Vik54 Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 coathanger gob syndrome better known as zed face ache Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richt Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjw16 Posted November 21, 2010 Author Share Posted November 21, 2010 Found time for a few piccies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Lovely car, looks in lovely condition too. Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Very nice, great colour too . Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 I've been an owner for almost a year and I am STILL ridiculously excited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjw16 Posted November 23, 2010 Author Share Posted November 23, 2010 So, It’s been a few days of ownership now and I thought I’d share my initial thoughts. Maybe of interest to any browsing prospective owners? And very happy initial thoughts they are too! This may not be the best and fastest car I’ve ever driven but it is most definitely the best I’ve ever owned. I’ve read the Zed is fantatstic value for money - a great way to enter the performance car market, and I would have to agree. The fact that it was built for purpose to be exactly what it is rather than a family shopping trolley with lots of horses crammed under the bonnet shines through. And every time I get behind the wheel it feels like an event. A massively grin inducing one. I can’t think what else I could have bought for the money that would compete. I guess many would covet the Porsche badge and argue my budget was in Boxster territory. But the Boxster is neither as fast or as ‘me’. As Ms Butler Henderson said – get past the Nissan badge. And no matter how nice the Porsche badge would be to own I can’t help thinking I’d just feel a bit of a ponce driving it! (No offence to Boxster owners, they are a great car just not for me). What else is there in the ball park? TT? – Nope. RX8? – Not for me, M3? – great car but on my budget I’d have been buying one double the age with double (at least) the mileage and almost double the insurance premium. Not much else springing to mind at the moment.... When I drove it for the first time the first thing I was aware of was the power available (obviously!), the fact that the power was instantly at my disposal with no wait for a turbo to join in, and the flexibility of the engine. When I want to drive it smoothly there is enough low down torque that you just don’t need to keep stirring the gearbox. However when you do feel playful and drop a cog or two the transformation is spectacular and instant, helped along by the great sound it makes! It feels extremely sure footed. Very little body roll and what seems like almost limitless grip. I do have respect for the fact that the grip does eventually have a limit though. In a front wheel drive (often four wheel drive too) taking liberties will produce boring and easy to control understeer. In the Zed it will of course produce loads and loads of hugely fun oversteer! Brilliant on a track day, not always such a good idea on a roundabout in a Kentish village! To address a couple of weaker points that seem to repeatedly come up in reviews and forums.. Interior trim: My car is an 05’ and, while I understand they improved the standard on the 06’ model I really can’t see what the problem is. I love the interior. Granted I came from a 51’reg Impreza (worse trim than Zed) and an 09’ Navara (same standard of trim as Zed) so maybe that’s why I don’t see it as a failing. If I’d come from an Aston I guess I’d be picking it to pieces. These things are all relative! Heavy clutch/Notchy gear shift: Again these things are very personal preference orientated. But to me the clutch feels exactly as heavy as it should and the gear shift feels very precise and positive. Difficulty in starting off smoothly (1st and 2nd gear changes that don’t cause whiplash!): It’s not one of those cars that everyone will instantly drive like they’ve owned it forever. In the lower gears the power the car has is very obvious. A seemingly mild squeeze on the smiley pedal will have you flying off like a whippet with its bum on fire and your passenger pinned back in the seat. It is, as others have said, just a matter of a little practice. Learning to control the throttle more delicately, and controlling that relatively heavy clutch rather than letting it control you. Also using the torque and flexibility – you don’t need to be dropping down to second and dumping the clutch out as you roll on to a clear roundabout, it’ll be happy and a whole lot smoother in third or even fourth. Unless you’re giving it the beans of course! So as you can tell this is one very happy new Zed owner. When I park it and walk away I have to look over my shoulder at it at least once, then look around to see if anybody’s caught me looking back at my own car and is thinking what a sad tosser! At my age I really should know better. Ah well, growing up is overrated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATTAK Z Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 So, It’s been a few days of ownership now and I thought I’d share my initial thoughts.................... Ah well, growing up is overrated You should write for a magazine .............. That's it in a nutshell Welcome to the ZED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 When I park it and walk away I have to look over my shoulder at it at least once, then look around to see if anybody’s caught me looking back at my own car and is thinking what a sad tosser! A very common affliction that one Great review, sums up my feelings pefectly Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesB Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 So as you can tell this is one very happy new Zed owner. When I park it and walk away I have to look over my shoulder at it at least once, then look around to see if anybody’s caught me looking back at my own car and is thinking what a sad tosser! At my age I really should know better. Ah well, growing up is overrated Do it all the time !!! Welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjw16 Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 First purchase made today - K&N panel filter. And so it begins....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racinggreen Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Very good write up that and is very similar to my reaction - always looking at the z when walking away or even just on the driveway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.