Daily Driver: GTI or 370Z

Telephone

I drove the GTI tonight.

It is a very nice car with some very nice and clever features...both electronic & ergonomic. This is no Honda Civic. The salesman knew the car in & out...which helped because I found the electronics a little overwhelming and somewhat distracting. The interior is VERY well built, but it was sadly identical to the interior of the Jetta. The seats are comfy, sporty, and very adjustable. The visibility is good, but I felt that I was driving a mini mini-van...if that makes sense. It handled the road well, and the turbo motor was peppy. Although the motor had plenty of power, I now realize why GTI guys flash their ECUs. I did notice the lapse before the turbo would take over. Driving a turbo is new for me. The GTI drove very smooth and quiet at 85 on the highway. 80% of my driving is highway BTW. I drove the 6spd manual, and it shifted/engaged/disengaged very smoothly. Oil changes will be simple as the filter is top mounted, right next to the cam cover. It also has a timing chain...no belt!!

Overall it's a great car, but I'm not convinced yet. It was like a first date with a girl...not sure if I'm going to call her again...but she was a really nice & cute girl. She might be more compatible and better off with another guy though.

Tomorrow night (Thursday), I drive the 370Z. It's what I've been thinking about all week. The dealer is 2 hours away. I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you all for your comments and support.

UNKNOWN_370

You're going to love the Z. Its a completely different animal. RWD feels so much better than FWD.

Mecinoid

Some have noted the noisy tires etc... I swapped out my Bridgestones for Michellin Super Sport Pilots and sprayed some undercoating in the rear wheel wells. After that I installed some inexpensive 18" flow through muffler because the exhaust was a little tame. Topped it off with a nice Pioneer Touchscreen DVD and this car rocks. I don't need dynamat at this point but, I might do it later to make the car quiet like a cadillac... Not necessary at this point but, $500 in dynamat would be a good investment for most. I think Nissan should add back in a little soundeading material.... Say 20lbs is worth it to me.

All this was done for under $2000 a lot less than going to Touring model from Base Sport. I didn't like the Bose system and I didn't need the electric heated leather seats.... I like the fabric seats .... So, the Base Z with Sport Package and a couple adds is perfect for me.

Da.Menace

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DD.

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matthewrigdon

I own a 2007 GTi and a 1996 300ZX. Hopefully I'll be adding a 370Z this year.

At any rate, I love the Z. Great handling car. It's the five speed manual and when you can actually get out and drive, it's the best thing. Of course, living in Los Angeles, that isn't a daily occurrence.

The GTi is my DD and I really do enjoy it, although for different reasons. I have the DSG and it's great transmission, especially when you get stuck in traffic and can't get out of first gear. It's nice to not constantly work a clutch. I've never driven any of the newer Zs with an automatic, but it seems like such a waste to get a Z with an automatic. Personally, I don't find a manual very fun in bumper to bumper traffic.

Another thing about the GTi is that it's a sleeper. Most people can't tell a GTi from a Golf. So hopefully the cops won't be targeting you. And frankly, I love driving the GTi as a DD because I don't love it enough to care that I'm putting lots of miles on it. I'd hate to have to drive a Z into the ground personally. The Z is more like a fine wine, something you savor. The GTi is more like a good vodka.

Someone rear-ended me in the GTi and it didn't bother me too much. But it breaks my heart to think of anything happening to my Z. So as far as driving around every day, subject to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, I feel better in the GTi. Dings in the parking lot? Eh, it's just the GTi. I can get another one.

Don't just look at new. The brand new GTi isn't a huge upgrade over the Mk V. If you get a well-kept GTi, you'll have plenty of fun with it. Besides, they just announced the 2013 370Z. I'd wait on a 370 anyway. I'm glad to see the fangs go.

Speedy

The mini mini van comment is a good analogy.

Honestly, you may want to look around at used 370s. I picked up my 2009 last week with 2900 miles on the clock....that's still a brand new car. It's a fully loaded Touring model with Nav and I got it for $29,400 plus TTL. They had a 2011 in the show room with the exact same equipment MINUS nav and it was nearly $43K! Nissan also has 1.9% financing on their CPO cars which mine was so it was a win win. They threw in a 100K mile/84 mo bumper to bumper Nissan warranty as well.

I drove a base and didn't like the no frills approach. I personally wanted the leather heated seats and definitely the sport package for the brakes. They're awesome. Nav was a coin toss for me. It is one more thing to keep updated, but the one I found and dealed on had it. I do like the interface and it's easy to use. I tuned the Bose a bit to get better balance of sound front to rear etc, but I'm no audiophile, so it sounds great to me.

I've not driven a GTI, I just can't get past the looks and don't care for FWD turbo cars personally. I prefer RWD in a sporty car.

Let us know how your test drive goes.

I may add some dynamat to my Z to see if it helps with the road noise. That's my only complaint with the car.

keb370z

Be sure to take the Z on some curvy roads. The steering is to die for. I've never felt anything like it.

If you've been looking forward to the Z test drive, it sounds like your decision has already been made.

I have to pipe in on driving the Z in stop and go traffic. I've only owned manuals, and the Z is, for a manual, extremely comfortable to drive in stop and go traffic. The gears are very forgiving. You can do a slow roll in third. The clutch is fabulous. Every time my husband drives my Z he is sick with envy (he has a Mazdaspeed 3, the most unforgiving and temperamental clutch known to man).

The V6 is so utterly smooth no matter how you're driving.

But I have to say one more thing about the GTI. It will be a lot safer in an accident. I got clobbered in my Golf (predecessor to my GTI) and walked away. The car was crushed to hell, but I was fine. VWs absorb a crash very well for a small car. I can't say I'd be as safe in my Z if I got hit as bad... And another thing you mentioned: visibility. Visibility in a GTI is great. Visibility in a Z? On my first test drive I felt I was driving blind. But that will go away. You'll adapt. I slid through traffic now in my Z and I feel I don't even need to look (although I do anyway). That goes back to the whole "extension of your body" thing.

I still say Z! Z! Z! Z! hahaa...

fillyv

I love the Z very much, but it really isn't all that practical. The first thing I ask my self for a daily driver is. Can I fit a fishing rod in it? If you can't fit a fish rod in you can't haul much at all. I love the Z more than the GTI, but on a day to day basis the GTI is a much better choice IMO. I'm buying a new Golf TDI for my DD. My z has always been my weekend car. You'll be suprised what you can fit in a Golf/GTI. Either choice is great. Good luck man!

kenchan

damn thats a huge trunk!

Speedy

Tell me about it. She's a BIG girl 4300 lbs with me in the seat according to the track scales.

One_Quick_Z

GTI for a dd..... 370Z is not ment for being a dd its a sports car that is ment to be enjoyed at the track and on nice days not for sitting in traffic. /Thread







DAN

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Speedy

I bought mine as a DD and have used it as such. Makes the drive to work much more enjoyable and life is short.

Red__Zed

370z works just fine as a DD, and is realistically far better suited for the road than the track

UNKNOWN_370

The Z is track suitable BUT needs some investing and making the "Right Modifications". Which really isn't a break the bank investment to get it track ready. 2k in a oil cooler, brake lines, rotors and pads... and a DIY brake cooling duct and you're good to go.

Everybody always starts with power or suspension mods and this car needs other issues addressed as preliminary modifications. People that buy this car and don't find it track suitable are modding backwards.

Telephone

My second offer was shot down last night. The 370Z is a bit of a stretch for me, but I thought 36K OTD was a reasonable for offer for a Base+Sport in 6spd (no options). Maybe not in California and maybe not for a 2012. Maybe I am being too stubborn on the price. Maybe I'm just out of my league, LOL. However, sales tax in my area is 8.5%. I also cannot import any new 49 state car into California. I was planning on putting $7-8K towards a down payment.

I have not seen a Blue 370Z in person, and I'm not totally crazy about pearl white. For the GTI, I love that bright Candy White. After pricing a GTI with options, I found the Base model Z to be close in price. And after driving the Z....well.

As for the insurance comments: My quote included Collision with a $1000 deductable. Any minor/medium damage that I cause to my Z, I will fix myself...this prevents my rates from going up later. I'm almost 32 years old with a clean record. I live outside the city limits and in a decent area of town.