Day 2 of touring in the FAIRLADY Z NISMO. After an overnight stay in Kochi Prefecture, we will report on the entire drive from Route 439, a famous road in Shikoku, to Route 194, and then to Washu Mountain in Okayama. As the driving field changed, the true qualities of this Nissan sports car came into view.

Starting from Kochi - Route 439 to the pleasant road

After the first day's run, the hotel is a regular guest house in Kochi Prefecture.Southern City HotelI stayed at the This hotel has a large parking lot, restaurants nearby, and a good quality restaurant in the hotel. The rooms are spacious and less than 10,000 yen, making it an ideal base for touring.

On the morning of the second day, we took the expressway to the Otoyo Interchange and headed for Route 439, a famous road in Shikoku.

This road, nicknamed "Yosaku," is also known as a "terrible road," although some sections of it are also referred to as "bad roads,This time, we drove not the narrow road, but a section of a pleasant road.It is. This section, which stretches southwestward, has little traffic and is literally"Pleasure Ride Road."It was a pleasant road that was a perfect example of the word "pleasant".

The true value of the Fairlady Z NISMO was demonstrated on Route 439, a road with a series of moderate-speed corners. The ride quality that I usually feel is not so comfortable is forgotten on such a road. In fact, this kind of scene may be the true nature of this car.

Acoustic performance of Fairlady Z

The sound of the Fairlady Z engine left a strong impression on me as I drove down Route 439.

Basically, it is a quiet car due to environmental regulations, but the fake sound echoing through the cabin is really pleasant when the car is set to Sport mode or Sport Plus.The clear V6-style "fawn" tone is free of clutter.The "bong" sound of the gearshift when shifting up also adds to the driving experience.

On the other hand, the blipping sound during downshifts is not as intense as that of a Porsche and is characterized by a subdued sound.

This is a matter of taste, but for those who do not like excessive exhaust noise, this may be just the right balance. In normal mode, the engine is so quiet that it is almost inaudible, and this pleasant sound can be enjoyed only when the car is set to Sport mode or higher. However, this feature is optional for some grades, so you need to confirm this when you purchase the car.

Turning onto Route 194 - The best of multi-level winding

The character of the road changes as you enter Route 194 from Route 439. This Route 194 connects the north and south sides of Shikoku and is a section of the road that I particularly like. This time I drove the part where the road turns right and gains elevation, which is exactly what I did.Three-dimensional windingIt can be said to be the best of both worlds. Tight corners, medium-speed corners, and straights are mixed in moderately, and with the addition of climbing gradients, the driver is never bored.

The Fairlady Z NISMO showed its true value on this road as well.

I have complained about many things in previous reviews, but the turning ability on winding roads is superb. Compared to the Porsche Boxster and Cayman in terms of touring on public roads.It has comparable answerability and speed.The front end grips very well, especially with these stock tires, which have an intense grip when heated. Although there were a lot of things to feel when switching from the Cayman, a new buyer of the Fairlady Z will be well satisfied with the driving experience.

Both uphill and downhill driving can be enjoyed with this car. The 19-inch wheels with relatively high flat tires are also a feature of this vehicle,It even has a bit of an American muscle car feel to it.The tires are made of steel. The sensation of running while flexing the tires is what makes the FAIRLADY Z so uniquely enjoyable.

Differences from Porsche - Muscular Athlete

We drove several Porsches on the same road, and it was interesting to see the difference between the two. If the Porsche is an "athlete with supple muscles",Fairlady Z gives the impression of a "macho athleteIt is. The power of the engine is not just in terms of engine power, but in terms of the texture of the way the vehicle moves and turns.

The true value of this car is demonstrated only when it is driven at a high pace under some load.

It is not much fun to drive slowly and leisurely, but it is a "fish out of water" if there is a road where you can attack it at your own pace. It is a dry car that is interesting precisely because it is not a perfect honor student.Like a spicy but tasty curry.The appeal of this system is that your skill, technique, and skill will really come into play in the

To Okayama - Return from Washuzan

After completing the 194 route, we headed toward Okayama via the highway, stopping at the Washuzan parking lot where car lovers in Okayama gather, as I often see in tweets on X (formerly Twitter). The road to there was also tight and winding, which made the Fairlady Z a pleasure to drive. From Washuzan, we had a great view of the Seto-ohashi Bridge, and then took the Sanyo Expressway to Ashiu Driveway before returning home in the evening.

In these two days of touring,My initial concern that touring in a Fairlady Z might not be fun was completely dispelled.I have heard RZ34 owners say that it makes them want to drive longer and longer distances, and I think I now understand the nuance of that statement. It is a car with qualities suitable for long tours.

I was also frequently approached in the parking lot, and this time I was approached twice. It was a touring experience for me to see firsthand why the FAIRLADY Z is so loved by Japanese men.

Route map for this time