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REPORT: Nissan's Fiesty Mr. K calls out the 370Z
Recently one of our bloggers raised the hackles of many a commenter by announcing to the world that he preferred driving a Nissan Versa to the new 370Z. You can hear the whole exchange on Autoblog Podcast #140. To protect this poor blogger's identity, he shall remain nameless (we'll call him Jonny X for short. No, too obvious. Let's go with X Lieberman). Point is, obviously this person is out of his mind because who on earth prefers driving a economy car like the Versa to a Z? Turns out Nissan's Mr. K.
Yutaka Katayama, known to American Datsun/Nissan fans simply as Mr. K, will be remembered for two very important cars: the 240Z and the 510, both of which are now considered classics. Mr. K turned one hundred years old on September 15, but age hasn't tempered his mind. In fact it seems sharper than ever. Talking about the new 370Z, Mr. K calls it, "So-so." He continues, "Very different from the 240Z. First, it's very heavy, and it's also very expensive."
And not only does Mr. K feel the car new Z is too expensive, but that it's not actually living up to the Japanese sports car legacy laid down by the 240Z, "I'd like to have a sports car like the Miata. The Miata is taking the place of the 240Z." Harsh. But check this out, "Katayama has a 350Z in his garage but prefers to drive the family's Versa compact." And there you have it.
Mr. K would like to see the Datsun nameplate come back, and with sportier cars. "The fun of driving cars is the same as riding a horse. We need a car that is like riding on horseback. We are making robots. Robots don't like human control." Even at the ripe old age of one hundred, Mr. K just might be around to see his wish come true, "I just entered the 100s. I have a long way to go."
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: MTZC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Franz 2:32PM (9/21/2009)
Cool story. I would imagine that Mr. K wouldn't like the robot in my avatar much either. ;)
Reply
Rob 2:43PM (9/21/2009)
You're probably right. He seems to be after the soul of the car more than anything and, really, he's right. There's arguably no Japanese car out there that can equals the kind of character that a 240z has. Smart guy, Mr. K. I hope to hear more from him.
zamafir 2:42PM (9/21/2009)
nah, but that's ok. what a wonderful man. Nothing makes me smile like watching 510s take class wins at VARA
This Man. 2:59PM (9/21/2009)
The cars in which I've driven with the most soul was the BNR32 GT-R, and the 240Z.
Some might hate me for saying BNR32 GT-R, but I hope all will understand the Fairlady S30. When you drive both, before you even get in the car, they call to you, begging for you to find their inner strengths. A stock 240Z, or a stock BNR32, both are great cars, with massive amounts of genuine FEELING.
Something cars of the past decade have certainly lacked. Even with the onslaught of the BCNR33, feeling was lost... and the soul disappeared. When a car is brought into fruition as new, with character and a zest for life, it will never die... but when it is constantly rehashed, like the new robot 370Z/GT-R, it will never truly give the owner of it the power and freedom as it's forebear's did to theirs.
It's sad to say, but within the soul of the car, you should find yourself. And not only Nissan... but ANY new cars of late... have I not sat in and felt lifeless, and cold.
Franz 3:01PM (9/21/2009)
I agree with both you guys. I've always argued that lightweight, (relatively) low powered cars are usually much more rewarding to drive. They're usually a lot more involving, and it takes a lot more skill and consistency to wring out a good lap. I've owned several high HP cars (500hp & up) and they've all come and gone. The two cars I've owned the longest are an EF Civic Si and my E30 M3 that I have no intention of getting rid of anytime soon. There are few things as fun as wringing every last bit of performance out of a lesser machine... and if you're lucky, whooping high dollar, high hp cars in the process.
HotRodzNKustoms 3:16PM (9/21/2009)
@zamafir The VARA 510's are INSANE
Rich 4:07PM (9/21/2009)
Rob: you must have missed where he mentioned the Miata...
This Man. 4:13PM (9/21/2009)
@ Rich: The Miata hasn't been good since 1997.
IOMTT 5:39PM (9/21/2009)
Sounds like Mr. K needs a motorcycle.
naggs 10:50PM (9/21/2009)
mr k understands that a perfect drivers car disappears on you, it becomes just you and the road
anything that puts a layer between you and the road is the enemy
fun to drive factor peaked in '95, all downhill since
the4thheat 10:46PM (9/22/2009)
I think this video explains it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeNZluEhydE
Brian 2:41PM (9/21/2009)
While the motor & the acceleration are good in the 350/370Z, it is WAY too heavy.
Driving that car feels like an american muscle car, which it's not.
I worked for a Nissan Dealership for over a year, and I hated driving that car. The clutch was super stiff, the steering was overtly heavy & the car just didn't have very good dynamics. The convertible made it worse.
Franz, I haven't had the pleasure of driving Godzilla yet, but from what I've heard, the steering is much lighter in that thing, which confuses the heck out of me why they continue to make the Z a harder car to drive.
Reply
skine 2:52PM (9/21/2009)
I agree ...great engine ..great suspension ...great proportions ..just too much weight and way too expensive ...$40,000 for the nismo? ill take a used z06 over that ...and ima ford guy lol
Imag 3:14PM (9/21/2009)
Few thoughts:
- Do not confuse the 370 with the 350. In my opinion, the latter sucks to drive, while the former is much more fun.
- $30K is not too much to spend on a sports car. After all was said and done, that's what my 370Z with sport pack cost (plus tax)
- The weight thing is not all manufacturer's fault. The modern safety requirements are *way* more cumbersome. Customer expectations about refinement and rigidity are different. I'll give them credit for trying to reduce weight on the 370, even if they ultimately kept it the same after all the added safety crap.
- Customers, not car companies, are one of the reason why cars are growing. The horsepower wars require larger tires, larger brakes, heavier components, etc. The 370Z hangs with the 2008 Porsche Cayman for half the price. That's pretty impressive.
- Some of us are not sized like a Japanese person. I can't sit in a Miata with the top on and a helmet. I would have to replace the stock seat because I'm too tall. Since I want to track my car, I want a helmet. Excuuuuse me.
- I really want lighter cars. I'm looking forward to the new Miata, which is rumored to be lighter, and to the new RX-7, which should beat the RX-8 on weight with the 16X motor. However, I also think anyone who says the 370 isn't fun to drive isn't trying hard enough :)
PercyPricksworth 3:42PM (9/21/2009)
@Imag
Sorry for being completely off topic. But with your size reference to miata and japanese persons I have to post this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQa4HHkhwVg
Purplewon 5:28PM (9/21/2009)
@ imag...Why would you drive a miata with the top up?
Stephen 9:27PM (9/21/2009)
I'm getting tired of people giving the automakers a pass for making heavy cars by blaming the weight gain on all the horrible new government mandated safety equipment. Yes, that stuff weighs a lot, but so does all the unnecessary power this/heated that. Not to mention the horsepower one-upmanship that sends a ripple effect of weight gain throughout the car.
Just remember this the next time you blame modern safety equipment and say that a car like the 240Z can never be made now: The Lotus Elise weighs 350lbs LESS than the 240Z while passing modern safety standards. Sure, the Elise doesn't have a lot of creature comforts, but it surely doesn't have less than the beloved 240.
wingding2424 11:11PM (9/21/2009)
@Stephen
You're right, but then again Lotus doesn't mind charging big bucks for "extra lightness," thus exempting it from Mr. K's vision.
Stephen 7:35AM (9/22/2009)
Wingding, you're correct, of course. The Lotus certainly isn't affordable for most of us. I don't know the details of how much the high tech, light weight materials of the Lotus add to the cost. But mass producing a car would bring the cost down a little and some of the light weight materials could be replaced with more mundane materials that weigh 400 lbs more and you'd still just be up to the weight of the 240Z.
Coincidentally, this additional 400 lbs would bring the weight up to Mr. K's 3rd gen Miata (2400 lbs).
abbas350 7:47AM (9/22/2009)
@purplewon
it's slightly less homosexual that way