sexy!!!! it had a Turbo!!! decent modern tech, but the look and the turbo engine sealed it for me.
So in early May 2022, I go to my local Nissan dealership to put in a "$1000" deposit for a "reservation". The Sales agent was clear that this isn't a reservation or anything, but just a way to get into the queue. When asked at that time when the car would arrive, it was optimistic for end of Summer 22 - I was okay with this, even if I only got to drive it for a handful of weeks before storing due to Canadian winters, I was okay with that and waited patiently. So end of summer comes, and the update now is... Early Spring for 23. Okay... well as long as I get that car by May 1st 23, I'll be content; being able to drive for the whole season of 23. Now throughout these 7/8 months of waiting in 22 - the sales agent was a "dick" to be frank.... never providing updates unless I texted first (often waiting a handful of day before answering) and coming up with "gimmicking" excuses (car is rare, covid, no one buys sports cars, made in Japan, etc.) As we've all experienced - I was losing faith QUICK.
Started to hit my limits around Christmas time in 22, I started to see the Z pop up on Autotrader on a national filter (I'm obsessed, was checking daily since Aug...). I called each listing and every dealer basically said "these are allocated cars, we're just putting the ad up to get marketing and bring people into the dealership to see the car in some cases and get an order in for themselves in all cases. [I swear, I called and asked about the cars for all the canucks on here who got their car in the last 4/5 months]. I was livid... started to contemplate cancelling my deposit and buying the LC500... walked into my local Lexus dealership just before Christmas and almost signed, reason I didn't... i t was a 4-8 month wait time, and i just couldn't fathom possibly getting the car in Aug, near the end of the season. So I held on... still searching Autotrader and then it happened... right after the new year, there was a listing on Autotrader for a white Auto Performance in Regina, SK (Note: I live in Montreal and I was leaning manual, but given the opportunity, just went for it!) and it said "immediate delivery", called and basically bought the car the same day. Started with a 1k deposit to "hold", they removed the ad and kept their word; by the end of the week; got approval from the bank and credit checks. The following week - signed and owned (Jan 15, 2023). Told the dealership to keep it in the showroom (no touching, no sitting) and I'll pick it up early spring. I also worked a deal to pay my down payment in 4 portions (each month until April, where I'd pay the last portion in person. This was all extremely kind of the dealer/agent and worked in favor of my financial situation as I was able to pay off the bank loan before picking up the Car!!!)
*** Dealer markup was 3k through "Mandatory Packages"****
The relief I felt on Jan 15 was priceless.... I got the car and more importantly... I was getting it in time for Spring to enjoy a full season of driving glory.
During the few months of waiting, I was able to get a full Paint Protection Film Service, Ceramic Coating and window tints with a reputable shop in Regina [costed 8k Cad for those wondering].
Driving her Home:
As mentioned above, I bought the car out of Regina, SK and needed to driver her back home to Montreal, QC (about 3000km / 1850mi). I was to do this in 4 days, 3 nights, where I drove the majority and gave my Wife a stint of around 2hrs per day. It's still very early spring here in Canada, so needed to drive through salt/sand, but had absolute fabulous weather with sunny skies & dry roads. I broke her in with the first 1200km, that is warming the car for 15m (cold morning up here!), driving long periods of time, keeping the RPMs under 4k and trying to maintain a variable speed of around 5-10km (basically not using cruise control), a little bit of variable braking here and there and swerving / aggressive turn into corners to adjust the suspension and body roll. the first 1200kms were boring, both cause of the break-in and the roads in that stint were straight and no elevation/turns (welcome to the prairies of Canada).
Nearing the 1200kms, I was in north Ontario (Thunder Bay) with better turns and nice roads, started to open her up - varying pulls (3-5k, then 4-6k, finally full hammer down at around 1300-1350kms), aggressive turn-ins with winding roads and just enjoying amazing back roads. The drive out of Thunder Bay into my next destination, Sault-Sainte Marie (SSM) was the highlight/glory road. about 600kms of back roads winding through the mountains and hills of Ontario riding along side the great lakes. Roads were empty (perks of traveling in the middle of Easter weekend) other then the average 18 wheelers and a few pickup trucks. On this stretch is where I hit 200kph / 120mph - let me tell you, the car gets to these speeds quick and it makes carrying these speeds look like rookie numbers. I'm turning into corners at around 100-140kph depending on the turn - smiling the whole day and just made me cherish the moments and journey of acquiring the car!
The last leg was from SSM back to my home in Montreal. I was quite tired from all the driving and the excitement from the previous day, so I took it easy on this last leg. Still some nice roads through middle of Ontario and overall enjoying the car. More relaxed here, so not surpassing 160kph (really just to pass those slow movers, as most of the Ontario highway was two lane, with oncoming on the other lane.) Did some more pulls here and there and I was more focused on reading the temps of the car to understand the moving parts and how they relate to performance. All in all, it was a great trip which allowed me to really learn the ins and outs of the car (tech, cabin space, settings, steering feedback, tire feedback and grip perspectives, g-force and body roll through corners and pulls, etc.)
My Impressions of the Car:
First I must state that this is my first "sports car" that I've owned, all my previous cars were under 200HP; although I've driven nicer/more powerful cars in my past; albeit for short periods of time and not being able to fully push these cars as they were not mine in all cases (rentals, friends, etc.). Secondly, I have watched 90% of the reviews on the Z (like most of us I imagine, be it Canadian, American and Australian reviews) but really didn't pay attention to much in these reviews and surely did not obsess over them right before driving my car (basically, the last few weeks before sitting and driving my car, I cleared my mind of bias and pre-judgements and just wanted to feel her out myself).
Without doubt, approaching the car to get in, it's that deep joy you feel - because it's super beautiful to look at and you know you're about to sit in beauty and the beast.
That being said... The car is a Grand Tourer first and becomes a "Sports Car" quickly when needed (call it 60/40).
It's hard to put into words how this comes to be; basically when you're on good roads and cruising (regardless of speed, say anything between 2k-3k RPM) the car is smooth as butter and you feel confident in everything the car offers. Sure, it's a little noisy in the cabin, but I had my music volume anywhere around 15-20 and I barely heard "road noise" (disclaimer: depends on the road, I experienced "more" noise on roads with more "texture"); but when I say confident in everything the car offers, I mean, you know you're in this helluva fast car that wants/should be aggressive as heck - but it gives you the choice of not going all in every time you're on the accelerator, brake, steering wheel. Then... when you want that "jazz" it'll give it to you - as many have said, the turbo power comes linearly and is fun at all ranges, but man oh man, after the 4.5k RPM, it's a beast (this is where the exhaust volumes, at least in an auto are "feasible / passable" for an enthusiast). Same with the corner-in speed, grip, steering feedback kicks in (some reviews mentioned how the steering was soft, all the electronic stuff ruined the hydraulic feel, blah blah. I can understand why they said this, when the car is in "GT" mode, yes the steering is a little soft [tbh the steering is actually "heavy", takes some effort to turn and all, which I was surprised given it's electric steering, but the soft feeling is just a little lack of steering feedback, you get more feel out of the tire grip in these "soft" moments]). It's as simple as, when you want to be "that guy", either the "Fast Guy" or the "I'm a racing car driver who takes the racing line Guy" - the car will provide... the steering, tire, brakes, engine, suspension all come to life in that moment and allow you to do with it as you please.
This dichotomy of "GT / Sports" Car is truly bliss in my honest opinion... allows me the space and time for comfort but easily allows me to be more then satisfied with truly running the car to the limits (and trust me, I didn't even get to these "limits", I feel there's still the "last two/three chapters" in the car that I've yet to explore [extreme spirited driving]).
Lastly... you get out of the car of the car and it's just pure Sex.... the "lookback" - every time, 5 times at least...that breath you take out of the car after the drive (whether it be a grocery run, spirited back roads stint) is priceless.
The car physically.... Pictures will never do justice
The car emotionally / experience..... don't think it may be expressed to virgins / foreigners...
The car.. the Z, is a Japanese Sports Car, built by Japanese people who both love and more importantly understand what it means to be proper in public but crazy on the back roads.
As for future plans, at the moment - run it stock for a little. I'm in the process of booking time with a garage who specializes in JDM / Q50s to get MAP full downpipes and catback exhaust installed (probably early May), thereafter.... maybe a Tune. What I can say... I'm more then impressed and content (other then exhaust, and I know I didn't really explain why) with the Car and don't feel the need to rush into all those mods - I want to appreciate and cherish what JDM legends have built for us.
I'll gladly answer any questions!!!
PICTURES:
Great write-up, always appealing to me to pick up a car and make a road trip back, scenery plus learning about the car at the same time breaking it in. Always wanted to do that, in future planning. Even European delivery of some sort (not for the Z) where they lodge and dine you as a package deal.
