370Z as a daily driver?

Caesium · 05-18-2009, 12:26 AM

Hi all, I'm new here.

I've been considering a new car since I just got a new job and the Z has really caught my eye. I intend for my new car to be my daily driver except for maybe during the winter, since I'm in Canada and I frequently need to drive on snow covered roads.

So my main question is... how would the Z be as a daily driver? I commute about 100km (there and back) to work five days a week, highway and city driving (70%/30% respectively).

The other car I'm considering is an Evo X, but right now I don't really know which to choose from.

Sardis · 05-18-2009, 12:30 AM

I just drove a 370 Z for the first time today, I did however put 120,000 miles in about 4 years on my 350. I hated that car, because it was so fun to drive, I could never stop!!

I vow to own a daily driver next time I own a sports car, so I can keep it in perfect condition and track it without worrying about the constant maintenance associated with driving the car so much.

I found the 370 more civilized, refined, and easier to live with the 350. Aside from the issues of space, the car was meant to be driven. I say go for it

ZYUL8R · 05-18-2009, 12:39 AM

I drove the crap outta my 350z for 120k miles...loved every bit. The 370z is a MUCH nicer drive than the outgoing 350z...im daily drivin my Z...absolutely lovin it. The 370z will be a excellent daily driver.

Sardis · 05-18-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZYUL8R

I drove the crap outta my 350z for 120k miles...loved every bit. The 370z is a MUCH nicer drive than the outgoing 350z...im daily drivin my Z...absolutely lovin it. The 370z will be a excellent daily driver.

I totally agree with this. So nice not having the bouncy OEM suspension. 370z feels very European in its ride now. This car was meant to be driven and is a huge improvement over the 350 in this regard

Forrest · 05-18-2009, 02:41 AM

Dont know about you guys but my oem 370z suspension feels very bumpy and soft compared to my 05 350z. It could be my imagination. ITs been a full year from z to z. so my memory may be wrong.

I feel it has less body roll but more bumpy on bumps. While the 05 had more body roll but less bumpyness

NotmyGTR · 05-18-2009, 10:17 AM

No question. Hands down an easy daily driver. Sports car look, attributes....but done effortlessly. Drive mine every damn day on crappy Texas roads...............and couldnt be happier. Unless I was in my R-33. Go for it. Only up side of Evo is 4wd in my opinion. But Im a Nissan guy, and always will be.

SiXK · 05-18-2009, 12:11 PM

I drive 60 Miles a day round trip, got no clue what that is in kilometers. I had a 05 350Z and the 370Z is a great improvement for daily driving. From interior quality to ride quality its a great improvement.

Caesium · 05-18-2009, 01:39 PM

Sounds like the 370Z might be for me. Unfortunately it looks like people in Canada have had difficulty ordering because Nissan is apparently discontinuing the coupe to do roadster production. I wasn't going to order right away either, because I need to save up a little for a down payment, and the orders are taking 2-3 months to come in anyways... damn

Maybe I'll have to wait for the 2010 Z, because by the time I get the car it will be winter, if I can get a 2009 model at all.

VCuomo · 05-18-2009, 03:30 PM

Why wouldn't one use it as a daily driver? I'm not sure why you're asking the question...

Caesium · 05-18-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCuomo

Why wouldn't one use it as a daily driver? I'm not sure why you're asking the question...

Due diligence. I've never owned a car like the Z and I like to do my homework before I make any kind of purchase. Some cars are for work, some cars are for play. The Z looks like a play car from the outside looking in, so I'm here asking the people who actually drive them.

europeankar · 10-09-2010, 05:44 PM

Hey folks,

I went for a test drive the other day and I pretty much decided I will go for a 370Z 7AT fully loaded, except 18" wheels. I know in states We get 19"

I only know the brakes are 4 pistons in front and 2 at rear. No clue how big are the disc brakes.

1.Do you get paranoid by the Z for work, grocery, shopping, commute, etc
2.Do you find the wind noise annoying from your trunk area?
3.Do you find your steering wheel a bit too heavy for a stock car?
4.Do you find the blind spot very dangerous?
5.Is the 370Z's trunk space practical?
6.Did you ever wanted rear seats and more space. Or should have bought a G37?

I already have a 997 so these are some of the concerns. Because Z will be my daily driver and I want it to be more comfortable then driving my 997 stick as a daily.

Thanks!

m4a1mustang · 10-09-2010, 05:48 PM

The Z served me fine as a daily driver.

A 7AT with the 18" wheels should be a fairly comfortable driver. The Z has a lot of road noise (there is literally no sound deadening material installed in the car) so if that bothers you you could have some dynamat installed in the hatch and cockpit to dampen some noise. But otherwise it's a fairly well rounded car that will work for you on a daily basis as long as you don't need it to carry large items.

ImportConvert · 10-09-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by europeankar

Hey folks,

I went for a test drive the other day and I pretty much decided I will go for a 370Z 7AT fully loaded, except 18" wheels. I know in states We get 19"

I only know the brakes are 4 pistons in front and 2 at rear. No clue how big are the disc brakes.

1.Do you get paranoid by the Z for work, grocery, shopping, commute, etc
I wouldn't, it's the same price as most other cars. Anything under the 40K mark is a DD in my book.
2.Do you find the wind noise annoying from your trunk area?
On my test drives up to 100+, I never heard wind noise, however, the car does throw a bit of sand in the fender-well. In the rain it would probably "hiss". Not a problem if you are used to sports cars, if not, it might bug you.
3.Do you find your steering wheel a bit too heavy for a stock car?
No. Felt fine.
4.Do you find the blind spot very dangerous?
The 'vert has horrid blind spots, the coupe isn't too bad, but it is still not as nice as I would like as far as visibility. You could learn to overcome it though, it's not a deal-breaker.
5.Is the 370Z's trunk space practical?
Depends. You want groceries, or you want lumber?
6.Did you ever wanted rear seats and more space. Or should have bought a G37?

I had a Trans Am. Every now and then I wished I had real back-seats, but not enough to have wanted a different car. My next car will be a dedicated 2-seater. It depends, is this your only, or not? How often are you the driver when your friends and you go places? You hang out in small, or larger groups?

I already have a 997 so these are some of the concerns. Because Z will be my daily driver and I want it to be more comfortable then driving my 997 stick as a daily.

If you DD a 997, I wouldn't worry about DD'ing a 370Z from a door-ding/hate crime standpoint.

I have heard that the paint on a Z is more fragile than about anything else, though.

Thanks!

My take after DD'ing a pony-car and driving a few Z's on test-drives, comparing things, take it with a grain of salt as I have not owned a Z, but I did drive 2 or 3 and have friends with them. Again though, just my .02 and I feel a bit out of place offering it without owning one. SOmeone else will give you a better view, but then I am not emotionally attatched to the Z either, so it offers a different perspective.

ProfessorDave · 10-09-2010, 06:05 PM

I think I need a frame of reference. For a 2 seater sports car, the Z is very capable as a daily driver. However, the road noise is loud (fixed that with an after market exhaust!), and the blind spots require those stick on convex mirrors (for me, anyway). The steering is a bit heavy compared to lighter cars (with less HP). But it is quite comfortable on secondary roads and highways.

doubleG370Z · 10-09-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

The Z served me fine as a daily driver.

A 7AT with the 18" wheels should be a fairly comfortable driver. The Z has a lot of road noise (there is literally no sound deadening material installed in the car) so if that bothers you you could have some dynamat installed in the hatch and cockpit to dampen some noise. But otherwise it's a fairly well rounded car that will work for you on a daily basis as long as you don't need it to carry large items.

I changed my stock tires & sprayed the rear wheel well with rubberized undercoating, this reduced the road & debris noise by more than 60-70%...big difference now, so much quieter.

05-18-2009, 12:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Caesium Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 5 Drives: 99 Pontiac Sunfire A Rep Power: 15	370Z as a daily driver? Hi all, I'm new here. I've been considering a new car since I just got a new job and the Z has really caught my eye. I intend for my new car to be my daily driver except for maybe during the winter, since I'm in Canada and I frequently need to drive on snow covered roads. So my main question is... how would the Z be as a daily driver? I commute about 100km (there and back) to work five days a week, highway and city driving (70%/30% respectively). The other car I'm considering is an Evo X, but right now I don't really know which to choose from.

05-18-2009, 10:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
NotmyGTR Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: TX Posts: 177 Drives: 09 370Z/Pearl 6speed Rep Power: 15	Hands down No question. Hands down an easy daily driver. Sports car look, attributes....but done effortlessly. Drive mine every damn day on crappy Texas roads...............and couldnt be happier. Unless I was in my R-33. Go for it. Only up side of Evo is 4wd in my opinion. But Im a Nissan guy, and always will be. __________________ 1996 Skyline GT-R LM fully tuned by Mines/2006 Nissan Titan 5.6 SE Texas Edition/2009 370 Base w Sport Pkg

05-18-2009, 12:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
SiXK Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 352 Drives: 09 370Z / 91 300ZXTT Rep Power: 185	I drive 60 Miles a day round trip, got no clue what that is in kilometers. I had a 05 350Z and the 370Z is a great improvement for daily driving. From interior quality to ride quality its a great improvement. __________________ Magnetic Black 2009 370Z / Pearl Yellow 1991 300ZXTT

10-09-2010, 05:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
europeankar Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Taiwan Posts: 7 Drives: Porsche Rep Power: 14	Is Z a good daily driver? Hey folks, I went for a test drive the other day and I pretty much decided I will go for a 370Z 7AT fully loaded, except 18" wheels. I know in states We get 19" I only know the brakes are 4 pistons in front and 2 at rear. No clue how big are the disc brakes. 1.Do you get paranoid by the Z for work, grocery, shopping, commute, etc 2.Do you find the wind noise annoying from your trunk area? 3.Do you find your steering wheel a bit too heavy for a stock car? 4.Do you find the blind spot very dangerous? 5.Is the 370Z's trunk space practical? 6.Did you ever wanted rear seats and more space. Or should have bought a G37? I already have a 997 so these are some of the concerns. Because Z will be my daily driver and I want it to be more comfortable then driving my 997 stick as a daily. Thanks!

10-09-2010, 05:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	The Z served me fine as a daily driver. A 7AT with the 18" wheels should be a fairly comfortable driver. The Z has a lot of road noise (there is literally no sound deadening material installed in the car) so if that bothers you you could have some dynamat installed in the hatch and cockpit to dampen some noise. But otherwise it's a fairly well rounded car that will work for you on a daily basis as long as you don't need it to carry large items. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

05-18-2009, 12:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sardis Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CA Posts: 72 Drives: EX Z Owner Rep Power: 16	I just drove a 370 Z for the first time today, I did however put 120,000 miles in about 4 years on my 350. I hated that car, because it was so fun to drive, I could never stop!! I vow to own a daily driver next time I own a sports car, so I can keep it in perfect condition and track it without worrying about the constant maintenance associated with driving the car so much. I found the 370 more civilized, refined, and easier to live with the 350. Aside from the issues of space, the car was meant to be driven. I say go for it

05-18-2009, 12:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
ZYUL8R Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Corpus Christi, tx Posts: 140 Drives: 09 370z T/S, 03 S2K Rep Power: 16	I drove the crap outta my 350z for 120k miles...loved every bit. The 370z is a MUCH nicer drive than the outgoing 350z...im daily drivin my Z...absolutely lovin it. The 370z will be a excellent daily driver.

05-18-2009, 02:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Forrest Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: california 707! Posts: 677 Drives: 09 370z Blk 6mt sprt Rep Power: 258	Dont know about you guys but my oem 370z suspension feels very bumpy and soft compared to my 05 350z. It could be my imagination. ITs been a full year from z to z. so my memory may be wrong. I feel it has less body roll but more bumpy on bumps. While the 05 had more body roll but less bumpyness

05-18-2009, 01:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Caesium Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 5 Drives: 99 Pontiac Sunfire A Rep Power: 15	Sounds like the 370Z might be for me. Unfortunately it looks like people in Canada have had difficulty ordering because Nissan is apparently discontinuing the coupe to do roadster production. I wasn't going to order right away either, because I need to save up a little for a down payment, and the orders are taking 2-3 months to come in anyways... damn Maybe I'll have to wait for the 2010 Z, because by the time I get the car it will be winter, if I can get a 2009 model at all.

05-18-2009, 03:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
VCuomo Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 887 Drives: BMW 335i Sport Rep Power: 16	Why *wouldn't* one use it as a daily driver? I'm not sure why you're asking the question...

10-09-2010, 06:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
ProfessorDave A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 1,580 Drives: In the fairway Rep Power: 18	I think I need a frame of reference. For a 2 seater sports car, the Z is very capable as a daily driver. However, the road noise is loud (fixed that with an after market exhaust!), and the blind spots require those stick on convex mirrors (for me, anyway). The steering is a bit heavy compared to lighter cars (with less HP). But it is quite comfortable on secondary roads and highways. __________________ Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

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