Nurse Shark and a Cow............

dalparadise

I've seen two other Z roadsters and fewer than 10 coupes in my metro area of 6 million people and 55+ mile commute (round trip), so our numbers are bearing out, I suppose. I agree that Boxsters and really all styles of Porsches seem to be a dime a dozen around here. Most TTs I see are hardtops and I've only seen one new Z4 on the road since they came out.

That said, I never expected this car to be rare. Nor did I buy it because it was all I could afford. I craved this car. I've owned an MZ3 and a 330CiC -- both "higher end" cars than the 370ZR -- and have never felt this way about a car. I get nothing but thumbs-up everywhere I goand the power, performance and style of the car are in a league apart from the rest.

The Bimmer in this test looks great and I can vouch for the powertrain, but the retract hardtop kills the roadster feel to me. The Porsche is an excellent car all around and probably the clear winner, but is a bit dated and bland in styling and way overpriced. The Audi would probably get my nod for most intriguing offering of this bunch -- in the true spirit of a roadster, I like a light, tossable car -- but again, the value proposition isn't quite there for me. That's where the 370Z makes such a statement.

This is truly a step-up, no-compromises car that presents an amazing value proposition relative to the other cars tested. I know that's not supposed to factor in and I understand the allure of suckling at the German design teet. However, if all cars tested were within $2000 or so of one another, I'd put the Nissan second in this competition.

As it is, I'd give it first.

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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.