Newbier to the Z Family
 

hey all, joined this forum because im seriously considering purchasing a 2011 or 2012 370z .....seeing as im completely new to this car and this forum for that matter, i would like to know the ins and the outs of this (from what the car just looks like from afar) Bad *** car,

please no flaming, no bashing, only constructive comments welcomed please, i say again, i am new to this thing, and once i get around 25,000-30,000 minium in the bank, i plan to going to the dealership and asking questions ffrom them. Came Here first to get the drivers perspective first hand

Gas Mileage ( this being the economy that it is...this is important), Safety, handling, power.. looks, exc)

Once again, thanks guys for your help abd time providing any info:driving:

The 370Z is pure sex! It is hot, loud, and rough!

also forgot to mention, that im planning on putting anywhere from 10 to 15 thousand down on it, so the monthly payments would be relatively low, saw on a few sites that the base models are around thay price... maybe a little more, im not looking for a total bad *** machine that burns everyone's face off..... a base model is perfectly fine with me by all standards.. i have around or WILL have around 15,000 in the bank after my get my tax money back..

any further info on my original post would be extremely helpful

Gas mileage sucks by today's standards, especially if you plan to enjoy the car (meaning you actually get the revs up and the power down to the road). I drive a lot of fwy and city combined and typically get about 19-22mpg. I also drive the car very spiritedly and don't just putt around. I'm sure if I drove more conservative my numbers would go up but I bought the Z to have fun and not for it's gas mileage

Safety is good. Not going to get into details buy my previous 370z went into a wall and I walked away without even whiplash or soreness. I've seen some other crash stories on this board from members and it seems to do well.

Handling is superb, especially for the price. I know you said you wanted a base but if you opt for the sport pkg you'll get slightly better handling with lighter wheels, wider tires, and LSD diff. Either way though the car handles very well

Performance speaks for itself. At 332hp it's a little dated for the times considering other cars in the price range are putting out 400hp. That said the Z is no slouch and for most people is plenty fast enough

Looks are too subjective so thats up to you.

What else do you want to know?

gas mileage will play a part into me deciding on getting one of these or not, just trying to know all the ins and outs of this car, so im making a well-informed decision, not biased lol...the HP is perfectly fine with me, base or not, just looking for a NICE car, like this one seems to be...and wanted to know all info from a buyers perspective.

other cars i was looking into..... (Nissan 370z of course, Mercedes Coupe, BMW coupe, and the mazda rx8..)...with those cars as well, im looking at the gas mileage, safety, power, looks, handling...exc.

Got mine in your area at Darcars Nissan in your neck of the woods---around Rockville. They beat everyone on price. I got the base model also and put aftermarket leather Katzkins to avoid paying for the Touring package that included things I didn't care about. The car promises to be mechanically reliable over the long haul (it's a Nissan) but the paint is delicate and inferior (Clear-bra recommended). The ride a bit noisy and harsh. The gas mileage is pretty good for a hot sports car like this. CR rating is unfairly bad. Drive the car several times before you buy. I'm pleased enough with the car that I would do it again but I overlooked the above weak spots in one quick test drive. PS The 7 speed automatic is great.

yeah just get a base model! you can add a body kit later on unless you want syncrev but i dont even use it on mine. good luck!

themann strikes again! :icon17:

OP, first I'd recommend getting the Z soon if you do opt to buy one. Obviously the supply of new Z's to this country is questionable until the Japanese recover from the disaster there.

I think you'll find the following as you read through the forum:

Pros:
Looks/styling
Handling
Ample power (especially after 3k rpms)
Highway MPGs
Options for modifications (some will debate me on this)
Shear fun factor

Cons:
Road noise
Low power compared to American muscle
Clutch grabs high and makes lots of noise
So-so sound system
Poor customer service experienced by some

I have a Touring, and really love the seats and other amenities. I wish I had a LSD like the sport owners do, and plan to add one soon.

Good luck with the decision :tiphat:

it's a sports car
 

the Z is the most bang for the buck

if you worry about gas prices don't bother as the z sucks down premium

stock, the EPA thinks you might get 18 MPG city

but if you enjoy it you may get less

you want the sports package

search the site

welcome

im looking for exactly that...'More bang for my buck' ...for you drivers out there. im still thinking about the base model simply because i dont want to pay more when i can add to it later on you know? if i get one, ill buy the base model then add more to it if i decide to.... what do you guys mean when you say its "loud" like how loud is loud? some people can tolerate noise better than others, it really all depends... what ....as for the Mileage and this is my Toy car.. my fun car.. but still wanted decent gas mileage for it, i wanted to pay the car off i have now (hyundai accent..gets 35mpg so gas that answers the gas thing) and keep that for say, driving to and from work everyday (3-4days a week) and then when i get off and on my days off i could drive it then... my weekend car, my show stopper, my go getter, whatever you want to call it, enojoying the car for itself for what it is not ..... souped up or not, base model is fine. still looks like 'Pure sex' to me lol no girl will want to go into detail about the car..(that much anyway) and i dont plan on racing it lol if i do get it....

ALSO.... on the weather note...... how does it do in rain, sleet, snow.....exc...


just wanted to know ALL the info i can about this car before deciding...

well its a sports car so road noise (coming from the tires, stiff suspension) will be louder than your hyundai....but again its sports car, road noise is always in play. Engine, however, is actually pretty quiet. Gas mileage 18 city, 26-28 highway. Performance? Its just simply amazing. A 40k car that can beat porsche boxster, cayman, some 911s, STI, Evo, vette, Benz AMG CL,SL, etc.....bang for your buck. Best deal in automotive IMO.

thats one of the big reasons why the 370 z caught my eye..... and i wont be driving it ALL the time.... just when im off and when i get home from work... i mean my Accent, bought it brand new in 2008.... only has 27,000 on it.... so mileage .... eh... drew me to this..

:tup: welcome!

Road noise is not bad until you hit a bad patch. Rocks, sand, small children all create a sudden blast of noise when they hit the wheel wells. Many of us have solved it with an aftermarket exhaust, since the Z sound in the cockpit is uninspiring.

You will go NO WHERE in ice and snow with stock tires. I run performance all seasons during the winter, but still won't drive it if there is snow or ice on the roads. Others have good success with snows using the Z as their daily driver.

so its not a good car for driving in the elements? or just snow? my hyudai Accent, ive driven in rain, snow, wind...everything.... even tho it wasnt the safest thing to do, i had to get to work somehow, got me there and back in one piece....so if my hamster of a Accent could muster enough, couldnt a 370z with some umph to it, be at least a little more effective?

i can answer that its a good car in the elements, even snow but ONLY if u have a set of snow tires. Obviously that would be the case as who would try to drive summer/all season performance tires in the snow? Runs well in the snow and rain and wind dont really phase it. Keep vdc on in bad weather? It'll save ur *** here and there.

im slowly piecing together just how this car peforms just by the informative comments, ...

1. its good in weather with the right tires
2. rather safe (safer than my accent for sure)
3. gas mileage is decent for it being a sports car (right where i expected it to be.... 25-29 mpg
4. noise can be delt with by purchasing a few other parts, no biggy

need as much info on this car as you guys can give me, as im comparing them to other cars, and sizing them up

If you WANT to expose a beauty like the Z to the elements. Any car can drive in the snow, you just have to prep it and know how to drive in slick conditions. I store mine in winter and have an old beater that I drive around during winter. The plus to that is every spring getting it out is like buying it all over :tup:

Also you mentioned about getting an RX8. please, no........if you even compare an RX8 to the Z..then..just...:gtfo2:

Unless I'm missing something, the RX-8 hasn't been mentioned.

There are people who would consider the RX-8 (I loved the 350Z when it came out, but needed 4 seats so I bought an RX-8 instead).

OP, the Z does great in the rain and wind. Just get a set up snows or all seasons for the cold months :tup:

He mentioned it here. I was just giving my 2 cents. RX8's take an educated driver with the rotary engine. Also they are in the shop being repaired ALOT.

like i said before, the more info i can get from actual drivers, the better decision i will be able to make

Don't skimp out, get the car you want. Most of us on here would HIGHLY recommend the sport package, much is added for only $2-3k. Touring is nice if you want a good stereo and some other perks but not a necessity like the sport package.

If you like spirited driving, this is going to be a great car. It cruises smoothly, has solid power, looks sexy and makes you smile every time you walk up to it. While its not bad on gas like an RX8, it definitely isn't good.

Walk up to one at the dealership and if before you get in you get a boner, I say its the right car for you!

the gas issue, i am going to pay the car i have now, off (the accent) because it gets GREAT mileage...35 mpg...but i still want a car with decent mileage, as this car seems to fit that bill, at the end of the day i might end up getting the sport package, but by no means would i take it for racing or anything like that, my style of driving is to be simply enjoyed by both car and driver and outsiders, cruising along just machine and man, while others heads turn.... thts my style of driving..not Haul *** and see if you can catch me lol

it also depends on the monthly payment ill be paying, it cant be TOO expensive (500 or more a month) .... as im planning on putting anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 down on a brand new one, so that the monthly payments will be lower, can anyone tell me how much i would be paying a month for the base model AND the touring... for both of those down payment ranges (10 and 15 thousand)

the more info the better! =)

Well I just purchased a used (BARELY USED) 09 Base with Sport Package. I put 10,000 down and got it from the dealer for 25,500. The total loan after title transfer, tax, all those fees ended up being around 18 or 20 (ill have to look). My financing was at 4.5 percent and I think i am paying about 360 a month.

after looking a little bit into the touring.... that could be a possibility as well..

Touring is nice. I was in your situation and decided the extra wasn't worth the upgraded sound and leather seats. I had all that in my 350z..didn't drive it in the winter so heated seats were not a necessity.
My insurance company also was going to charge me a 100 more a year for the touring...not a huge deal but something to keep in mind.

hmmm that has me wondering what it would cost me to have the Z AND my accent...what the insurance would be...(course my Accent would be paid off) .... so id only pay the monthly payment for the Z and the insurance (i pay once a year now)

First off Nismo89, welcome to the forum, you will soon find out that there is a lot of excellent information being shared out in this forum, great people to provide support/answers to any questions you have; pretty much everything is covered here. ProfessorDave covered much of what this car is about. If you are a value shopper wanting a fast, thrilling, sexy car without having to take a hit in your bank account then this IS the car for you.

I would strongly advise to get a test drive the different trims (base, touring or nismo) to get a feel for what you want rather than going by people opinions; everyone has a specific taste and what one hates another may love. One thing for a fact is that you will have to learn how to deal with the attention and envious looks you get from driving around this car including from folks in high end Mercedes, BMW and porsche.

There is no problem with these cars that can't be addressed for a very reasonable price; road noise/vibration (you can use dynamat to help with that), silent exhaust (get a louder one), gas hog (drive slower)

As far as elements go, I wouldn't recommend driving these cars in snow, rain, winter tires may help but I just wouldn't do it personally. I lost my 300ZX to the rain. You mentioned something about having another car that does well in snow, you could use that car during bad weather and keep the Z for nicer, dryer weather - your decision.

Once again, welcome to the forum and have fun with your decision :tiphat:

Thank you for the welcome, i have a accent that i intend on driving to and from work and through the elements, the Z will be my weekend car/when i get home car, my fun car, my show stopper, is there a difference in safety between the base Z and the Touring Z? also, with the Touring being that its a little more expensive, how much exactly (from the experts on here) would you pay if i were to put 15,000 down for the touring..... its not that i wouldnt want the touring... but the price ...might be higher than id perfer.... im looking to put alot down... to bring the monthly payment of the car down to a reasonable 200 and something or so...

Insurance is going to depend on a lot of factors(age, location, driving record etc..), you can always get a quote for both of them to get a ball park. Im through USAA and its actually cheaper to insure a 370z than altima coupe. It costs me 138 bucks a month to insure my z71 and 370z, 1000 deduc on Z71 5k miles a year, and 500 deduc 5k miles a year on the 370z. Of course that is with a lot of discounts for multi, premier driver, and a few other discounts. There is a post already up on this if you do a quick search for it.

As far as the base package, I think the sports package just has too many goodies to pass up. For me the touring was not even something I was interested in. I cant add leather seats, and nav/backup for cheaper than the nissan package. As far as ride I dont find mine harsh quite comfortable an roomy at 6' 230. As far as road noise I think that will have a lot to do with where you are. In GA we have really good roads imho, thanks to no snow and extreme temps. Other than the occasional loose pavement in parking lots, my Z is quieter than the Z71 with oversized tires on it.

All in all I love my Z so far, still playing around with the clutch, but havent had any issues with the noise like some complain about. Remembering to push down for reverse has been the only thing I have caught myself forgetting.

As far as blind spots, that some folks address, with the mirrors adjusted I havent had much issues and just back in or pull through where I can.

So welcome, and if you do decide to go with the Z I think you will enjoy it.


:hello:

im 21, turning 22 in may, perfect driving record, credit is in the high 800's.....

so wondering how much it would cost me to insure both my Accent (paid off before i get the Z.. IF i get the Z) and the Touring Z model as well as the monthly payment for the touring with as much as i said i was putting down for it

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ll-idiots.html

Insurance discussion above. At that age its going to be expensive more than likely. At almost 32, I pay less for my 370, Z71, and R6 than some of the younger members were paying for just the car.

dang..........im a safe driver by any and all aspects.... i mean just because a car has power and CAN go fast,... doesnt by any means mean you HAVE TO go fast, because it leads to this... these types of things.... and causes reprecussions on us safer drivers.

i get more than enough thrill by just driving down the road at a safe speed, and seeing people's mouths open than seeing nothing but a blur whiz by....

i feel this car can offer than to me but dang...for that? im paying for others stupid mistakes....

I am 24..perfect driving record. I have full coverage and insurance for me is a bit over a grand a year. Not too bad but my 92 saturn sl was basically 32 bucks a month haha.

my other car i have (my accent is a 2008, and only has 27,000 miles on it)

:confused:
Don't FICO scores only go to 850?

Just get a quote and see, doesnt hurt anything. So many factors for insurance, its the best thing to do if you are even thinking about it.

Sorry hansoac, missed that! You're not kidding about the shop time, either...

typo on the score thing, i meant high 750's to around 800 , but still doesnt take away the fact that what i read in the article posted.... has me slightly like "idk if i want to now" even tho this car is getting better and better with every bit of info im getting from you guys....

should i even bother get one? since im apparently TOO young to get a good rate with the insurance company, even tho, ive never had a tidcket, never had an accident, my credit score is through the roof good.... should i even bother now? its kinda disheartening...all because im 21..... rediculous if you ask me...

dont really want to give up, especially on a car such as this, what do you guys think...high rates, just because im too young? is simply rediculous... doesnt even matter that im a good driver, never speed, never gotten a ticket.... oh no... "hes 21..... and wanting to get a sports car... he MUST want to blaze down the road and wreck...jack his insurance through the roof!" ...

what are you younger owners seeing with it all?

Take a few minutes to call the insurance company to find out what the rates are, I was able to get a lowER rate on mine because it is not a DD. One other thing you could do is having your parent add you to their plan, you appear to be responsible with your cars and could save a little bunch at least till you turn 25 ;) I now remember GEICO pulling the Young male living in a large city with a high performance engine with low miles for my 300 when I was 20, it was QUITE expensive, I had coverage through a relative and that worked out. If you do call, please ensure that you have glass coverage, it does come in handy :tiphat: