We took Cool Cars with Chris on the road—and this time, we went LIVE from Willow Springs Raceway for one of the wildest track day experiences we’ve ever had.

From pulling up at 6AM in the middle of nowhere to being surrounded by roaring engines, insane builds, and a full-on Nissan Z takeover… this event did NOT disappoint.

This episode was recorded LIVE at the All Japan Showdown, where we saw everything from classic 240Zs and 280Zs to brand-new Nissan Zs, plus Vipers, GT40s, Corvettes, and more tearing up the track.

If you love JDM cars, track days, car meets, or just raw car culture, this is one you don’t want to miss.

🚗 In This Episode:

• What it’s like arriving at Willow Springs Raceway at sunrise
• INSANE cars from every generation of Nissan Z
• The loudest track environment we’ve ever recorded in
• Driving a modified Z to the track (and the reality of it)
• Right-hand drive cars & JDM imports
• Fast & Furious talk—did it go too far? 😅
• Track builds vs street builds

🔗 Follow & Connect

🌐 Website:
https://coolcarswithchris.com

📸 Instagram (Cool Cars with Chris):
https://www.instagram.com/cool_cars_with_chris619/

🎙️ Follow Courage:

📺 YouTube:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheDriveNDad22

📸 Instagram:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/thedrivendad22/

00:00 🚗 Welcome to Cool Cars with Chris
00:23 🏁 Why We’re at Willow Springs Raceway
01:10 🌄 Early Morning Arrival (6AM Vibes)
02:00 🇯🇵 All Japan Showdown + Z Cars Everywhere
02:35 🎙️ Recording LIVE at the Track
03:10 👀 First Impressions of Willow Springs
03:50 🚘 Driving the Z to the Track (Road Trip Reality)
04:50 🗺️ Getting Lost on the Way 😅
05:20 🔊 First Sounds of the Track (It’s LOUD)
06:20 🔥 Best Cars So Far: Viper, GT40 & More
07:05 🏎️ Crazy Low Cars & Track Builds
08:10 🇯🇵 JDM Imports & Right-Hand Drive Talk
09:35 🤔 Is Driving RHD Actually Hard?
10:45 💥 Classic Z Cars (240Z, 280Z Highlights)
11:45 🎥 Fast & Furious Talk Begins
12:30 😂 When Fast & Furious Went Off the Rails
13:25 🎬 Can the Franchise Go Back to Cars?
14:35 🏎️ Favorite Fast & Furious Cars
15:45 🎧 Podcasting in a Loud Racetrack Environment
16:25 🔥 New Nissan Z vs Older Generations
17:20 ⚖️ Weight Balance & Performance Talk
18:05 🛣️ Suspension & Harsh Ride Reality
19:40 🏁 Track Cars vs Street Cars
20:25 🚗 Unexpected Cars at a “Japan” Event
21:05 🔊 Engine Sounds: V10 vs 4-Cylinder
22:10 🚘 Acura Integra & Modern Design Debate
23:10 🧠 Coupe vs Sedan Discussion
24:05 🏎️ Z Parade Rolls Through!
25:20 🔧 Engine Swaps & Build Ideas
26:00 🚗 Infiniti vs Z Platform Talk
27:10 ⚙️ Suspension Mods & Ride Quality
28:40 🔥 Wild Custom Builds (Baja 240SX)
29:25 🚗 Endless Line of 370Zs
30:25 🎨 Mods That Don’t Add Power 😆
31:00 👋 Final Thoughts from Willow Springs

#WillowSprings #WillowSpringsRaceway #TrackDay #TrackLife #CarCulture #CarMeet #JDM #JDMCars #NissanZ #370Z #240Z #ZCars #SportsCars #CarEnthusiast #Automotive #CarCommunity #DriftCars #RaceTrack #CarVlog #AutoLifestyle #PerformanceCars #ModifiedCars #CarPodcast #Motorsports #CoolCarsWithChris

The Z is BACK… and this time, it’s mine.

In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I take a trip up to Temecula to hang out with Courage—and show him my brand new (to me) Nissan 370Z. We take it for a spin, break down first impressions, and get into what it’s really like owning one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars ever made.

But this isn’t just a car reveal…

We dive deep into:

• Real-world 370Z ownership (the good, bad, and unknowns)
• Used sports car buying tips (what to check before you buy)
• The legendary VQ engine—sound, power, and reliability
• Upcoming mods like X-pipe exhaust + full system upgrades
• Cold air intake performance gains (what actually matters)
• Transmission noise & clutch concerns (what to watch for)
• The difference between turbo vs naturally aspirated power
• And a fun debate: what makes the ultimate canyon car?

Plus… we go completely off the rails (in the best way):

• Mini bike rides 🏍️
• Casino stories 🎰
• Racing for pink slips 🏁

Because that’s what car culture is really about—real conversations, real stories, and real cars.

🚗 FOLLOW COOL CARS WITH CHRIS

🌐 Website: https://coolcarswithchris.com/

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoolCarswithChris619

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cool_cars_with_chris619/

🤝 FOLLOW COURAGE

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDriveNDad22

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedrivendad22/

00:00 🔥 I Bought a Nissan 370Z (Big Announcement)

00:31 🚗 Showing the Car + First Reactions with Courage

01:02 🏁 Listener Question: What Is a Canyon Car?

02:20 💰 370Z Pricing: Cheap vs Clean vs Nismo Builds

03:42 🏎️ Nissan Z History & Why It Still Hits Today

06:02 🔧 Exhaust Plans (X-Pipe + Full System Upgrade)

10:56 🔊 VQ Engine Sound, Power & Why It’s Special

14:21 🛠️ Pre-Purchase Inspection (What I Checked Before Buying)

17:19 😬 Clutch Failure Story (What Happened Last Time)

19:05 ⚠️ Transmission Noise + Drivetrain Clunk Talk

22:10 📊 Mileage, Ownership & How I’ll Use This 370Z

23:09 🏍️ Sports Cars vs Motorcycles (Real Talk)

25:29 😂 Mini Bike Ride (Evel Knievel Moment)

28:37 🎰 Casino Stories + Gambling Lessons

33:58 🏁 Racing for Pink Slips?! Street Car Culture Talk

36:03 🚘 Future Plans for the 370Z Build

37:31 ⚡ Turbo vs NA Debate (How Power Feels Different)

40:41 🔥 Cold Air Intake + Real Performance Gains

43:11 🛠️ DIY Mods vs Shop Work (What’s Worth It?)

45:07 🚫 Wild Car Builds (No Hood, No Bumper Trends)

46:00 🌴 California Car Mods & Legal Talk

52:30 🏁 Back to Listener Question: The Ultimate Canyon Car

58:30 🏎️ What Makes a Car Fun on Canyon Roads

01:00:30 🎤 Final Thoughts: Is the 370Z Worth It?

Nissan 370Z review and ownership experience—what it’s really like to buy and drive a used 370Z in 2026. In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we break down 370Z mods, VQ engine performance, exhaust upgrades, cold air intake gains, and real-world reliability, including transmission noise and clutch issues. We also compare turbo vs naturally aspirated engines, discuss affordable sports cars, canyon driving performance, and what makes the ultimate canyon car, all while sharing honest car culture insights from a true car enthusiast podcast.

#Nissan370Z #370Z #CarPodcast #CarEnthusiast #SportsCars #CarMods #CarCulture #JDM #Automotive #CoolCarsWithChris #VQEngine #370ZLife #UsedSportsCar #CanyonCar #CarTalk