2009 Nissan 370Z: Keeping Cool on a Hot Day

[AK370Z]

Originally Posted by Edmunds.com

This weekend was a scorcher with temperatures in the mid to high 80s and that was just at 10 in the morning! So when I had gone out to brunch and parked our 2009 Nissan 370Z in the hot midday sun, I was dreading slipping back into its darkly swathed cabin.

Before I got in, I even opened both doors to get a nice cross breeze going and then sunk into the seat with a premature "Ow!" but there was no need. The faux suede was, as expected, comfortable but the leather on the sides was only just warm against my bare skin. The amazing part was the cabin itself was only warm as well as opposed to the searing heat that I had initially expected. And all that dark gray on the dash? I could actually rest my hand on it without suffering any burns.

Is this special technology? I know BMW has technology to keep its leather 20 degrees cooler than usual leather but I couldn't find any mention of something like this on the Nissan site. Another editor supposed it was the tinted glass that helped filter out the infrared light but whatever it was I was grateful.

And I also loved how quickly the air-conditioner cooled down the warm cabin. Really made the hot days bearable.

By the way, here's how we enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend: a leisurely cruise in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 5,374 miles

With the summer right around the corner, this is a good thing to know. I have always hated leather during the summer time but looks like the leather seats in the Touring 370Z isn't too bad. I have used the A/C today and was surprised how quickly it cooled down the cabin. I totally agree with Edmunds.
Thanks Nissan for your research and giving us a car that's very comfortable in the Summer time.


Source: 2009 Nissan 370Z: Keeping Cool on a Hot Day | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

[BrianUSMC]

That's good to hear. btw, did we ever find out what caused MiniCobra's interior to split from the heat? ...defect? too hot?

The interior being that thin does worry me...

Interior split from heat!


Brian

[CBRich]

Very good to know. And I wouldn't doubt with a nice tint job it could be even better. Brings back fond memories of burning my hand on the belt buckle in mom's 92 Buick LeSabre. Ahhh the good old days.

[510z]

for phoenix: limo tint all the way around, windshield shade, cloth seats. forget 10am it will be 80+ at midnight

[wstar]

I've been similarly pleasantly surprised at surface temps inside the car when I've had to leave it in the sun around here. My windows and rear hatch are tinted, but it's a pretty reasonable "well within legal" tint job.

Another pointer for hot days: If you hold down the unlock button on the remote for a few seconds while in range, the windows will begin unrolling. Keep holding to go all the way down, or let off the button at any time to leave them partially down. Doing that as you walk out the door of wherever you were at gives a few seconds of cross-breeze before you even reach the car.

[tranceformer]

Originally Posted by wstar

I've been similarly pleasantly surprised at surface temps inside the car when I've had to leave it in the sun around here. My windows and rear hatch are tinted, but it's a pretty reasonable "well within legal" tint job.

Another pointer for hot days: If you hold down the unlock button on the remote for a few seconds while in range, the windows will begin unrolling. Keep holding to go all the way down, or let off the button at any time to leave them partially down. Doing that as you walk out the door of wherever you were at gives a few seconds of cross-breeze before you even reach the car.

I used to do that all the time when I had my 350z. It's a nice feature.

[AK370Z]

People at Edmunds.com really seem to like the 370Z seats

Nissan 370Z Touring: Seats Done Right


Nissan has at least one thing figured out with the new 370Z -- the seats. Notice that their center sections are fabric -- synthetic suede, actually. I had a chance to drive our long-term car on a track last week and, despite the fact that the seats don't fit me perfectly (none do), I wasn't flopping all over and trying to hold myself in place. This is because the "leather" seats which come with the Touring Package actually have fabric on the seat bottom and backrest. On full-leather seats I would have struggled against physics.

Also, see that center bolster between where the driver's legs would be? That's a gimmick. Worse yest, it's a legacy gimmick from the last Z which does nothing. Nissan should do away with it. Otherwise, this is a good setup for hard driving with ample adjustability and good driver retention.

Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor

Source: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring: Seats Done Right | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

[Minicobra1]

Originally Posted by BrianUSMC

That's good to hear. btw, did we ever find out what caused MiniCobra's interior to split from the heat? ...defect? too hot?

The interior being that thin does worry me...

Interior split from heat!


Brian

No, still waiting for my replacement panel, won't be available till mid June. Overall the interior temps don't seam to be too bad, until you see triple digits like the day mine split.

[Diversion]

Already a couple of scorchers here in Florida where i've had my car sit out in the sun for long periods of time.. and I can vouch that the above review is pretty legit.. I expected a huge wave of heat to hit me when I got inside but it wasn't bad at all.. and luckily we have decently heavy duty A/C systems so it began blowing cold air without even needing to roll.. My previous Honda(s) required to be rolling for the condensor to cool the air down enough to get cold air going.. Our Zs will freeze you out at an idle!

[spearfish25]

The AC in the Z is fabulous.

[CBRich]

Originally Posted by spearfish25

The AC in the Z is fabulous.

Noticed that my very first test drive. Amazing A/C system.

[Diversion]

Could be we have such a small cabin too.. that helps tremendously