Engine harshness

bvl

I think you need to step back and more clearly ask your questions

Harshness and noise are very subjective.

I am in the camp of the OEM exhaust sound is under tuned: many ways to fix this (I went with a NISMO, which still is a bit understated but a step up). Example: The OEM G37 exhaust is more aggressive then a Z, which is unacceptable

The second part of the engine sound equation is intake, which IMHO is actually quite good in the Z. Its got a good growl without sounding obnoxious.

Coming from the honda world, then into a Miata (I known them inside and out, having driven NA/NB/NC, and owned a FM II NA6 for 12 years) the NA/NB engines were very harsh compared to a Honda engine...but I learned to live with it just fine. I think that quite a few Z owners are in that camp too.

Mazda spent a lot of R&D on the exhaust tune of the Miata, its one of the defining characteristics of the car.

NVH often is a function of chassis and tires. We own a 2010 roadster (which basically replaced my FM II Miata), and I can tell you road noise in the car is because of those enormous tires, but compared to the NA6 miata, the Z is quieter in every respect. Even with those big donuts, road noise is subdued compared to running 15" Kumho V700's on my old Integra...tires matter

The Z has a much stronger chassis with almost no bump shake, quieter top (layered cloth vs. 1 piece vinyl), and less wind noise at speed.

Subjective still, but if you actually measured things with a sound meter I would bet you will show lower readings. If you are not happy with how the Z feels then don't compromise on such a thing: continue to drive a MX5 or whatever ride makes you smile the most.

When we went to replace the miata, we had a list of must haves...we didn't sway from that list. Somehow, we ended up on the Z. Is it perfect? Hell no. But for the money, we thought it was a fantastic package for what we were looking for.

My top 3 wishes would be:

A real exhaust note from the factory
smooth out the valve train above 5000
Can a brother get a clutch that doesn't clunk at low speed please

- b

nicknick

I really do think i have made myself perfectly clear. IT IS JUST THE QUALITY OF ENGINE NOISE I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT. I DO NOT MIND THE ROAD NOISE OR LACK OF EXHAUST NOISE. TOO MANY PEOPLE HERE GO OFF HALF COCKED. I THINK THE CAR IS GREAT JUST NOT THE ENGINE TONE, IT IS HARSH AND THRASHY, VERY UNBECOMING OF A CAR WITH THE zED'S PEDIGREE. Some guys on here say a CAI fixes that, really?? I believe there is more to it than putting on a CAI, i can not see how that would "fix" the top end thrash/harshness.

bvl

Hmm...I don't think you really have seen just how half cocked some responses can get on the inter tubes. Folks are kind here so far

Your chief complaint is something quite subjective. How do you quantify quality of a sound?

IMHO I think the engine sounds well matched below 5K. This is mostly from the dual OEM intakes and engineering involved. To my ears, its a sports car growl of its own identity. V6's don't tend to be the easiest engines to tune for sound from my experience. The 3.7 is quite different then the 3.5 in our 06 G35 for example. Very similar engines with significantly different engineering.

Changing the intakes to CAIs and such will remove any of the OEM engineering used to quash various frequencies and resonance that will change the sound without a doubt. Will you like it? Depends what you like, but you will need to hear it first and only you can be the judge.

If the only black mark on the Z is the sound from your perspective, then only you can decide if the entire package which includes the tactile responses, looks, and feel is enough to overcome the aural short comings from your perspective.



- b

happytheman

Outstanding response!

+1 Rep

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--Brantly--

akong51

To the OP, please do us all a favor and DON'T buy a 370Z. Thanks.

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2011 Nissan 370z | Magnetic Black | 6MT
GReddy SE | Swift Spec-R | H&R 20mm | GT-R Ignition Start | NISMO Carbon Fiber Shift Knob

nicknick

Yes quality of engine sound is subjective. Ever heard an Alfa V6, Honda S2000, Maserati, Corvette, Mustang, Lancia, BMW Z4 and others too long to mention. All these have great engine noise and exhaust noise, now when i say noise i mean "tone" "timbre".

Do you guys get it now? That is all i am saying yet some of you leap to defend the Zed blindly. Read my posts and you'll see i am not knocking the 370Z just its poor engine "tone" and again NOT THE ENGINE VOLUME.

happytheman

Bvl, your post had lots of concise well thought out points...but I gotta tell ya:
You had me at "Can a brother get a clutch that doesn't clunk at low speed"!

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--Brantly--

sonic370

Didn't someone early say the vq has won award after award.
what noise? harsh ?
0 to 60 in 5.5 and less
155 mph. daily driver less than 40 grand
no rattles handles as good or better than most
gets stared at daily. I'll keep mine

Baer383

It's a fvckin sports car turn the God dam radio up.

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2013 ZL1

754 rwhp 747 rwtq

GZ3

totally agreed, when i had my 370 i never felt it was too harsh

when i switched to pennzoil platinum and redline the engine was barely noticeble

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09 GT-R
12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN
12'+13' 5.0 SOLD