I sat in the 370Z today
- Thread starter Wondermike
- Start date
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.
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.
I'm away just now so I can't get access to my subscriber copy which is lying in my hallway, but I browsed it in Asda this evening.Wondermike said:
0-60 5.4s
0-100 12.8s
Which is pretty fast for a big fat auto like they tested. I'm interested :sweetheart:
Will post the full info once I get home.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsData/Nissan-370Z-3.7-V6-GT-Auto/241917/
Had a day long test of a pearl white 370Z today. Got to be honest! Very impressive!
It was the auto box so not my choice, although the paddle shift 7 speed box was good!
Looks like something from a Manga cartoon!! I really like it! An extra from a Fast and Furious film set!! 8)
Inside it is a big improvement over the 350Z, but the switch gear is a little down on quality than the BMW, but then again I guess they have to be cheaper somewhere as the cost is silly money for the car you get. Top of the range with all the toys is not to far off the same price as a 1-2 year old Z4M (in some dealers)!!
Handling wise it's a big improvement on feel to my Z4 going into corners! The suspension is also a lot less "crashy" The engine doesn't sound as good from inside, but I liked it! So did the missus! Seats are comfortable and have quite good adjustments. Nissan have a good reputation for being bullet proof, so there is not much to go wrong there (unlike our Z's sometimes!). It did draw a lot of attention when driving around also! Parked next to the Z4 it looks like Mike Tyson compared to a ballet dancer!!
Would I sell my Z4 for one?
The dealer is coming back with figures tomorrow, so you never know!! :wink:
Would I be gutted if they don't offer me a good deal? Not really, as the Z4 is good to drive also! (but I do fancy a change, and that 370Z is way more fun than the new Z4, even with that twin turbo straight six! And it's a damn site cheaper!!).
It was the auto box so not my choice, although the paddle shift 7 speed box was good!
Looks like something from a Manga cartoon!! I really like it! An extra from a Fast and Furious film set!! 8)
Inside it is a big improvement over the 350Z, but the switch gear is a little down on quality than the BMW, but then again I guess they have to be cheaper somewhere as the cost is silly money for the car you get. Top of the range with all the toys is not to far off the same price as a 1-2 year old Z4M (in some dealers)!!
Handling wise it's a big improvement on feel to my Z4 going into corners! The suspension is also a lot less "crashy" The engine doesn't sound as good from inside, but I liked it! So did the missus! Seats are comfortable and have quite good adjustments. Nissan have a good reputation for being bullet proof, so there is not much to go wrong there (unlike our Z's sometimes!). It did draw a lot of attention when driving around also! Parked next to the Z4 it looks like Mike Tyson compared to a ballet dancer!!
Would I sell my Z4 for one?
The dealer is coming back with figures tomorrow, so you never know!! :wink:
Would I be gutted if they don't offer me a good deal? Not really, as the Z4 is good to drive also! (but I do fancy a change, and that 370Z is way more fun than the new Z4, even with that twin turbo straight six! And it's a damn site cheaper!!).
Breaker, any more pics - looks great. How was the performance compared to the Z4? What about the gearbox - good?
Just been reading about crunchy gears - autos rule 
TBH not sure how I would feel about a manual now, the 1st to 2nd crunch in most sports cars just puts me off completely.
TBH not sure how I would feel about a manual now, the 1st to 2nd crunch in most sports cars just puts me off completely.
Actually just read the rest of the thread - "knuckly" not "notchy" 
Suppose you can't get 7 speeds with a manual either.
I think Breaker ordered one today, in white
Suppose you can't get 7 speeds with a manual either.
I think Breaker ordered one today, in white
Put it this way. It felt a better upgrade to my 3.0si Z4 than the Z4M felt! :wink:
Haven't ordered one...............yet! It would be in white though.
I still really like my Z4 to be honest. Haven't made my mind up yet.
Performance wise, it really accelerated well on kick-down! Brakes were very powerful, almost to powerful at lower speeds!
Haven't ordered one...............yet!
It would be in white though. I still really like my Z4 to be honest. Haven't made my mind up yet.
Performance wise, it really accelerated well on kick-down! Brakes were very powerful, almost to powerful at lower speeds!
Wondermike said:
Only a few pics on my phone but they are both external. The car had full sat nav and a BOSE sound system. The sound system didn't sound as punchy as the Harman Kardon system that was in my old JCW S and it wasn't much better than my Z4's Hi Fi system, although it did have a dash loading 6 CD player.
I think performance wise it was around the same as my Z4, maybe more like the M at the top end. The mid range acceleration on kick-down in full auto was good and the paddle shift changes were quite quick. Difficult to gauge between mine and the 370 though because of it being an auto.
One thing I did notice was that the average MPG on the computer was reading 19.5MPG!! I guess it was all the short journeys it had been doing around towns.
This car is going to be for sale in January for £29,900 with the auto box. I just missed out (by one day!!) on an exact car but with a manual box they had at their other site! That was for sale now for £28,950.
Few things to consider. MPG is going to be worse than my Z and it is in the next tax bracket up than my car because of emissions so it would cost twice as much to tax. Same with insurance as it would cost around £30 more to insure than the Z (although that's not much I guess). I would be buying the car more on the looks and the way it drives than the power or speed, as I'm quite happy with my Z's performance on the road, but the 370 is better handling with more feel going fast into corners and the suspension is a lot less "crashy". Servicing is around the same time intervals as my Z4 and it actually would cost less on servicing than mine.
Watch this space I guess. :wink:
VERY appealing. From your review Breaker its basically on a par with your Z4 but with a more UK road friendly (read: off road track) suspension/chassis setup.
The only thing i don't like about them is the engine note. Im sure you could adjust that though and for the price its on at its a fookin bargain! MPG would be my ONLY concern i think.
The only thing i don't like about them is the engine note. Im sure you could adjust that though and for the price its on at its a fookin bargain! MPG would be my ONLY concern i think.