What makes the Z's engine sound so bad (to reviewers)?

semtex · 08-06-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcussoori

Also, I don't know if this makes a difference, but I totally ignored the break-in procedure.

Just couldn't resist the urge, huh?

m4a1mustang · 08-06-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

That would be my guess. Mind you, I don't think it sounds all that strained even when stock, so I guess you guys should take my opinion on this with a grain of salt. Maybe years of driving cars with loud exhausts has damaged my hearing and I'm just not picking up on whatever the rest of you are hearing.

I'm just surprised you don't feel it. The vibration from the clutch pedal and throttle is insane. Maybe Anthony will let me drive his Monterrey Blue 370 this weekend and I will flog it and see if it feels like running while breathing through a straw and trying to poop in a constipated fashion. I'm sure he won't mind.

zZSportZz · 08-06-2009, 12:16 PM

In the video I posted, I wish I could simulate the vibration along with it. Re-queue up my video and pretend you are having a seisure while watching it.....(i kid, i kid)

Edit: Just wanted to re-point out that I absolutely love the car and would not trade it in for anything

semtex · 08-06-2009, 12:22 PM

Yeah, I don't feel any vibration from the throttle. Not sure about the clutch pedal. Why would you have your foot on the clutch pedal while accelerating to redline? Or am I misunderstanding something? Either way, I don't feel any vibration from the clutch pedal either. I sometimes feel a slight 'grinding' feeling from it when I'm stopped at a light if I don't have the clutch pedal in all the way down to the floor, but that's about it. You know, I'm beginning to wonder if there are some variances between different cars. Too bad we don't live close to each other. We could compare our cars.

m4a1mustang · 08-06-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Yeah, I don't feel any vibration from the throttle. Not sure about the clutch pedal. Why would you have your foot on the clutch pedal while accelerating to redline? Or am I misunderstanding something? Either way, I don't feel any vibration from the clutch pedal either. I sometimes feel a slight 'grinding' feeling from it when I'm stopped at a light if I don't have the clutch pedal in all the way down to the floor, but that's about it. You know, I'm beginning to wonder if there are some variances between different cars. Too bad we don't live close to each other. We could compare our cars.

When I press the pedal to shift it feels kind of nasty. I should be ordering an intake and exhaust shortly though so I'll report back on how it feels with those mods.

DIGItonium · 08-06-2009, 02:28 PM

I've always liked the VQ37 sound. It has a lower engine note that is in harmony with the higher note. The VQ35 lower engine note wasn't as apparent, and I never really liked the droning sound. So I've never been peeved by any harshness... thought it would be normal.

bigdog1250 · 08-06-2009, 08:00 PM

Although I have only test driven the car, I am also confused by this "harshness" or terrible sound from inside the car.

I rode in a manual 370z for my first test drive... the dealer didn't want anyone without cash in hand to drive the car for some reason... and the sales person went full out with me in the car. I heard nothing that seemed odd, terrible, or unenjoyable as some reviews have stated. The car sounds amazing inside, like my 350z did.

My second test drive was in an AT 370z, since they didn't have a manual at the time. This time I got to drive it, and I brought that baby up to redline through the first 3 gears. Again not only did I not notice any harsh vibrations but the car sounded great.

I hope to purchase a Base Sport soon so I can add more details when that time comes.

Endgame · 08-07-2009, 12:50 PM

I did not hear any harshness at all.... Sounds like a sports car; I LOVE that sound. To be honest, my RX8 sounds the same (except it is the rotary sound of course). The Z does not sound harsh at all....

Modshack · 08-07-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

I did not hear any harshness at all.... ....

It's not the sound, it's the "feel"...

m4a1mustang · 08-07-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

It's not the sound, it's the "feel"...

+1. We had a discussion in another thread about this and determined that if you drove a 7AT you likely weren't going to feel it as much as the 6MT guys do.

DIGItonium · 08-07-2009, 02:24 PM

When comparing the Genesis 3.8L V6, the VQ definitely got rough on the edges.

As for harshness? That thought totally slipped my mind after getting my HFC and exhaust installed.

chris410 · 08-07-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

+1. We had a discussion in another thread about this and determined that if you drove a 7AT you likely weren't going to feel it as much as the 6MT guys do.

Some guy in a GTI became my test subject...well actually he was the one messing with me so I took the opportunity to explore this problem...I have an auto and it's smooth as butter. And well...the spec of light that was the GTI...he was good for a laugh I guess.

Forrest · 08-07-2009, 04:26 PM

My motor, has 3500 miles on it, i broke it in properly, oil changed at 1200 miles to nissan ester.

Second gear reving too 7k rpms, I dont remember feeling any thing in the clutch. Engine sounded like a beast(i thought we wanted this). Can feel more vibration in the shifter than normal.

When driving in 6 gear, 60mph, 2.4krpms. I can feel vibration in the clutch too, the only difference is at 7krpm its double.

Is it really the engine, or is it the drive train or clutch? (i ask becuase i am not a expert)

Also it doesnt "bother" me at all since this is my first manual i assume this is all normal so i am unaffected as others are.

some people complain that the steering wheel doesnt feel the road? i never understood this and still dont, but the Z's shifter lets you feel the engine, is that so bad?

Modshack · 08-07-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris410

I have an auto and it's smooth as butter. :

The torque converter absorbs some of the vibration...I noticed that on my test drives..

08-06-2009, 12:16 PM	#48 (permalink)
zZSportZz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,095 Drives: 370z Blk on Blk 6MT Rep Power: 18	In the video I posted, I wish I could simulate the vibration along with it. Re-queue up my video and pretend you are having a seisure while watching it.....(i kid, i kid) Edit: Just wanted to re-point out that I absolutely love the car and would not trade it in for anything Last edited by zZSportZz; 08-06-2009 at 12:21 PM.

08-06-2009, 12:22 PM	#49 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 53 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Yeah, I don't feel any vibration from the throttle. Not sure about the clutch pedal. Why would you have your foot on the clutch pedal while accelerating to redline? Or am I misunderstanding something? Either way, I don't feel any vibration from the clutch pedal either. I sometimes feel a slight 'grinding' feeling from it when I'm stopped at a light if I don't have the clutch pedal in all the way down to the floor, but that's about it. You know, I'm beginning to wonder if there are some variances between different cars. Too bad we don't live close to each other. We could compare our cars. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

08-06-2009, 02:28 PM	#51 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	I've always liked the VQ37 sound. It has a lower engine note that is in harmony with the higher note. The VQ35 lower engine note wasn't as apparent, and I never really liked the droning sound. So I've never been peeved by any harshness... thought it would be normal. __________________

08-07-2009, 02:24 PM	#56 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	When comparing the Genesis 3.8L V6, the VQ definitely got rough on the edges. As for harshness? That thought totally slipped my mind after getting my HFC and exhaust installed. __________________

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08-06-2009, 08:00 PM	#52 (permalink)
bigdog1250 Track Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 846 Drives: 991.2 GT3 Rep Power: 17	Although I have only test driven the car, I am also confused by this "harshness" or terrible sound from inside the car. I rode in a manual 370z for my first test drive... the dealer didn't want anyone without cash in hand to drive the car for some reason... and the sales person went full out with me in the car. I heard nothing that seemed odd, terrible, or unenjoyable as some reviews have stated. The car sounds amazing inside, like my 350z did. My second test drive was in an AT 370z, since they didn't have a manual at the time. This time I got to drive it, and I brought that baby up to redline through the first 3 gears. Again not only did I not notice any harsh vibrations but the car sounded great. I hope to purchase a Base Sport soon so I can add more details when that time comes.

08-07-2009, 12:50 PM	#53 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 223	I did not hear any harshness at all.... Sounds like a sports car; I LOVE that sound. To be honest, my RX8 sounds the same (except it is the rotary sound of course). The Z does not sound harsh at all....

08-07-2009, 04:26 PM	#58 (permalink)
Forrest Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: california 707! Posts: 677 Drives: 09 370z Blk 6mt sprt Rep Power: 258	My motor, has 3500 miles on it, i broke it in properly, oil changed at 1200 miles to nissan ester. Second gear reving too 7k rpms, I dont remember feeling any thing in the clutch. Engine sounded like a beast(i thought we wanted this). Can feel more vibration in the shifter than normal. When driving in 6 gear, 60mph, 2.4krpms. I can feel vibration in the clutch too, the only difference is at 7krpm its double. Is it really the engine, or is it the drive train or clutch? (i ask becuase i am not a expert) Also it doesnt "bother" me at all since this is my first manual i assume this is all normal so i am unaffected as others are. some people complain that the steering wheel doesnt feel the road? i never understood this and still dont, but the Z's shifter lets you feel the engine, is that so bad?