Just test drove a 370z

dalparadise

After reading this forum for several months, I was taken aback on my first test drive by how LITTLE road noise there was. As much as people complain about it here, I really expected it to be bad. It was actually a little quieter than the Mazda MX-5 I was coming from (smaller wheels/tires, smaller engine, but less sound insulation, convertible with unlined top). That all said, I did notice what I thought was a bit more noise than I should have heard in the coupe. Surprisingly, however, the Roadster is not at all louder than the coupe with the top up. Top down, the exhaust is more apparent -- a benefit, in my opinion.

I think it's a little bit of perception vs. reality. The MX-5 was never billed as a refined sports car, so nobody's ever given a second thought to its noise. The Z is held to a higher standard because of the car that it is. As others have noted, though, that standard needs to be a subset of the car's mission as a true sports car. Refinement is secondary and, in fact, not always completely welcomed by those who enjoy this car's connection with the driving experience more than its ability to perform as a driving appliance.

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2010 Platinum Graphite Roadster - Tour/Sport/6MT/GReddy SE catback/B&M short shift
If the top is up, it must be parked.