My first impressions of my new 97 SHO

[ENDEE666]

I feel like a post whore already...lol

But anyway, after driving the car for two days or so, here's what I like & dislike or have concerns about:

The Good:

I love the highway manners of the car. Its smooth & comfy on the highway & the handling is quite good for a car this size. Love the sound of that V8. I wasn't expecting as nice of a growl since its only 3.4L, but oooh I like it. Interior is great, much nicer than Gen I & II. I was tempted to get one of those for their 5 speed tranny option, but I could not accept that awful interior. The Gen III has a real nice classy look inside.

The Other:

Not necessarily bad, just not quite good. I'm terrified to find out my cams need to be welded. The stock front speakers are blown (replacements are on the way already) and my cd changer is possesed. The rear spoiler looks like it was intended for a totally different car. And all in all, I must admit, I was expecting it to be alot faster. Granted, my other car is a 450hp Twin Turbo 300zx, so most things are slower. But still. In comparison to Maximas (the 3.0, 222hp) I have drove & my old Diamante (3.5L 205hp) I was more impressed by them. I have a feeling something may need fixing or it may need a full tune up. But I was expecting the 235hp V8 to wow me & it just doesn't. Not from initial acceleration anyway. Passing is ok. But there is absolutely zero "thrown back in your seat" feeling. Kinda boring, but the handling, V8 symphony and the room & comfort makes up for it. It still meets my criteria of a "winter car" while the Zed gets his beauty sleep over the winter. It has a back seat, it has 4 doors, a roomy trunk, WAY quieter, much smoother ride, etc. And its still ok power wise. We'll see what a tune up does & maybe an open intake. If still not quick enough, next winter my driveway might have two Nissans...

Just some rambling & venting. Make of it what you will.. Still glad to own one, even if just for the experience.

Later
Nick

 

[shogansta]

get flowmasters a xcal 2 and a cold air intake and your good to go my sho had the same set up and it was loud and fast but too bad its on ebay parts section now stupid honda totaled my beuty anyway good luck and if u need help just pm me!

 

[ENDEE666]

I could use some parts actually! I need the following:

Interior door handle cups, gray. (goes behind the handle, sealing the panel)
Clean headlights, pref '99.
Clean '99 Tails (all red).
Gray or Black floor mats.
Working cd changer.
And might be interested in your intake too.

let me know what u can help with.
thanks
Nick

 

[Glue Maker]

Though there could be something wrong, just get used to the slow feeling. My friends 100 HP Saturn feels faster. You can blame that on your Semi Active Ride Control system. If you drive around about 1/2 throttle like (keeping the SARC in softer modes) the car feels much faster

In reality, they aren't all that slow. Mine will always manage consistent 15.2-15.4 on 100+ Texas track days.

 

[ENDEE666]

Yeah, I have cockpit adjustable suspension in th Z too. Same with that, feels faster in the softer settings than the harder ones. Mostly cause it throws you back more due to the squat. But with the better handling I learn to overlook it.

 

[Wess]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I love the spoilers on these cars. In my opinion, they do a lot to distinguish the GenIII SHO from all other cars out there today. When I look at a SLO w/ the spoiler, or wing across the trunk I think that looks like it belongs on another car. I think that's the hangup many people have with it, it's different. Just my $.02 Welcome to the forum!

 

[hoboprodigy-]

mine throws me around pretty good when i get on it :>

but then again, the SHO has never been known for being quick off the line.

open it up on the freeway though

 

[BodylessSHO]

The spoiler on this car is functional, not just for looks. It is one of three functional stock spoilers of its day, the other two being a Jaguar XK8 (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) and the Porsche 911.

It's fast enough, I'd say.

 

[Sagabu]

To me the art of the Gen lll is in the overall ballance.

 

[ENDEE666]

The handling is there when u need it & the ride is comfy when u dont. I definitely like the car, when I want really fast I have my Z...

 

[cmoore]

WOW!! Have I really missed something...the spoiler is actually funtional!?!? Well, I am not a huge fan either way on the spoiler, but if it is functional, well then, that changes everything!!

I would have to agree that when I first bought mine I thought it would be a bit faster also, I have not seen the times everyone else has (best of 15.8 at like 87mph). I do enjoy driving it, it has enough guts to get me up and going and there is a huge difference when the car is in the softer mode. I have owned a GEN II and loved it and own a GEN III and love it. Must just be a SHO thing!

 

[ENDEE666]

I know a Gen II would have been quicker, especially in stick. Thats one thing I wish the Gen III had. But there's no way I could deal with the interior of the Gen II....

 

[Funmart6]

I have found that this car really shines on the interstate. I like cruising to work at about 85, the car really seems to hunker down and tighten up going over bumps and bridges at this speed, also changes lanes in a blink of an eye !

 

[Porkchop]

I have found that this car really shines on the interstate. I like cruising to work at about 85, the car really seems to hunker down and tighten up going over bumps and bridges at this speed, also changes lanes in a blink of an eye !

now imagine that same feeling, but lowered 2 inches

 

[Funmart6]

I'll bet that is sweet!!!! I would like to drop my struts down, my fear is that I would never get out of my driveway.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

Manual cars always seem faster even when they aren't. Even my friggin Geo Metro feels faster but it sure isnt'.

 

[ENDEE666]

now imagine that same feeling, but lowered 2 inches

For now, I will imagine. But I will be living that shortly!! Lowering is one of the first things I do to almost any car!

 

[lancSHO]

Mine went 15.6x @ 89.x after being stuck in traffic outside of the track; it was heat soaked. I let the car cool down for about 3 hours & ran again, resulting in a 15.4x @ 90.x. The only mods the car had was a K&N panel filter [supplied by previous owner] and a removed sax. If you love the sound of the V8, put an open filter on the MAFS and lay into it. After 3400RPM, you'll see why.

On the test drive, mine felt sluggish as well. After cleaning the intake [internally] some and removing the sax, it felt a little better. After intsalling the car's later demise [Pipercross cold air intake 4" tube, read sig about the demise of the 1st engine], the car was simply a different animal. When rolling & getting onto the throttle [not flooring it, keeping it in the same gear], the throttle response was near instant, and I didn't have to wait for it to pick up like I did with the stock airbox. Now with an open filter on the MAFS, the throttle response is instantaneous, and the V8's impressive roar is even louder.

If you decide to install an open filter, take the time to remove the front wheel and splashguard [or inner fenderwell], look at the size of the opening for the SHO's intake tract. The opening is 2" ID [Interanl Diameter]. It does get larger going upto the airbox. The opening for the airbox is 3 1/4" ID, but even all of this is a bit small for the V8. The MAFS itself is an 80MM unit IIRC, and the adapters for that size are about 4" for the opening. And intake or even an open filter will pay dividens; trust me [and nearly everyone else here too]. Good luck with your Gen III!

 

[Porkchop]

For now, I will imagine. But I will be living that shortly!! Lowering is one of the first things I do to almost any car!

Shameless plug :corn:

 

[SHO Dude]

Mine went 15.6x @ 89.x after being stuck in traffic outside of the track; it was heat soaked. I let the car cool down for about 3 hours & ran again, resulting in a 15.4x @ 90.x. The only mods the car had was a K&N panel filter [supplied by previous owner] and a removed sax.

Ah, Ah, AH-CHOOO!.......tuner.

You'll be running 14's soon enough.