Picture Gallery: 2009 Nissan 370z | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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Boldly making the car smaller and lighter than the 350Z, Nissan is bucking the trend of making a new model bigger and heavier like nearly all redesigned models tend to be. And on top of giving us a lighter and more powerful vehicle, Nissan dropped the entry price to $39,998 — what else can we ask for?
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How about the world’s first SynchroRev Match manual transmission, part of the $4,000 sport pack in my tester that also adds 4-piston brake calipers up front, 19-inch Rays forged super lightweight wheels, high-performance summer tires and front and rear spoilers for zero lift.
Standard features include: leather seating, suede inserts in the doors and seats, heated seats, cruise control, climate control, bi-xenon headlights, aluminum hood and doors, Bluetooth hands free connectivity, Bose audio system and many safety systems like traction control, stability control and a slew of airbags.
Of course, one cannot forget the wonderful Nissan VQ-series engine at the heart of the Z. It’s now a 3.7-litre motor, sending 332hp and 270lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission as standard — it sure sounds like a whole lot of fun!
2009 Nissan 370z
MSRP as tested (including destination): $45,498
For more information on Nissan and the 370z visit Nissan Canada
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I’ll tell you what, the 370Z has one of the worst back seats I have ever sat in! I was glad to be out of it after taking the pictures of the interior — wait, what? That’s not an amusement ride handlebar for the second row of seats? In all seriousness, though, the 370Z does have one small interior, although the rear hatch opens really wide and the car is low enough for you to step right up and hop in.
The previous Z, the 350Z, had what I would call a plastic interior. Everything was hard and it creaked and rattled right off the showroom floor. Nissan has been improving its interiors for a few years now and comparing the old Z with the 370Z is night and day. I thought I had some decked-out model but this interior is standard, and it is extremely appealing.
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The interior of the 2009 370Z is a huge leap forward and a big surprise to me. There is storage behind the seats that is large enough for a purse or lunch bag, and reaching into the hatch area is easy as well. Although not very deep, the hatch / trunk has enough room for a few bags (perhaps even golf bags), and even luggage for a weekend wouldn’t be much of an issue.
All the switches and buttons are easy to reach and conveniently placed; I particularly like the power-adjustable seat controls on the inboard top corner of the seat, which are easy to reach from outside the vehicle or while seated. The only missing feature is a lever to flip the seat forward to quickly drop something behind it.
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I did my groceries today and picked up a few other items. Three cases of coke and a bunch of groceries, including a 25lb bag of cat food, fit no problem in the back of the Z; be careful driving home, though, as there is nothing to stop things from entering the cabin.
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Around town, the ride is a little rough but smoother than the 350Z, from what I remember. I didn’t find it any rougher than the Cayman I drove a few weeks back. Road noise is a little harsh but nothing more than the Cayman either, perhaps a little less even, but gear whine and engine noise is a lot more prominent.
The Z is very mechanical sounding. You can hear the gears when they engage, you can hear the differential whine and the engine rev. The sweet-sounding exhaust you can’t hear so much in the cabin unless you really step on it and approach license-losing territory, unfortunately.
Pay attention to the traffic around you, since visibility is not the Z’s strong point and backing up is nearly a hopeless task, but this isn’t anything new for the Z. How does it handle? Seems a little “loose” from my driving on the street but it is plenty capable I’m sure. The brakes are very touchy and take a bit to get used to, but they stop the Z quickly; the steering is nice and weighty as well.
After the weekend, I’ll know more about how the Z handles at the limit — I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
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The VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) is nanny-like, though; with it on, the car will not move from your intended path and throttle will be reduced to keep you from spinning the wheels. Turn it off, and the car comes alive and really takes someone with talent and concentration to drive it fast.
Gas mileage in the Z for the week was, well, weak. I averaged 12.6L/100km; I tried to improve the mileage over the last few days and was unsuccessful, but I guess this is the price to pay for having a a powerful sports car.
For $39,000, the Z is a steal; at $45,000 it’s still a great deal for a true sports car that more than 50 people today (alone!) told me was a “hot” car.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Nissan 370z
MSRP as tested (including destination): $45,498
For more information on Nissan and the 370z visit Nissan Canada
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September 15, 2009, 12:55:05 pm
That is just ridiculous. You can find a Ferrari engine in a Maserati 4 door saloon. What exactly does that tell us about it's "pedigree"?
But hey, it's no more ridicoulous than making conclusive pronouncements about the sporting credentials of a car you have only sat in.
As to the Miata - I've driven it. Definitely a hoot. But well short of the automotive Nirvana you describe.
Jaeger
Firstly, i qualified my comment that I will leave my final judgment for when I actually drive the car twice in this thread. Secondly, a sports car is a sum of its parts not just one. Put a saloon engine in a sports chassis or a sports engine in a saloon and the result will be the same - underwhelming package. When I speak of pedigree I am talking about uncompromising designs with a single purpose, to deliver performance and excitement to the driver on all fronts. Throwing a franchise flagship saloon engine in this package compromises this philosophy and the results speak for themselves. "You can't hear the exhaust within the vehicle even with the windows down" call me ridiculous. And quite frankly having extensive day in day out experience with this engine, I don't really have to drive the car to tell you this. The only question is will the other merits of the car compensate for this particular compromise in its design once I drive it. Even if they do.... it still doesn't change the fact that it could, and should have been better.
So the 370Z is not for you. Ok, we get it. A lot of people will say the Miata is not for them either. It's YOUR opinion. You haven't even driven the Z and yet you say you "have extensive day in and day out experience with this engine." Which engine and car is that, may I ask? You also say you will reserve your final judgement for when you drive the car, yet you have already bashed the Z based on just "sitting in it". What a hoot.
September 15, 2009, 12:55:40 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC7LrHu7cw
Why, I can scarcely think of a vehicle more "compromised", "underwhelming" and "lacking in focus" than a Lotus Exige.
Jaeger
September 15, 2009, 12:57:17 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC7LrHu7cw
Why, I can scarcely think of a vehicle more "compromised", "underwhelming" and "lacking in focus" than a Lotus Exige.
Jaeger
LOL
September 15, 2009, 12:58:18 pm
He stated earlier he drives an '07 Maxima. Apparently, that tells him all he needs to know about the Z.
A hoot indeed.
Jaeger
September 15, 2009, 01:16:17 pm
He stated earlier he drives an '07 Maxima. Apparently, that tells him all he needs to know about the Z.
A hoot indeed.
Jaeger
So he's comparing a 2007 FWD Maxima (not the 2010 version) 3.5L engine which has 255 hp to a 370Z that is RWD and has a 3.7L engine with 332 hp? I guess that makes him an expert. Apples to oranges. I almost spit out my juice when I read that.
September 15, 2009, 01:26:20 pm
He stated earlier he drives an '07 Maxima. Apparently, that tells him all he needs to know about the Z.
A hoot indeed.
Jaeger
Heh If I am not mistaken the high reving/loud toyota/yamaha devloped 1.8 powering the celica/carolla/matrix and the lotus was original designed for the celica GTS, which was a......hmmm oh ya sports car. Shocking that it makes a lotus exciting considering it was designed for that purpose, a hoot indeed. How you find this in anyway analogous to the nissan debate is beyond me. As for the engine, I am not the only one of the opinion that it's tractorish. But since I know a fanboy when I see one, I shall digress, as long as you enjoy whatever you drive. Hoot away.
September 15, 2009, 01:30:00 pm
Um... uh.... ooookay then.
Jaeger
September 15, 2009, 02:51:15 pm Whew! Are we there yet? Where did that lock go?
It's time........
September 15, 2009, 04:32:51 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC7LrHu7cw
Damn that Lotus Exige looks like an amazing machine. Almost blew OJ out my nose when Clarkson said "It corners like a house fly!"
September 15, 2009, 06:04:51 pm ..and flies like sh*t.......................
September 17, 2009, 11:01:54 pm Lots of nice pics of the 370z Nismo.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/first-drive-2010-nissan-370z-nismo-simply-rocks/
September 17, 2009, 11:31:08 pm
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/first-drive-2010-nissan-370z-nismo-simply-rocks/
On the other hand, the regular 370z looks gorgeous in person!
September 17, 2009, 11:42:32 pm I think I prefer the nose on the Nismo version. Looks more purposeful. I guess I'm not a huge fan of the fangs on the regular 370z.
September 17, 2009, 11:57:04 pm I like it ALOT the Nismo...But for the $$ I'd just mod the car myself...
September 18, 2009, 10:44:07 am
Agreed.
Not that the 370Z needs a lot of modding. Pretty sweet package as it sits.
Also agree that the engine noise inside is a disappointment. I expected great things with the exhaust being as sweet as it is.
September 19, 2009, 11:33:34 am ..punch a wee HOLE in the exhaust.........................
September 21, 2009, 08:45:35 pm I kind of liked Top Gear's recent assessment of the new 370Z (having not driven one myself, my own opinion is limited to the fact that I think it looks oddly stubby and short)...
"If the 350Z was hairy-chested, the 370 definitely moisturizes. There's a great chassis lurking underneath the new metrosexual veneer, but elsewhere it's gone soft. The Stig quite likes it, but nominates it as a good car for your girlfriend."
Aha! So it's a chick car! Miata-owners have new competition I guess.
They also say, "The Nissan's stability control doesn't turn off completely either, and there's a slightly synthetic feel to it that the old one didn't suffer from."
I really liked driving the 350Z. Especially listening to it when putting my foot down on the loud pedal.
September 21, 2009, 08:55:49 pm
"If the 350Z was hairy-chested, the 370 definitely moisturizes. There's a great chassis lurking underneath the new metrosexual veneer, but elsewhere it's gone soft. The Stig quite likes it, but nominates it as a good car for your girlfriend."
Aha! So it's a chick car! Miata-owners have new competition I guess.
They also say, "The Nissan's stability control doesn't turn off completely either, and there's a slightly synthetic feel to it that the old one didn't suffer from."
I really liked driving the 350Z. Especially listening to it when putting my foot down on the loud pedal.
I think the new one is MUCH better than the old one. In every way. The one I drove even had cloth seats which were also really nice! (for cloth seats).
September 21, 2009, 10:33:36 pm If the stability control doesn't turn off it certainly fooled me. I did a complete tank swapper a few times and once ended up doing more than a 360 in a great big puff of dirt and smoke.
September 21, 2009, 10:50:10 pm
... need better tyres?
September 21, 2009, 11:52:22 pm
... need better tyres?
It's 300 wide in the back!
What would it cost to replace with RE-11s?
September 22, 2009, 09:25:55 am 285 I think in the back. The tires weren't that bad, but not R's
September 22, 2009, 12:41:51 pm quit texting yer articles in while driving..........................
September 23, 2009, 11:13:05 am
Even stability control isn't completely idiot-proof.
September 23, 2009, 12:11:20 pm
... Might not see GD's posts for a day or two ...