Planet 9

knightzerox · #1 10-09-2008, 01:47 PM

Just a question out there as there is a lot of heated debate going on between Nissan and Porsche and how supposedly Nissan's aim is to target Porsche.

The new 370z is aimed at targeting the Porsche Cayman, and even some design ques are there. It is meant to be as the GTR is, a cheaper car with equal or better performance to Porsche.

Spy Photos: 2010 Nissan 370Z Spotted in Germany

My own opinion is competition is great, but I would still prefer the Porsche over a 370z, even if the performance is the same.

**Atlas_Croc** · #2 10-09-2008, 02:21 PM

Good topic, but not really that new throughout the years.....the old 240Z was built as a cheap 944 competitor. Nissan has always kept Porsche in their sites.

As far as the Z is concerned, can't they just design something on their own?? It purely looks like they are trying to mimic the rear haunches of the Cayman,.....and not very successful at that I might add. The front looks terrible also, time for a clean slate Nissan!

knightzerox · #3 10-09-2008, 02:39 PM

It's funny that you mention the design cues. A fellow co-worker is a very big Z fan ( the older ones ) and has many Z cars. He mentioned to me that before the new 350z appeared Nissian had taken big interest to talking to people on the Nissan Z Forums about design, features etc. Many of the members designed or prototyped car designs for Nissian as concepts for the new car. A few of them were actual industry car designers that did have understanding of designing a car and provided detailed plans.

The result? Apparently Nissian ignored any of the designs/request from fans of the older cars and went with it's own style.

**Craig@Rennstore.com** · #4 10-09-2008, 02:48 PM

Biggest problem with that car...will be that it is too damn heavy.
Mark thy words.

**K-Man S** · #5 10-09-2008, 02:52 PM

I don't see any resemblence to the Cayman other than it is a 2 door coupe. It looks more like the M Coupe to me than a Cayman. Will it really be lighter? Will Nissan change the suspension? Both weight and suspension were poor on the current generation Z's, hopefully they do make improvements and then we are all better off for it. From these spy photos I wouldn't take one over a Cayman on looks but if they improve the Z all around then that's a good thing in my book because I liked some of the older Z's but haven't been fond of the current generation.

**gfspencer** · #6 10-09-2008, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Atlas_Croc

Good topic, but not really that new throughout the years.....the old 240Z was built as a cheap 944 competitor. Nissan has always kept Porsche in their sites.

I think you are right. Nissan has always gone after the competition but you must be talking about another Z. The 240Z came out in 1970. It would not have been a competitor with the 944 which came out in 1982. When the 240Z came out its biggest competition was probably the Triumph TR-6. (I think I remember an old Road & Track which compared the 914, the TR-6, a Fiat 124 Spyder and a 240Z.)

**AZCS** · #7 10-09-2008, 03:04 PM

This is from another website (do not launch your gtr or take the vdc off - NAGTROC - The Nissan GT-R Owners Club)

I was driving my gtr two weeks ago and I heard a loud noise coming from the rear. I turned immediately had my gtr towed to crown nissan st. petersburg fl. They didn't touch my car only called some techs from tennessee to look at the car and record the noise, 4 days later two guys from japan to download some info from the car then left. Then I get a call from the dealer to tell me the news, and they told me that the car was driven without vdc too much and nissan will not warranty the transmission which they said was destroyed, I asked them how much to fix it they told me 20k, no freaking way I will pay 20k on top of what i just paid for the car. I called the gtr number and also talked to nissan consumer affairs got nowhere, now the car is sitting at the dealer. I know we shouldn't launch the car but why own it if you cant use this function, don't sell a car that goes 0-60 in 3.4 sec if the only way you can achieve this speed is to void the warranty , false advertising. Here is the bad news people were fearing it has happened to me and Nissan has told me there are already three people in my shoes, if you are one of these people email me, we have got to get together on this. Just think if any of you guys have taken the vdc off just a few times you have already voided your warranty, good luck what a joke nissan.

**tach miami** · #8 10-09-2008, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Atlas_Croc

Good topic, but not really that new throughout the years.....the old 240Z was built as a cheap 944 competitor. Nissan has always kept Porsche in their sites.

FYI, The 240Z came out in 1969 and the 924 came out in 1977 and the 944 in 1983.

**K-Man S** · #9 10-09-2008, 04:26 PM

I always thought the 240z was styled after the Jaguar E-type???

Anyway sorry to hear about the GTR problems. Looks like good fodder for an attorney though...

**tach miami** · #10 10-09-2008, 06:56 PM

There was speculation that the 240Z design was based on a Ferrari... maybe this red one.

**JCay** · #11 10-09-2008, 07:35 PM

If they are targeting the Cayman design they totally misplaced the engine. Doh!

**Atlas_Croc** · #12 10-09-2008, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by gfspencer

I think you are right. Nissan has always gone after the competition but you must be talking about another Z. The 240Z came out in 1970. It would not have been a competitor with the 944 which came out in 1982. When the 240Z came out its biggest competition was probably the Triumph TR-6. (I think I remember an old Road & Track which compared the 914, the TR-6, a Fiat 124 Spyder and a 240Z.)

Doh!.....slipped up, that would be the 240SX, not a Z.

**caySman** · #13 10-09-2008, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Craig@Rennstore.com

Biggest problem with that car...will be that it is too damn heavy.
Mark thy words.

+1. It's a pig heavy. Otherwise I'd have bought the 350Z without paying the dumb premium to Porsche, the dealer and my government. In my country the Cayman is US$160K where the 350Z is US$80K.

**debwolfe** · #14 10-09-2008, 08:53 PM

Is there likely to be more divergence between the 370z and the Infiniti G37 sport coupe than there was between the 350z and the equivalent G35? I test drove a G37 the day before I fell in love with my CS. The two cars were like night and day. I'd expect the z-car to feel tighter than the G, but, even to a relatively inexperienced sports car driver like me, it would have a long way to go to match the Cayman.

***4thtimeacharm*** · #15 10-09-2008, 09:34 PM

I don't see any styling comparison to our wonderful Cayman. None of the classic lines of the Cayman in the front or back. It still looks like the current Z, albeit with a face lift. The Cayman's lines are destined to be compared to the likes of the Abarth, 904 and likes, and take its place along side those, especially when it starts getting raced in earnest IMHO.

**Chris S** · #16 10-09-2008, 10:50 PM

Nissan openly admitted that they benchmarked the 944 Turbo and Boxster S for the 300ZX Turbo and 350Z, respectively. Targeting Porsche is nothing new w/ them!

**Chupacabra** · #17 10-09-2008, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by tach miami

There was speculation that the 240Z design was based on a Ferrari... maybe this red one.

Yeah, I always thought it was pretty obvious that they were trying to approximate the 275 GTB with the 240. Unless I'm mistaken, there are some kits out there for 240s that make them look like 275s, which I believe to be one of the ultimate automotive sins.

Gator Bite · #18 10-10-2008, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by gfspencer

I think you are right. Nissan has always gone after the competition but you must be talking about another Z. The 240Z came out in 1970. It would not have been a competitor with the 944 which came out in 1982. When the 240Z came out its biggest competition was probably the Triumph TR-6. (I think I remember an old Road & Track which compared the 914, the TR-6, a Fiat 124 Spyder and a 240Z.)

Agreed. The 240Z came well before even the 924. If ever there was a car to come out of Japan that was unique and deserving of a place in sports car history, it was the 240Z (and maybe the NSX too). But once they went to the 300Z, they abandoned the soul of the 240Z.

Originally Posted by Chris S

Nissan openly admitted that they benchmarked the 944 Turbo and Boxster S for the 300ZX Turbo and 350Z, respectively. Targeting Porsche is nothing new w/ them!

This may have been the case. But if anyone copied the 944, it was Mitsubishi with the Starion. The damn thing even looked like a 944.

In regard to Nissan targeting Porsche, I think they will gain about as much market share as Honda did targeting Harley Davidson. Making a technically good machine is different than making one that has personality and soul.