CTC Review: 2009 Nissan 370z

[initial_D]

I will take the new Z over the 135i.

[vdk]

I will take the new Z over the 135i.

Really? I think the engine in the 135 alone would make my decision much much easier.

[initial_D]

I don't really like the looks of the 1 series. The Z package is hot.

[vdk]

I don't really like the looks of the 1 series. The Z package is hot.

Looks okay in black

[Jaeger]

You are right Monsta, I can only speak for myself and I will say that it is unfair to presume what constitutes a sports car for other people.  For myself, I will echo and add to what rrocket said. Light, loud, 2 seater, agile, rear wheel drive, and generally uncompromising in it's purpose even at the cost of comfort and being utterly obnoxious. The Z does not meet this criteria imo. The fact the same engine can be found in 4 door saloons and suv's speaks volumes of the cars pedigree or the lack there off.  Your stereotype of the miata being a chick car is just that, a stereotype. The Miata is heralded for its legendary chassis and road feel and more importantly, how it makes the driver feel despite its lack of raw speed.  Last I checked these accolades were not made by women To this day the Miata driving experience is an enigmatic masterpiece seldom if ever duplicated. The s2000 falls in this type of category.

That is just ridiculous.  You can find a Ferrari engine in a Maserati 4 door saloon.  What exactly does that tell us about it's "pedigree"?

But hey, it's no more ridicoulous than making conclusive pronouncements about the sporting credentials of a car you have only sat in.

As to the Miata - I've driven it.  Definitely a hoot.  But well short of the automotive Nirvana you describe.

Jaeger

[Filip]

You are right Monsta, I can only speak for myself and I will say that it is unfair to presume what constitutes a sports car for other people.  For myself, I will echo and add to what rrocket said. Light, loud, 2 seater, agile, rear wheel drive, and generally uncompromising in it's purpose even at the cost of comfort and being utterly obnoxious. The Z does not meet this criteria imo. The fact the same engine can be found in 4 door saloons and suv's speaks volumes of the cars pedigree or the lack there off.  Your stereotype of the miata being a chick car is just that, a stereotype. The Miata is heralded for its legendary chassis and road feel and more importantly, how it makes the driver feel despite its lack of raw speed.  Last I checked these accolades were not made by women To this day the Miata driving experience is an enigmatic masterpiece seldom if ever duplicated. The s2000 falls in this type of category.

That is just ridiculous.  You can find a Ferrari engine in a Maserati 4 door saloon.  What exactly does that tell us about it's "pedigree"?

But hey, it's no more ridicoulous than making conclusive pronouncements about the sporting credentials of a car you have only sat in.

As to the Miata - I've driven it.  Definitely a hoot.  But well short of the automotive Nirvana you describe.

Jaeger

Firstly, i qualified my comment that I will leave my final judgment for when I actually drive the car twice in this thread. Secondly, a sports car is a sum of its parts not just one. Put a saloon engine in a sports chassis or a sports engine in a saloon and the result will be the same - underwhelming package. When I speak of pedigree I am talking about uncompromising designs with a single purpose, to deliver performance and excitement to the driver on all fronts. Throwing a franchise flagship saloon engine in this package compromises this philosophy and the results speak for themselves. "You can't hear the exhaust within the vehicle even with the windows down" call me ridiculous. And quite frankly having extensive day in day out experience with this engine, I don't really have to drive the car to tell you this. The only question is will the other merits of the car compensate for this particular compromise in its design once I drive it. Even if they do.... it still doesn't change the fact that it could, and should have been better.

[Jaeger]

Firstly, i qualified my comment that I will leave my final judgment for when I actually drive the car twice in this thread. Secondly, a sports car is a sum of its parts not just one. Put a saloon engine in a sports chassis or a sports engine in a saloon and the result will be the same - underwhelming package. When I speak of pedigree I am talking about uncompromising designs with a single purpose, to deliver performance and excitement to the driver on all fronts. Throwing a franchise flagship saloon engine in this package compromises this philosophy and the results speak for themselves. "You can't hear the exhaust within the vehicle even with the windows down" call me ridiculous. And quite frankly having extensive day in day out experience with this engine, I don't really have to drive the car to tell you this. The only question is will the other merits of the car compensate for this particular compromise in its design once I drive it. Even if they do.... it still doesn't change the fact that it could, and should have been better.

Oh yeah, I'll stand by "ridiculous" all right.  Be sure to avoid purchasing any of those "underwhelming" Ferraris, okay?

And what experience do you have, exactly, with "this engine"?  Surely you are NOT suggesting that driving a bloated previous-generation FWD Maxima with a 3.5l V6, making about 80hp LESS than "this engine" tells you all you need to know about the 3.7l motor in the 2-seater RWD 370Z, right?  I mean, that would be well beyond ridiculous.    But you're not really advancing such a patently absurd proposition, are you?

Never mind - you're right - you REALLY don't need to drive this car.  At all.

Jaeger

[Turbo Bob]

You are right Monsta, I can only speak for myself and I will say that it is unfair to presume what constitutes a sports car for other people.  For myself, I will echo and add to what rrocket said. Light, loud, 2 seater, agile, rear wheel drive, and generally uncompromising in it's purpose even at the cost of comfort and being utterly obnoxious. The Z does not meet this criteria imo. The fact the same engine can be found in 4 door saloons and suv's speaks volumes of the cars pedigree or the lack there off.  Your stereotype of the miata being a chick car is just that, a stereotype. The Miata is heralded for its legendary chassis and road feel and more importantly, how it makes the driver feel despite its lack of raw speed.  Last I checked these accolades were not made by women To this day the Miata driving experience is an enigmatic masterpiece seldom if ever duplicated. The s2000 falls in this type of category.

That is just ridiculous.  You can find a Ferrari engine in a Maserati 4 door saloon.  What exactly does that tell us about it's "pedigree"?

But hey, it's no more ridicoulous than making conclusive pronouncements about the sporting credentials of a car you have only sat in.

As to the Miata - I've driven it.  Definitely a hoot.  But well short of the automotive Nirvana you describe.

Jaeger

Firstly, i qualified my comment that I will leave my final judgment for when I actually drive the car twice in this thread. Secondly, a sports car is a sum of its parts not just one. Put a saloon engine in a sports chassis or a sports engine in a saloon and the result will be the same - underwhelming package. When I speak of pedigree I am talking about uncompromising designs with a single purpose, to deliver performance and excitement to the driver on all fronts. Throwing a franchise flagship saloon engine in this package compromises this philosophy and the results speak for themselves. "You can't hear the exhaust within the vehicle even with the windows down" call me ridiculous. And quite frankly having extensive day in day out experience with this engine, I don't really have to drive the car to tell you this. The only question is will the other merits of the car compensate for this particular compromise in its design once I drive it. Even if they do.... it still doesn't change the fact that it could, and should have been better.

So you obviously wouldn't rate the Lotus Exige then?  I can tell you first hand that an Exige at full throttle neither handles like or sounds anything like a Toyota Corolla or Celica...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC7LrHu7cw

[k-man]

You are right Monsta, I can only speak for myself and I will say that it is unfair to presume what constitutes a sports car for other people.  For myself, I will echo and add to what rrocket said. Light, loud, 2 seater, agile, rear wheel drive, and generally uncompromising in it's purpose even at the cost of comfort and being utterly obnoxious. The Z does not meet this criteria imo. The fact the same engine can be found in 4 door saloons and suv's speaks volumes of the cars pedigree or the lack there off.  Your stereotype of the miata being a chick car is just that, a stereotype. The Miata is heralded for its legendary chassis and road feel and more importantly, how it makes the driver feel despite its lack of raw speed.  Last I checked these accolades were not made by women To this day the Miata driving experience is an enigmatic masterpiece seldom if ever duplicated. The s2000 falls in this type of category.

That is just ridiculous.  You can find a Ferrari engine in a Maserati 4 door saloon.  What exactly does that tell us about it's "pedigree"?

But hey, it's no more ridicoulous than making conclusive pronouncements about the sporting credentials of a car you have only sat in.

As to the Miata - I've driven it.  Definitely a hoot.  But well short of the automotive Nirvana you describe.

Jaeger

Firstly, i qualified my comment that I will leave my final judgment for when I actually drive the car twice in this thread. Secondly, a sports car is a sum of its parts not just one. Put a saloon engine in a sports chassis or a sports engine in a saloon and the result will be the same - underwhelming package. When I speak of pedigree I am talking about uncompromising designs with a single purpose, to deliver performance and excitement to the driver on all fronts. Throwing a franchise flagship saloon engine in this package compromises this philosophy and the results speak for themselves. "You can't hear the exhaust within the vehicle even with the windows down" call me ridiculous. And quite frankly having extensive day in day out experience with this engine, I don't really have to drive the car to tell you this. The only question is will the other merits of the car compensate for this particular compromise in its design once I drive it. Even if they do.... it still doesn't change the fact that it could, and should have been better.

So the 370Z is not for you. Ok, we get it. A lot of people will say the Miata is not for them either. It's YOUR opinion. You haven't even driven the Z and yet you say you "have extensive day in and day out experience with this engine." Which engine and car is that, may I ask? You also say you will reserve your final judgement for when you drive the car, yet you have already bashed the Z based on just "sitting in it". What a hoot.

[Jaeger]

So you obviously wouldn't rate the Lotus Exige then?  I can tell you first hand that an Exige at full throttle neither handles like or sounds anything like a Toyota Corolla or Celica...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC7LrHu7cw

Why, I can scarcely think of a vehicle more "compromised", "underwhelming" and "lacking in focus" than a Lotus Exige.  

Jaeger

[Turbo Bob]

So you obviously wouldn't rate the Lotus Exige then?  I can tell you first hand that an Exige at full throttle neither handles like or sounds anything like a Toyota Corolla or Celica...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC7LrHu7cw

Why, I can scarcely think of a vehicle more "compromised", "underwhelming" and "lacking in focus" than a Lotus Exige.  

Jaeger

LOL

[Jaeger]

So the 370Z is not for you. Ok, we get it. A lot of people will say the Miata is not for them either. It's YOUR opinion. You haven't even driven the Z and yet you say you "have extensive day in and day out experience with this engine." Which engine and car is that, may I ask? You also say you will reserve your final judgement for when you drive the car, yet you have already bashed the Z based on just "sitting in it". What a hoot.

He stated earlier he drives an '07 Maxima.  Apparently, that tells him all he needs to know about the Z. 

A hoot indeed.

Jaeger

[k-man]

So the 370Z is not for you. Ok, we get it. A lot of people will say the Miata is not for them either. It's YOUR opinion. You haven't even driven the Z and yet you say you "have extensive day in and day out experience with this engine." Which engine and car is that, may I ask? You also say you will reserve your final judgement for when you drive the car, yet you have already bashed the Z based on just "sitting in it". What a hoot.

He stated earlier he drives an '07 Maxima.  Apparently, that tells him all he needs to know about the Z. 

A hoot indeed.

Jaeger

So he's comparing a 2007 FWD Maxima (not the 2010 version) 3.5L engine which has 255 hp to a 370Z that is RWD and has a 3.7L engine with 332 hp? I guess that makes him an expert. Apples to oranges. I almost spit out my juice when I read that.

[Filip]

So the 370Z is not for you. Ok, we get it. A lot of people will say the Miata is not for them either. It's YOUR opinion. You haven't even driven the Z and yet you say you "have extensive day in and day out experience with this engine." Which engine and car is that, may I ask? You also say you will reserve your final judgement for when you drive the car, yet you have already bashed the Z based on just "sitting in it". What a hoot.

He stated earlier he drives an '07 Maxima.  Apparently, that tells him all he needs to know about the Z. 

A hoot indeed.

Jaeger

Heh If I am not mistaken the high reving/loud  toyota/yamaha devloped 1.8 powering the celica/carolla/matrix and the lotus was original designed for the celica GTS, which was a......hmmm oh ya sports car. Shocking that it makes a lotus exciting considering it was designed for that purpose, a hoot indeed. How you find this in anyway analogous to the nissan debate is beyond me. As for the engine, I am not the only one of the opinion that it's tractorish. But since I know a fanboy when I see one, I shall digress, as long as you enjoy whatever you drive. Hoot away.

[Jaeger]

But since I know a fanboy when I see one, I shall digress, as long as you enjoy whatever you drive.

Um... uh.... ooookay then. 

Jaeger

[inco]

Whew! Are we there yet? Where did that lock go?

It's time........

[Flinter]

So you obviously wouldn't rate the Lotus Exige then?  I can tell you first hand that an Exige at full throttle neither handles like or sounds anything like a Toyota Corolla or Celica...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC7LrHu7cw

Damn that Lotus Exige looks like an amazing machine. Almost blew OJ out my nose when Clarkson said "It corners like a house fly!"

[safristi]

..and flies like sh*t.......................

[Flinter]

Lots of nice pics of the 370z Nismo.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/first-drive-2010-nissan-370z-nismo-simply-rocks/

[Iso Octane]

Lots of nice pics of the 370z Nismo.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/first-drive-2010-nissan-370z-nismo-simply-rocks/

Ooof, I don't think I'll ever get used to the Nismo nose.

On the other hand, the regular 370z looks gorgeous in person!