(old pic) some thoughts after 2,098 miles ⤵
i took the z around mercer island today. i think this was the first time all year. why? i didn't have much fun the first few times i took the z around mercer island. back then, i was new to manual driving (i learned in summer 2024, shortly before i bought the car) and i didn't understand the z well yet.
mercer island is slow and tight. the eastern half of the loop is mostly hairpins. the western half opens up to wider s-bends, but lots of blind crests still keep speeds low. it's the most fun in tiny, light cars that respond to the driver quickly. high speeds can hide a lot of things, like weight, numbness, and dull inputs, but mercer island is perfect for pulling back the veil. a few sets of back-to-back corners and the straights that connect them can reveal everything about a sports car in just a few minutes. (well, at least everything i care about, anyway.)
i have learned since owning the z that it's a very educational car. very expressive. when you give it smooth inputs, when you are precise and move intentionally, the car rewards you. the weight shifts smoothly and decisively. the tires dig into their footing. the driving feels good, connected. when you make mistakes, with rough acceleration, sharp steering, etc., the car complains. it won't punish you immediately, but you can feel the jolts, rolling, and pitching. while the car still performs what you ask, you can sense the disconnect between the outcome and your intentions. or perhaps the gap between your intentions and your execution, something like that. that's the best way i can put it.
i'm not sure if this is ultimately a result of the z 'wanting' to be driven a particular way, or simply the z acting as a mirror to the driver. maybe it's both. or maybe it's just my z in particular. i'll find out in time, i'm sure.
anyway, i took my z to mercer island only three times total. during the first two times, i didn't handle the car well. i was unfamiliar with how it responded to me. my shifts were rough, i didn't have good control over the accelerator, and the car dove and pitched and rolled a lot from all of my inputs. at the same time, the tires and suspension weren't broken in either. the car was too new.
this time, the suspension carried the weight well. the car no longer rolled through hairpins in a nauseating way. although i can still feel the surge from my imperfect accelerator inputs, the car stopped pitching and diving harshly as i stepped down and let go. especially the chicanes revealed my steering inputs were no longer as jerky as before; i could somewhat smoothly transition from turning in one direction to another without upsetting the balance of the car too much. i felt like i was gliding through the turns and slopes together with my z.
i had fun. i think i still have a long way to go, but i feel like i'm building a mutual understanding . now that i understand my z a bit more, perhaps it's also beginning to understand me. and the things i used to think i needed to modify, i'm not so sure i still need to. somehow, over time, i think i'm coming to realize my z is perfectly fine in the way it came from the factory. the suspension works. the muffler is just about right: a gentle sound that doesn't overwhelm the cabin, but still communicates enough. i suppose i'm happy not to need to spend the money.
(except for the tires. i absolutely will change the tires.)