Depending upon which social media influencers you follow, it might seem like if you’re not in for at least 100…just never mind.
And then the folks at Nissan clear their throats and say, ”Hey,,,hold on, guys!”
Here’s why: 400 HP…350 ft lbs torque…0-60 in the high 4’s…and a 155 MPH top end. And room for just two. That’s pretty athletic for a 56 year-old, wouldn’t you agree?
Yep…the Z has been with us longer than many of you have been of Earth, and it’s still running true to its origins. It started out as a shapely styled, affordably-priced legitimate 2-seat sports car…and it still is.
Now…if you’re a 1-percenter, here’s even more: Your Z can be had with a 6-speed manual. Want to thoroughly confound your parking valet? Get a manual. Less than 1% of all new vehicles sold in the past year had manual transmissions. So here’s a bonus: If you fear having your ride stolen, get a manual. Whoever broke in most likely won’t be able to drive it away.
And driving is what a vehicle like this is all about. The performance numbers above tell only part of the story. “Feel” tells so much more.
While Z’s start in the low to mid $40’s, ours was the “Performance” edition that carried around 10K worth of genuine performance parts…and a bit of unique trim. Front and rear stabilizer bars, a double-wishbone multi-link sport-tuned rear suspension, speed-sensitive steering, a high-performance clutch, a two-point front strut tower brace, limited slip, a rev-matching shifter that makes you look like a pro, 19” lightweight alloys, and big meaty rubber…255 X 40 in front and 235 X 35 in the rear are all part of that extra 10K.
The result? If you’re feelin’ a bit lazy, the engine is strong enough that you can start in second gear and keep it in third in most in-town traffic…or grab any other gear you’d like and pretty much explode past traffic at will. Your call….and you’ll feel good either way.
But while capable and comfortable while threading through traffic, the Z is meant for two-lane country roads…and the more curves the better. If flickin’ your way between third, fourth and fifth doesn’t bring a smile to your face, well…you’re probably in the wrong vehicle for you.
Priced at $55,190 including destination fees, Nissan’s Z Performance is right around the price of the average vehicle today, but offers far above average performance.
After 56 years the Z is running better than ever. How many of us can / will be able to say the same?
