2009 Nissan 370Z Automatic - Short Take Road Test

Endgame · 04-25-2009, 12:08 PM

Lug.. give it up...

And remember the tranny on your 350Z is not remotely near the same tranny on this Z.

zman1910 · 04-25-2009, 12:33 PM

This thread is ridiculous....LOL at all the manny tranny drivers getting insecure.

miguez · 04-25-2009, 01:00 PM

Not trying to add fuel to the fire, but the opposite, to clarify a bit. Test numbers have to be taken for what they are, which means in what conditions they were performed. Of course Car & Driver and Motortrend know what they are doing, but they certainly test differently than Edmunds, who obtained a 5.3 (5.8 with traction control enabled) seconds time from 0 - 60 mph with a Touring 6MT. Why the difference? It's actually a good read:

Edmund's 370Z track test

How Edmunds tests cars

A lot of the difference is to do with the 1-foot rollout (read the second article to understand the details). So without knowing exactly how Car & Driver and Motortrend, or anyone else has tested the car, it's impossible to compare numbers with another test and have reliable results.

By the way, I had no idea about any of this until a couple of days ago, when i saw the Edmunds results and thought "These guys have no idea how to test a car!". I kept reading and finally understood.

frost · 04-25-2009, 01:02 PM

I actually don't disagree that I can't figure out how it would not just beat, but trounce the C5 vette, which as lug stated, had more hp, more torque, and was lighter.

Lug · 04-25-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

I actually don't disagree that I can't figure out how it would not just beat, but trounce the C5 vette, which as lug stated, had more hp, more torque, and was lighter.

Plus there was an article where they comapred the Auto and the Manual side by side. The numbers in that one were 5.1 for the manual and 5.3 for the auto. It was posted here but I can't find it now. There is variation in every car but at least this test had same time, altitude, temp, humidity etc when comparing the two. I think it may have be done in England but not sure.

Endgame · 04-25-2009, 05:28 PM

Sigh... G37 7AT IS faster than the G37 6MT. No reason why the Z would be any different. I believe the numbers. That is all.

joeyz10 · 04-26-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

Sigh... G37 7AT IS faster than the G37 6MT. No reason why the Z would be any different. I believe the numbers. That is all.

I AGREE !!! Just face the facts No human hand is quicker than this 7 at

Lug · 04-26-2009, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyz10

I AGREE !!! Just face the facts No human hand is quicker than this 7 at

The 7AT switches gears in 500 milliseconds. That's very fast for a traditional Auto, but you can switch gears manually quicker. The gear ratios can play a role as well. A dual clutch is truely far faster than anyone can manually switch gears.

frost · 04-25-2009, 05:43 PM

Is the issue that the auto is faster, or that it's that fast?

miguez · 04-25-2009, 10:44 PM

This is a pretty interesting discussion. Without saying that one is faster than the other (because I don't know), keep in mind that heavier cars have an advantage on putting power down onto the road by simply having more weight on the tires (that's why Formula 1 cars have downforce, after all). Also, when looking at 1/4 mile times, cars are going fast enough that aerodynamics start to creep into the results.

Just food for thought.

zman1910 · 04-25-2009, 10:50 PM

^You're using BMW's claims for performance. And there was never any bruhahaha as far as I remember unless you are talking about a specific article from some other mag. There is nothing wrong with using BMW's performance claims....just like any other manufacturer they post a slower time for the slushbox. That never stops anyone from proving them wrong though.

There's even talk of the new Camaro being faster with the slushbox....despite the manual having a hp advantage.

LiquidZ · 04-25-2009, 10:56 PM

Awesome numbers.

Lug · 04-25-2009, 10:58 PM

Here's an article where the 370Z manual is faster than the Auto (but not the one I read before). Seems light on data though.

Nissan 370Z

carguyg35 · 04-27-2009, 09:06 AM

Well one thing to remember is the rear axle ratio for the auto trans car. A lot of times the auto has shorter gears that help it accelerate faster. I don't know what this car has but it sounds logical since this auto trans has one more cog. Or the car could use the same rear axle ratio but use shorter gearing in the auto trans itself for the first few gears. Then usually the auto trans has taller gears in the last few gears. So that could easily explain the quicker times. Also the weather plays some of role in drag times as well.

But for the guys with the manual, you guys bought that to feel connected to the car and really experience the driving pleasure at its fullest. Who cares if the auto is a few tenths quicker?

I just wish C and D spoke to the car more since this model tested was without the sports package. I wonder how it rode and how it handled compared to the SP model. I am not sure what model I want. Now I am thinking base 370z either with 6MT and the SP or base with auto without SP. I have been leaning towards the 6MT with the SP.

Endgame · 04-27-2009, 12:18 PM

Aman Carguyg35.

04-25-2009, 10:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 705	Awesome numbers. __________________

04-25-2009, 10:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lug A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,926 Drives: 2006 350Z Rep Power: 20	Here's an article where the 370Z manual is faster than the Auto (but not the one I read before). Seems light on data though. Nissan 370Z __________________ keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs Last edited by Lug; 04-25-2009 at 11:00 PM.

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04-25-2009, 12:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	Lug.. give it up... And remember the tranny on your 350Z is not remotely near the same tranny on this Z.

04-25-2009, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
zman1910 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: FL Posts: 361 Drives: 2011 Audi S4 Rep Power: 429	This thread is ridiculous....LOL at all the manny tranny drivers getting insecure.

04-25-2009, 01:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
miguez Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 359 Drives: '04 Cavalier Rep Power: 182	Not trying to add fuel to the fire, but the opposite, to clarify a bit. Test numbers have to be taken for what they are, which means in what conditions they were performed. Of course Car & Driver and Motortrend know what they are doing, but they certainly test differently than Edmunds, who obtained a 5.3 (5.8 with traction control enabled) seconds time from 0 - 60 mph with a Touring 6MT. Why the difference? It's actually a good read: Edmund's 370Z track test How Edmunds tests cars A lot of the difference is to do with the 1-foot rollout (read the second article to understand the details). So without knowing exactly how Car & Driver and Motortrend, or anyone else has tested the car, it's impossible to compare numbers with another test and have reliable results. By the way, I had no idea about any of this until a couple of days ago, when i saw the Edmunds results and thought "These guys have no idea how to test a car!". I kept reading and finally understood.

04-25-2009, 01:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	I actually don't disagree that I can't figure out how it would not just beat, but trounce the C5 vette, which as lug stated, had more hp, more torque, and was lighter.

04-25-2009, 05:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	Sigh... G37 7AT IS faster than the G37 6MT. No reason why the Z would be any different. I believe the numbers. That is all.

04-25-2009, 05:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	Is the issue that the auto is faster, or that it's that fast?

04-25-2009, 10:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
miguez Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 359 Drives: '04 Cavalier Rep Power: 182	This is a pretty interesting discussion. Without saying that one is faster than the other (because I don't know), keep in mind that heavier cars have an advantage on putting power down onto the road by simply having more weight on the tires (that's why Formula 1 cars have downforce, after all). Also, when looking at 1/4 mile times, cars are going fast enough that aerodynamics start to creep into the results. Just food for thought.

04-25-2009, 10:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
zman1910 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: FL Posts: 361 Drives: 2011 Audi S4 Rep Power: 429	^You're using BMW's claims for performance. And there was never any bruhahaha as far as I remember unless you are talking about a specific article from some other mag. There is nothing wrong with using BMW's performance claims....just like any other manufacturer they post a slower time for the slushbox. That never stops anyone from proving them wrong though. There's even talk of the new Camaro being faster with the slushbox....despite the manual having a hp advantage.

04-27-2009, 09:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
carguyg35 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Drum, NY Posts: 32 Drives: golf cart Rep Power: 17	Well one thing to remember is the rear axle ratio for the auto trans car. A lot of times the auto has shorter gears that help it accelerate faster. I don't know what this car has but it sounds logical since this auto trans has one more cog. Or the car could use the same rear axle ratio but use shorter gearing in the auto trans itself for the first few gears. Then usually the auto trans has taller gears in the last few gears. So that could easily explain the quicker times. Also the weather plays some of role in drag times as well. But for the guys with the manual, you guys bought that to feel connected to the car and really experience the driving pleasure at its fullest. Who cares if the auto is a few tenths quicker? I just wish C and D spoke to the car more since this model tested was without the sports package. I wonder how it rode and how it handled compared to the SP model. I am not sure what model I want. Now I am thinking base 370z either with 6MT and the SP or base with auto without SP. I have been leaning towards the 6MT with the SP.

04-27-2009, 12:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	Aman Carguyg35.