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

The new Car and Driver has a "Best Handling Car under $40k" article. Out of 6 cars, our 370z came in 4th place, mostly because of poor braking performance according to the article (yes it had the Sport package).

To add insult to injury... the 370z's oil temp spiked to 290 deg on the test track and sent it into low power mode, the *only* car of the test group to overheat.

How embarrassing for the only purpose-built sports car of the test group to overheat on the track and have to limp back to the pits...

C'mon Nissan...

I bought this issue because it had a Z on the cover. Was very disappointed when I read what happened during their test. Then I found out the brakes failed on a NISMO they were driving last year or something.

Are the brakes and oil temp issues really that bad? Seems like even during spirited driving the Z would falter. I'll have to test drive to find out.

What's even sadder is the Mustang GT besting the Z.
If you look at the final results, they are just so subjective. Having driven a GT, it's nowhere near a Z let alone better in areas such as "chassis balance".
The EVO, while fast, is still not a sports car.

This entire article feels like it was written by a forum troll.

I should be getting my issue soon, but did the Z lose because it truly did not handle as well or was it just becasue of the oil and brake issue?

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

Nismo/Sport brakes analysis - Its a cooling problem

Why so much hate on the Mustang? I traded my 370 in for one. While it doesnt "feel" like it handles better, the Brembo equipped 5.0 handles just as good, if not better than a 370, ask M1AMustang, he has one. I still miss my Z every now and then, loved the car, but leave the biased comments out of it, having owned my Z for a year and now the Mustang for a year, the car is faster, handles like a champ, is FAR cheaper to modify and can make more power for less. I had the oil temp problem with my Z, which is why I traded up. And for good measure, look up "Boss Mustang beats Audi R8", watch a "supercar" get owned by a $42k weekend warrior.

If the 5.0 was out when I was buying my 370z. It would have been a tough choice.

The rehashing of the mustang Vs. Z thread continues. It was only a matter of time.

Do you have access to a PDF of the article?

The sad part isn't that the Z lost to any particular car -- the sad part is that it lost because of such easily correctable flaws. A quality set of brake pads (instead of the NISMO pads mention in the article), and an oil cooler would have made a huge difference in its standings.

Quotes from the article regarding the 370z:

"The Nissan's exceptional ability (at least in short spurts) secured it a middling finish. But it's shortcomings kept it out of the running for the win. If its brake feel, response, and reliability were similar to the Miata's or Evo's, the 370z would have been on the podium"

("short spurts" jab refers to its overheating oil problem)

"The 412hp Mustang GT ran the hottest lap of the group. The Nissan 370z simply overheated"

I'm thinking the real question here is whether NIssan's 370z sales suffer at all because of these sorts of reviews. If sales suffer, is it because Nissan just misjudged the American market -- Would an increase in price of 500-700 for the addition of an oil cooler really made that much of a difference to the number of units sold? Or was it just bad timing that right after they released the car there was this upsurge of moderately priced performance cars?

woaah, not fair they brought up miata door.

Posting what I have.

http://i25.lulzimg.com/46caf7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CyP7J.png


Seems to be some notable exclusions from this test---wonder how bad the results would have been had they used a GSR...

that Z on the cover looks great. :D

None of this means anything to me but it needs better pads and there are some oil cooling issues when being push hard (mostly on the track). Easily altered in my eyes. Though I know Nissan should address and they will but that's no reason I still wouldnt buy the car ten more times. Most Z owners don't push there cars like a good bit of us here. Most probably don't even know what is considered high oil temps. So even with the majority of Z's sold the car is perfect for the average driver.

Also( just thinking out loud) I wonder if Nissan made a bigger block itself with bigger oil passages but with the same displacement would that help. Whatever happens it's probably going to be easy for the pros to figure out. Nissan made a lot of improvements over the 350 and keep it the same price so next time around they'll improve more. Maybe a little more money but will be well worth it.

yep, the article means nothing to me either. ive never had issues with the pads or oil temps in my weekend drives.

^ part of the reason I (and everyone else that probably should) pretty much ignore anything C&D has to say. The staff is primarily composed of wannabe car guys with access to test equipment and tracks. They nitpick things that are non-issues to people that actually track (if you track with stock pads, you deserve what you get), and gloss over certain things that are ACTUALLY issues to people that run the cars hard (like the inherent understeer in the Z and EVO chassis.

and then people that don't actually track freak out over things that don't matter to them, like oil temps and brakes.

The 370z is a low-volume enthusiast car, and as such, I think it is much more affected by bad comments in the established auto media that your typical commuter automobile.

I would offer as a counterpoint -- would the addition of a $300 (Nissan's cost in volume can't be the same as retail) oil cooler added to cost of the "Sport" package reduce sales of that package ($3000 vs $3300)?

If it reduces bad press, and it's costs are covered, IMHO, it's a good deal.

It just seems like C&D is beating a dead horse to publish a second article rehashing the same complaints they had the first time around. Yes, the stock and even Nismo pads are garbage. And the oil overheating issue is far from new information. So why keep publishing the same story about the Z?

I can only hope it's aimed at Nissan so they eventually (even if in the next gen Z) fix these issues. Fat chance though as Chevy is still making crappy Corvette interiors and every reviewer has commented on that point for years.

100% agree. Nissan could relatively cheaply install an oil cooler package and a true 'track' brake package and transfer all the cost to the consumer who purchases them. It takes very little R&D to fix either of these issues. Then they'd have a stellar performer that can withstand these road course reviews.

Well there's no doubt Nissan will fix the issue on the next round. But I'm thinking there will be a different version of the motor (still a VQ series) so there will be no need for an oil cooler for the stock motor.

:icon18: this is so true.

I don't really care for C&D much to be honest, I don't agree with their opinions on certain things that are not just relating to this article. They are really just stating the obvious, however I do find it interesting that I know fellow 370z owners that regularly push their stock sport package brakes very hard and have never had an issue.


Also, I would NEVER get a Miata over a Z or even a Mustang.

This is the worst part. The fix is so simple, so why not? It's like settling for an A- because you were simply too lazy to earn an A. In honor of Nissan I made the following.

http://i.imgur.com/WDqm2.png

That said, I never encountered any oil temp issue with spirited driving in my NISMO. It is a non-issue, but very little about why we buy cars is based on need. Like it or not it's driven by emotional and intellectual satisfaction.

Actually,, for what most people use them for the stock pads are pretty good all around street pads. They have good cold stopping time and no dust. They are just crap when they get some heat in them.

I've now read the entire article and find the Z review to at least be accurate. However, C&D isn't consistent with how they judge the good and bad qualities of the cars in the test. The Z gets hammered for the brake feel, fade, and overheating. They call it 'not fun to drive'. Then the Evo wins the test and gets a 9 for 'fun to drive'. But tucked in the review of the Evo is the fact that it understeers and the transmission overheated. How does that make the Z a dog but the Evo a champ? Inconsistent reviewing/judging at best.

What I do like from this is knowing that with an oil cooler and track pads, the Z essentially wins the comparo-test.

I went to the dealer today for an oil change. Asked about a quote on an oil cooler. They gave me a confused look, and said, "There isn't one in there?" We then proceeded to go to the parts department. The guy behind the counter asked, "It doesn't have one in there?" He looked it up, and sure enough said, "Wow, they didn't put these in the new Z's?" They didn't even offer the part. I would have to purchase one and bring it in for install, which they'll warranty. Between driving from Tampa to Orlando weekly, it gets up to 230-240 max. It does concern me for the longevity of the car, and I will be getting it installed in the next month or so.

^^ It sounds like they don't know too much about the 370. I doubt I'd trust them with the install. Anyway, 230-240 is probably nothing much to worry about. Just change your oil more often if you consistently get those temps.

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.

To me it comes down to three things. The Mustang is made by Ford, the Mustang doesn't look as good as my 370Z and the Mustangs are a dime a dozen and everyone has one! With that being said I recognize the new GT's are a huge improvement for Mustangs.

Interesting that Road & Track does a much better job driving and reviewing the Z. Perhaps the folks at Car and Driver simply don't have their $#!t together.

When the ZL1 comes out, it's gonna blow the mustang and 370Z out of the water. You guys are gonna hang your heads in shame when you pull up next to one on the street. :stirthepot: :stirthepot: :stirthepot: lol

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........

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

Look at the sidebar comments.

"There's a lot of grip from the tires, but I'm not getting feedback from the contact patches."

"The 370Z handles pretty well. It's just not a very good car."

"Brakes are working without providing any real feedback beyond smell."

They just don't like the Z. It's like they all had Japanese girlfriends that dumped them in the past.

The Z is kind of a love or hate kinda car anyways. People put way too much sway into mag reviews. If you like your car, enjoy it. Who cares if other people like it? I don't think anybody on the Mustang forums loses any sleep over the fact that most people here think the car is too common...we shouldn't let stuff like that get to us either.


If you have brake/oil/etc issues and like the car, they are easy fixes (though admittedly, the cooler can be be a PITA). If you don't have them, don't fret that they saw them, unless you plan on tracking your car in the future.

You need the right tool for the mission. Did Nissan cut corners on the Z? Yes and no...

It's a sports car, yes. Nissan designed it with excellent capabilities. If you intend to track the car often...add the necessary upgrades. The % of Z owners who actually track their cars seems rather low compared to those who drive them on the street and do some spirited driving now and then. From a product development standpoint it doesn't make sense to add parts to a car that won't see this level of high performance driving from most customers.

However, where Nissan did fail is with the lack of an oil cooler on the Sport Package and the Nismo as OEM items. Although there are customers who would want this package just for looks, they put an LSD on the car so why not an oil cooler? It's an extra cost to get the package so wrap the oil cooler cost into that. As for the brake pads, it seems fine to me that they would have that as an option for the Sport Package. However, I thought they came on the Nismo so I'm surprised to hear those brake pads are not on that car from the factory.

Brake pads aren't on the car from the factory because anyone that tracks their car changes pads at the track. Low dust brake pads make the most sense for everyone.

The LSD is actually another area they cut cost. The VLSD is not really for serious use--it is more for the cred of saying that there is a limited slip on the car. Anyone that actually tracks the car will swap for a Torsen.