Post
by powerontap » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:47 am
Interesting short take that well describes the car's pluses and minuses:
By Kelsey Mays
Cars.com
February 24, 2009
Lighter, smaller and sharper-looking than its predecessor, the redesigned 2009 370Z is a flat-out performance machine in all its unmitigated glory, and those who want nothing but performance should give it a serious look. The new 370 designation reflects the jump to a 3.7-liter V-6 from a 3.5-liter in the outgoing 350Z.
That car was a legitimate muscle coupe, distinct from the high-strung sports cars Japan regularly produces. Fast but portly, it had too much bulk for the chassis to keep all four wheels glued to the pavement. The 370Z fixes most of those issues without joining the torque-deprived ranks of peers like the Mazda RX-8 and Honda S2000, now in its final year. With a $29,930 starting price, the Z presents an attractive performance value.
Where the car falls well short is as a daily driver. Competitors from three continents have roomier interiors, more convenience features and less eardrum-throbbing road noise. None perform at the same level as the 370Z, but if you're looking for a sports car that suits your weekday grind, the Z may not be it.
The rear-wheel-drive, two-seat 370Z comes in base and Touring trim levels with a manual or automatic transmission. (You can compare it with the outgoing 350Z coupe here.) A Sport Package adds larger wheels, aerodynamic enhancements and various mechanical upgrades to either trim. I tested a Sport Package-equipped base model with the stick shift. The 350Z lives on for the 2009 model year in the convertible version of the outgoing Z (covered separately in Cars.com's Research section), but Nissan says a droptop 370Z is due for 2010.
Quicker Than Ever
This is no 350Z — that much is apparent as soon as you fire up the engine. The 370Z trades that car's high-pitched wail for one a few octaves lower, where it's turned into more of a roar. It's less distinct, to be sure, but I suspect the potential it indicates will stop you from caring. Pulling power is fierce, particularly at higher revs, and there's no sign of letting up through the 7,500-rpm redline. Deactivate the Z's standard electronic stability system, and it's possible to roast the tires through all of first and second gear. I may or may not have done that a few times.
Nissan's 3.7-liter V-6 isn't as torque-endowed as the BMW 1 Series' turbocharged-six or any of its Detroit competitors' V-8s, so low-end thrust is less energetic, and not as much as you'd expect from a 332-horsepower engine. Once the tach needle crests 3,000 rpm, though — which a concerted prod brings up in short order — all complaints are forgiven. Work the clutch just right, and the Z will crank out some stout numbers: Motor Trend magazine clocked a manual-transmission model hitting 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and nailing the quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds. That means the 370Z is quite possibly the quickest production car for the money — at least until Chevrolet's forthcoming Camaro SS shows up.
Go Topless
I had a S14a 200sx Touring 
, miss that car - was a hoot to drive and taught me a lot about RWD driving dynamics 
