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FD vs 350z

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Old 01-03-11, 10:32 PM
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FD vs 350z

already own an fc but lookin to buy a new car most likely an FD or 350z. i was wondering which one do you think or know will win in a drag bone stock?
i have driven the 350 but never an fd and my fc just gives me doubts lol also on a 350 forum most say fd will win so let me ask you guys
Old 01-03-11, 10:38 PM
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Got the chance to drive a 350z a few months back. They're alright but I personally would never pay what they sell for. Z would be a more reliable and practical car though.
Old 01-03-11, 10:41 PM
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I used to own a 2004 350Z. Never drag raced it, but I've done about 800 road track miles in it.

The average driver will get a low 14 second 1/4 mile time in a 350Z. N/A mods can get it down in the low 13's or so with an average driver. This is assuming normal street tires. Turbo's can get expensive really fast and the stock block isn't so reliable with FI. It weighs 400-500lbs more than an FD and is similarly larger. The fit and finish is excellent though and personally I feel they are extremely comfortable and handle incredibly well for their weight. The base brakes are barely good enough for serious track driving (road track).

That being said, I'm getting an FD next. The Z is an excellent car, but I feel the FD is a nose ahead of it.
Old 01-03-11, 10:42 PM
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If you get any Z, at least get a 370 - the 350 looks like ***, is dog slow, and would get absolutely raped by even a mildly modded FD. Stock for stock, I'm sure it's close, but stock FDs are always unimpressive power-wise
Old 01-03-11, 10:49 PM
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I always thought the stock 350z was pretty slow. The 300zx tt is even faster isn't it?
Old 01-03-11, 10:57 PM
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if u think the 350 is slow then my fc is like a ******* turtle i wish i had a turbo right about now :'(
Old 01-03-11, 11:06 PM
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I have to admit that I like the stance of 350z and 370z when they have a suspension upgrade and are sitting lower.
Old 01-03-11, 11:30 PM
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I had a 03 350z track as my daily driver for awhile. Definitely a fun car that isn't dog slow when compared to most normal cars.

If I were buying one or the other right now and could only have one car the FD would have to be a hell of a lot cheaper to make me choose it. Sure the FD has much more potential, looks better and is faster stock. But the 350z can reasonably be used as a daily driver and can make 400whp reliably with a vortech blower.

Ah memories

Old 01-03-11, 11:35 PM
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Im not a huge Z fan, but Id love to have a new 370 as a DD. I would never consider it as an FD replacement, but they are nice cars. This picture makes me want to go to the nearest Nissan dealer and sign papers haha.



Theyll never have the raw sporty-ness of an FD, but they are comfortable, quick and look nice.
Old 01-03-11, 11:39 PM
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fd...for sure
Old 01-03-11, 11:40 PM
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Like prew said, if its your only car... Get a 350Z. The hatch area is basically worthless for large packages, though. But, if you're buying a car for practicality you're it the wrong place completely.
Old 01-03-11, 11:47 PM
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I have a FD. Lots of mods..
And a 370z 40th anniv. Stock
The z is a perfect car out the door as is
Looks good. Great finish . Pretty fast for what it is

I love my z. But I love the rotary even more
Old 01-03-11, 11:58 PM
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FD...... But im biased because even my minty stock FD with a small exhaust leak beats some of the last few 350z's in town all day long)the rest traded for 370's) even ones with simple bolt ons.

But against the 370z.... i get walked all the time

350z's are slightly slower than a 300zx tt, and the 6spd sounds like a rock crusher. But they sure are fun to drive

My buddy had an 03 350z Base Daytona Blue... had HKS catback, plenum spacer with JWT short ram intake with Kaaz 1.5 LSD..... car pulled mid 13's all day long and was his all around car..... it was his daily, his drift car, occasional drag and corner carver.

Its a toss up for me..... I like Z's but i love FD's.... and i went with my first love.... the FD
Old 01-04-11, 12:13 AM
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i also always loved the fd since i was a kid but now that i can afford one more nice cars are out and its tough to choose and if i do buy an fd ima have to fly to get one cuz there arent many for sale in my area and i can pik up a 350 for about 12k with an fd i have to consider flying and hoping it will not break down the 1000 miles or so i have to drive it home on lol but it is my first dream car but after my fc i just didnt want it as much anymore but you guys gave me high hopes so thanks i will probably get an fd asap
Old 01-04-11, 12:21 AM
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I own both...
2008 Z (VQ35HR engine) mods : Twin intakes, Test pipes, Amuse ti catback and Y-pipe, still waiting for coilovers which should make the ride way more fun. Bone stock the car is SUPER BORING. Also I tried many before buying and most of them didn't feel good/easy to shift, anyway I ended up finding one that felt good but still nothing close to the RX-7 smoothness.

To be honest with you the Z will never be amazing like the FD is. The rx-7 has that little something special and unique... However, like they said it's fun, predictable, awesome look when done properly, the VQ = beautiful sound (not as cool as a PP 20b or 26b tho hahah) and FI can get you nice numbers.

conclusion : I love both
Old 01-04-11, 02:34 AM
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if you buy a stock FD right now and drag race it, something is very likely to break
Old 01-04-11, 08:03 AM
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I currently have both a 350z (her car) and a 94 Rx-7. We have raced each other and no matter how we do it the Rx-7 always pulls ahead.

I would pick the 350z for a dd w/speed. The Rx-7 will break down and it requires more attention. The 350z is a turnkey no-brainer.

350z-Visit CIN Motorsports in NC
Bobby is doing EVERYTHING to the 350z. He has one w/a LS motor in it.

Rx-7- Visit Rotorsports Racing or Rx7World in NC/SC

Man I LOVE NC
Old 01-04-11, 08:22 AM
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FD or Z

As people have said, if you will have only one car then the choice is easy, buy the z. FDs' are all at least 15 years old, parts are getting hard to find and expensive. For me however, the FD is the only way to go. Lighter, faster(with mods to a degree) and personally just has a look about it that few cars can match.
Old 01-04-11, 08:31 AM
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I'm not sure why this is even considered a fair comparison. If your just scraping by to afford this purchase and need it to be a daily I would tell you to go with the Z, but this is supposed to be a "dream car" purchase so I guarantee you'll be missing out sticking with the Z. Now this next piece of advise isn't meant to be hurtful more or less enlightening. You say owning an FC has taken away some of the glamor of getting into an FD but I can tell you just owning your current car has jaded your view of RX-7's in general. I first owned an FD then sold it. Waited a few years and picked up arguably one of the nicest FC's on the upper east coast as what I thought at the time a replacement. I couldn't have been more wrong, they almost felt like they where from two different companies! So in the end I dumped a BNR stare 3 FC for a mostly stock FD and couldn't be happier. Before you run out and purchase a new car try and get at least one ride/test drive in an FD, if you still feel like its just another FC by all means go to the Nissan camp.
Old 01-04-11, 08:47 AM
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The FD will cost you as much as a 370Z in the end. Just get a 370. There's really no comparison between the 370 and the 350. It's better in every way.
Old 01-04-11, 09:13 AM
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My gf has an 05 350z with a vortech supercharger kit, friggin thing scoots pretty fast.!
Old 01-04-11, 09:21 AM
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No I think you are all wrong. 240z with an LSx or an RB! I think that would be a more exciting and unique car. Some of them look incredible.
Old 01-04-11, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by likeapooch
already own an fc but lookin to buy a new car most likely an FD or 350z. i was wondering which one do you think or know will win in a drag bone stock?
i have driven the 350 but never an fd and my fc just gives me doubts lol also on a 350 forum most say fd will win so let me ask you guys
What do you do with your cars? Drag race? AutoX? Road race? Just street driving?
Old 01-04-11, 09:43 AM
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I'm assuming that you are looking at an early 350Z. I went from a few FD to a 2004 350Z then back to a FD. None of them were my daily driver. From a performance and looks point of view, the FD is a better car on those fields. The FD will give you more bang for the buck in performance. My 350Z had coilovers, sway bars, r-compound tires, headers, cat delete, ECU Flash, plenum spacer and gear ratio change. The gear ratio change was the most notable change I did. I tracked the Z and it did well but you feel the weight difference and that always bugged me. I had an RX-8 as a DD at the same time with just springs and better tires and it felt better when it came to response and feed back and handling was comparable to the Z.

When I was getting transferred back to the east coast (I was in Socal at that time), I put the Z completely back to stock and drove it from coast to coast. That was a very enjoyable drive. The Z did great on gas mileage, it was comfortable and I knew it will not give me any trouble driving across the country.

The car became my DD here and it was a fun car to drive around but as a rotor head I missed the FD and I already sold the RX-8 for a bigger family car. So I sold the Z and went back to the FD. Now the FD is sitting in my garage because one of previous owner did some work that I'm not to proud of and I'm correcting all that before I feel confident that the car is up to par. Between the day I got the car to March I be looking at dumping $8K on the car, $5k on the paint and rims but the rest is going to fixing/replacing a lot of little things. So sometimes I wish still I had the Z because it was very reliable car and I could be putting that $8k on other things… like a supercharger.

If this is going to be your dream car, I would have another car to use as a DD and get the FD. FD in the end will be a classic where the Z is already an outdated looking car that can be picked up for under $10K.

so the FD will perform better but it will rape you in maintaining cost where the Z you could be starting out with a better car to build.

Old 01-04-11, 09:45 AM
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As has been said, drive an FD and then make a decision. Remember though that you won't just be putting oil and gas in the 7.


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