I would definitely say it is easier to push the Evo, but I would wonder how many of you truly push the 'limits' of what the car can do. It is very easy to drive the car fast, and the laptimes will prove it, but as you start tweaking, picking up more speed becomes infinitely harder. Just my .02 cents, but overall, pushing a rear wheel drive is much harder, at the 'edge'. So, like the old adage, good equipment can make an average driver, good, but a good driver, can make average equipment great.

 

These are the two cars that I'm deciding between. I have the opportunity to buy a 2003 silver touring six speed 350z for 27k with about 12k miles on it. It's pretty nice with bose 240 watt stereo, six speed, dark charcol leather interior, and nice 18 inch wheels. Drove it down 183 east towards downtown Dallas from Euless and the car pulls pretty hard. If you guys would check some of the 350z forums there's a few people pulling off mid to high 13's in the 1/4 in stock trim in that plush sports car. I don't think that's bad for a N/A six cylinder especially when it gets identical track times to a M3. Or I have the chance to buy a 03 black Evo that's way the hell in Roanoke, VA for 25k with about 2,330 miles on it. I can't find an Evo for sale in the DFW area with decent miles on it for a decent price.

 

I had the chance of driving a track Z for a night, and sure did I work it. 135MPH on a single stretch in the middle of the 405 south in L.A., from a on ramp. Drove it hard on an S curve that I couldn't go past 40MPH because I could feel the car loosing the tail. With my evo, I can easily go faster than 50MPH on the same curve, confidently. I can judge my speed by the squeal of the tires, how much I want to slide. On the 350Z I was always correcting, with the EVO is always a smooth line, you push, it delivers.
I take it on Cannyons in Malibu and with friends by my side I can have the performance of a lifetime, turns that seem to have Velcro, my EVO stick to them so hard that you feel your intestines get plastered on the side of your gut. It brakes like nothing I've ever felt. The rush of the turbo is simply addictive.
I drove them both and will never regret getting the EVO. The Z looks pretty cool and attract chicks, but the EVO gives you such an exhilariating ride, that chicks come to you because you are a happy man, not because of your car.

 

other than the whole thing being bs the 350 cannot walk an evo, my friend has one and took me for a ride and i was expecting alllloooot more and then i raced him from a stop and roll and wooped the **** outa him

 

Well, I'm getting ready to get rid of my 350Z mainly b/c I really don't need it. It was more of an inpulse buy than anything else. It was my first brand new car. Still debating on whether I should just pocket the money or try and buy an AWD beast in the form of an EVO or STi...

 

Geez, take it easy there bro. I live nearby you. Culver City Police is prying on you along 405 between 10 and Rt-90.

 

I think it all depends on where you live for the Z and Evo story-- if the Evo is running high octane gas (more than 91 water here in CA), it has an advantage. I'm modded, but I walked my brother's evo, and he'll attest to that. FROM A ROLL OF COURSE. I have to say the Evo handles better, and is a thrill to drive. I was considering trading my Z in for an Evo when my bro got his, but I decided agianst it for financial reasons. I have intake, exhaust, pulleys, and a grounding kit and walked my bro's Evo from about 60mph. I also raced an STi (bone stock as well), from 65 to 150, and i had him 1/2 a car @ 145, then wehn i shifted to 6th, he walked me. SO-- I'd say rolling performance wise, it goes Evo/Z in a tie, then STi is faster than both. Overall, teh evo is the purest sports car (love the seats), then Z/STi tied IMO. I believe a Z walking an evo stock vs stock, and I also believe a Evo walking a Z stock-- it all depends on the variance from teh factory.

 

One thing I keep hearing from non AWD car owners is that AWD is only good for launches and bad weather. But isn't it true that AWD allows you to get on the gas sooner during a coner exit. The evo would not put down the track times it does without AWD.

I love the look and sound of the new Z but i have seen no evidence that it out handles the EVO.

 

does anybody besides me realize that this "my car can walk this and my car can walk that" b.s. has got to stop? performance helps guys but it boils down to the driver. I've seen a hyundai "walk" a celica GTS, and my heart went out for the kid in the celica the boy just couldnt shift LOL!

Everyones tastes of what can "handle" and what cant are different! EVERY driver is different, ever see 2 identical 0-60 times for the same car in different magazines? no! Due to the driver, track conditions etc. Come on now cant we all just get along

No car is better than the other, its just the better pick for some people, eg. I have a daughter so I need 4 doors some people dont need that

 

i have had a similar experience.....

The set:

Me: 2003 Blue Evo (at the time slightly modded) 3"TB, Cone Filter, WORKS P1 reflash for 93 octane
My Evo is my FIRST manual car. I have driven other manual cars very little and I am 26

My best friend: 2003 Pearl White (not sure exact name) 350Z with Injen cold air intake; using 93 octane
My friend has been drivin manuals since he got is liscense...FYI he is 26

I had a girl in the car as well as him.

The race:

Coming back from the Casino on route 2 (or something): we started from a 10mph roll....i honked 3 times and hit it, i roasted him to abou 100 (he said he didnt hear the 3rd honk)...OK no problem, lets do it again, this time he honks...same result.

We then continue this procedure starting from 20, 30, 40, 50. No doubt I had the most trouble at 50, the outcome was the same everytime...

SPANKY...SPANKY

 

i would also like to add.....Internally i love his Z much more than the evo. I actually love the way his car sounds even with the stock exhaust. But for being luxurious, his car is def. alot louder inside than my evo.

 

sold my 350z for da evo... i love it more although i do miss the sleek look of the Z... th evo is better in everything else

 

Personally, I think the Evo is sexier than the Z. But the bottomline is, no car is going to get chicks. Both cars will grab attention, but if you're an ugly ****, the second the see the person behind the steering wheel it won't matter if you're in a Ferrari if you are a socially inept lardass.

Cars don't get girls...unless you're looking for a gold digger.

 

Well, Needspeed, I guess you never encountered a modded Evo with over 300 whp and there are a lot of us out there.

I owned an 02 3.5 Altima with the same VQ engine as the Z before the Evo. I also had a catback exhaust, downpipe (race pipe), cold air intake and lightweight wheels. I had a neighbor with a track Z and we would switch off and try different situations. He was impressed that a slightly modded Altima would keep pace with the Z rated at 290 hp and my 240 plus mods. And both of those don't compare to the Evo, especially the launch.

They are nice cars, but are not true sports cars. In fact, the RX8 just won a shootout against it. The RX8 was slower, but did everything else better. The z only pulls a .88 on the skid versus .97 for the Evo. We brake better also, much better. The Z is at the ceiling almost as far as bolt on mods. They have shown not to add much whereas the Evo is fairly cheap to make faster and add HP and has a huge aftermarket light years ahead of the Z.

I got rid of the POS Altima due to blowing 2 MAFs among other issues and stalling on the freeway. Yes, the engine would just die. had the Ecu reflashed several times and in the shop several weeks and Nissan engineers could not figure it out. instead of pursuing a Lemon case, traded the POS when it was running for the Evo. Never looked back and no problems. The Evo is a raw drivers machine, no drive by wire ****.

 

I am a previous 350Z owner....

The short version is that the 350Z is a GT car, not a sports car.

It is a great car to drive everyday. The balance is very controllable and the upkeep is not bad, aside from having to replace the tranny from gear grind under warranty.

There is probably more aftermarket products for the Z than even the Evo at this point, but all mods are expensive and without significant hp gains. The car feels heavy, looks awesome, and is a great second car. There a slew of FI kits but with the short wheelbase I would not go twin turbo on this car.

I have driven a stock evo and it felt like nothing i had experienced. Good and bad. I have driven a lot of nice cars.... 550Maranello, 996 c2, 993 turbo, e46 m3, e36 m3, 350z with 150 shot of Nos, acura nsx, etc.

But the evo seemed pretty raw in a great way. no computer mgmt spoiling the fun. no sound dampening. A real road race car. And you add $4-5k and you will have a truly phenomonal car that can outpace almost anything on the road and still have room for passengers.

The best thing about the evo is the price. I will probably end up with a used Evo for $21k-$23k. With about $10k in mods, any exotic should just move over to the middle lane. I mean who cares about the 500hp v10 m5 costing $80,000 with snob appeal. I can't wait to go M5 hunting.

Below is a pic of my sold 350z and a friends 550M.