350z vs WS6

[2000T/A Guru]

Wow your a little horny one

[johnb]

I had the opportunity to drive a friend's son's 350z before I got my TA. the 350z was, I thought, very well designed, handled well. But, when I test drove the TA, there was no comparison. I bought it on the spot, and haven't looked back..........

[Randi820]

Have self pix 2 proove it?

haha off topic, but yea heres a kinda old one:

and this is our z:

[fluke]

For research to help you.. I did something scary - I joined a 350z forum. Figured I would get a look at it from their side and read a bunch of topics. Here are some opinions from 350 owners on various F-body and Corvette related topics:

[i]"unless the c5 is a Z06 i wouldnt even consider it. i mean it does pump out 350 hp, but the interior isn't even worth it."

(this one is awesome!)
"Don't get into the myths that F-bodys can't handle. A good driver can beat a Z on the track."

(this one is kinda biased, but I wanted to post stuff from both sides)
"350z > ws6 means i pick the Z

i always thoguht the TA looked pretty sick and always wanted to test drive one...so when i did i was shocked on how much i didnt like the way the car felt... it felt too unstable when driving it, when i would turn on the steering wheel a little harder it didnt feel too safe it feltl ike my dads cavalier turning...the interior completly sucks...i didnt feel nowhere as near comfortable as i do in the 350z... the shifting on the stock TA isnt as niec as the z either...the only good thing i liked about the TA is u can feel the power in the first few gears...but i think after maybe 65mph the Z would take it...thats how i feel about the car no disrespect to any of you that have it...anyone else drive it and feel this way??"

(note: couldn't resist saying this .. WS6 having no top end? sorry.. )
(another Z owner felt the same way as me to this guy - )
"Wouldn't happen"

"I have a buddy on here with a TT and he is pushing somewhere in the low mid 400WHP range, and I have road in it a couple of times, but today I took a buddy car shopping and he couldnt afford a Z so we found a 2000 pontiac trans-am (not a WS6). So I use to sell pontiacs before the army and I sold and drove many WS6's and I am pretty used to them but this car was a LS1 powered "NHRA" edition which I never heard of (sold cars from 2002 +) and it had a jet chip and a flowmaster 2 chamber exaust and thats about it.So we get in the car to go for a test drive and I already know this thing will beat my Z but when he floored it it took the f@ck off! I was watching the speedo and it climbed like a bat outta hell and spun the tires at every shift and it was an auto! I truly believe this thing could take out my buddies TT! So is it me or what? I know the torque makes the trans ams feel alot faster then they are but I dont think I remember them being that fast."

(topic: "what was/is your fav car you ever owned?")
"'97 T/A WS6. Thing was a factory freak. Made 320whp with stock heads, cam, manifolds, intake and tune. Only parts it had were a catback, 1.6 rockers, MSD ignition, bored MAF and 52mm TB. 320 whp is LS1-type power out of an LT1."

"I bought a Z to replace my old 02 trans am WS6 that I recently sold, and I am not missing my trans am anymore. The Z I bought is used 06, with the Grand Touring package, fully loaded (navigation system, cargo package, upgraded wheels, ect), that just reached 14,000 miles. The color combo is the Silverstone paint with the burnt orange seats, which I think is absolutely gorgeous. Best of yet was the price, I managed to pick this up for only 30K! The only issue is how it is a auto (I wanted a manual), but the car was just too good to pass up over the transmission, and I probably will like auto better when dealing with the california traffic.

I couldn't be any happier with the Z, since I absolutely love how it drives over my old trans am. The ride somehow manages to be smoother, although it also handles incredibly better. The engine performance though slightly slower than my T/A, is still impressive and very fast. On the long drive back from the dealer, I was able to hit 100 in no time! The braking is also impressive thanks to the brembo's. The car had a few cosmetic mods that were done by the pervious owner, these include a window tint (back and side windows), smoked tail lights, and smoked front corner lights. Overall I think the mods look great with the car. I think the nissan Z truly is the greatest car I could have got in it's price range, and I am so far loving this car!"

(30k....)

"I currently have a 2002 trans am WS6. I do love it, but I am getting tired of owning it. That and as I have evolved as a driver over the past few years (im 18), I have found that the T/A doesn't quite fit my driving style very well anymore. I say this since I have discovered how I love going through corners and backroads far more than I like to go in a straightline. So since I love going through corners, I have discovered how that is a weak area for the trans am. Things I noticed when test driving a new Z was that is was truly a big step up in handling, since I noticed the steering was a lot tighter, more responsive, and I also noticed how there was less body lean, and seemingly more grip.

The only drawback I see in this is that the engine definitely doesn't have the same "throw you back into your seat" acceleration that the t/a has (350 ft-lbs of torque compared to the Z's 260 ft-lbs). Yet the Z definitely is a fast car in the straight line (300HP, 5.4 sec 0-60, 13.8 sec 1/4 mile?), and it offers more than enough performance for me since I rarely floor my t/a. That and my trans am in in black, it is automatic, and it features a crappy interior, all things that I am tired of having. So basically some of the reasoning for me wanting to sell my trans am for a 350Z. I am mostly looking for some opinions on a move like this. "

"Well this morning I lsot to a grand am. I was a beat suprised. Well to make it short..............as many of you have seen im deciding wether to do S/C or TT. i want to know how much better would a TT have done in this scenario against the grand am. Or how could the greddy TT do against others? Please elt me know, im shopping around and im sooooooooooo CONFUSED!"

"You sure it wasn't a Firebird? Or a Firehawk? WS6 Trans Am's are quick as all hell in the 1/4."

(heh..)

"Took the Z to a local 1/8 mile drag strip last night and I'm not happy with my best time. Ran 9.40 at 77.5 mph. Car feels faster than that. I was looking for some 9.0s. There was a stock '05 Mustang GT, auto running 9.2 - 9.3. Guess it's time to add a bottle and spray it."

"A few months ago I traded in my 03 Evo for an 03 Z Touring 6spd. I recently wrecked it and had severe suspension damage. Since then the car doesnt seem to drive just the same, the bumper isnt 100% aligned correctly(I am so picky I can notice it), and its making weird rattling noises inside like some panels are loose now. Also wind noise has increased. I am trading it in Monday for a 2002 Trans Am WS.6. JW what some of your opinions are on this decision. My car has 45K miles and wrecked....the TA 40K Miles and never been wrecked. It is spotless and was owned by a schoolteacher. Theres no way to compare stock for stock LS1 power and the power of the Z motor...but lets here some opinions other than power output bc surely the LS1 takes the cake."

"If you want a car that is just fast in a straight line, get the WS6. If you want a car that is faster than average in a straight line, can handle the twisties, and a good looking car, get the Z." ...... :rice:

"WS6 = Redneck"

"I saw a WS6 in my parking lot today. Dated and imho - ugly as hell. Has trash written all over it." ......

"You're posting on a Z forum...what did u expect to hear? d:-)"
sounds like just what we said.. but that is why I am doing this from their forum.

"If you can afford a Z, you can afford a c5 vette. My Z was more expensive than my vette."

"I dont know what the WS6 is but I would avoid the Z at all costs! I wish I never bought a Z. I don't have $400 - $550 to spend on front tires every 5,000 miles."

"If you have to go the muscle car route, buy a 2005 Mustang GT. Although still has the solid rear axle, it's getting pretty decent reviews for old technology. It's a bang for the buck kind of car.
The Saleens look pretty sweet, but i still love the Z cars and recommend it highly. Just trying to talk you out of that WS6, don't do it."



I think that is enough, that is about all I can bare right now. These were all from my350z.com, don't flame them. I am not trying to start some war or something, just wanted to see what 350z owners thought of us.

[JwMonE99]

^yea too much ready but from what I read it looks like the 350Z owners like the trans ams as well lol

haha off topic, but yea heres a kinda old one:

and this is our z:

Nice very hott

[via sin dios]

I own a six speed ta 1999. I dont own a 350z but my dad has the g35 so I drove it countless times. Like they mentioned, its better for the track and with a good exhaust they sound like a mountail lion. very badass in my opinion. However, if you have 16K you might as well save up another 3 or 4 and get urself a 02 trans am with very low miles. The only reason why I would go with a 350z or g35 is the fact that they have lower milage and its more of a sport car. In the end though, a black ws6 looks like a batmobile at night and the sound is amazing. And if its just a daily driver and you want to go fast once in a while on the highway, I would go with a 6 speed WS6. One is a sport car and the other is muscle car but has resonable handling. Just remember a nissan is a nissan. but if you buy a trans am your buying an american legacy.<<<thats the line my budy said that made me buy a TA instead of a wrx and im glad i made that choice.

[Mecinoid]

both are great cars- we have one of each. the z is really fun for corners, kinda like driving a go cart. the ta is more fun for the power.

Me too. My Daily Driver is a 04 Z. I don't think you can get even a high mileage Z for 15K.

Now a '98-00 Tran Am can be got with 70K miles for about 15K in great shape. The TA has more power and can produce gobs more power cheaply unlike the Z.

They both get about the same mileage.

The only negative on a Bird is the big doors in parking lots. Other than that. It's a better car imo all the way around.

Resale of the Z will be better in the long run. I'm on my sixth Z and love them for daily use. On the weekend I break out the Bird for full power runs. :-) This is my fourth Camaro/Bird.

Either is a great choice.





If I had to sell one it would be the Z. Even though I love it. It would bring more cash and the Bird is more fun. Bird is just too much for everyday use on the street imo. However, mine has been heavily modded .... Stock not an issue and still much better than the Z.

I can hardly wait for a 2010 Camaro.

Update: Spend 2K on suspension and your Firebird will handle as good as your stock Z. Then like me you could step up the Z and put 3K in suspension on the Z and not much will catch ya in the twisties... even Viper.

BTW- Firebird plus 10K = Stock Vette killer. ;-)

[t-rock]

30k i would get a used zo6

[2000T/A Guru]

I got my T/A for 10,700 with 48k miles on it, damn near perfect condition. Wit hthe extra 4k you would have left over get some suspension parts, its not liek the T/A can be made to handle better. Or go with a supercharger setup and make a very reliable 450-480rwhp. Winter is coming i see T/As and camaros with 50kmiles goin for 10k all the time around here.

[po0dingles]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll keep this saved and let ya'll know what I end up with.

[waldo]

if you want speed go with the WS6, I burn 350Z's all day long at the track.

[third_shift|studios]

I'll make it short and to the point:

I currently own a C5 Vette. I need to free up some cash so I'm going to be selling her for 25-26. I'd like to stash about half in the bank and spend 15-16k on a WS6 or a 350z.

I like each car for different reasons, however I have YET to drive either.

I love the TA cuz I'm used to the LS1 and enjoy the power of it. I like the 350z because it's a tad classier (no offense to you f-body folks).

I'm 23. I don't want to be pigeon-holed into a teenage racerboy car. Additionally, I do enjoy racing on the highway from time to time and enjoy tromping on the throttle on occcasion.

Trying to decide. Anyone here own both and can drop some knowledge on my dumbass?

based on that, you should consider a GTO...though you'd be spending what you sold the vetter for...

[Mecinoid]

I got my T/A for 10,700 with 48k miles on it, damn near perfect condition. Wit hthe extra 4k you would have left over get some suspension parts, its not liek the T/A can be made to handle better. Or go with a supercharger setup and make a very reliable 450-480rwhp. Winter is coming i see T/As and camaros with 50kmiles goin for 10k all the time around here.

I think you mean: "it not like you can't make the T/A handle better with a few suspension parts." IE: Traclink, PHR, LCA, 1LE Sways, Bilsteins, etc... Maybe $2000 and your set in the suspension department and can pull 1.0g around corners on racing tires.

Add ~$5-6K and get a Supercharger and not much can touch you.

[Smkn_TA]

I looked at 350Z's before getting my ws6 because I thought it was the replacement for the skyline and therefore leet uber pwnge right? Wrong...it had a porsche feel to it, but the go kart statement was dead on. It is a cutesee small car like a mustang. Hated it. But before you go shopping...

"I'm going to be selling her for 25-26. I'd like to stash about half in the bank and spend 15-16k on a WS6 or a 350z"

half of 26 = 13, put 13 in bank and you have 13 left. If you spend 16, you got 10 K in bank. Now, I looked at 350z's, and for 16K(if that is including taxs) you are not going to get much. I was looking at 30k plust milage cars and they were still low 17's. And if you want grand touring package or NISMO? Forget it. Considering your budget, you better go with a ws6.

[2000T/A Guru]

Yes that is what i meant, im a little slow lol