Now U Can Hate Me - 370z v 350z
 

Firstly, apologies for my recent absence from this excellent forum - I'm in the middle of moving house and it's taking up all of my time. But enough of that, let's get to the point...



Thanks to my friend who is THE BEST Nissan dealer in the south of England, last weekend I combined the annual servicing of my 350z with a 3 hour test drive of one of his 370z's (and one of his GTR's - but more of that later).

I approached the test drive wanting to love the 370z because I really like its looks (it has only been available here in the UK for a few weeks). I have owned 350z's since 2004, so I know what I want from a Z car...

1. THE LOOKS -
I love how the exterior of the 370z looks - lower, more squat, wider, shorter, more curvaceous. Nissan may have only shaved a few inches here and there, but man have they made a difference.
The only thing I don't like about the exterior styling is the rear wheel arch. It's too big, fat and cumbersome. The rest is good.

I also like the interior, but it was slightly underwhelming. It looks like they've taken the 350z plastics and put a few tarty leather bits on top. My son laughed at the 'cycle helmets' they've glued onto the tops of the 3 dashboard dials - and I too cannot see why they are there. He hates the suede - personally, I can see why it's there (less slippage!).
Inside, I love the slope of the tops of the doors - ergonomically good.
Bose stereo (I was driving the posh model) - adequate, just like the 350z Bose.

Overall, I think the 370z looks good, but I must say that it doesn't eclipse my 350z - which also looks pretty damn tasty :)

2. THE DRIVE -
People have complained about the sound of the 370z compared to the SOUND OF THE 350z, so the first thing I did was to listen.... and to be honest, I think the 370z sounds fcucking BRILLIANT. My 350z sounds lovely, but all the sound comes from the exhaust - it's a sound that turns heads on the street. BUT, although the sound from the 370z isn't a 'street-head-turner', it's so much more meaty. The sound you get in the 370z cabin is the sound of a powerful engine, not a loud exhaust. I must say that as I drove along I thought, "this sounds like a Porsche".
...so you don't hate me yet - please read on...

The handling IS CR@P - TOTAL CR@P. At low speeds the 370z feels just like my 2006 350z - no different at all - fairly comfortable, but you can feel all the bumps in the road. I can live with this because of my car's high speed handling. At high speeds (and this is where it matters to me), I had no confidence in the 370z - it floated, it lurched, it rolled, it made me feel that I had to slow down, which I did (even though I was on my private road :rolleyes: ). At 120+mph my 350z hugs the road, it just sits there and it goes exactly where I tell it to go - even at 100+mph this 370z felt dangerous (please don't tell me to check the tyre pressures, they were ok). I sooo wanted to like the 370z, but the high speed handling (or lack of it) killed it for me.

In the UK a 370z costs the equivalent of $60,000 and I would only get the equivalent of $30,000 for my lovely 350z, so the 370z needs to be good and I'm sorry, but it just wasn't quite good enough :shakes head:


BUT...

I got a ride in a GTR :rolleyes:

Although I couldn't drive it, being the passenger was... nice! This car KILLS. We pulled nearly 1.5 lateral G on a roundabout (turning circle) - we stopped from 100mph to zero in NO TIME AT ALL - we accelerated so fast that I was pinned to my seat, etc etc. Unfortunately the servicing costs are bad - they recommend $250 per month (UK prices) so that the servicing bill doesn't give you a heart attack (the GTR has to be serviced every 6 months). I love that car, but I don't think I can afford to run it.





SUMMARY - I like the 370z'd looks (although I think they've made it a bit too lardy and comfortable), but HATE its poor handling. Nissan have fcucked up the suspension.

So I'm stuck.

Help - I have a bit of profit from the sale of my house. What do I do? Keep my 3 year old 350z and supercharge it? Get a new car that's not a 370z? Wait until the MY10 370z comes out and replace the suspension immediately? I'm stuck - help!!!

the handling was crap? must not have been the sport

LOL you're kidding right? I have the touring coupe in an 05 350 and an 09 370 and the 350 feels like a toy in comparison.

This has to be a joke. :gtfo2:

About the handling......I'm stunned you would say that.

I've had an 04 Z, an 06 Z and a G coupe and while stable at high speeds.....the 370z felt even more so to me. Don't really know what to think about your situation. I would suggest giving it another chance in a different Z car.

It was the sport (or UK equivalent).

billy - it's no joke mate - I really wanted to love the 370z.

zman - I respect your knowledge - maybe the European suspension setup suks.
edit - I think you're right, I should try another one.

Truly bizarre and totally counter to my experience. Oh well I guess that's what make a horse race.

That's called personal opinion and appreciation.
Some will like it, some not.

I still have my 07 350z, I've test drove several times the 370z Touring Sport Package, and in my very personal opinion, I really like it vs my 350z, even though I don't feel to much difference at cruising speeds, but I really feel the difference of stability in reference to my 350z . The 370z is more comfortable, more stylish, better materials at the interiors, and so and so. And I'll get my PG Touring Sport Package with orange interior 370z hopefully at the end of the year, beginning of 2010 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm love.

No hate, it is just personal opinion :)

PS: I like better, at this precise moment, the exhaust tone note of my 350z :p

I will have to agree with chubbs. The 370 does not inspire confidence at high speeds. It feels as though its going to roll and float. I am pretty sure if you stick with it through the turn you find out that its ok, but that's not the point.

My previous car Mini Cooper, felt ALOT tighter and more stable than the z, partly yeah short wheel base, but still.

maybe its the production version, and there are different settings.

It must be because they drive on the wrong side of the road over there. lol

Mr. Chubbs,

I'm very shocked at your impression on the suspension. It's my MOST favorite feature this new 370Z. The suspension is all aluminum and VERY responsive. Therefore, you feel all the bump in the road and it's a good thing :). I am going to guess you drove the sports model with wider tires. (?) Does your dealer have a Z with 18" base rims? give that a try and see if you like the thinner tires better.

Can I suggest 135i? :stirthepot:

P.S. We will never hate you! You're our ambassador from England. ;)

Sounds like you dont like to drive with body roll - while its not an indication of your cars limits - it is kind of scary to go into a turn rolling a lot - but... I am sure some well appointed sways will fix that and make the ride even better. The Z womps my G35 in the handling department - any day of the week.

Ditto... the 370Z inspires so much more confidence over my '03 350Z. I don't know much about the difference with the '06, though. Definitely a good upgrade from the '03. :tup:

Are you Jeremy Clarkson in real life? :ugh2:

C'mon now, it's a racing hen! :p

I haven't thanked you for the decals yet!

EVERYBODY - - - THIS GUY (AK) IS THE NICEST PERSON IN THE WORLD.... I woke up a couple of weeks ago, opened a letter and it contained a set of the370z.com decals. AK had sent them to me - just because he's a really nice person!!!

I haven't had time to put them on my 350z yet, but I will ...soon!

Thanks AK, you're a star!



ps - i appreciate the 135i suggestion, but no thanks!

pps - yes it had the bigger wheels and wider tyres, but they're exactly the same as on my 350z.

too bad that was your first impression of the 370z chubbs...

i know how it goes...first impression is a last impression, but AK is right try another with different wheels maybe...

i also agree with AK, the suspension and handling of this new z is amazing to me...coming from a mustang mach1, this suspension smokes the mach so i dont really have much else to base my experience off of...

hopefully once you get moved and settled in youll reconsider :tup:

FYI; it is normal to have a pint at 10am across the pond. I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin.

I did not want to like the 370 coming out of a 350. I wanted to buy an M3 or at the least a g37 as my first foray into adulthood. I did myself a disservice by test driving the 370 because I never made it out of the dealership. The difference was that great between the two. For me, the 370 is superior to the 350 in every way. Unfortunately the M3 will have to wait another couple of years.

Could it be that the UK car may be optimized for other types of driving other than high speed handling? Just a thought even though you said it felt no difference b/n the 350 and the 370 at lower speeds. Very interesting.

:icon17::roflpuke2::icon17:

best analysis yet! but I ain't sayin I'm wrong, I'm just sayin ur funny.

Thank you for you kind words! :tup:

May I suggest G37 or you're looking into something else?

Exactly my problem. almost everything about the car said 'buy me', but the high speed handling said 'leave me alone'.

Wow, were you drunk lol?

I've never been in a 350 at high speed, but every single person I've talked to or review I've read said the 370 eats thes 350 for lunch in terms of handling. Guess they were all wrong :)

Buy a Cayman S.

G37 isn't available in the UK (yet, unless it's an import), but no, I need something MORE 'seat of the pants', not less. I was hoping the 370 would be that car, but currently I'm not convinced. I'll wait and see how they develop it.

370z w/kw3s and caster/camber will get you closer to the road, and would give you better highspeed handling...

this is like the perfect time where ur avatar matches the post.... :roflpuke2:





i'm surprised you didnt like the 370z.... it should be known that you will feel every bump... it's a sports car with low profile tires.. :hello:
it's for sure not going to be the same ride as the Winnebago you got :p
interior and performance, hands down to the 370 over the 350

No - I was sober as a judge (8.30am on a Wednesday morning!)

I'm only giving my genuine personal review of one extended test drive. I may well be wrong, but it's what I genuinely think.

...If you've never driven a 350z at high speed please take the opportunity when you can - it's quite nice.

My impressions match yours with the NISMO 370z I drove. Mine was stiffer, and handled better over it when I drove one. Was not impressed. I went in expecting to be impressed though and was sad I wasn't.

Yeah - that's what I'm thinking it needs. Eibachs maybe.

Thank you - that's at least 2 people who see what I'm saying. Not that it's a poll!

If Nissan get objective customer feedback it helps them to improve, which is what they want.


nogoodname - with respect, what is the basis for your assertion?

No, I'm not Jeremy Tw@tface,

A. Because I hate him

B. Because he 'likes' Synchro Rev Match - and I think it's a lot of bollox.

chubbs, thank you for your honest, truthful opinion.

Ha ha - I take it you also dont like paddle shifters ... and power steering... its evolution of the game... you either evolve or you die (in this case - get slower lap times when compared to yourself in a parallel universe where you did like the SRM)

I just have to blurt out that the 370Z for me absolutely inspires confidence on the track. I just had my first track day yesterday and after the instructor drove my car I was seriously stunned at what it could do. He encouraged me to get on the throttle and let the car hook up instead of coasting through some of the corners. I was amazed at how this car performs and really felt that I could drive it a lot harder and there was still lots left. You get no perspective of what this car is capable of on the street without driving in an extremely dangerous fashion (for the streets of course). Oh yea mine is a Sports with a completely stock suspension. Take a 350Z and a 370Z on the track and then tell us what you think....

This is rather interesting. Although when I drove the 350Z I thought it lacked strength the 300ZXTT had And I thought the 350Z looked like a girls car...but that's just my opinion.

I like your review though, as it's not just nuthugging the 370Z and actually brings up issues. Besides "omg I drove the 370Z and it's awesome, nothing is wrong" Thank you for that =]

I agree with the review. I'm still used to my 04 350z's "stiff" suspension. All the car mags went on about how stiff the ride was in the 04 model.

I thought it was perfect and didnt bother with aftermarket shocks. Now hopping in the 370 i feel its too soft (suspension). I'm not taking corners as fast and im now considering some aftermarket Teins.

I am now reminded what body roll is and when snapping it into 2nd and feeling the car lean forward.

The car isn't perfect, but soon it will be for me.

This I agree with. I've driven both the Nismo 350 and 370 for an extended period of time and the 350 just felt more raw by comparison as if it was setup for the track. I loved the car but wasn't willing to deal with it's appearance.

The Nismo 370 is much more tame in the styling department, but I felt like it's lacking the Nismo treatment which was very apparent in the 350. It's more of an appearance package this time around. That raw factor is gone.

As a result, it turned out to be a no go on both occasions. Sometimes you just can't win....I think a base model may be in the works for me but not until the 2nd year model arrives.

I wonder if the "poor" handling was a result of the high tire pressure issue that some of us have had. My tires were ~10psi high when I took delivery. As you would expect, it had a big effect on handling.

The handling... Worse? wtf...

man you gotta truly drive it then

try the nismo... OMFG I just came in my pants thinking about how well she handles corners

Sorry mate but I have to disagree with you.

Suspension comments I agree with, but that's an easy fix.

Cheers....

Chubbs,

Sway bars make a world of difference at high speed in this car. It feels far more planted at confident taking corners at 90+ mph thanks to the body roll being all but eliminated.

If you could drive someones car that has sway bars installed I think you would be impressed. It is a very cheap fix.