sl114 Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 The 350z Experience! What can I say, I pulled up to Mill Hill Nissan Dealership on Saturday, which I might add was a fine summers morning, sun gleaming, blue sky, dry roads and a little bit of heat, typically for England and parked up in the customer parking space! Me being me, I was 15 minutes early so went for a stroll around and ran, yes RAN, over to a brand new 56 plate gun metal 350z. Peering through the window I couldn’t see to much due to the tints, but the interior was gorgeous and then I focused on the exterior and almost dropped to my knees. To avoid drooling anymore, I decided to walk back into the dealership and ask for Nigel, who will be taking me out for the test drive. I met Nigel and he seemed like a really decent guy (as car salesmen go), not to sure on his beige suit however and grey shirt, but what do I know about fashion! We went through the necessary paper work and he copied my drivers licence in case I was naughty and got caught by a camera or police. Dealers must think im stupid though, I know they take copies of driver licences to post on a big wall of embarrassing pictures, come on we all have really bad drivers licence photos? I personally look like a public school boy in mine with curtains and a suit, those were the days! After going through all of the legal jargon, he said that I am going to be driving the car myself today and how did I want to test it. Well knowing a bit about cars, I replied by saying that I will be using this car everyday, so it needs to be good for general town use, bumpy country roads, motorway driving and track days. Luckily in Mill Hill, there is pretty much all of that to test so I came to the right place for a proper drive. Going on from this, Nigel explained how he wanted me to drive it and he will not be driving for the first half as his back was hurting and he couldn’t really twist his neck, plus wanted to give me the best and longest time possible with the car. What a nice guy he is. Walking out, a black 05 Non-GT spec 350z was gleaming having just been washed, waxed, rubbed over and possibly loved a bit too much (if that is possible) and I looked at it thinking, I want this car so much right now, a bit like a Friday night in St Albans at that cattle farm called Lloyds, be it Lust or just pure love, it was stunning. Nigel went to get in the car and fired her up. The V6 roared with anger and the sound coming from the twin tailpipes was something that put a bigger smile on my face than Hugh Heffner ever evening. He moved it out of the tight spot and parked it so that he could jump out and let me jump in the drivers seat. I was at first thinking, “this is very low and im going to find it hard getting into the car being 6’3’', however I went to get in and easily got into the drivers seat, which hugged me in place, but not too restricting. I adjusted all the mirrors and seat and steering column so that I could fit in and see and noticed that the HUGE rear view mirror was in fact HUGE. It was a bit restricting and to see under it I will have to duck a bit, this is something I am use to in the MG mind you so I didn’t see it as too much of a problem. Seatbelt on and door thudded closed with a great, thwack. This is a properly built car, not like the MG with its clunk rattle bang pop door closing. I loved the fact that you could still hear the engine note in the car but it wasn’t too loud or intrusive, it was, lets say, perfect. I put the clutch down and engaged first gear and moved off without stalling, bunny hopping or attempting to be a bad ass rapper in a strange Cadillac jumping along the street. I manoeuvred around the forecourt and was impressed by the ease of moving this beast around the moors. I joined the slip road onto the A1 and turned round to see my blind spot, to be greeted by, a blind spot. Anything past the B pillar is not see-able at all, but lets face it, this is a coupe and don’t we have side mirrors for this type of thing, all be it, concaved side mirrors that let me see all around the sides of the car well into the 2 lanes of the carriage way. Foot too the floor and the car moved along very nicely and with such a smooth action it makes Jon Bon Jovi’s new waxed chest seem bumpy. I was a little cautious as this was the first time I had been in a car with this power and style so stuck in the outside lane doing 50 (by outside I mean the slow lane, its not the inside to those who call it that, it’s the outside, fact!). I was approaching the round about at Mill Hill on the A1 and took it round with no haste, jerkiness or hesitation. The adjustable power steering was amazing, it felt so light going slow, but when the speeds pick up, it gets heavier and more responsive which gave me a lot of confidence in driving this car. Nigel told me to go through Mill Hill and head towards Finchley. Driving along these roads were as good as good can be, the suspension was amazing, steering spot on and gear changing not jerky at all. I must add that I was doing 30 in 5th gear at times as I was not used to the positions of the gear stick, but it went along beautifully and pulled away from 30mph in 5th as easy as it is to get a copy of the Paris Hilton sex tape. There were a few tight gaps too and I felt the driver position was great for me, I could view my corners and felt confident that I could get through some gaps with cars coming the other way over my side of the road! You have to love London drivers these days, especially those is 4x4s who must own the road. Coming away from Finchley I went round the back of Mill hill and went past the Priest College to test some bad road surfaces and country roads. I was purposely driving over pot holes, bumps throwing it into corners and the Zed handled just as I expected, without hesitation and smooth. The suspension surprised me as I expected it to be as hard as stone, however it glided over bumps, stones, rocks and small people. I do like to feel the road and it seemed that Nissan have got the balance between comfort and sport suspension perfectly balanced. We approached the A1 and drove to the M1 junction and joined the motorway. Taking it round the slip road I applied a lot of power and the Zed launched itself with smoothness and elegance and the V6 sounds lustfully filled my ears. I had the biggest grin on my face at that point and Nigel could clearly see that so told me to take it to red line and then change gears. I must add again – THE SOUND!!!! Imagine a lion waking up in the morning and having a good old grumpy roar. That’s what you get, the deep base note, the torque throwing you back into your seat, the faces that watch you in envy is something I must experience again, and I will I assure you. Very quickly I was at 70mph and we went up the M1 to junction 7 and turned back round and again on the slip road I was told to put my foot to the floor and see how it handles corners. Again I was so surprised how much grip there was to the road and the ESP played a bit part in that. I can also see why they call it ESP now too, it knows exactly what I want it to do, a scary thought that my mind can be read, however I guess its not that hard, “I want to go hard and fast!†Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl114 Posted September 25, 2006 Author Share Posted September 25, 2006 This was the one i took for a spin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 when you buying it then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl114 Posted September 25, 2006 Author Share Posted September 25, 2006 when you buying it then? December, but i wont get that one as its not a GT spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GC350z Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 I finished my test drive in August with: "When can I collect?" "How's Saturday for you?" "Will you take a cheque?" All the Nissan employees cursed me when I collected her. The only other Z they had was a convertible which none of them liked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam's Z Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 sl114 This is surely 'Post of the month' Absolutely love reading stories like this Tint looks amazing, any more shots??? Must be totally illegal??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl114 Posted September 25, 2006 Author Share Posted September 25, 2006 sl114 This is surely 'Post of the month' Absolutely love reading stories like this Tint looks amazing, any more shots??? Must be totally illegal??? They arnt actually tints, i think its the angle of the car, but by no means were they tinted when i took it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 sl114 This is surely 'Post of the month' Absolutely love reading stories like this Tint looks amazing, any more shots??? Must be totally illegal??? Didn't he say the tint was on the 56 plate GM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkfish Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Good work fella, great article. Are you touting to be a motoring journalist?? I'm lovin' the enthusiasm! Would like to see you pick up your zed in December!! You'll probably either pass-out or soil yourself before you open the car door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathys Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 I must say that I'm bored at work and propably wasn't gonna read it otherwise. What a long post! However, happy I did read it: Excellent story! Laughed my a*s off! Good choice by getting a Z! Just one question: I thought the'06 only has speed sensitive power steering and not the previous models 03-05. Anyone knows? I have a 04 and I don't think mine has this feature... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H5 Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Nice write up - another one bitten! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 B- Must try harder only joking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr bru Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 saw that as well mate. That dealership is local to me as well and Ive got a Kuro black 350z as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam's Z Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 sl114 This is surely 'Post of the month' Absolutely love reading stories like this Tint looks amazing, any more shots??? Must be totally illegal??? They arnt actually tints, i think its the angle of the car, but by no means were they tinted when i took it out. Oh right must of read your quote wrong "Peering through the window I couldn’t see to much due to the tints" sorry.... does look good tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl114 Posted September 26, 2006 Author Share Posted September 26, 2006 sl114 This is surely 'Post of the month' Absolutely love reading stories like this Tint looks amazing, any more shots??? Must be totally illegal??? They arnt actually tints, i think its the angle of the car, but by no means were they tinted when i took it out. Oh right must of read your quote wrong "Peering through the window I couldn’t see to much due to the tints" sorry.... does look good tho Liam the tints were on a 2006 plate 350z not the one i took for a test drive, i dont think they were illegal as they looked factory fitted, but with the sun and glare i couldnt see much I dont want to be a motor journalist to be honest, i just wanted to write up my experience as i had the best day ever and i am such a big car fan i enjoy telling my stories. Monkfish - i think i will pee my pants when i get it, then again when i floor it for the first time. Then the next morning when i wake up and see it out the window, then the day after, then after that and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 very nice write up m8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgershot Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 Great write up mate .. it's spookily almost exactly what i was going to write just after my first test drive .. but i ended up just saying 'Wow' and then added lots of different smileys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl114 Posted September 28, 2006 Author Share Posted September 28, 2006 Great write up mate .. it's spookily almost exactly what i was going to write just after my first test drive .. but i ended up just saying 'Wow' and then added lots of different smileys. haha, those smileys summ up everything though dont they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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