New Car and Driver review of the 370z... oil temp fail!

Endgame · 09-03-2011, 01:21 PM

There are few car mags I pay attention to and C&D is NOT one. My Z is proving to be one of the funniest cars I have driven (Vettes, Stangs, 135i, RX8, full tuned 240sx).

The brakes are not THAT bad. This article is not a fail on the Z as much as it is a fail on C&D again. They are biased against the Z.

Of this list, I would pick up the Z all over again, and mod it almost exactly as I have my car set up now.

XwChriswX · 09-03-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

There are few car mags I pay attention to and C&D is NOT one. My Z is proving to be one of the funniest cars I have driven (Vettes, Stangs, 135i, RX8, full tuned 240sx).

The brakes are not THAT bad. This article is not a fail on the Z as much as it is a fail on C&D again. They are biased against the Z.

Of this list, I would pick up the Z all over again, and mod it almost exactly as I have my car set up now.

Even though you never come out and let us see any of your cool mods... :P

Endgame · 09-03-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Even though you never come out and let us see any of your cool mods... :P

DUOHH!! I swear I am trying... The guys at Intense and my brother in laws say the same thing... "You never come out!"

One of these days man........

kent370 · 09-03-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

There are few car mags I pay attention to and C&D is NOT one. My Z is proving to be one of the funniest cars I have driven (Vettes, Stangs, 135i, RX8, full tuned 240sx).

The brakes are not THAT bad. This article is not a fail on the Z as much as it is a fail on C&D again. They are biased against the Z.

Of this list, I would pick up the Z all over again, and mod it almost exactly as I have my car set up now.

C&D certainly can be biased in some cases, but this story of theirs really doesn't state any 370z weaknesses that haven't been discussed before on this forum and elsewhere, so it's tough to make the 'bias' charge stick in this instance.

I knew about the oil temp issue before I purchased, and it didn't stop me from deciding on the Z. But, that doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Myself and many others here have experienced it first-hand, and not just on the track. I run synthetic oil to help mitigate, but I know the real solution is to add a cooler. It's just irritating that a car of this class with an optional "sport" package, doesn't include one, despite years of evidence showing a propensity for high oil temps.

Cheers,
Kent

Endgame · 09-03-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kent370

C&D certainly can be biased in some cases, but this story of theirs really doesn't state any 370z weaknesses that haven't been discussed before on this forum and elsewhere, so it's tough to make the 'bias' charge stick in this instance.

I knew about the oil temp issue before I purchased, and it didn't stop me from deciding on the Z. But, that doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Myself and many others here have experienced it first-hand, and not just on the track. I run synthetic oil to help mitigate, but I know the real solution is to add a cooler. It's just irritating that a car of this class with an optional "sport" package, doesn't include one, despite years of evidence showing a propensity for high oil temps.

Cheers,
Kent

My gripe is that they rate the Z so low in the fun to drive when it, in reality, should be at the top of that list. Like another poster mentioned, they some of their editors obviously LOVE it; and I have never heard of the Z not being fun to drive. They are biased. The oil temp issue is well known, but I have not had any of the problems as noted on this forum at times.

The point is this: The Z is still well above par in the fun to drive, cool car for its catagory. With a few 'small' tweaks (oil cooler and brake pads if you must....) it is almost perfect in its class.

Bear in mind I do LOVE the Stang, and am considering an Evo (4 doors...), but the Z is still superior in my book. That said, everyone's book is different...

FromG2Z · 09-03-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

There are few car mags I pay attention to and C&D is NOT one. My Z is proving to be one of the funniest cars I have driven (Vettes, Stangs, 135i, RX8, full tuned 240sx).

The brakes are not THAT bad. This article is not a fail on the Z as much as it is a fail on C&D again. They are biased against the Z.

Of this list, I would pick up the Z all over again, and mod it almost exactly as I have my car set up now.

Item in bold above should be funnest just in case folks mistook your message

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokejr

If someone would have put a BMW emblem on the car they would have loved it.

Agree

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

My gripe is that they rate the Z so low in the fun to drive when it, in reality, should be at the top of that list. Like another poster mentioned, they some of their editors obviously LOVE it; and I have never heard of the Z not being fun to drive. They are biased. The oil temp issue is well known, but I have not had any of the problems as noted on this forum at times.

The point is this: The Z is still well above par in the fun to drive, cool car for its catagory. With a few 'small' tweaks (oil cooler and brake pads if you must....) it is almost perfect in its class.

Bear in mind I do LOVE the Stang, and am considering an Evo (4 doors...), but the Z is still superior in my book. That said, everyone's book is different...

Agree 100% again.

Although to be fair, purchasing my Z was a close toss up between the 5.0. Funny that I am considering it again because my kids and the ability to bring them in the back seat.... we'll see.

But yes, as previously mentioned, would have been nice to be able to get an oil cooler as a dealer installed option, along with track pads.

Dark Regent · 09-04-2011, 01:03 AM

Somehow I don't see how the brake pad and oil overheating problems in the 370Z, which generally only present themselves in track situations, compare to the Getrag MT82 transmission problems many Mustang GTs are having. While I think Ford's done a good job with the new 5.0, I think they really shot themselves in the foot with that Chinese POS tranny they opted for. Speaking of cutting costs.
Overall, I think the Z still wins.

DLSTR · 09-04-2011, 05:42 AM

From Edmunds:

"In Edmunds brake testing, a coupe with the Sport package's upgraded brakes stopped from 60 mph in a super-short 101 feet -- about the same as the outlandish Nissan GT-R supercar. A roadster with the Sport package took only 5 more feet to stop."

Seems ok to them!

As far as all the Mustang input here. When they get rid of the solid rear axle, I will consider it more of a sports car. More cheap cut corner engineering. Displacement no longer matters. When US manufacturers get out of the retro mode I will consider them again. The cars are just way too big/out of proportion. The mustang is more a GT touring coupe than 'sportscar'. Too big.

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09-03-2011, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	There are few car mags I pay attention to and C&D is NOT one. My Z is proving to be one of the funniest cars I have driven (Vettes, Stangs, 135i, RX8, full tuned 240sx). The brakes are not THAT bad. This article is not a fail on the Z as much as it is a fail on C&D again. They are biased against the Z. Of this list, I would pick up the Z all over again, and mod it almost exactly as I have my car set up now.

09-04-2011, 01:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dark Regent Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NM Posts: 1 Drives: Honda Accord Rep Power: 14	Somehow I don't see how the brake pad and oil overheating problems in the 370Z, which generally only present themselves in track situations, compare to the Getrag MT82 transmission problems many Mustang GTs are having. While I think Ford's done a good job with the new 5.0, I think they really shot themselves in the foot with that Chinese POS tranny they opted for. Speaking of cutting costs. Overall, I think the Z still wins.

09-04-2011, 05:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
DLSTR A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: Süd Germany Posts: 2,462 Drives: 21Supra 2.0/22 M240i Rep Power: 21268	From Edmunds: "In Edmunds brake testing, a coupe with the Sport package's upgraded brakes stopped from 60 mph in a super-short 101 feet -- about the same as the outlandish Nissan GT-R supercar. A roadster with the Sport package took only 5 more feet to stop." Seems ok to them! As far as all the Mustang input here. When they get rid of the solid rear axle, I will consider it more of a sports car. More cheap cut corner engineering. Displacement no longer matters. When US manufacturers get out of the retro mode I will consider them again. The cars are just way too big/out of proportion. The mustang is more a GT touring coupe than 'sportscar'. Too big.