This week, I had to do a reasonably long round trip - about 260 miles in a day (not counting the ferry haha) and it reminded me of quite how good the Z is to drive. I'm happy for forum members who love modifying them for different looks, power, suspension and so on. More power to your collective elbows. For me, I remain astonished as to how good these are as stock (as long as they're maintained properly).

 

I stuck to dual-carriageways, apart from a brief bit of the M40. Lovely sweeping bends and hills. The occasional 56mph trucking mobile chicane overtaking a 55mph trucking mobile chicane just meant a few miles off the loud pedal followed by the chance to floor it. The NA sounds great and the auto pulls/responds beautifully. I had a whale of a time without driving like an idiot. The handling is just right for sustained "rapid progress", steering is well-weighted, comfy and supportive seats. It really is a pleasure to drive.

 

Over the years, I've been across the continent (not as far as some) and up and down the UK from Cornwall to Inverness. I started with a TT Manual then 2 NA Auto and they really are great cars to drive and use. Leaving show cars and track attack weapons aside, my message is wash 'em, fill 'em up with petrol and have a (safe and legal, officer) blast. It's what they're for.

Its just great at mile munching :thumbup1:

This week, I had to do a reasonably long round trip - about 260 miles in a day (not counting the ferry haha) and it reminded me of quite how good the Z is to drive. I'm happy for forum members who love modifying them for different looks, power, suspension and so on. More power to your collective elbows. For me, I remain astonished as to how good these are as stock (as long as they're maintained properly).

 

I stuck to dual-carriageways, apart from a brief bit of the M40. Lovely sweeping bends and hills. The occasional 56mph trucking mobile chicane overtaking a 55mph trucking mobile chicane just meant a few miles off the loud pedal followed by the chance to floor it. The NA sounds great and the auto pulls/responds beautifully. I had a whale of a time without driving like an idiot. The handling is just right for sustained "rapid progress", steering is well-weighted, comfy and supportive seats. It really is a pleasure to drive.

 

Over the years, I've been across the continent (not as far as some) and up and down the UK from Cornwall to Inverness. I started with a TT Manual then 2 NA Auto and they really are great cars to drive and use. Leaving show cars and track attack weapons aside, my message is wash 'em, fill 'em up with petrol and have a (safe and legal, officer) blast. It's what they're for.

 

Amen to that, Mike....:thumbup::cool:

You’re a man after my heart which is the true nature of the car!!! I’m like you! I love the sports that it is and appreciates the grand touring comfort of the car as well. Couldn’t ask for anything better out of a car.

I love the sports that it is and appreciates the grand touring comfort of the car as well.

In the past few months, I took an MG Midget for a test drive (yes, I know, but I had one back in the '80s and loved it to death) and it was the same delight to drive as I remembered. Bit later on, I tried a Porsche Boxster and thought wow, this is fun. Similar to the MG in being light, responsive, bit pointy on the steering but obviously a lot more rapid (and with more rattles and broken cheap-looking plastics than my Z).

Then I got back in my Z and remembered why. As you say, it really is a GT Coupe as well as being a sports car. Feels like a proper car not just a roller-skate.

SO nice to read these comments regarding the Z, with which I absolutely agree. I did 350 miles this last weekend, down to a Classic race meeting. I could have used dual carriageways, but the A road appealed more (the A68, Darlington to Edinburgh). Driving that at night, with remarkably little traffic (I passed 4 cars over a distance of 50 miles) reinforced what a really excellent car the Z is. Mine is the TT. Incredibly reliable too. I have had mine for 15+ years, still not needed to change either of the turbos (Mobil1 every3k miles without exception...). Any owners in Scotland planning a meet at all?

 

Peter