Edmunds Inside Line
 

Edmunds continually bashes the 370Z for unacceptable interior noise levels on its Inside Line Blog, going so far as to say that the car is not being selected for long trips.
My question is : to those who have also owned a 350Z, is the interior noise level significantly higher in the 370Z, specifically during highway driving? It seems silly that Edmunds would avoid driving an otherwise fantastic car solely based on noise levels.

Thank you

Without answering your question directly, if you read back through what Edmunds has said about the 370z, you can tell they cater to your SUV/comfy ride cars. One guy even said the clutch was "tough to press in." WTF? That person has clearly never driven a Mustang or many other cars, just letting you know Edmunds review of the 370z are from the wrong angle for most owners of this car.

Those guys are idiots...Pay no attention to them.

edmunds is like consumer reports these days.

i cant comment on the 350 interior noise level, but i can say this...

depending on the condition of the highway, its going to dictate the noise level in the 370...

here in the city where the highway cuts thru, the road conditions are a little worse than outside of town, so noise levels here in town on the highway are a bit loud...

however on the newer highway outside of town it s very quite imo...

to my understanding alot of the road noise we are getting is coming from the rear where there is less sound deadening, which equates to less weight.

i would rather deal with a little road noise over a heavier z...

I was suprised at how intrusive the road noise is, even compared to my old 2001 Camaro SS. It is very loud, and does interfere with the music/sound quality. You can't have everything, unless maybe you go Ferrari 599 ish for a quarter mil.

The road surface makes a huge difference in the noise level, too.

You can improve the noise dramatically (so I am told) by installing Dynamat, which is a viscous sound absorbing material installed on the inside shell under the carpets. This will cost you 100lb and maybe $800 for a professional instal. A better investment than an upgraded sound system by a long shot.

Also, a different set of tires could make a big difference. If getting new tires, look on TireRack for actual test data, as I have found it to be very accurrate. I noticed a big improvement on my Camaro when I switched to Firestone Firehawk tires, much quieter, and they performed exactly as reported.

Fixed

Large tires + hatch + short wheelbase (tires are closer to the driver) = road noise.

Also, dynamat has been referenced and discussed on here quite a bit in the audio section. Most of them figure it's not worth the weight...

I can't comment on the 350, but the 370 has the LOUDEST interior of any car I have owned or ridden in. On wet roads, the noise is so loud it seems like the windows are down. The road noise is very high as well. The review is written for the masses (not 350 owners)....and the masses have cars with much less interior noise.

The interior is noisy, but the car is great. What do you care what other say about it? You bought it for your reasons. Enjoy it.

Have you test driven one? That should give you a good idea of whether or not you would find it offensive.

IMO Edmunds is missing the point of a pure sports car entirely. Heck, they need to go drive an Elise and see how they like the Z.

I drive with the driver's side window down whenever possible, so I am so glad Nissan kept the weight down instead of trying to make the Z a G.

And that's what gets me - if you want quiet, Nissan has a car for it.

And if they think the clutch is tough to push in, they're crazy. I've driven cars with heavy clutches and this one doesn't begin to compare.

I agree with you!

Comming from my Camaro, driving the Z I nearly broke off the clutch, brake, and shifter on the first go, they were so LIGHT!

+1, they've obviously never driven a NSX.

I have the Touring/Sport package and do find the interior noise level at freeway speeds to be very high. I think it is directly related to the tires. Most freeways in CA are grooved, and when I transition onto a section that is not the noise level drops immediately. I wasn't expecting it to have a low noise level like a luxury car, but it is pretty loud. Every passenger that I have had has commented on it. I'll definitely be looking at noise ratings before I buy the next set of tires.

Now, you broke it again. CR sucks just as bad in general.

I drove my 350 for more than 18 months and didn't notice any significant outside noise level, maybe because the stereo was always loud. I did notice the freaking inside rattle of the 350.

I have not driven the 370 enough to make any kind of positive or negative comment on the noise level.

yes, my 350Z does have a few annoying interior rattles.
then again it has 77000 miles on it with no mechanical problems thus far (besides initial oil consumption that resolved on its own).
I am hoping to drive it for another year before making the jump to a 370Z.

Prior to the Z, I drove a 486whp Ford Lightning with long tube headers, high flow cats, and Flowmaster exhaust. My Z is quiet.

Yeah, I need to get a catback exhaust and HFC for mine. It is too quite it compare with my 350.

Little annoyances can't eradicate a "Much Better Than Average" reliability record (according to CR). Engine, transmission, cooling system, body integrity, brakes, etc., are just excellent in both 370s & 350s. Relax, and ignore Edmunds' ratings.

Well that would mean that you don't have the 2004.5 model year. I hear they are issues free. :tiphat:

1. The 370 is louder than the 04 Altima 3.5 I upgraded from for the most obvious of reasons, but even that car wasn't "quiet." Edmunds must be looking for highway lux and long distance comfort, b/c I would imagine that most buyers of larger engines in their class and sportier cars want a little something from the engine and exhaust system as part of the driving experience.

2. I'll take a moderately and pleasantly loud Z over the neighbor's raspy fartcan any day of the week :)

3. I don't have Sport upgrade and I'm guessing my 18 wheel tire package would be somewhat quieter than the 19s to start. But, will soon see how a CB will change that up...

Plus, the sweet exhaust note overcomes the road noise. No problemo.

350z to me felt like the same noise on 370z. I am so use to it i dont even care or notice. I dont know what they are driving but its defintly something i havent drove.

Yep, it's like having a beautiful woman; you KNOW she's got some defect, but the rest of her helps you ignore that fault. Sam'o-sam'o with our Zs!

I just saw another post from Edmunds today on Inside Line saying they are annoyed with the exhaust note and road noise. I agree with the exhuast critique, definitely lost that sweet stock sound the old VQs had. But I'm sick of everyone talking sh** on it. I threw on BERK HFCs and a Stillen CBE and is sounds AWESOME! Problem solved, perfection achieved.

Regarding the noise, it's a damn sports car! You're meant to feel and hear the road. I had a 04 Touring 350Z that felt stiffer and louder. That said, a good buddy of mine had a 06 Enthusiast 350Z that I drove several times and it was completely different - softer ride, quieter and lighter clutch... even more so than the 370Z.

Well just having done a 1600 mile trip from GA to TX I think I can comment on this with some facts. I am coming from an Audi TT that was fairly quiet on road noise. The Z does have alot of road noise and on certain roads where the material is rough it is loud, on newly smooth paved roads its ok. If you dont like road noise then you wont like it but if road noise doesnt bother you then it wont bother you. I had the music loud all the time as I was alone for the trip but I could still hear the noise to a degree on certains roads.

In 2004, I bought a v-6 Honda Accord Coupe 6 speed, and the clutch was so firm that I had to get a cortisone shot and physical therapy on my left knee. I immediately sold the car! I thought I was driving a truck!

lol!! Great comparison.

I don't understand the noise complaint. I test drove the 370z and it sounded like I was in a Lexus compared to my s2000.

Acura NSX is one example.

The only noise I hear is the God damn ECU!!!! uuuugggghhhhh, Nissan please fix this already! lol