Z06 vs. 370Z
 

Initially, when I came here, I was comparing a Z06 to a 370Z.

WTF?

Why?

HOW!?

Well, we will get to that. The 370Z is a very capable car, but nowhere near as violent in the acceleration department as the 'vette. As you know, I ended up with the 'vette for that reason.

What I discovered:

Power is awesome. Power is nice. EVERYONE should own a Supercar (or for those of you who want to be nit-picky, a car with supercar performance in every aspect) at SOME point in their lives if it is financially practical. It's a blast and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

However, you get used to that power. Don't believe me? Look at how many Z06 owners are throwing FI and/or cam into their cars. They want more. We always adapt and want more. It's human nature.

Well, what good is "more" to me? By the time I hit 3rd I have already doubled the legal limit on most roads in my area. Sure, WOT is fun...for the literally 3-4 seconds that its legal.

Then I find myself cruising on the freeway and thinking "Damn...I wish my stereo were nicer. I wish these seats were a bit firmer. I..."

Oh, but I can knock anything else's **** in the dirt but a ZR1 or a GT2 or the 5.2L R8? Who cares from that perspective (and it never was about that for me), I never see those, and NOTHING has challenged my supremacy in the nearly 1 year/3600 miles I have had my Z06. People pointedly "ignore" me in their SS's and Mustangs and whatnot.

Anyway, I set about planning to move here in the next year (I hate my current state of residence for almost every/any reason you can name), and a little more money in the bank acct. is always a + when planning a move. Also, I want a car with a bit nicer interior, and handling has slowly become more important to me than brute acceleration. Owning pony cars early in life caused me to think 0-120 was all that mattered. Then I went to Spring Mountain Motorsports ranch where a few instructors in stock Camaro SS's made fools of us in ZR1's when we couldn't keep up with them. I learned a painful (to my ego) lesson.

So, fast-forward.

Nissan puts an oil-cooler in the 370Z. The interior is sex. I know it's not as fast as my Z06, but it sure is nicer inside, costs less, and I always did like the car (although I never...and will never...pulled any punches when critiquing it. I also defended it on this forum where due, as well.)

Anyway, I think you will be shocked to see how the two cars compare in every aspect aside from 0-whatever acceleration. This was an eye-opener for me.

When '12 models with NAV/Coupe/6M/Touring combos hit the ground, I'm making the switch.

Enjoy...

Stand alone Video Player

vs.

Stand alone Video Player

In short, I had to own a Supercar to appreciate what the 370Z and other cars brought to the table. I would NEVER be happy with a 370Z had I not tasted that cake. In the end though, 505bhp has begun to feel like 350 horsepower in my old WS6. We adapt. Sadly, we don't adapt positively to poor interiors, lol. I think I will be able to fully appreciate a 370Z now, whereas before, I never could have.

Well... you could always buy a Z, boost it and enjoy the best of both worlds :D

Not sure how fast the ZO6's depreciate, but I bet once you sell it, you'd have more than enough left over for some sort of madman Z project if you wanted... :)

I have watched all these vids of the boosted 370Z's on here and it's not very inspiring to me. It would cost me less to do a full Caravaggio interior than it would to fix all the flaws the 370Z would have at the 450whp mark. Further, part of my goal is monetary.

At 450whp...

The 370Z's transmission and rear-end are VERY poorly suited to performance. The powerband is not at all correct for the gearing.

The suspension is very out-classed, especially regarding wheel-base and tire/rim size. (I have some traction issues on some pavement with 325's out back and 50/50 static weight dist. in my Z06)

The warranty is shot (I love me a warranty!).

There are many more things that dissuade me, but no, the car will be left stock+ Ceramic window-tint, V1 detector, and nearly a full wrap with Avery Nanofusion. If the sound is too quiet, it will get a NISMO cat-back dealer-installed. I'm a warranty whore. I have owned a car that I spent more time looking at in the garage as they were completely stripped and re-built than I did actually owning it in a drivable state. I don't want to play that game again, because they never really perform as COMPLETELY as an OEM deal.

I think if you at least get coilovers, you'll be very happy.

They don't seem to do anything for the NISMO :ugh2:

Funny you say that. I put an LS1 in a 93 RX7 last/this year. Car performed flawlessly and was nice, but as you say. Something was missing. Interior fit and finish. I got all that with the 370 now.
Good luck. You are making a good decision. I had an 02 Z06 a few years ago. Yes the power was nice, but it was missing nice seats and interior.

IMO/IMExperience, the C5 interior was better than the C6 interior. It may not have looked as nice, but I feel that higher quality leather, etc. was used.

My Z06 is fun and all, but when I settle in for a drive on the freeway, it really leaves me wanting unless I romp on it, and you can't do that 100% of the time like you can enjoy a nice stereo and comfortable seats.

ImportConvert, I completely see where you are coming from. I've owned an 03 Z06 and the 07 Z06 and now I'm thinking about switching to the 370z. While the power of the Z06s were intoxicating for a while the price of owning them did not make sense to me. They were dds for me and I put a tons of miles on them. The interiors were lacking for a car of there price.

I've always appreciated the z cars and it amazes me the V6 puts out more HP than my 95 Z28. It may sound crazy but even the base z interior looks better than the Z06.

Now I need to decide between the sport/touring or Nismo. You seem to be leaning towards the sport/touring is that because of the amenities it offers?

Yes, I have never seen any evidence that the NISMO suspension does anything but make the car ride rougher. I think 1 magazine test showed a .01 or .02g improvement vs. the Sport suspension (different days, but that's the point, any day of the week the Sport suspension may out-gun or equal the NISMO suspension. Not impressed).

Further, I want NAV, the NISMO only has 4 speakers, I want leather, and I have fondled the NISMO body-kit and it was very cheezy. The inner fender-wells flopped around and it just looked like crap to me.

The Sport package creates 0 lift front or rear. Your (and my) Z06 actually have lift.

NISMO just holds ZERO appeal to me. Sport/Touring/NAV is where it's at for me.

NISMO test: http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...nismo-370z.pdf
Sport test: http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...san-370z-1.pdf

Nice wright up but a Z06 is NOT a supercar. Ferrari, Pagani, Lambo's ets are.

I think he meant supercar-like performance. Which you do get with the Z06.

From my OP...
Reading. You need to go forth and teach it to others! :tiphat:

The C6 interior is what kept me from getting into a Vette so far. I couldn't justify spending that much money on a car knowing that I hated the interior. Honestly, I prefer the exterior styling of the Z over the Vette as well. I've decided to hang on to the Z until the C7 comes out and then figure out where to go from there. The engine is my only disappointment with the Z. I'm hoping the C7 delivers the whole package for a reasonable price: nice interior and excellent performance.

I think the C7 will be a big hit. GM knows they have to step it up. I'd like to see the Caddy design team working on the interior. :)

I'm thinking about going C7, but not until it has been out for 3 years or so and all the little things that go wrong are revised. It happened with the C5 (oil consumption, piston slap), and it happened with the C6 (wheel-bearings, rear-end). It will likely happen to the C7.

I think the 370Z is pretty well ironed out with the addition of the oil cooler. Yes, the engine is said to "sound harsh", but I have never heard of one popping yet, so it can sound however it wants, as long as no breakage occurs, it will have performed as expected in my book.

Points well taken -- especially that last part... yeah, I have been there too, and I don't particularly miss it.

Good luck with the new purchase! :tup:

Would be nice.

I had a C6 Corvette. I got rid of it because of some of the factors you mentioned

*too fast for the street
*not reliable
*too fast for the track, i was actually quite scared of it
*financially doesn't make sense since I used the car almost strictly for track days/autox and my 2 miles commute and doesn't work in the snow
*while the car drives similar to the 370, but it is bloody hard to drive fast

I didn't want to spend 30K to buy the 370z, but I literally had no other choices given all the cars that were out there in the market. They were either overpriced, convertible, not reliable, too ugly IMO or too slow. Is the 370Z perfect, not really, but I think it beats everything else for the money. I do wish I have an Audi TT every now and then, but it just doesn't make sense given that car cost the same and its less reliable. I really would be paying for the AWD and DSG.

Outside of the track/autox, the 370z is kinda slow to me since I was spoiled by 400HP. Yet I have accepted it and honestly don't think much of it anymore.

The 370 suspension is better than the non Z06 C6, it is firmer and you can squeeze just as much tires. The diff on the C6 is better, way easier to get power to the ground but of course easier to crash. I found the brakes to be better on the 370, but then I only had a regular C6.

IMO, if you have the Z06, then a stock 370Z should suffice unless you want it to be nearly as powerful for the streets.

The 370Z interior, although not the best thing since sliced bread, is great! The controls are well laid out and simple. So there's no worry about a myriad of buttons of buttons to do simple tasks. On base models, the double-din audio unit makes it a cinch to replace with a favorite 7" head unit. As for the speakers, save money by buying only front speakers and a sub.

Although a pain to mod at times, it's a great car to mod even when it is subtle. It can look, sound, and feel good :)

Of course, with the money spent on my car I could've gotten something better... but the Z feels at home for me [shrugs]. If it were to be another dream car to replace the Z, I would probably end up going old school with an NSX (really want an R34 GT-R).

:iagree:

i think even a stock Z is a tad too fast for street to really have fun without gettng unwanted attention. something happens to your head when you mature. it starts reminding you about all the negatives of going fast on street (citations, causing accidents, hurting people, bodyshop, inconvenience, repair bills, etc etc) and it tires you to even think about speeding. :icon14:

so from that point of view unless you're going to track the car i would say the 370Z is more than adequate for street. if you want to do dyno wars that's you're call but you'll never be able to use it on the streets without offending someone. kinda like running SSD on a slow computer. over kill.

I think the 370 is fine for street fun.

The thing I am learning as I age is that I don't like really loud exhausts anymore. :icon17:

Yeah..... still at the end of the day the Z06 is still a Chevy.

'nuff said!


ibtl

Totally agree. I never found the z lacking for power on the street (which should blow the minds of half of you). The has more than enough guts for anything you do on the street--and for most of us, more than we need on the track.

and a nissan is still a nissan...lol

no prestige in that name either.

The Z is a superb car, and full bolts gears, and tuned Z is every bit as fun as a Z06...i can guarentee that...

I'm still in the phase where I want moar powaaaaa!!!!! :roflpuke2:

Which is funny because your car goes slower every time you add a mod. :bowrofl:

:ohsnap1: :stirthepot: :rofl2:

It doesn't go slower every time I add a mod, it just seems to asymptotically approach my stock time with seemingly no hope of ever beating it. :rofl2:

Even with mods + weight reduction it goes slower. :bowrofl:

You're a one timeslip wonder, shahid. I hope you enjoy having the only 15 second TT 370Z. :bowrofl: :p

:icon18:

:icon17:

Let me drive the 5.0 down the drag strip just once Steve. I'll probably set a record time in that first run. We all know what's gonna happen after that first run though :icon17:

Sorry bro, it's not an auto!!!

I know :stirthepot:

it's funny you mentioned this cause i wasnt much of a nissan person until about 7yrs ago when i got my G35C so i didnt really think much about Nissan's brand image. honestly i didnt know much about nissans.

ive noticed recently that poor people have strong association with nissan as being a 'cheap car.' like someone that knows nothing about cars would point out nissan is a nissan aka 'cheap car'....and they would be amazed my 370Z was a nissan, not infiniti.

i, as a lot of folks here, have cash to buy a brand new 'cheap nissan' 2012 GTR (which i dont plan to buy).... can the poor do the same? i dont see the connection there. :icon17:

You'll be the first person ever to stall trying to shift into 3rd gear. :icon17:

or like the way my 350/370 would always get confused for some kinda exotic or porsche :icon17:

I will forever be a nissan guy, it was pretty much my first love and my door way into performance cars....although my first cars were hondas :/

but amongst all the soup of brands readily available to the average consumer, i dont think anyone really stands out....i love all cars....thats just the car guy in me:tiphat:

Scion!

Im glad this topic popped up as im curring saving for a Z06 as a second car to my 370Z. To the OP, very well written post.

Thank-you. The z06 is completely awesome and over the top for a toy. The interior and fact that the 370 handles nearly as well for a lot less are what have swayed me.