Sponsored
Zplz
Well-Known Member
Ouch! Sorry to see this.Well, here we are almost three years after buying my Z, and a co-worker backs out of a parking space as I'm driving by and clips my rear passenger side.Caught a little of the rim as well.
I’m pretty paranoid with my Z, but especially in parking lots. I drive like an old lady in them, with my head on a swivel, while it seems like other lunatics scream through them, as if they’re on the freeway, while texting on their phone and checking their makeup or trimming their ‘stache. 
OP
OP
bpeckham
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #96
Since the fuel rail leakage issue is resolved, I finally got a chance to get the car into my detailer so he could look at the damage.Well, here we are almost three years after buying my Z, and a co-worker backs out of a parking space as I'm driving by and clips my rear passenger side.
Chris at CE Detail is a miracle worker. If any of your forum members are in San Diego, I highly recommend Chris' shop.
Before:
After:
Without me even asking, Chris also found the spot on the hood that I thought was a rock chip.
It turns out this was just some schmutz, and Chris removed it.Washed her today and noticed this gouge in the hood.
That's the reflection of my garage door hanger on the left
Car restored to near showroom looks!
OP
OP
bpeckham
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #97
Well, here we are. I’ve owned my 2023 Performance Z 6MT (two-tone Seiran Blue TriCoat / Super Black, Graphite Leather interior) for three years now. She's racked up 13,807 miles.
I bought my Z when they were very hard to find and dealers were applying large mark ups, but by scouring Nissan’s inventory web site I found the car I wanted at a dealer in AZ. I flew out, bought the car with no mark up, and drove about 500 miles home to CA.
The Z is my third FM platform Nissan product. I owned a 2012 Infiniti G37S 6MT Coupe and a 2003 Infiniti G35 6MT Coupe before the Z. I'd looked at the 370Z and 350Z before buying the Infinitis, and I was certainly interested, but my wife convinced me to go with Infiniti. To be honest, I loved both Infinitis. Since the Q60 is gone (and auto only), it wasn't an option when I was shopping for the Z.
When I was shopping for the Z I also considered the Jaguar F-Type, the Porsche 718, the BMW M2, the Tesla Model 3 Performance, the Toyota Supra, and a few other cars. I settled on the Z because I was looking to repeat the great experiences I’d had with the G37 and G35, it was available in manual, and I liked the looks better than the contenders.
Since then the F-Type is gone, the Supra is going, the 718 is going electric, but the Z is still around. We got the NISMO and a 6MT NISMO. The Z really seems to nicely fill its niche.
After I got the car home I noticed some water spotting on the hood that would just not clean up. After following the advice on this forum, I found myself a good detailer here in San Diego. He did some paint correction and applied ceramic coating. I take the car there once a year to touch up little things. The car basically still looks brand new.
I had the hatch and rear windows tinted shortly after getting the ceramic coating.
The car is my daily driver, and only sees spirited driving on the streets and freeways. I love me an empty on ramp. The car is unmodified.
I changed the engine oil and filter right after the 1,200-mile break-in, and every six months after that, and I've been doing other service based on time, not miles. For example I just did the 30,000-mile / 36-month service. I've replaced the windshield wipers once.
I wore out the rear Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires at around 9,000 miles and I'm working my way through a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The Michelins are a great replacement for the OEM tires, putting power to the ground when the OEM tires would break loose and spin.
I've been on several road trips: to the Bay Area, to Phoenix, and to LA, and I think the car is great for this kind of fun. I wouldn't hesitate to hop in the car and do several hundred miles.
The car is not without its problems and minor annoyances.
The katana on the passenger side doesn't line up, which indicates a fit and finish problem during manufacturing. I checked a MY26 car at the dealer on my recent visit, it seems a little better.
My hatch doesn't open properly, and the dealer attempted several times to fix it, and it's still not fixed. I tried the Z1 hatch poppers for a while, but they caused the hatch to creak and flex, so I'm back to stock. I haven't tried the coin trick.
The windshield is cloudy when driving into the sun.
The non-radar cruise control is flaky. It doesn't adjust intuitively sometimes and just beeps and gives up other times. If you don't adjust it, though, it seems fine, but why so flaky?
The seatbelt guide at my shoulder rattles.
There's no way to turn off hill start assist, and you can disable ANC and ASE, but you have to do it with diagnostic software. Annoying.
And my most recent issue (still ongoing) is the fuel system leak.
All of these things lead me to think that Nissan’s not really making a quality product.
All those complaints aside, I love driving the car. When you accelerate, the car pulls hard in every gear and before you know it, you're easily over the speed limit…by a lot. Even at highway speeds, the car accelerates from 60 to so much faster in no time.
I love the feel of the steering wheel in my hands, the space inside the cabin, the positioning of the shifter, the lightness of the clutch, the perfect SRM downshifts. You can approach a corner, brake a bit, depress the clutch, throw the shifter into second, let the clutch out like no big deal, and accelerate out of the corner almost effortlessly. It's like cheating. Driving this car is so much fun.
TBH, I wish Nissan charged an extra $5k or $10k and fixed all the little annoyances. The car would still be priced less than the competition, and could become a real gem.
For now, the fun drowns out the annoyances.
I bought my Z when they were very hard to find and dealers were applying large mark ups, but by scouring Nissan’s inventory web site I found the car I wanted at a dealer in AZ. I flew out, bought the car with no mark up, and drove about 500 miles home to CA.
The Z is my third FM platform Nissan product. I owned a 2012 Infiniti G37S 6MT Coupe and a 2003 Infiniti G35 6MT Coupe before the Z. I'd looked at the 370Z and 350Z before buying the Infinitis, and I was certainly interested, but my wife convinced me to go with Infiniti. To be honest, I loved both Infinitis. Since the Q60 is gone (and auto only), it wasn't an option when I was shopping for the Z.
When I was shopping for the Z I also considered the Jaguar F-Type, the Porsche 718, the BMW M2, the Tesla Model 3 Performance, the Toyota Supra, and a few other cars. I settled on the Z because I was looking to repeat the great experiences I’d had with the G37 and G35, it was available in manual, and I liked the looks better than the contenders.
Since then the F-Type is gone, the Supra is going, the 718 is going electric, but the Z is still around. We got the NISMO and a 6MT NISMO. The Z really seems to nicely fill its niche.
After I got the car home I noticed some water spotting on the hood that would just not clean up. After following the advice on this forum, I found myself a good detailer here in San Diego. He did some paint correction and applied ceramic coating. I take the car there once a year to touch up little things. The car basically still looks brand new.
I had the hatch and rear windows tinted shortly after getting the ceramic coating.
The car is my daily driver, and only sees spirited driving on the streets and freeways. I love me an empty on ramp. The car is unmodified.
I changed the engine oil and filter right after the 1,200-mile break-in, and every six months after that, and I've been doing other service based on time, not miles. For example I just did the 30,000-mile / 36-month service. I've replaced the windshield wipers once.
I wore out the rear Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires at around 9,000 miles and I'm working my way through a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The Michelins are a great replacement for the OEM tires, putting power to the ground when the OEM tires would break loose and spin.
I've been on several road trips: to the Bay Area, to Phoenix, and to LA, and I think the car is great for this kind of fun. I wouldn't hesitate to hop in the car and do several hundred miles.
The car is not without its problems and minor annoyances.
The katana on the passenger side doesn't line up, which indicates a fit and finish problem during manufacturing. I checked a MY26 car at the dealer on my recent visit, it seems a little better.
My hatch doesn't open properly, and the dealer attempted several times to fix it, and it's still not fixed. I tried the Z1 hatch poppers for a while, but they caused the hatch to creak and flex, so I'm back to stock. I haven't tried the coin trick.
The windshield is cloudy when driving into the sun.
The non-radar cruise control is flaky. It doesn't adjust intuitively sometimes and just beeps and gives up other times. If you don't adjust it, though, it seems fine, but why so flaky?
The seatbelt guide at my shoulder rattles.
There's no way to turn off hill start assist, and you can disable ANC and ASE, but you have to do it with diagnostic software. Annoying.
And my most recent issue (still ongoing) is the fuel system leak.
All of these things lead me to think that Nissan’s not really making a quality product.
All those complaints aside, I love driving the car. When you accelerate, the car pulls hard in every gear and before you know it, you're easily over the speed limit…by a lot. Even at highway speeds, the car accelerates from 60 to so much faster in no time.
I love the feel of the steering wheel in my hands, the space inside the cabin, the positioning of the shifter, the lightness of the clutch, the perfect SRM downshifts. You can approach a corner, brake a bit, depress the clutch, throw the shifter into second, let the clutch out like no big deal, and accelerate out of the corner almost effortlessly. It's like cheating. Driving this car is so much fun.
TBH, I wish Nissan charged an extra $5k or $10k and fixed all the little annoyances. The car would still be priced less than the competition, and could become a real gem.
For now, the fun drowns out the annoyances.
Last edited:
trackratZ
Well-Known Member
There's definitely love in keeping your Z, don't give it up as long as you still get grins driving it, on trips, daily commutes, canyon drives. Of course I still do, now even more that it's tightly buttoned down with just mild suspension upgrades, very fun and refined GT. Had a great Hwy 1 trip recently, now that it's open thru Big Sur!!
I thought your fuel leaks are finally solved ??
I thought your fuel leaks are finally solved ??
OP
OP
bpeckham
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #100
Fuel leaks seem solved. No more gas smell. Milage is back up. I haven't had a chance to go over the service paperwork, maybe this weekend. I'll share if I get some time.
Speaking of CA Highway 1 through Big Sur. I just drove it last Sunday, alas not in the Z. We needed my wife's five-seater for the overall excursion, but Sunday in her F-PACE P400 (when not behind an RV), we ripped down the coast towards San Luis Obispo in sport mode, just the two of us. Lotsa fun, but probably not as fun as the Z would have been.
After washing the bugs off. My Z was in the driveway to wash the Jag in the garage.
Last edited:
trackratZ
Well-Known Member
Yep Hwy 1, hugging the coastline, just awesome. Better run it before summer break, way less traffic!
