E90 M3 to 370Z picking it up Friday

Originally Posted by Cyborg4

I am picking up an 09 370Z with Touring+ Sport (7spd 10k miles!)) on Friday and wanted to share my excitement with the forum. I am sure I will be here a lot as I am a track junkie.

The M3 was awesome, unfortunately I was in an accident and totaled it. I really loved that car but it was expensive and I never tracked it much due to fear of damage. It was my DD and although fast, I think the 370 will be more fun as a DD because of the low end torque (M3 has none). I test drove one recently and was very impressed, then I began shopping online. My wife and I are making a weekend getaway out of the purchase, flying from DFW to KC Friday. we will be picking up the car Friday and staying in a resort until Sunday then I get to drive it all the way home!

I had the dealer install a clear bra on the hood, fenders, and mirrors so it will be protected from the beginning.

I have a NASA comp license and race a 1st gen RX7 in performance touring but its a small field and I think I might have more fun racing time trials in a faster car (370). The TT classes frown on contact unlike Spec Miata and PT, the spec classes are so close bump drafting and collisions happen every race-it gets old bending bent sheet metal with a crow bar in the hot sun between every race. Plus, AC will be nice on grid.

I plan to buy some track wheels/tires, oil cooler, track pads, and brake cooling kit right away.

Pic of the actual car below.

Originally Posted by Cyborg4

Thanks all!

SaLa: The M got me completely addicted to an automatic that rev matches on downshifts. This makes for a car that you can DD and track. My shopping list was short when I ruled out all the turbo cars (been there, done that). Other than the turbos, the M3, the G37, and the exotics, what other NA car has this feature?

Originally Posted by SalA

Been looking at the older e60 M5's...The problems with the M's seem to be that SMG tranny...most members on those forums complain that the tranny pumps for that double clutch assemble seems to fail after about 30K miles...that's about a $5,000 repair if not under warranty.

I'll be sitting tight with my Z.

Originally Posted by Cyborg4

Yeah, I avoided the older SMG's for that reason. The 08+ Dual Clutch (DCT) trannies are much better and less problematic. If you want an older one get a manual trans. My M3 was an 09 with DCT.

Another reason I like the 370 is they seem to be relatively rare, I see M3s more often around Dallas/Fort Worth.

my old car:

Originally Posted by SalA

Very Nice Unit! When I am ready for the M5...I would look at the new F10 series.

There are threads in the Forum that discusses the AT versus Manual. The 7 speed AT is the way to go. It has the Rev Match so the driving experience will be similiar to the M.