Questions from a prospective 370Z buyer
 

Hey Guys,

I've got a bunch of questions as a prospective buyer. First off, I'm a long time Nissan/Infiniti fan. I know the cars well. My first car was a 93 Maxima GXE (bought used in 98), an 06 Altima SE-R 6sp and now I'm driving a 09 Infiniti G37xS. Guess you could say I've steadily moved up in the car world. My G is a lease and is up in about 6 months. So, the hunt has begun. I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with Nissan/Infiniti, but there is a bit of doubt. I really would like an updated G Sedan, but honestly, it doesn't seem like one will be out in time. They have been dragging this model out for 6 model years already and it sounds like the 2013's will be the same car too. I just don't want to drive a 2013 G that is really the same car as 2007! That said, I really don't want to leave the family. Lately I've been seriously considering a 370z and I've got a bunch of questions! :driving:

1. I do planing on driving both a 6sp and 7AT 370z. The 7AT is corporate Nissan. It seems to be pretty much praised highly in the 370z. However, the Infiniti boards are riddled with complaints, including from me. Infiniti has released TWO transmission software updates since I've had the car. Each one has helped, but it still isn't perfect. Clunkly downshifts, "Flare" when shifting, throttle lag, etc. How has it been in the 370z? I suspect that 7AT in the Z has been tuned differently right from the get go. Quicker/firmer shifts, etc. Has anyone driven both a G AND 370z?

2. Noise. I know, this is not a Lincoln. Sounds like in the early 370z model years, tire noise was a problem (but that the ride is actually better than the 350z). I saw somewhere (I can't remember) that mentioned Nissan was doing something to the air baffles (that release cabin air out of the car). Has that been a running change? Any idea?

3. Rattles/Build quality. My SE-R was a rattle trap. The G is much better, but not perfect. How is the 370z?

4. Test drove a G37 Sedan 6sp. The shifter vibrates quite a bit. I would assume it's the same in the Z. True? I plan on driving one so I can check then too.

Thanks in advance, hope to be a part of the community.

Mike S.

1. Don't own a 7at, but i hear it's a very good auto, only personal experience is with a test drive back in 09 and it was fun and sporty.

2. Maybe I have a high tolerance for stuff like this, but road noise has never been an issue for me with the Z.

3. the build quality of the Z is def above average, plus it wears very well/lasts a long time w/o falling apart. No major rattles to speak off outside of the ones directly caused by my header/exhaust combo.

4. shifter doesn't seem to vibrate an excessive amount imo.

:iagree:

:iagree:
I've put 14k miles on mine in 9 months and it still feels and sounds just as tight as the day i bought it. I have yet to notice any rattles, the transmission can be a bit clunky (6spd) but once it warms up it's fine. I love my car and am very satisfied with my ownership experience so far. And to my knowledge Nissan has done nothing to reduce the amount of tire noise, but that isn't much of a concern to me.

I drive a 7AT and it is great, If you put it in the manual mode that is. Certain days I would be too tired at the end of the day and put it in D. Going downhill and breaking would sometimes cause downshift blips. Scares the crap out of the pedestrians trying to cross the street. Double downshift has some lag if your cruising on the highway and want to have some fun, not too bad to be a complaint issue though. The only rattle I've encountered only happened after I got my HFC + exhaust mods ~1.5k-2.5k RPM range. Road noise is going to be louder than your G I would assume due to that the G leans more towards the "luxury" side and thus would have more sound dampening. the 370 is a sports coupe after all and the noise is part of the fun. If you do get the 370z, get an exhaust mod. The stock exhaust makes many of us sad :(

Ive only put about 700 miles on my car and like some others, I am very tolerant of tire noise. What ive noticed that is a LITTLE annoying is when you hit any gravel on the road it sounds like a hail storm in the cabin. Its by no means a "quiet" car. Now as far as the transmission, its excellent. Definitely the best out of all the cars ive owned that were automatic. It shifts quick, but like somebody said before, it can be a little clunky when cold, but after it warms up its great. I cannot speak for the rattles since my car is so new. Like Cafiax said, DEFINITELY get a catback, the stock exhaust just sucks IMO.

I got mine Fall of last year. sport package and auto transmission. I use the paddle shifters on the highway and auto in the city so, to me, its the best of both worlds.

So far I have nearly 18,000 miles on it. There are no shakes or rattles. If you are used to a sedan you may not like this as the ride is going to be harsher and the noise is definitely a problem not only for me but for dozens of car reviewers. Check the post Cabin Noise. Somewhere within there is a post quoting a number of reviewers. It may not be a problem for you but just beware ...also know that if you add sound dampening to the hatch and doors, the problem is greatly lessened,,in fact its hardly a problem at all for me anymore..But its still a sports car and not a Mercedes sedan.

I would think you might be happier with the Maxima. Its quiet and puts more emphasis on comfort which you may be used to considering what you have driven before.

In any event, just remember not to get all excited about one aspect of the car and overlook the others. Kind of like falling in love with a woman with big hooters and then realizing she is a spoiled brat! Hopefully you realize that before its too late!! (Not that anything like that has ever happened to me....!)

I would make a list of things that I was looking for in a car and rate each according to its importance and bring it with me to the dealer just so you dont get carried away with any one aspect and overlook the others.

One Hyundai dealer gave me a Genesis coup to try for a full day and even overnight. .Good thing he did! I started off loving the car but after a while the flaws began to show and I did not buy it..Maybe you can get the same trial from a dealer or rent one for a day...

Good luck!

your G37xS is AWD, correct? not sure how the Z would do in buffalo's snow season with just snow tires... (?) anyone care to comment on this?

as for G vs Z, even between my G35C and 370Z is a NIGHT/DAY difference so i can say while they are related, they are nothing alike about them. especially if you have a sedan it will probably not even feel like it's from the same brand.

1: Not applicable to me since I have the 6spd and didn't test drive the auto, but I have read it is good...soooo ya!!! :tup:

2: I do not feel the noise level is intrusive at all. I can easily have a conversation with the person next to me running considerably more than that of the speed. I know from experience. :driving:

Also, I think the stock tires are runflats, which I believe are supposed to very loud tires in general. Someone correct me if I wrong though.

3: Only had the car about a month, but it has 15k miles on it and so far, it is rattle free.

The only bad noise I have is after I am parked and I set the emergency brake to get out. When I left off the brake pedal it makes a creaking noise in driver rear wheel as it settles. Then another small creak as I get out of the car. Not sure what that is indicative of, but maybe it needs new pads? I need to check it this weekend, maybe tonight if it isn't raining.

4: The shifter vibrates, but not in a bad way. All the ladies love it. :happydance:

But seriously, it is minimal at worst and doesn't hinder your ability to change gears. Just be easy on it until the car warms up and you should be golden.

General consensus from what I have read is proper tires + VDC on (unless stuck) + intelligent driving = good enough to drive in the snow.

not here to start a snow tire tread, but i can say from experience buffalo can get quite a bit of snow.

I've lived in Buffalo (technically, just outside) my whole life. Oddly enough, we have had 0 inches of accumulation this year. Yes, you are right though, we can get a ton of snow. I can't comment on traction for a RWD sports car, but I do know that occassionally we get enough accumulation on the roads that could be problematic for low clearance cars. On the plus side, you could snowplow my driveway with it :ugh2:

Have a 2011 G37x sedan and the Z is night and day over it. Trasmission does not feel
the same at all. Both are 7AT and the Z is more responsive as the G seems confused at times searching for gears. Road noise is there obviously, it's a sports car. Even though similar engine, transmission, and about 90% of parts are shared with Infiniti it does not feel like these cars were built by the same sister manufacturers. Z is sports car loud, rough and quick while the G is luxury, quiet, and comfortable.

I come from the RWD G37s and the rwd G is different from the awd. The G to Z is not a whole lot different unless you are taking sharp turns. Aesthetics in the way the Z feels over G is different. But the AWD changes the game. The differences are much more dramatic. The G37x is substantially slower than RWD G's are less responsive and turns are not as direct. Most of the positives on the X is bad weather driving and once you have come out of a turn. It grabs some extra grip. But the weight disadvantage keeps you slower than a RWD G. Get in a Z and its like deleting the G's shortcomings without having to modify. You can't compare the AWD to the RWD.

Stock tires are not runflats

Correct.

Good enough. Learn something new everyday. :icon17:

yeah just realized your from buffalo. Me too. Are you going to drive this in the winter? Because I don't see that working out that well even if you have the best snow tires in the world. There's not much you can do when the snow is above the bottom of the front bumper and you can't even open a door without pushing snow out of the way :D

If i could go back i would get a 7AT im more than disappointed with my 6MT.
not to say youll have the same experience as me

oh? :confused:

Look at all the Buffalo love! My plan is to partially drive it during the winter. I'd have snows so i could drive year round, just not heavy snow. Some weeks during the winter my partners car is availabe. When its not, i have access to a small SUV.

As far as noise, i know it will be louder than my G, but the guys at edmunds.com really ragged on their long term Z for road noise being unbearable. I was more or less wondering if a running chage was made to lessen tire noise. Ill look to see if i can find he link of the ptenia, change.

Future dealer fix for road noise - MY350Z.COM Forums

Mike S.

hey mike- should do fine then if you have another ride to dd on the real bad days.

and most of that road noise is coming from the tires and trunk floor... RE050A's are notorious for getting pretty loud after about 65% tread left. i suggest you get new tires after you're done with the initial set. im riding on continental DW's and they are quiet.

also laid down a layer of dynamat on the trunk floor. helped considerably. it's not the end of the world noisy at all.

Would I be crazy for driving this on days with light snow (less than 3 inches) if i get snow tires?

Got about 15k on mine, and love the auto. Nothing weird about it. Glad I learned how to use the paddle shifters on the dealer demo though. Hit the downshift twice and went down to 1st gear going 30 mph. I thought you press the bottom of it to go lower, and top of it to go higher, so downshifted twice. Then I noticed the paddle on the other side. Lots of roaring, and a slight burning smell, and a shift indicator light blinking wildly at me like I was crazy until it slowed down enough. Completed the test drive happily without issue though, so I guess it was ok. They let me drive same while waiting for mine to get shipped in, and had no issues with the transmission.

It's a little noisy, but not enough that it bothers me. How much noise depends on the road surface, so definitely coming from tires. Probably due to the doors and hood being aluminum to save weight. 90% of the time it's just me in the car, and I have the stereo on, so don't even notice it.

We live on a 1/2 mile gravel road, and yeah, what's up with that hail storm sound? Sounds like gravel hitting metal which made me real nervous at first, but I haven't found any paint damage anywhere. Did get the optional color matched mud guards.

No weird squeeks or rattles though, even though daily driving on rough road for a least 1 mile per trip.

Can't speak to the snow, live in NC. We *may* get some snow. Don't know what then, no way I'm driving it then, because around here, people don't know what the heck they're doing, so I'm more worried they'd hit me, even if I was able to go.