Considering buying 370z.
 

What should I know.

I am currently in an E46 M3 and it is just too damn expensive to keep up.

I used to own a 2003 350z and it had clutch and tranny problems that was common in the early year 350z.

Tell me why I should buy one or not.

they suck, they are horrible cars. everyone here hates them.

What's a 370z?

I've owned a ton of cars over the last few years and I always regretted not owning a 350Z. The time came recently for me to get a new car and the 370Z was really appealing. After my STi, I wanted something sportier...

I bought mine about a week ago and (although it is very soon) but I don't regret it. I got a good deal, the car is in great shape and it's just about everything I was looking for.

I read on this forum for a long time about issues and TSB's but honestly, it was worth it. I say go drive a few (if you haven't already) and for an opinion that way. I love mine.

had mine for 3 months now, still get that giggly feeling like when i first bought it..hey where are you located in north carolina??

I've had mine for a year and I still sprout when I drive it.
The only issues that I've had was a passenger side airbag needed to be replaced and I got a speeding ticket :driving:

You should buy one because it looks good, handles well, and rides like it is machined from a solid piece of billet, and the interior is awesome.

You should not buy one because they overheat on the track, the clutch and steering are numb, and 270-280rwhp is so mid 90's done and gone.

This based on test-driving 2 and a friend who owns one.

I went 12.9 on a 6m with intake test pipe exhaust... car is not slow and the steering is far from numb .... this coming from a 2002 g20 driver and not a 370z owner is a bit ridiculous... The clutch is fine for a stock car and is very forgiving...

you say it handles well than you say the steering is numb ...

the power the car has is more than fine, it is as fast or faster than a e46 m3, my buddy has a e92 M3 and drives my car and loves it.. he rants and raves at how good it feels for basically half the cost of his car..

They " overheat " on the track without an oil cooler. But if you go to the track you know it costs money and the first thing you would do is add an oil cooler and its a non issue...

im just saying...

Were the 2 related? ;)

Yes, it has great grip. The steering felt a bit insulated to me, though. My Trans Ams had better feed-back. The clutch wasn't nearly as good as my Trans Am's regarding feedback/engaugement point.

I agree, it is on par with the E46 for speed, but the E46 engine is a masterpiece and I love the way they feel. The VQ is an aging design.

Oh, the oil-cooler voids the warranty on the engine, just so you know.

The 370Z is almost where my F-body was a decade ago, power-wise. It isn't a slow car, but it is not in line with its competators unless you are comparing it to 4-cylinder cars or Kia's. It's definitely meant for corners, not straight-line. If you understand/accept this, it will fulfill your expectations nicely, I think.

If you are used to the interior on your M3, the Z is a good choice, though. It has a very nice interior. The best I have seen/felt in its price range, easily.

Couple updates to Import's comments.

Not only do I enjoy the steering feel, I think it's excellent. Some of the best I've felt.

The oil cooler does not void your entire powertrain warranty. That will only happen if you have an oil related problem DUE TO THE COOLER. Putting on an oil cooler isn't akin to SC or TT'ing your car and just forgoing warranty coverage.

The comment on the Z's power is a bit overzealous as well. The competitors for the Z are the Z4, the Cayman, and your other hodge-podge of the Crossfire, Solstice, RX8 etc. The Z beats many of them on a track save for the Cayman. Thus, the Z is a great package, dare I add 'especially for the price'.

With the same budget, I'd undoubtedly buy mine again.

Huh? :icon14:

Hehe - stirring the pot again, eh?

Maybe FI'd 4-cyl's, yes. Kia? Mebbe I think not (but the Forte coupes look pretty good on the road), if I was gonna spend half on what I did with the Z, it'd be worth a look.

Come on, say what you really want to: the 5.0 is what it doesn't hold a candle to. That V-8 is to die for... but I'm not a Mustang fan...

...and I doubt the OP, orig BMW owner, isn't either...

Solstice is dead. Crossfire is dead. RX8? It makes 240bhp. Cayman and Z4 are in different price-brackets.

Like it or not, the direct price/market competators are the Mustang GT and the Camaro SS.

Yes they are different cars, but they cost the same, and will inevitably be compared. Both have run 12's@110+mph bone stock in various tests.

The 5.0 is a great engine. (Happy now? I said it :) )

The problem is this: The 370 has a different "mission" than the mustang GT or the Camaro SS. However, it is priced identically, and marketed to the same age-group. Also, like it or not, acceleration is something a sports car is judged by. The 370Z is trailing the pack unless we throw the Challenger R/T in there, then it has some company. However, it handily out-handles all but the GT w/track suspension. When the BOSS comes out, it will be right in-line with the Touring package Z price-wise. It will pull over 1G. It will make around 430bhp. It still won't look like the Z, but with Recaro's, it will have a comfy interior for performance driving.

The Cayman and the Z4 are not marketed in the same bracket or to the same audience.

If you are going to compare the 370Z to them, then you need to compare it also to the Corvette Grand Sport and the Shelby GT500 or a 2010 left-over base Z06, because that is the price-bracket you just stepped into.

I guess it really comes down to this: Pick your poison. Every car has strong/weak points and you need to just drive them all and figure out what you are willing to give up, and what you aren't.

All this being said, of the cars I mentioned, I would go with the 370Z. I constantly waver between the idea of the Z and the Z06. Will I get 30K more fun out of the Z06? I know the Z06 is the "better car", but is it "30K more fun?"

Decisions. We all have to make them. Half the reason I beat up on the 370Z so much is that I hope someone here will change my tune on behalf of the Z and save me some serious $.

I agree with many of ImportConvert's points, but ...
I have been shopping for a new toy for awhile and plan to buy an 11' Z in the spring.
For a while I was obsessed with 0-60 times and drove everything under the sun from the 5.0 to an M3 and I keep coming back to the Z, it puts a smile on my face just sitting in it. And when it comes down to it, the Z is really fast on the street, as fast as I will ever need to go. Yes, the 5.0 is about a 1/2 sec faster 0-60, but who really cares. The Z is a really fun car do drive and that's all that really matters.

Buy a z and you'll lose 5 lbs. Race a track and your oil will blow up the car. Don't buy the car, then you're gay.

Buy what makes you happy. A number is just a number. If one car makes you smile--and the other not so much, then I think you know what to do.

I've owned Mustangs, Camaros, Subarus, Hondas and Toyotas...

Before I made the choice to get a Z, I looked at almost every other car in the same price range. 5.0s, SS Camaro, Subaru STi, Evo X... even a C6 Vette...

When it comes down to quality, I wasn't impressed with how the Mustangs were built... sure the powertrains are strong (we all know that) but the interior of those cars must have got the left over parts from the F150s or something because they were bland and boring. The Camaro was similar, but not as bad. Maybe it's just my prejudice against American made cars but I can't stand them.

In any case, I think there are a ton of reasons why to get a 370Z, but make sure it's going to be what you really want.

I love the way my car looks, I love the way it sounds, I love the way it feels when I drive it, I love that it is a Z car and it has a long heritage and most importantly, I love that it isn't a Mustang or Camaro. :-D

Get whatever makes you happy and have fun. It's just a car. You can always change things up down the road (look at me!). Just get what you want right now and ENJOY it. The day you start thinking you might be happier with something else, then go give that a shot.

FUN! That's what life's all about, right?

I too looked at everything under the sun in this price range...Evo X, STi, 335i, E46 M3...ultimately I picked the Z for the combination of looks, interior, handling, and decent speed. Evo X has great handling and potential for speed but the interior is really bland and the exterior is a bit ricey, same for the STi.

It's amazing that we're at the point where a 5 sec 0-60 is considered somewhat slow at $30-40k. I just didn't consider the Mustang GT because it's just not my style, sounds like a great car though for the right person.

Hoping to get my 2011 Z in the next few months!

It's funny that the people that get their panties in a wad over those specs will never see a track to begin with. The Z is a stout car. It's quick, it's fast, and it's fun. If you like it, get it!

no oil coolers? how does oil cool ??

Import, I hear what you're saying and 'get it'. However, Nissan specifically targeted the 370Z at the BASE Cayman, BMW Z4, and the Audi TTS. Not the Cayman S, Z06, GT500 or even the Mustang GT or Camaro SS. They didn't care about price points except that Nissan's beat all three of those competitors. Nissan wanted base Cayman, Z4, and TTS blood and essentially got it at the time the 370Z debuted.

Remember this?:http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/08/14/ne...n-competitors/

We the consumer, given our budgets and general interest in performance then make all the analogies you provided.

Suffice to say that the Z performs well, beats out the three main competitors that Nissan initially targeted, and makes the majority of its owners very very happy.

...and to the last posted question: the oil is cooled by air, with or without a cooler.

Time.

Three words...

Nissan Ester Oil

It's the 'Chuck Norris' of the 370Z.

Import, Ive read over all your threads, some redundant and all they do is pick apart the apparent " flaws " of this car that a few forum members post about. You stir the pot and act like you know about the car.

Your trans am is also a disgusting car IMO and I wouldn't take it for free. The fact the clutch felt better to you is prob because it was YOUR car and its what YOU are used to, just like we like the 370z stuff.

IMO you come on here acting like a know it all and I really never get like this but you and your threads/posts just rub me the wrong way. Its amazing that you consider this car at all because almost every thread and post you make you put ur trans am on a pedestal and act like its better than the Z ...

I will guarantee put a pro driver in the 370 and in your trans am and the Z will absolutely demolish the trans am around a road coarse ... Of coarse if you throw cams + bolt ons to a big v8 it will make power but with that power do you get anything else ?

On another note my car has a intakes, test pipes , exhaust , a tune, OIL COOLER , springs, etc and my car was just in for warranty work and they actually complimented me for getting an oil cooler. Nissan is well aware the motor runs hot and will not void your warranty for it. If you blow a hose off your cooler, leak all your oil and continue to beat the piss out of you car, yea it can get voided, IF they know that happened. Thats about it.

The Z will also beat every single SRT 8 out in the 1/4 stock IF driven correctly and be right there with SS's and GT's. And lets not forget the Z came out first BEFORE the 5.0, it laughs at 09 GT's by a significant margain in every aspect imaginable. Some test only show the 5.0 13.1-13.0 but I do agree they are faster/more capable 1/4 mile cars ... When I ran my 12.9 there was a camaro SS with Long Tubes and a flash and he did no better than 13.0 in his Auto...

Jnaut went 12.3 with bolt ons and a good launch... how many SS camaros run 12.3 ? Not as many as you think. The Z will run circles around the z4 and regular caymen, caymen S is a fine machine but way more money and is worthy of its price tag.

But out of all those cars I still take the Z ...

also MANY corvette guys have driven Z's and actually had more "fun" in the Z ... straight line acceleration is just one aspect of a car. The car handles phenomenal, I drive the e92 m3 when ever I can get my buddy to swap our cars for a few hours and our car is 85% of that car, and dare I say this because there will be nay sayers, but on a private road by us , me and him went at it several times, once to a VERY high speed and EVERY SINGLE TIME the outcome was within a few feet of each other either way. 6m e92 M3 ... and that car is used as a benchmark for track beasts and my buddy litteraly sweats that my Z feels as good as it does. The Z is absolutely no slouch and out of all those cars looks as nice as any of them except the M ...

:ohsnap1:

Give this man rep!!!

^^rep given :)

got a little carried away but I litteraly just looked over 100s of his posts and they all come across as him being an arrogant know it all who loves to talk about his old trans am that he traded in for a classier g20 and that he is confortbale with money ... why do i know or care ? Im not sure, but I do, and it bothers me... LMAO

Welcome to the club. :bowrofl:

Awww, you guys are too hard on him. He's just young and a bit immature (I think he said he's 25). I'm sure you weren't "all grown up" at that age either.

Besides, I think a little controversy is more interesting on a forum than just one big circle jerk. :tiphat:

Hey, I'm 25 and mature. Except for in the premium section, of course. :)

Rep given, a well thought out post. I didn't go through all the posts like you did, but I was getting the same vibe, I'm 24 and my bestfriends very similar in nature to this guy always going on about his Honda Civic Si like there's nothing else in the world that can match it with his FI Turbo kit that he had installed and a good tune.

Although in his defense he did get printed/pictured/featured in a magazine for his car apparently it's the top speed a Civic Si can do with what he has. I only fear he's going to blow his engine to kingdom-come as he has all stock engine parts on it and I don't think it's meant to handle that much power/torque.

Any who, great post, good points and a little pot stirring isn't all bad, as long as it's not trolling. :tiphat:

Thanks for all of the replies. I am difidently going to test drive one. I am not really concerned about how fast it will go around the track because I will probably never track it. I am most concerned with any known problems that the 370Z might have.

Does the 370Z take any special oil. My M only drank 10W 60 and it was $12 a quart.

The early model 350Z had tranny and clutch problems. I know because I had 2 of them replaced under warranty. Does the 370Z have any of those problems?

(m4a1 - there is something weird on the hood of your late Z!)

I've had the Z for 4 months now, and I grow more impressed by it as I get comfortable with it. It's fast, nimble, reasonably comfortable. I've never driven an M3, but hear only great things from owners (until the warranty runs out and repairs set in).

Don't open this can of worms. Nissan RECOMMENDS Nissan Ester Oil (NEO). Innumerable people on this site have plenty of miles using other oils to prove that NEO is NOT mandatory. Just use a good synthetic after break-in.

You'll be just fine. Nothing that's widespread or worth changing your mind over.

Rep given....we shall all bow down to the omnipotent WS6:bowrofl:

:roflpuke2:


And everyone knows KITT "The one and only TRANS AM that wuz BADAZZ" :)

:ughdance:

:stirthepot:

most of this makes sense, however I don't see the logic in "either a 370 or a Z06".
A base Corvette costs about as much as a 370 Touring with Sport Package and will dramatically outperform the 370 in most areas. Even a 2010 Grand Sport can be had for about $50K.

2011 Chevy Corvette Coupe 1LT MSRP $48,950 6.2L V8

? $10,000 more is not costs about??? NISMO is still cheaper by about 8 Grand........... plus lets just say you got 3.0 APR for 5 yrs would be $11,500 not included taxes and tags.....plus insurance will be just a tad bit more....just my 2centz

I would use the $11,000 and buy a Daily Driver or just MOD the S*** outta the Z

I have 0% financing on a 2010 for 72 months. A touring Z with Sport package is over 40K and the insurance for the Vette is 7 more dollars a year than my 350 was...just my two cents ..also paid 44K, not 48.
Maintenance costs however are higher.