V6 Camaro vs 370z?
 

I bought a new 2015 V6 RS Manual Transmission Camaro and it has given me nothing but problems. GM is refusing to hardly work on the thing anymore even though it is under warranty. I am trying to lemon law it, but if I get a new Camaro replacement from them, I don't want to keep it. GM is a monster and I would like to go back to foreign. Has anyone here had a 5th gen Camaro and then switched to a 370z? What are the pro's and con's that I would be faced with? I think the 2 biggest things are the fact the Z is half the size of a Camaro and the trunk space is really small...The size of the car would take some getting used to. Although, the build quality is much better I am sure.

Thoughts would be great! Thanks!

The cons the Z has brought up are pretty much easy fixes that you would eventually get rid of on your journey to building your Z. These issues include but are not limited to the CSC giving out; this issue is fixed with the HD CSC from Z1motorsports or the CSC elimination kit, most members did it all along with a clutch upgrade kit. Then you have the steering wheel lock which is usually a module issue also a quick fix. And lastly there's the fuel starvation which there's someone selling a different pump that solves that issue but it's no biggie if you don't upgrade.

Personally I've smoked many RS camaros on the track and the V8s where the only challenge but the weight really slows them down, their size adds more drag and the V8 muscles cars are usually only good for short quick acceleration and suck on long high speed runs.

I would recommend Asian cars because they have a beautiful balance of acceleration, control and speed. This balance makes them unique and one of a kind when it comes to racing if you think about it. A muscle car is for drag racing more than anything and hyper cars are good for long high speeds? Haha that's how I see it.

Yes you have less space to work with but you end up with a pretty sexy car overall. Alternatively you could wait for the Nismo Maxima they're going to release pretty soon. It's going to future a 3.5L V6 Nismo tunes with Nismo body kits if you're trying to get a 4-door though it doesn't compare to a Z ;).

Go with a Z man. You won't regret it, plus all those cars (mustang, Camaro, challenger, charger, corvette etc) are WAY too tail happy and is almost a guaranteed wreck. Just throwing it out there. Hope my $0.02 helps haha. Either way enjoy your new ride and have fun! Don't forget to post pics of the new member! ;)

Also getting an RS Camaro simply means that you get all the cosmetics of the SS put on a basic Camaro. So there's no real performance gain on an RS. You may as well go for an SS, I believe? If someone could verify that'd be awesome. Haha

This is your chance to go test drive some cars and find out what you feel comfortable with. We like our Z's. It's not perfect, but it's a fun modding platform. If your intent is to do some simple mods like exhaust, stereo, wheels, etc., it's quite nice with the Z. You can also fit some seriously fat tires, slight drop, and end up with a sweet stance without going too crazy.

I can't tell you to straight up impulse buy the Z. Just test drive it and give yourself some time before finalizing your next purchase on anything.

No car is perfect...

Yeah man that's true hahaa I gave you some lame advice by telling you to buy the Z then again I'm an impulsive being lol.

We've all been there :bowrofl:

[EDIT] Oh snaps, OP... where in KS are you? I'm in Wichita. Selling my car is in the back of my mind, but it's a project on its own. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the photo below. I removed the front lip. The side is messed up. Roads here... argh!!! Just looking for reasonable offers.

For sure. I am going to lose some cash from eating the depreciation on the Camaro so, I really have to win on this next car and keep it for 3 or 4 years for it to be worth it. I have a test drive set up with the Nissan dealership here on Saturday. It's a sport tech edition in white. I will go in with an open mind and try to forget the feel of a larger car with an aggressive look and enjoy the more elegant style of the Z for what it is. It is also a manual transmission so that will be fun. How good is the stock clutch/manual tranny on Z/s? Do you guys normally upgrade that? I think my biggest question is, how reliable is this car? Have you Z owners had any serious issues with your 370s? How many miles do you guys have on them? I imagine since this car is heavily modded by many people that it can really take a beating and is designed to last a long time. I 100% believe foreign makes are put together much better than american cars ever will be.

@DIGItonium I am in Hutchinson. I will be going to the Wichita Nissan dealership Saturday!

I test drove a Camaro SS before I bought my Z. I loved the power of the Chevy V8. However, the car felt really heavy and cumbersome. I didn't feel connected to the car or the road. Trade that Camaro in asap for something that you like and will enjoy. No doubt, you will loose money on the trade. You can chalk that up to a lesson learned. Schooling is not cheap but what is eventual happiness worth to you? Good luck.

Good luck on the test drive! I've test driven the new Camaro and Mustang, and I still love my Z and wouldn't give it up. It's really a flavor thing, and whether you need the extra 2 seats. As a true sports car, I prefer the balance of the Z. It just fits me better. But if you need the space, or want that V8 power, I'm sure you'll be happy with the Camaro or Mustang. I can't really comment on GM quality vs. Nissan quality, but it sounds like you're having a crappy time there. I've had no issues with my Z, including the convertible top (knocking on wood now). Anyhow, good luck and have fun!

Most cars today are very reliable. But you can quickly trash any car if you drive it like you stole it. Drive a Z like you have some sense and it can last well over 100k miles. Several threads on this site about high-mileage Zs.

As has been pointed out, the 370Z CSC is prone to failure. The steering lock (easy fix if you disable it if before it fails) was deleted sometime in 2010 MY, so it's only a problem with early models. Motor/trans/diff seem to be pretty rugged and can hold up to some serious mods. Cabin noise is pretty loud but the right tires can be a big help; sound damping can be added if you like a quiet interior. Stock radio is pretty crappy; Bose is (arguably) pretty good but may be a bit under-powered if you like your music loud. Handling is an order of magnitude better than Challenger/Mustang/Camaro - they may out run you in the quarter, but you'll wax their a$$es in the corners.

I don't have any issues with domestics. The new cars look great, but the cars are too big for me.

Some of us upgraded the clutch and slave. The stock setup is too soft and feels a bit numb, but that's because I'm used to the heavier feeling. Whatever it is, the Z has very good aftermarket potential.

You're welcome to come check out my car after you've tested a bone stock Z. Just be warned, though... once you hear and feel a conservatively boosted Z you won't go back :D

Should I get a used 370z from a previous year or should I just get a new 2016 Z? A lot of kinks should be worked out in the 2016 models, right? Has anything changed in the 2016's that you guys know of?

I might just do that! I will let you know man!

I was looking used vs new myself. Financing turned me to buy new.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

The clutch is really really good. As I previously mentioned a lot of members will do a clutch kit swap because of the CSC failure which you may experience between 15k miles and 30k miles give or take. In my belief that IS the biggest issue other than heating. Again, since most people are modding ANYWAY they ignore the heating issues because they install an oil cooler. Also to go with that because people HAVE to fix the CSC they kill 2 stones with 1 bird and just do a full clutch kit upgrade ALONG with the CSC upgrade. Might as well do it while the mechanic has the tranny pulled out. So NO it's not something you must upgrade because the OEM sucks it's just more economical :).

However the OEM clutch on these cars is amazing. Very strong and durable and has a really nice grab/launch and they'll basically last over 100k if you take care of it of course.

What lip is that?

It depends on what you want to do. I bought mine new, and I didn't do any major cosmetic work for at least a year. If I were to build one from the ground up and change things cosmetically anyway, which I should've done, I'd get one used. Any of the kinks can be resolved. I'm still running an '09, and the transmission was replaced twice. One wasn't working right, and the new one is pretty awesome. I'm running synthetic fluids, too. Does it feel old at 68k miles? Maybe the stock seats and carpet :P

Trust your gut... drive a used one, and then jump in a new one. I'll PM you about this Saturday. You're in luck. I washed my car Sunday night haha.

INGS +1 carbon fiber lip kit. Too expensive to replace. I rather save up for the NISMO conversion, but car project is such a low priority.

Yes.

The CSC is the only big kink that I am aware of. There haven't been (m)any major changes since introduction in 2009 MY.

the z is much closer in terms of performance to the ss as opposed to the rs. having personally ran an ss from about 50-120 (closed road in mexico), it took him until ever bit of 115 to even put a fender on me. the z will lend itself a lot better to back road carving and "feeling" sportier.

Couple points to point out :p GM is no longer a Domestic brand. It's owned by Opel now. GM is getting ready to mass produce their new Buick mid sized SUV in China for import to the USA. We run Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z-71's for my work. I have 3 outside in my yard now. If you think any car isn't without failures like the couple little ones the Z may have then you haven't been around cars much. I ran a used car dealership for years. Anyway back to my point about GM. GM has an issue with their V8's that is a well known problem. GM is buying a lot of Jasper engines for replacements because the have a crank shaft seal failure that is like clockwork after 100-200k miles. Our oldest truck is a 2009 and every one of our trucks have a replacement engine & transmission in them. Right around 100k when you do the 2nd transmission service is when the Auto transmissions start slipping. We are talking all 8 of our trucks in my region & more in other regions for my company are the same way. Granted we work in the oil field so they get worked but really not that hard as we do communications. We put a lot of highway miles on them. MY 2011 is at 267K but it's on it's 2nd motor & tranny. Rebuilding the transmissions isn't a good option as it costs as much or so close to buying a new Jasper with a better warranty than GM gives & GM uses them for their replacements:ugh2: