john banks

Had one of these as a courtesy car last week.

I thought the gearchange was very stiff/obstructive again like the previous 370Z coupe I tried. The downshift rev matching was easily forgotten.

Made a reasonable noise, but it didn't seem to actually accelerate any more convincingly than a modern hot hatch, for example you could be be redlining every gear and still easily concentrate on your conversation, didn't take your breath away or strain your neck in any way whatsoever.

Ride quality was decent, body roll well controlled.

Quite a lot of noise from the soft top.

Overall didn't do it for me I have to say.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

You should have got an Audi TT!!

BULLITT

Would that be because it's a GT car and not a sports car....

I have a 350Z GT and tbh honest I'm bloody glad it doesn't make a lot of noise, I make a lot of trips to Plymouth, did it once in the Impreza and I was nearly deaf by the time I got there!

Cars like the 350Z and 370Z are meant to be fast without being an intense experience. I've personally not driven the 370Z but from multiple opinions by people who have owned both 'Zeds' the 350Z is nicer car to drive and sounds better.

john banks

I preferred the 350Z, but the drive was a few years apart and the 350Z impressed. Maybe I expected too much of the 370Z. I like refinement too, that wasn't the issue, but was a positive apart from the cab related road and wind noise, the engine was a reasonably refined and interesting noise, but not engaging even at the limiter.

The notchy gearbox and acceleration that wasn't really what you'd expect from a 3.7 were the main killers. Maybe the cab's weight spoilt it more, but the coupe felt similar. Most Japanese turbo stuff makes you arrive at corners rather quickly. This had you always wanting more performance.

My wife felt it would make a good car for her given the performance that felt much like her Golf GTI, but it was much more physically demanding for her to drive given the weight of the clutch and obstructive gearshift.

I would indeed consider a TTRS instead if shopping for this sort of car.

BULLITT

The Nissan Zeds aren't turbo engines though, they're N/A. I did notice it in my 350Z compared to the Impreza, it doesn't push you into the seat like the Impreza did. Just sort of gradually gets faster without feeling it. As said, I don't think they're meant to be engaging engines as they're meant to be long distance cruisers rather than pure sports cars.

From what I've read about the paddle shift gearbox in the 370Z (and the only gearbox available in the Convertible sadly) it has been noted that it is notchy, jerky etc. A big let down I suppose, especially when the GTR, which also uses a paddleshift, is so good.

john banks

The 370Z cab I drove was manual. Overall a strange mix, if a GT car then I suppose it is good you don't have to change gear often, and the cab had very little boot. So an impractical and a man's car really because of the clutch and gearbox weights, now quite expensive, with a big thirsty engine which doesn't really do much in the way of performance.

Andy M3

It's a roadster, and they should be fun

stilover

I ain't even going to bother !!

Jimpreza

I saw a nice black one in Darlo last night, wasn't you was it sti? Had a number plate with just 2 letters and the numbers 36.