Question for those who have made a switch

[Rittmeister]

...from an S13 or S14 to a 350Z. Do you regret it? Is there anything you really, really miss about your 240SX?

Just curious. Yes, I'm thinking of the future.

Thanks for any input.

[Def]

I have an '06 G35 Coupe(sport package, rear active steer, premium pkg, 6 speed etc.) - nice ride, and while it's a bit heavier than a Z33, they drive very similar.

My thoughts:

-My S13 is probably less than 2500 lbs now, that's the first thing I notice between it and my G35
-G35 rides way nicer while still handling ok. Not quite as razor sharp as the S13, but the S13 doesn't have much(if anything) stock in the suspension anymore. Stock S13s feel like a marshmellow, so no comparison there either.
-G35/Z33 makes better sounds than an NA KA S13/S14, and I'd still say better than an SR'd car. A hot start even with the stock exhaust is nice. I probably get at least one person a month saying something about it sounding nice when I start it up, and it sounds pretty good at some RPM(very quiet at others).

The main thing is the weight - if it's a "fun car" for you, then I'd definitely think twice about the switch. It just isn't as much fun driving a car many hundreds of pounds heavier with all things being equal(power, handling etc.).

If it's more a daily driver type thing, then I say go for it, they're nice rides for sure.

[fliprayzin240sx]

I havent switched but was planning on switching 3 years ago. I sold my S14 in the states with the plan of getting out of debt 6 months after I sold my car and buying myself a G35 or Z33 that following spring. My whole mentality was that I am getting tired of wrenching. I'd rather have a car with some suspension work, rims and exhaust, basically just pimp it out a bit.

Then I got orders to Japan and I'm back to where I was at 3 yrs ago. S14 with a built SR20DET, big turbo, sitting close to 500hp and broke...only thing Im stoked about is that I havent had to wrench as much since I hasnt broke on me that much.

[zenki.life]

damn. im just waiting for me to tire with my s13 then sell it then get my G35 ect. all in good time though

[nothix]

I'm coming from a 350z to an S13, kinda.
I purchased the z about 3 years ago, coilovers, bolt-ons, vortech, 373whp.
Started parting it out and picked up a S13.
(Daily Z, Track S)

I'm actually having a lot more fun driving the s13 then I thought I would.
The stock SR still needs a little work to be as quick as the Z is, but the weight advantage is really nice!

I'd never go from a z to a s13 as a daily though. Night and Day difference.

[SUPERSTAR]

oh man, I thought this was related to sex. Booooo!

[Drift N Dragg]

Originally Posted by DTC SUPERSTAR

oh man, I thought this was related to sex. Booooo!

[driftsilvias13]

Ive owned 2 s13s before owning my first 350z. I loved the 350z but didnt want to crash a newer car on the track so ended up getting a s14. I ended up selling the 350z and then missed it so much that I got another one.... which I ended up selling again to get an s13 and save some money. haha

Moral of the story: 350z is a great car and is fairly cheap now, but if you wreck, it isnt easy as swapping everything to another chassis like the s13 is cuz of $$. It all depends on what you want to do with it. Its a great daily and fun weekend car. I just love to track my cars so I ended up building a dedicated track s13.

I say go for it.

[DrtyRat]

Just curious, why not just keep the S13 as your "fun car" and get a Z or G35 as your daily. It seems that either on can be had cheap enough that you don't have to get rid of the S13

[Jared0934]

agreed, keep both, hell u dont even have to have the s13 street legal, just keep it as a long term project and tow it to the track only while you ride in *comfort* of the z33 during the week...

[Rittmeister]

1. I can't afford to keep the S13 and anything else (other than the winter-beater Mazda) at the same time. If I were to move to a Z, the S13 would have to sell to raise funds. That, and there's not room on my property for more cars than are already here. Otherwise I'd keep it. FWIW, if I didn't need the money to buy something new, I'd store it somewhere for a while, but that ain't gonna happen.

2. The S13 has already been a "long-term project." I've been playing with it for going on seven years.

3. I wouldn't want to use a rear-drive car for a daily. No, it's not the frozen north here, but we get enough snow that there would be times I could not get to work just because of my own car being RWD.

I've been thinking about this for quite a while, and I haven't made up my mind, but it may be time for me to move on from my S13. I built the car first for autocross, then lost interest in that and switched to more of a street/HPDE build, but I've realized over the last year that my schedule just isn't going to permit more than a track day or so a year. Thus, I've been considering switching to a car that's still fast, still fun on the backroads, but is a bit more comfortable/quieter/etc, namely the 350Z. It's possible I could come back to the S-chassis (13 or 14) in the future but that remains to be seen. I was just looking for some honest opinions from folks that have made the switch I'm contemplating.

[RacerX1]

Best of both worlds, wrench on your S chassis & DD the Z.

[Rittmeister]

Originally Posted by RacerX1

Best of both worlds, wrench on your S chassis & DD the Z.

As stated above, can't do both not enough money or space.