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From: rsy@iwu1d.UUCP (Robert S. Yen)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Nasty words about the 300ZX
Message-ID: <150@iwu1d.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Nov-85 23:33:29 EST
Article-I.D.: iwu1d.150
Posted: Wed Nov 20 23:33:29 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Nov-85 00:20:39 EST
References: <876@whuxlm.UUCP>
Reply-To: rsy@iwu1d.UUCP (00704a-yen, r.s.)
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 69
Summary: 

In article <876@whuxlm.UUCP> hhc@whuxlm.UUCP (Chefitz Harry H) writes:
>
>I was flipping through my copy of Rotary Rocket, a magazine put
>out by the RX-7 Club of America, when I came across two articles
>comparing the new RX-7 with both a Porsche 944 and a Nissan 300ZX.
>Of course, I expected biased reoprting, even though the articles
>were written by two race car drivers, Rod Millen and Gary
>Witzenburg.  But I was surprised to find such strong negative
>opinions about the 300ZX.  Consider these comments:
>
>	"The 300ZX isn't in the same class as the 944 and RX-7.
>	 Personally, I don't consider it to be a real sports car."
>					-Rod Millen
>
>	"Finally, I took two laps in the 300 ZX and got out.  It
>	 felt so awkward on the track, I never cared to drive it
>	 harder and go for a time.  Thanks anyway."
>					-Gary Witzenburg
>
>What about it, 300ZX owners?  Did you shell out all that money
>for a cream-puff of a sports car?
>
>				Harry Chefitz
>				allegra!whuxlm!hhc


	You may have expected biased reporting because the articles
	were written by two race car drivers, but I happen to know
	that Rod Millen is the guy who does the driving for Mazda on
	their commercials -- not exactly biased...  As to the other
	driver, from the collection of cars tested and the fact that
	Rod Millen was there, it is quite possible that both these
	drivers were interviewed at the unveilling of the "new and
	improved" RX-7 held by Mazda.

	If you'd like a more objective view, I'd suggest two different
	articles:  1) August '84 Road & Track (gotta luv that GTO!)
	which has "track test results" from running eight cars at Willow
	Springs International Raceway.  The 300ZX Turbo came in second
	in overall lap time (the 'vette was first) with the 944 finishing
	5th and the RX-7 GSL-SE coming in second from last (just edging
	out the Daytona Turbo Z in 8th place).  And  2) October '85
	Motor Trend which has the "Z Acid Test: 300ZX Owner Survey" which
	boiled down to one figure: "...92.2% of our survey respondents
	said they'd buy another Z-car when time came to muster the present
	mount out of service.  In the long run, it's pretty tough to
	find much fault with that kind of owner sentiment."

	I had a choice (in May '84) between a 300ZX Turbo, a loaded RX-7
	GSL-SE and a 944.  My final decision was based on the fact that
	the RX-7 was too expensive for too little, the Turbo ZX too expensive
	for quite a bit more and the 944 just plain too expensive.  I finally
	ended up with an '84 Turbo ZX that runs great and has no problem
	with the RX-7's and 944's (non-turbo, of course) of the world.
	Any yes, I have driven the new RX-7 coming away with the impressions:
	1) why didn't they have an original body design (I like the old
	GSL-SE bodys better) and 2) yes it's got good performance (better
	than a normally-aspirated ZX and the old RX-7), but I can't wait to
	drive the Turbo in the Spring of next year.

	All in all, I'd have to say, "Yes indeed, the 300ZX is a REAL SPORTS
	CAR."


			Robert S Yen		ihnp4!iwu1d!rsy
			AT&T-IS Labs		Naperville, IL.
-- 
			Robert S Yen		ihnp4!iwu1d!rsy
			AT&T-IS Labs		Naperville, IL.