The 350Z is easily a successor to the 300ZX. Stock for stock, the Z33 is a better package/development with better suspension which is more balanced and easier to drive, plus its ~300lbs lighter than the TT Z32. While close in performance, its also a faster car around a racetrack than a Z32. All of these would be considered an improvement even though the first 350 had less power and was a little slower in a straight line.
This is why I used Nissan as a comparison to Honda, but you conveniently left that out of your quote. since Nissan makes Sentra's, Maxima's and Pathfinders, etc. they have a flagship too, but exist on selling grocery getters, just like Honda. but unlike Honda, they keep the GTR updated a little more often...
FA, I told you I like the G35/G37 better than the 350z as an overall package - the exterior looks better and interior more refined. Unlike you and Stuntman, I look for more than simply performance around a track for a sports car. The 350Z came some 13 years after the Z32, so I would hope they improved suspension and chassis technology by then. The 300ZX was also regarded more GT than sports cars.
Either way, I'm personally looking at the overall package and how a car makes me feel. So exterior and interior design is important to me and many other people who buy sports cars. It's not solely based on track performance for me, that's just one variable whereas you two seem to prioritize that as a very big variable. The 370Z is close to besting the Z32 IMO, with vastly improved performance, but it still does not look all that special even if the interior has also been upgraded nicely.
And like I said FA, Honda has built 2 rwd car models in their whole history. Nissan has a considerable history of building RWD sports cars since the 240Z, Skyline and Silvia, let alone their Infiniti lineup. Where is their Silvia lineup now? Every manufacturer gave up something during the 2000s downfall. The Z badge was never going to fall like the Corvette name considering the countless iterations, but still, it disappeared for 7 years in the US, the country that made the 240Z and Datsun/Nissan famous. So comparing Honda and Nissan is still like apples to oranges. Nissan actually depends on Z car sales for profits and again, Honda does not rely on the NSX for much profit at all.
"questionable videos" is something i'm sure Stuntman would also agree on. however you can see that it's absolutely not a contest when acceleration is unleashed with the other three cars. and in such low grip conditions as those with snow trackside, the NSX and 370Z should have a lot easier time putting down less horsepower. but in the end, it's inevitable. the NSX-R has no chance...
Indeed, the video was fun to watch. The leaps of technology shows how the NSX-R and outclassed 370Z could simply not keep up. It would have made more sense to have the GTR in the battle.
I find it interesting in general how people tend to defend their purchases and take negative comments more personally. NSpec: have you owned a 350 or 370? What year NSX?
I too still love the "glory days" of the 1990s sports car wars of the 300ZX, 3000GT/Stealth RT/TT, Supra, FD RX7, NSX, GTR, and would like to have all of them in my garage. While I get your point that many 2000s cars arent as romantic as these, the GTRs and Zs were developed into better cars.
I've extensively test driven many 350Z variants, the 370Z, G35 and G37. I still remember being extremely frustrated with finding a replacement for my totaled TT 300ZX and the 350Z was not pleasing at all. I was leaning towards the G35 but could not pull the trigger. I considered a brand new G37 before buying my first 95 NSX as the choices were that limited. I now have a 92 GPW NSX and not to get off topic even more, but I'll admit, I am a bit biased towards the 90s JDM sports cars for various reasons:
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This had me literally laughing out loud nonstop for about a minute...and then on an off for about another 3 minutes.
Just typing this response had me chucking some more.
Today is my Birthday so your timing for this genius was perfect.
Happy Birthday Stephen! And I blame this extreme tangent on MoreRPMs! Haha.
To keep this on Ferrari vs. Honda topic. I consider buying a F355 spider also. I drove my NSX to go test drive one and while it sounded fantastic, I was not impressed with the exterior or interior much with my NSX right beside it. That's just my 2 cents on the 90s Ferraris.
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1993 NA1 dry weight around 2800-2900lbs? 270hp 210 ft/ lbs
1993 JDM MR2 turbo dry weight around 2600lbs? 245hp 225 ft/ lbs
I imagine the times would be pretty close? 1993-1995 motor runs like double the boost than the 1991-1992 3s-gte
The biggest difference was the turbocharger change. The gen3 turbo CT20B holds boost all the way to redline (7250 rpm) and it made much more power than the smaller gen 2 turbo CT26 that ran out of steam at 5,500 rpm. The turbine was ceramic also which aided in fast spool.
