First 370Z test drive ... Mixed Emotions!
 

I've lusted over the 350Z when it was first released ... and now the 370Z is on my list of "must haves" for my next car purchase.

Long story short ... It's been one of my favorite cars for years now. After trolling the forum and refreshing New Posts for a while now ... I finally got the opportunity to test drive and explore the 370Z in person ... and I've been left with mixed emotions. :confused:

I hoped into a 2012 Sport 6MT. Initially, the car fits me very well. I'm 6'5" 270lbs ... and this car fit like a glove. My left shoulder has about 1/2" of room under the highest position on the B-pillar seat belt arm. :tup: I've always excused the 350Z for not having the best interior quality, and from photos I've seen ... the 370Z seems to step up the level of refinement. In person (and just getting out of my GTI), the 370Z interior quality is livable.

So I start up the car ... while idling I'm poking around the interior ... checking things out before the engine warms up. The shifter stalk shakes a little bit and I could feel the large engine through the steering wheel ... Japanese Muscle ;) Such a different feeling compared to the 2.0T in the GTI. My dealership co-pilot only allowed me to take the car around 1 large square block. Hardly enough time to explore the car on the road. I pushed the car to 6k RPM's a couple times and then we were back at the dealership. During the drive, I kept waiting for the power to kick in. Super sharp design and aggressive styling ... but the whole car felt kind of fat and sluggish. Made a lot of noise but didn't MOVE like I had anticipated. Almost like the car is covering up for something ... super mixed emotions on this :(

Questions to the owners :

1.) First time you drove a 370Z ... How did it feel? Fall in love right away?

2.) What car did you own before the 370Z?

3.) Do I just need more time driving the 370Z? Or, if I didn't get that tingling sensation right away, should I just move on?

Any information from you guys would help ... because the 370Z is such an awesome car and I've wanted one for so long! The test drive was way too fast ... I don't know ... I'm so confused :confused:

1) I struggled with the clutch at first. Very numb feeling. I soon got used to it.

2) 300ZX tt

3) Try it again. Get a few corners in.

Here was your problem. Go to different dealer and actually get to drive the car.

1. Loved it, scared the shit out of my dealer. They hadn't had a sports car driven like a sports car in a test drive. :tup: Instant <3

2. Scion tC

3. Go test drive it a few more times. You didn't get a fair test drive to fully be appreciative of the cars abilities and improvements over the 350z.

I'll try and add something intelligent before the facepalmers and snide remarks make their way in here.

Last vehicle I had was a Jeep Wrangler. Fell in love with the Z right away. This car has more than enough power and better gas mileage than what I was used to. I also test drove a Camaro 2SS and you want to talk about a bloated pig, IMHO.

The Z doesn't have the snap your neck power but it is very linear and will get you in trouble quick if you are not paying attention.

That's what I was thinking. Compared to the GTI, I know the Z is faster ... but maybe the power delivery is more linear, so it didn't kick my butt when I punched it.

Talking to myself >>> On the drive home ... I kept reviewing all the standard features and level of refinement on the GTI which was purchased for 22K ... and wondering why the heck wouldn't the Z have all the same and for 10K more. Doubting myself and then saying F*** it! The Z should be badass right? Maybe I need to find a friend with a Z and take a drive to Santa Cruz ... explore the open road and maybe I'll fall in love!

I've passed on HWY 1 numerous times, where no one expected in a short span of road. Before they can prevent me, I am past them and gone.

The 370 will be close to a 997 Porsche base model. At least this is my experience from track days.

The power delivery is pretty linear, builds nicely all the way to redline, really. The car is deceptively fast.

1. Yes
2. 350Z
3. If you don't "get it" then yes, I'd say move on... But maybe drive it again expecting something besides being wowed with the straight-line acceleration feel.

I put about 17K on my 350Z and enjoyed it quite a bit, but I had just an Enthusiast model and I felt like I wanted the leather, heated seats, etc.

So for the same reason as you, basically, I felt the 370Z touring was, on paper, a bit more upscale inside, a little more power, a little less weight, and probably about like driving the 350Z.

I jumped in the car and took it for a drive. I didn't take it past 4500 RPM or floor it or anything, just paid attention to how the clutch, shifter, and steering felt. Everything is better than the 350Z to a degree I didn't expect. So, I actually got "more" improvement than I bargained for.

About 2 blocks away we get on a tight "clover-leaf" type on-ramp at about 50 mph and I'm sold, the steering has great feedback and feels very accurate, I'm loving the interior, I figure it's gotta be about the same "kick" as the 350Z plus a little something extra, so I'm good.

Now, once I got the car broken in I of course did a few test runs (closed course, professional driver) and while the car isn't all that punchy in 6th on the highway, in 5th at 70 it's ready to go, and in 4th it's ready to get you arrested for triple digits in a big hurry (you know, if I wasn't a professional driver on a closed course.)

So, it's plenty fast and it's not some wheezy low-geared anemic little thing that screams to 60 mph and falls on its face, either. But holding the gas to the floor and feeling the G-force isn't what this car is really about, so it may not be your thing if that's what you're looking for.

Your used to the kick of a turbo. Turbos have turbo lag, and then when they hit boost you feel the sudden surge in power. The 370z doesn't have this, but rather has a very linear power curve. You will never feel the sudden rush of power with the Z unless you are going say 50mph and then drop it in 3rd and smash it. The car lacks the torque and doesn't have a turbo, so no rush in power. It's definitely faster than your GTI and fast enough for the street. It does take a little getting used to. Went from my 84 300zx and 280z, both modified, to a 06 WRX stage 1 to the 370z. Going from the old Z's to the WRX was a drastic change. After having the WRX for nearly 3 years going to the 370z was also a drastic change. The 370z just drives differently than the WRX or any other turbo car for that matter.

As for the bloated feeling, understandable. Going from my 280z to the 370z is a big difference. I'm not talking about the weight, because there is about a 800lbs difference between my two cars. I'm talking about just the size of the car. My 280z is a couple inches longer than my 370z (my 280z is bumperless by the way) and yet sitting in it it feels much smaller and confined. I like it better this way. The 370z feels much larger when behind the wheel in contrast. Haven't sat in the GTI for sometime so it's hard to remember but I would imagine it feels smaller than the 370z does.

Drove a modified jeep wrangler for years, then a grand cheerokee (straight 6). A test drive will do nothing for you in terms of what this car was built for. Get on the highway (3-5 lanes) or even surface streets and you will realize the potential of this car. Forget blind spots, this car was built to be driven forward, on ramps, merging into traffic it's a fun car to drive and get you where you are going with a grin on your face. Modding the car is a must, really opens up some trapped hp and tq.

I've noticed that the 370z doesn't "feel" fast but keep an eye on the speedo and it's moving fast. I traded my 350z in for my 370z and I love it. One of my other cars is a supercharged 1970 camaro. That you "feel" fast all the time because of torque. Low torque numbers have been a soft spot for the 370z.

^^ This is very good to read ^^

I am getting used to the GTI and the kick you feel from the turbo. I've contemplated getting a Stage 2 tune for added and more linear power.

I'm not looking for straight line power. I'm looking for a well rounded DD. Something that turns heads, fun to drive ... something with a large fan base and tons of performance options to play with. The Z was always a badass car ... fit right into my criteria :) I need to experience the 370Z outside of small residential side roads.

^^ Thanks for the advice ^^ Is there anyone in the Bay Area with a Z?

When I got to the dealership ... there weren't any Z's out front. I was immediately confronted outside the showroom floor, and asked if there were any 370Z's in stock. I got taken around back and there were ~6-8 dusty and covered in pollen 2012's. They practically chased me down the street trying to get me to buy one lol. I probably could have gotten a really good deal if I chose to drive one off the lot, but I had too many questions.

It whipped my head back on my first test drive. I fell in love instantly. Then I bought one. Maybe you were just expecting too much. I'll tell u the truth, I love my Z and I honestly don't think I'll ever buy another sports car other than Z's. Unless I'm a millionaire. Then I'll build my own Z from scratch. 0-60 in 1 second. 0-150 in 3 seconds.

^a little advice. get the sport pkg. might seem a little much but it is extremely worth it. the SRM helps with clutch life. the bigger wheels and brakes are worth it too.

i was looking at a base cayman when i got the Z. when it came down to it, the Z just had more power than a base cayman.

came from an apr stage 3 MKVI, much faster than the z, but the z on a track is sooooooooo much more fun, it also feels more special than my gti did, that being said they arent for everyone, i dont suspect ill keep mine long as the new cayman will be out soon and if the boxster is an indication how good it will be i suggest you hold off and consider the porsche