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With the coming of the new Z, the blood line is continued, it sure helps push the older gens up in demand, nice stats here - Is the Nissan Z poised to become the next 911? | Hagerty Media
How so?It sure is. Cars like them are not coming back.
This also goes for many other Japanese cars from the 80's and 90's.
As great as the new Z is, it will never provide an experience like what the 300ZX, 280Z and 240Z can.
How so?
Z32 is sleek, and different than Z31, but not AS starkly different as Z31 is from S130 and S30 were before it.The change from Z31 to Z32 was a complete change, not a revision. IMO, it became a true driver's car with cockpit design, handling, and asthetic breakthroughs.
This stylistic homage to all the models is a collection of design elements without cohesion.
The Z31 retained many peculiarities of the previous 280ZX. The super-squatty rear suspension, the whole "GT" vibe, Tokyo fab interior electronics including optional voice system. I had a few Z31's whilst my friends had 280ZX's, the 2 cars felt/appeared remarkably similar. We also had a Z32 amongst our friends, and that car was completely different, felt totally "clean-sheet".Z32 is sleek, and different than Z31, but not AS starkly different as Z31 is from S130 and S30 were before it.
S130 280ZX to Z31 300ZX was a drastic change.
That's because it was. It was one of the first cars in the world designed on computers using CAD software.We also had a Z32 amongst our friends, and that car was completely different, felt totally "clean-sheet".
The cars from our past, our youth, hold fond memories for sure but to say the Z experience won’t be like the 300zx, et al, I think unfairly ranks one’s glory days ahead of the superior performance of today’s sports/performance cars. Bear in mind that the 370Z on which the new Z is based was as unrefined as they come so I fully expect the new Z to be visceral and somewhat primitive (but less so than a 370Z) so it‘lol be anything but sterile or soulless. In fact, I enjoy the unrefined nature of my current G37S Coupe 6MT so much that I’d be disappointed if the new Z weren’t similarly “handicapped”. I had two 280ZX’s and a 1990 Sentra SE-R back in the day. While they were great cars in their own right, it’s the memories, not the dynamics, that stuck with me. Don’t get me wrong... I loved the smoothness and the sound of my 280’s in-line six just as I enjoyed the high revving yet torquey down low SR20DE in the SE-R, but it was the road trips, going out on dates, long distance drives to visit my girlfriend (now wife) that made those cars seem greater than they were. At 50-something, I recognize that as I loved the cars of my youth, they don’t hold a candle to my G, and I suppose the G won’t be able to do anything but stand in the new Z’s shadow. I’ll qualify that by stating my G (naturally aspirated) will have a better sound than the turbo-muffled Z will have if Infiniti Q60 exhaust videos are anything to go by. Having said that, I’m happy as a clam that the Z is here and that the Nismo version isn’t far off. In the meantime I’ll enjoy driving and making new memories in my G that will one day make me feel it was better than it was. Perhaps I’ll console myself by hitting 60 in under 4 seconds in my 2024 Nismo Z - with a six-speed manual, of course.It sure is. Cars like them are not coming back.
This also goes for many other Japanese cars from the 80's and 90's.
As great as the new Z is, it will never provide an experience like what the 300ZX, 280Z and 240Z can.
One of my favorite cars I ever owned was a 1995 Acura Legend. I owned it about 7-8 years. Back in the 90's it really was a sweet ride.While they were great cars in their own right, it’s the memories, not the dynamics, that stuck with me. Don’t get me wrong... I loved the smoothness and the sound of my 280’s in-line six just as I enjoyed the high revving yet torquey down low SR20DE in the SE-R, but it was the road trips, going out on dates, long distance drives to visit my girlfriend (now wife) that made those cars seem greater than they were. At 50-something, I recognize that as I loved the cars of my youth, they don’t hold a candle to my G, and I suppose the G won’t be able to do anything but stand in the new Z’s shadow.
I hear ya. I had a similar experience. While contemplating which mid-life crisis car to get, thoughts went to my first car, a 280ZX. Yet when I realized I had no garage to preserve it and that it would be among the slowest cars on the road while lacking any semblance of modern handling prowess, I knew I had to have a relatively modern car. Your Legend (and the Legend Coupe) had some of the nicest interiors of any car of its time regardless of price. Acura would do well today to incorporate those “old” dashboard designs in everything they make today - so would just about every other maker.One of my favorite cars I ever owned was a 1995 Acura Legend. I owned it about 7-8 years. Back in the 90's it really was a sweet ride.
About 2 years ago I found one on Craigslist with 50K miles on it. Perfect cream puff condition. I went to go test drive it. Was totally expecting to buy it. However, as perfect as that car was, it was a total let-down. I ended up getting a Q60 instead. Didn't want to worry about a minty time capsule being ravaged in traffic, and didn't want to drive something so slow any more. Still love that car more than most others I've had!
I'll defer to your experience, but I was mostly talking about first-impression visual design cues, rather than mechanical differences or similarities. I was talking about the overall look that is plainly obvious from the first advertisement image, before even considering deeper analysis.The Z31 retained many peculiarities of the previous 280ZX. The super-squatty rear suspension, the whole "GT" vibe, Tokyo fab interior electronics including optional voice system. I had a few Z31's whilst my friends had 280ZX's, the 2 cars felt/appeared remarkably similar. We also had a Z32 amongst our friends, and that car was completely different, felt totally "clean-sheet".
The only thing a Z32 has in common with a Z31 is it is a "3.0 V6" even though it's not the same engines.