The Smoking Tire: LS swapped 300ZX

[kevm14]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nCXfXX8z8wQ

I like this, too.

[kevm14]

Master's degree in Systems Engineering? Go on...

[bill25]

The LS bolted up to the original trans with an adaptor plate. That is pretty crazy.

[Bob]

If I had a nickel for every time he commented on how good the steering was... Seriously though, I think this era may have represented the pinnacle of good steering for Japanese cars.

[kevm14]

It seems that way. Even Mike Sybal's 89 Legend, while incredibly over-boosted, was still enjoyable. The Maxima wasn't above average though.

Contrastingly, 90s steering for American cars was pretty bad.

Completing the comparison, German cars were also renowned (mostly) for steering excellence in the 90s. Or at least everything that BMW made. E36, E38, E39, E46.

[Adam]

Actually the LS is lighter.

Seems to be a reoccurring theme for these swaps.

[kevm14]

I can't believe Bill hates these cars.

[bill25]

I just like the looks of the RX-7 or Supra better. It isn't based on mechanics or performance. I am also not a Nissan fan. I like Mazda for their looks and handling and I like Toyota for the reliability. Unfortunately, the Asian companies don't make a lot of the "cool" cars anymore. The Supra, RX-7, even the Prelude and Integra though front drive had die hard fans. I know the rotary sucks, but I appreciate the underdog making something different that was actually competitive. It wasn't the fastest, but it looked and handled great (still does actually). Since Ford ditched them, they should team up with GM and sell the 90's looking body (vice the RX-8 which is less iconic) with 5.3s stock. That would be awesome... A man can dream right.

[kevm14]

Well I think they're cool, and a lot of the identity comes from the headlight design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_30 ... RedZ32.jpg

It's also worth pointing out that the weight of the 300ZX was between a Supra and RX7, making for a nice blend of sports car and GT. While each uses a turbo to make power, it is interesting that each goes about it a little differently, giving them clearly different personalities (aside from the chassis differences).

[kevm14]

Also you like to cite how the auto press always compliments Mazda stuff. Here's some 300ZX stuff from wiki:

1990: The 1990 300-ZX Turbo is named Motor Trend's "Import Car of the Year". Motor Trend also names it, "One of the Top Ten Performance Cars". Automobile Magazine selected the 300-ZX/300ZX Turbo as its "Design of the Year", and named the 300ZX Turbo to its "All Stars" list. Road & Track picked the 300ZX Turbo "One of the Ten Best Cars in the World". Car and Driver included the 300ZX Turbo "One of the 10 Best Cars"
1991: The 300ZX Turbo is listed in Car and Driver's "10 Best", and is again one of Automobile Magazine's "All-Stars"
1992: Car and Driver includes the 300ZX Turbo in its "10 Best", and Automobile Magazine names it to its "All-Stars" list
1993: The 300ZX Turbo is included in Car and Driver's "10 Best", and one of Automobile Magazine's "All-Stars".
1994: The 300ZX Turbo is listed on the Car and Driver "10 Best" and on the "All Stars" list by Automobile Magazine
1995: The 300ZX Turbo is included in the "10 Best" list by Car and Driver
1996: For the seventh straight year the 300ZX Turbo is on the Car and Driver's "10 Best" list, this is also the final year of U.S. sales
2004: Automobile lists the Z32 as one of the 100 greatest cars of all time
2006: Automobile lists the Z32 on both the "20 Greatest Cars of the Past 20 years" and the "25 Most Beautiful Cars in History"
2010: GQ Magazine lists the Z32 as one of the most stylish cars over the past 50 years

From the year it was introduced, the Z32 has also won many comparison tests against similar sports cars such as the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealth, Mazda RX-7, Chevrolet Corvette, Toyota Supra, Dodge Viper, and the Porsche 968.[26]