I have to say this is something I've noticed too over the last year in the car mags. The 370Z is mysteriously absent from comparos lately.

Even the run-of-the-mill V6 comparos with the mustang vs camaro vs (import). They use the Hyundia Genesis now instead of the Z. The conspiracy theorist in may says they picked the Genesis over the Z because they wanted a dead-ringer American winner (mustang), in the post magazines-run-the-domestic-auto-manufacturers in to the ground era.


How do you not include the Z in a V6 < $30K comparo? Wasn't even in the track shoot-offs either.

Maybe the Z is black listed by the mags since the NismoZ brake fade incident last year with Car and Driver was it, or Road & Track?

Dunno. Don't care. I still think the Z is the highest value sportscar on the market (performance+aesthetics+comfort+reliability)/(dollar spent)

Fewer Z's on the road = exclusivity + retained resale value

The only commercial I've seen on TV that had a 370Z in it was a commercial for the Maxima. I think Nissan is trying to keep the Z for those who are true fans only, who don't need a commercial to get them to buy it.

I remember reading on MSN Autos a few weeks ago that they thought the 370Z was the best value for money sports car. It made me smile :)

It's the 2+2 thing, man.

The Z competes with other 2-seaters like the Boxster, Cayman, Z4, etc. They are, by definition, sports cars.

The Mustang, Camaro, Genesis, G37, and other 2+2 2 doors are all sport coupes.

the conspiracy theorist in me says it's cause all those other car companies you listed are throwing $$ towards the magazine to get their cars featured and nissan isn't doing that for the Z...:ughdance:

Do you really need a magazine to write an article about the Z toreenforce your decision of buying the Z in the first place?

Now that I'm an owner the only articles I need to read about the Z is ones about tuning it.

this statement need to be engraved or immortalized some how

My Z has my attention... That's all that matters to me.

Notwithstanding a permanent loss of data, you just did. :tup:

I get what you are saying, and you might be right. But if that's their thinking its not articulated in the comparos, and its not a good reason to not more frequently feature the Z.

But I have to somewhat disagree with the Boxter, Caymen, Z4 - category.

Z-Roadster does fit in the same category with Boxster and Z4 but at a disadvantage because of price over performance, and architecture. Z is designed first and foremost as a coupe hatchback.

Caymen is almost ~2X the price of a Z. And frankly, as much as I love the Z, its no Porsche Cayman. So I think its a stretch to put both in the same category.

I still feel like the mags have exiled the Z. If they loved it, it would be featured in 3-4 major articles a year.

We are a secert Zociety

^I like to keep it that way :)

I didn't mean for the post to be a complaint. I'm just surprised the Z doesn't come up as a comparison as often as I'd expect. When the magazines compare new models to older cars, some seem very obvious comparisons to the Z, yet the Z goes unmentioned. Not a big deal...just an observation.

Its because they already know the Z will win like always.

:tiphat:

The Z is ranked 3rd. Here you go.

2011 Nissan 370Z Reviews, Pictures and Prices - U.S. News Rankings and Reviews

I had to read that word three times before I understood it. Now I'm going to use it all the time :icon17: :tup:

LOL. Not sure how they're doing their math. Half the categories are incomplete with N/A.

Miata outperforms all other cars in the class?

Miata 8.9
Genesis. 8.0
370Z 8.5
RX8 8.3
Eclipse 7.2

How they computed the overall score for the Genesis is beyond me - how does the overall score exceed the value of the score in any one category:

Overall: 8.5
Performance: 8.0
Exterior: NA
Interior: 7.2
Safety: NA
Reliability: NA

Qualitative scoring ? Highly subjective - -I'm guessing the reviewer owns a miata.

The Miata got extra points due to it's door construction.

Hilarious that Exterior is NA for the Genesis. I guess looking at the car from outside the vehicle was off limits that day.

Z interior 6.9. That's pretty harsh compared to the competitor scores.

That's a BS excuse because Nissan themselves said the whole point of the 370Z was to go after the Porsche Cayman. Aside from the fact that it's in the same class (2 seat sports car) the Z is up against that kind of competition because Nissan explicitly said that's who they are going after.

The only reason the Z competes with the Mustang/Genesis/Camaro/etc. is price only. I've owned both and I'm telling you they are completely different cars. Not even close to being in the same class. There's a reason I haven't written any extensive 370Z vs. 5.0 comparo on this site or any of the Mustang ones... they are just too different.

And as far as mag features go, the Z is in its third model year. Until it gets a significant update it's old news. Back in '09 it was all over the press.

I'm guessing that "road noise" was included in the interior score.

I found a way to fix the road noise

:icon17:

ZOMG guys my car makes noise when I turn it on. :eek:

Yeah your car makes a clunky 8 cylinder noise

I still have to disagree with you. Even though Nissan may have targeted the Cayman as a competitive benchmark for the 370Z (as the GTR with 911), it doesn't mean they reached their goal (unless you take into account price). I've driven them both, and if it weren't for cost (and leg room), I would take the Cayman hands down. Just because they both have the same number of seats, it doesn't put them in the same class.

And let me clarify -when I talk about comparing the Z with Mustang/Genesis/Camaro I'm referring to the V6, not the V8. Specifically I'm talking about the following Comparo:

2010 Camaro V6 vs. Genesis Coupe V6 - Comparison Tests

The only objective rational for comparing the Genesis Coupe over the 370Z (as this was American V6 vs. Import V6) is, as you say, 2+2. Which personally, I think in all practicality is a moot point, because most 2+2 2-door sport/muscle cars have useless back seats.

2010 Car And Driver Lightning Lap Nismo Z hits wall. In 2011 Lightning Lap the Z is absent.

Lightning Lap 2011 ? Feature ? Car and Driver

Lightning Lap 2009/2010 The Z SHOULD have been in LL1 class base price under $30K but it was in LL2 because they used the sticker as the base for the Nismo. And of course the brake catastrophe occurred. The Z is present every year before, and absent afterwards.

Z Meets Wall: We Investigate Why the NISMO Z's Brakes Failed at Lightning Lap - Feature - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

Lightning Lap 2008: Nismo 350Z in LL1:

The Lightning Lap, 2008 - Feature - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver
Lightning Lap 2007: Nismo 350Z in LL1:

Lightning Lap 2007 - Feature - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver


Just my 2-cents. Can you tell I don't have **** else to do today?!?

:bowrofl::roflpuke2:

I don't agree with you at all.

But I did get sh1tface drunk in Dayton, Ohio back in 2008 so I'll give you that. :tup:

Nice :tiphat:

I'm still very interested in the FT-86. We'll have to wait until Geneva for the near production version to debut. If the 305hp STI engine rumors are true, it might be a Z competitor.

Just say NO! To 4 cylinders.

If the FT-86s weight is the same as a civic and with 305hp, I think it would be more than competition for our Z's.

It'll be pretty much a 2 wheel drive impreza with a Toyota badge.

If we are talking further cars then I want the Audi Quattro

Engine 2.5L/408-hp/354-lb-ft turbocharged DOHC 20-valve I-5
Transmission 6-speed manual
Curb weight 2866 lb (est)

I think if you throw the 370z in every comparison it will be like great the 370z wins again okay next page!

Kind of how the Genesis V6 coupe priced out at 33k makes it into the 24k v6 muscle car comparos on motortrend. You just know dam well if you put in a 370z for 30k its no longer a comparison but a beat down.

Far as I know, I pull up to a gas station and couple of guys started taking pics of my car......its kinda neat to have a car that isn't seen on the road as often....for now at least.

I suspect that after all safety related issues Toyota isn't too excited to release a red turbo powered sports car. Have there been any updates on when Scion will debut the FS-R ? Suspect that's where we will see this car initially.

For that matter, the only Nissan car that gets publicity in the Mags as far as comparisons go is the Altima. The Z and the Max seem to always get neglected/left out in C/D, M/T, R/T comparos of recent. Although they both get praise in other publications etc......:iagree:

iiunno about what magazines say. But one day i was coming home on a military bus from my course and we were next to a black 370z with tinted windows and tail lights. Guys on the bus were making fun of the car saying how ugly it looks. One of the guys said the 350z looked alot better, ironically the next day there was a 350z next to us..lol.

Well, usually the best looking cars are very polarizing. You either love it or you hate it... there's no in between.

Of course the only thing that matters is what we as owners think, so if you're happy with your 370 then :driving: :tup:.