This is a piece I wrote when I first picked up my 370 Zed. I hope you find it entertaining and maybe even a little informative!
Last weekend, I popped along to my local Nissan dealer for a nosey at the new 370z. Four and a half days later, I'm back picking up my new red roadster (manual).
10 minutes on the phone to EasyJet later, my planned flights to Scotland for the weekend are amended and I now have a lurvly 1000 mile round trip to lay the foundations for what I hope will be a long and loving relationship between me and my new Zed!
The next few hours entail stress and cross words with the girlfriend as we hastily repack, transferring our luggage from our medium sized suitcase to several smaller bags that can be manipulated into the 'boot' of the Zed. Finally however, car, girlfriend and me are packed and ready to go.
Being an IT professional, I'm a bit of a fiend for technology. I get in the car, assume the position and marvel as the engine purrs into life at a gentle push of the start button. All set, I now spend 5 minutes programming my destination into the sat nav. Love it - quick, intuitive and well displayed.
Generally, I'm not over cautious but until I've built up confidence in the speed camera alerts built into the Zed I decide to plug in my Snooper as an extra precaution. Several minutes and one black eye later I've managed to make the snooper stick to the front windscreen and the power cord stretch to the outlet in the arm-rest. Note to self: buy stronger suckers for snooper! Note to others: do not attempt to stretch a coiled power cable this far without donning protective clothing (think bomb-disposal suit).
And we're off...
The M25 is flowing nicely and I'm able to accelerate up to 70 easily without full-throttle (temptation is there though) and without exceeding the 4000rpm running-in limit. Once the other half has recovered consciousness (following being struck by a snooper attempting to return to the centre console at high speed) she starts to enjoy fiddling with the abundance of passenger comforts (heated and cooled seats, electric chair movement etc).
As I pull of onto the M40 slip, I am literally awed by the positive, 'planted' feeling that the Zed's steering gives out. Is it really this good or has volcanic ash affected the Earth's gravity!
Again I fight temptation as some nyaff in a souped up Corsa tries to wind me up. If you ever read this, I will see you again my friend (hopefully after my 1200 mile running in period).
Nearing Brum, and time for the first fuel stop. I'm going to go off-topic here and relate a story to you. A couple of years ago, I bought a small boat for cruising up and down the Thames. To keep my mates stocked up on coffee I decided to fill the fresh water tank. 30 minutes and 2 wet feet later, I realised that there wasn't any tank connected to the filling point. I begin to wander if the 370 has the same issue...
Eventually the high speed counter on the pump stops ticking and I drive out the services just over seventy quid poorer. Oh well...
Some miles further up the road, her indoors again removes the snooper from the side of her head and demands a shot at the wheel. With no small amount of trepidation and a quick prayer that I'll live to fight another day (a bit like Gordon Brown on election day) we swap seats.
This isn't the kind of forum to talk about awareness of ones own mortality, so instead I shall focus on the Zed. Being in the passenger seat gives me a great opportunity to play with the entertainment system. The IPod integration is fantastic. I've previously had a head unit designed with an IPod in mind and it has nothing on this. Quick to load and locate what I'm after and the sound quality is more than acceptable. I'm as happy as a man who is sitting in the passenger seat of his own car with a snooper power cable wrapped round his neck can possibly be.
After a few rather ropey gear changes she starts to get in to the flow of the drive and is impressed. At least I think she is - "it's nice AND it's red" is about the limit of her technical vocabulary. I try to probe further into what she likes about the car but "its just really good".
I'm back in control of the cockpit now and we're passing Manchester. Typically the heavens open. Fantastic, I now get to play with the automatic wind screen wipers. I've never had a car with this mystical and magic functionality before. To quote my missus "it's just good".
We continue past Manchester and the rain clears for the uneventful trip through the North of England.
Over the border and into God's own country and it's time to settle for a bit - the local constabulary round this way are a little bit keen (in the same way the Queen is a little bit posh).
And now... The bit I've been waiting for... The 50(ish) miles of twisty-turny A road that is the A702. I love this road! It feels so, so wrong to be barreling in to corners at around 60mph with 4000rpm or less on the rev counter. When I say "wrong", I don't like it. The Zed, however, seems to thrive despite the low revs. The steering is positive, precise and the grip just keeps coming.
Sadly, all good things come to an end as I near my destination, guided right to the door by the sat nav. I can't resist looking back at my car with a grin on my face, at least twice as I leave it to rest for the night.
The journey back to England passes in much the same way. The only difference of note is that the traffic is much lighter and I find a nice private bit of ground, near the M6 toll where I can push the car a bit more within the constraints of the run-in period. 110mph is very comfortable in 6th gear, pulling around 3900rpm. Roll on the day where that 1200 mile nursing period is over!
Good Bits
- Handling
- Looks
- Gadgets
- Nissan Dealer (WLMG Slough) very friendly and helpful
Less Good Bits
- Lack of power outlets near the windscreen
- no way, to my knowledge, of updating the speed camera database
I look forward to writing more about this car once it's run in and I can drive it as close to properly as my abilities will take me. That's only 200 happy miles away :o)
