Test Driving a 370z

MVPTonyD · 01-01-2011, 02:17 PM

I was test driving a used 370z the other day, and i notice right off the bat, that it was very hard to steer/turn the steering wheel. it seems like the car doesnt have power steering. i had to use a little bit of force to just change lane.

so I am just wondering if this was normal. and i also drove 370's high maintenance sister the G37 and it felt normal.

daisuke149 · 01-01-2011, 02:18 PM

its effortless really.. may wanna try a diff one and tell the dealer about that one

MVPTonyD · 01-01-2011, 02:19 PM

Alright thank you.

joseZhartford · 01-01-2011, 02:28 PM

yeah test drive another one i use my z as a daily driver and the steering feels normal

Nikkolai · 01-01-2011, 02:59 PM

I'm not sure the G37 would have a heavy steering feel due to it being the luxury version. I have driven my dad's 350Z and I felt that his car's steering felt heavier than mine. My former STi never had a heavy steering feel like other true sports cars may exhibit.

Red__Zed · 01-01-2011, 03:09 PM

that's not normal. It's a slower feel than many cars, but not really heavy.

PapoZalsa · 01-01-2011, 04:35 PM

Dealer or private seller? Check the Carfax and the history at the service department.

That car might had been wrecked, you never know.

ImportConvert · 01-01-2011, 05:05 PM

The 370Z I drove had a "heavy" wheel to steer, compared to my G20. Compared to other sports cars I have owned and driven, it was par for the course and I liked it.

ChrisSlicks · 01-01-2011, 05:26 PM

The feel is slightly heavier than some cars, in part because of the faster steering rack ratio and the smaller steering wheel. Personally I like the weight of the steering, I think other cars are too soft and lack feedback (generally speaking the more power assist the less steering feel/feedback).

sonic370 · 01-01-2011, 06:19 PM

never thought about it one way or another. it feels good to me...
coming over from a c5 vette.. the vette was imo a tad better...

the vette feels like its on rails... and the z just about... sorry to get of topic.

Dan Z Man · 01-01-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

The feel is slightly heavier than some cars, in part because of the faster steering rack ratio and the smaller steering wheel. Personally I like the weight of the steering, I think other cars are too soft and lack feedback (generally speaking the more power assist the less steering feel/feedback).

agree agree agree!!! ugh i hate a loose wheel. i'm not going to lie, the Z is some what 'heavy' (not really but compared to others) for instance, my parents sable, my old eagle talon, brothers old '08 eclipse all felt loose and just, idk not sporty....the Z on the other hand!! very tight and responsive! i love it

MVPTonyD · 01-01-2011, 07:11 PM

Its a dealer. and i think the right word is that it is slower. its not stiffer. you just have to use more strength than normal.

edit: carfax is clean. and nothing wrong. maint is up to date

shadow2k · 01-02-2011, 12:00 AM

Heavy, slow, stiff. What about...

The steering is tight, but not abnormally so. It is not difficult to turn, but it is tighter than your normal luxury sedans, like the Lexus you currently drive.

Keep in mind that what you are used to driving is going to greatly affect your perception of it. I did not drive my Taurus all summer, just the Z. When I finally hopped back in the old beater, I literally felt unsafe. Brakes sucked, steering was loose, the car floated along with no responsiveness in anything I did. I seriously felt like something was wrong with it. Nothing was of course, I just forgot how insanely different the two cars really are.

I was playing Gran Turismo 5 with a Logitech G27 wheel and shifter for the past couple weeks, and pulled out the Z a couple days ago when we hit temps in the 60's after being freezing for weeks. Now not only did the steering and handling feel very odd compared to the Taurus, which is an automatic, but the shifting felt heavy as hell because of playing GT5 with with a little plastic shifter.

Go test drive a new one, I'm guessing it will feel pretty close to the used one you drove.

chuckd05 · 01-02-2011, 01:06 AM

try driving a bmw.... they have heavy steering wheels..

my guess is that you are just used to a car with a much ligther looser steering wheel...

KillerBee370 · 01-02-2011, 01:23 AM

Try lifting weights once in awhile.

01-01-2011, 02:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
MVPTonyD Base Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 78 Drives: a scooter. Rep Power: 14	Test Driving a 370z I was test driving a used 370z the other day, and i notice right off the bat, that it was very hard to steer/turn the steering wheel. it seems like the car doesnt have power steering. i had to use a little bit of force to just change lane. so I am just wondering if this was normal. and i also drove 370's high maintenance sister the G37 and it felt normal.

01-01-2011, 04:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4499	Dealer or private seller? Check the Carfax and the history at the service department. That car might had been wrecked, you never know. __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs Last edited by PapoZalsa; 01-01-2011 at 07:30 PM.

01-01-2011, 05:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	The feel is slightly heavier than some cars, in part because of the faster steering rack ratio and the smaller steering wheel. Personally I like the weight of the steering, I think other cars are too soft and lack feedback (generally speaking the more power assist the less steering feel/feedback). __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

01-02-2011, 01:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
chuckd05 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY Posts: 2,391 Drives: No longer a Z Rep Power: 19	try driving a bmw.... they have heavy steering wheels.. my guess is that you are just used to a car with a much ligther looser steering wheel... __________________ 09 370Z 6M PW - FBO Best 1/4 mile = 12.926 @ 109 SOLD -- 08 BMW 135i - FBO 12.1@120mph SOLD -- white 09 e92 335 Coupe Mtech - 11.9 @ 119 :-)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
MotorTrend First Test: 2009 Nissan 370Z test drive 4.7 sec 0 to 60 11.25.08	AK370Z	Nissan 370Z Photos / Spyshots / Video / Media Gallery	47	11-11-2009 08:06 PM
Just got back home from test driving another z before I make my decision.	whoady4shoady	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	32	07-01-2009 08:52 PM
Test Driving?	shadyDR	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	19	06-05-2009 12:50 AM
Weekend of test driving	theDreamer	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	6	03-22-2009 10:48 AM

01-01-2011, 02:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
daisuke149 My *** is famous! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA Posts: 4,849 Drives: 2013 Boss 302 PW Rep Power: 31	its effortless really.. may wanna try a diff one and tell the dealer about that one

01-01-2011, 02:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
MVPTonyD Base Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 78 Drives: a scooter. Rep Power: 14	Alright thank you.

01-01-2011, 02:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
joseZhartford Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: E hartford, connecticut Age: 44 Posts: 122 Drives: 2010 370z base coupe Rep Power: 15	yeah test drive another one i use my z as a daily driver and the steering feels normal

01-01-2011, 02:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nikkolai Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW Posts: 238 Drives: Boss 302, Frontier Rep Power: 14	I'm not sure the G37 would have a heavy steering feel due to it being the luxury version. I have driven my dad's 350Z and I felt that his car's steering felt heavier than mine. My former STi never had a heavy steering feel like other true sports cars may exhibit.

01-01-2011, 03:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 119	that's not normal. It's a slower feel than many cars, but not really heavy.

01-01-2011, 05:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7626	The 370Z I drove had a "heavy" wheel to steer, compared to my G20. Compared to other sports cars I have owned and driven, it was par for the course and I liked it.

01-01-2011, 06:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
sonic370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange Texas Posts: 1,574 Drives: 09 370Z Sports PGK Rep Power: 17	never thought about it one way or another. it feels good to me... coming over from a c5 vette.. the vette was imo a tad better... the vette feels like its on rails... and the z just about... sorry to get of topic.

01-01-2011, 07:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
MVPTonyD Base Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 78 Drives: a scooter. Rep Power: 14	Its a dealer. and i think the right word is that it is slower. its not stiffer. you just have to use more strength than normal. edit: carfax is clean. and nothing wrong. maint is up to date

01-02-2011, 12:00 AM	#13 (permalink)
shadow2k Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 143 Drives: 09 PG 370z 6MT Rep Power: 15	Heavy, slow, stiff. What about... The steering is tight, but not abnormally so. It is not difficult to turn, but it is tighter than your normal luxury sedans, like the Lexus you currently drive. Keep in mind that what you are used to driving is going to greatly affect your perception of it. I did not drive my Taurus all summer, just the Z. When I finally hopped back in the old beater, I literally felt unsafe. Brakes sucked, steering was loose, the car floated along with no responsiveness in anything I did. I seriously felt like something was wrong with it. Nothing was of course, I just forgot how insanely different the two cars really are. I was playing Gran Turismo 5 with a Logitech G27 wheel and shifter for the past couple weeks, and pulled out the Z a couple days ago when we hit temps in the 60's after being freezing for weeks. Now not only did the steering and handling feel very odd compared to the Taurus, which is an automatic, but the shifting felt heavy as hell because of playing GT5 with with a little plastic shifter. Go test drive a new one, I'm guessing it will feel pretty close to the used one you drove.

01-02-2011, 01:23 AM	#15 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 51 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 321	Try lifting weights once in awhile.