Driven all 3 Z cars in this video and my opinion hands down the 370Z is the better car out of the three. Just feels more premium in all characteristics when driven.
Having owned a 300 zx, a 350 and now own a 370 Z, I gotta say the 370's a sweet ride. I made the mistake of trading my 300 for a 350 - I hated myself for a while and now with this new fairlady, I smile again. This car is what the 350 should've been and now I want twin turbos.
I bought a new 2019 all-black 370Z sport coupe 6M and love it. I had the brake lines upgraded with a set of StopTech stainless steel brake lines and replaced the OEM swaybars with a set of Hotchkis bars, making an already good handling car handle even better. I find that the road noise is due to the tires in large part. The OEM Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires and the replacement tires, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, that I put on it at 15K miles are pretty quiet. Nissan put an upgraded Exedy clutch in the 370Z starting in 2018 and it greatly improved its operation and feel. The car is a good head turner, as people very often pause and look at the car as they're walking by it when it's parked on the street. There is a not so good aspect to this attractiveness though, as some envious people on the road purposely try to annoy and frustrate you because you're driving the kind of car they would like to own. Similarly, with some cops they will look at subtle ways to harass you.
Watching a Nissan 370Z go around mountain roads while The Crystal Method plays in the background (great music choice by the way) is just awesome. Your reviews are better than any other i've seen on RU-vid-- and i've seen a lot.
Z cars are built tight as a tank and age very well. I have a couple friends that have 30 year old Z's that are just now beginning to show there age. I just don't know why Nissan won't give us a foctory twin-turbo option.
Jim Nesta My advice would be to avoid the 2009 model year 370Z. It was the first year for the 370Z and it had some issues that were corrected in the 2010 and later Z's. Check Consumer Reports for more info. on this.
David M. Thanks, that generally makes a lot of sense in buying a car. The 370Zs have been in production long enough now that the later years are a real option, a low-mileage 2012 would fit the bill very nicely.
@PrimeEden - Many thanks for such kind words! We hope you'll stick around and watch more of our stuff and tell a friend, blog, or forum along the way. As far as music goes, we have a very talented film composer who makes us what we need - we are blessed to have him. Thanks for watching!
@VietnamEarObserverf - In short, Traction Control does what the name implies. The car senses wheel slip and cuts power (Or applies brakes depending upon the system). It can help keep a driver out of trouble and safer in many situations. But, it also separates the driver from the car somewhat. And when the system is turned off the dynamics of the car are easier to sense. Generally, a skilled driver will get more out of a car with the Traction Control off.
It might appear slow to you. However, we can promise it was much higher than 30. Having said that, the quote you list is valid no matter what the speed. Some cars won't cope well with more than 20 or 30mph on a tight mountain road. Cars like the 370z allow for much faster speeds through the same corners. Thanks for watching, and commenting. Try another video of ours, there's plenty of speed to be found.
You guys have phenomenal reviews. I love the back & forth between the two hosts. I especially loved the 2+2 comparison reviews (g37, hyundai genesis and rx 8) that you guys did. Keep up the good work! Btw, I would really appreciate some help from you guys. I'm looking into buying my first sports coupe and I can't decide between 370z, genesis coupe(3.8) and the G37 coupe. Any suggestions? And yeah you guys need to come out with a tv show of your own!
@Daytonaman675 - The traction control in the 370 is okay, but definitely intrudes and mutes the car. Todd especially found the car much more fun with the Traction Control off.
I particularly enjoy larger expensive vehicles trying to catch up to you after you’ve powered through a roundabout! It frustrates the hell out of them.
An acquaintance of mine bought a 370Z, optioned identically to your test car and let me drive it around some mountain roads. I agree on the interior 99%--Every complaint I had about my own 350Z's interior has improved, down to the glovebox and oil temperature gauge. The exception is the row-of-dots gas and water temp meters. Handling-wise, the 370Z not only rides better, but it feels lighter and more confident on the same roads.
It's the turbos man. I rented a G37 on a trip and when I got home back to my Z32 TT, everything that impressed me about the G was no longer important. The VQ37DE is a great engine, but if Nissan made it a VQ37DETT it would be a rocket.... problem is, who'd wanna spend $90k on a GT-R anymore!?
I own a 07 350Z which has the VQ35HR and I wouldn't trade it for a 370Z. It has 71,000 miles and is stock except for Motordyne ART pipes, Stillen exhaust, Stillen short intakes, tune, and a ported intake plenum. I have done very little to my Z and I'm pushing just over 300WHP. Once the VQ35HR is allowed to properly breath it comes alive. My friends that drive more powerful cars love how fun my Z is. Not to mention it sounds great carving a it up under load. Next on the modification is going to be light weight flywheel, lighter wheels and clutch. I do agree that the 300ZX TT is an amazing vehicle but its more of a GT car. Powerful, smooth and comfortable. We own a 240, 350 and next is going to be a 300ZX TT.
the only issue i have with the 300zx and the 370z is the priceing. To get a well equiped 370z you will be paying near $40k and when the 300zx came out one of the reasons it was phased out is because of the price. Z cars were made to be well priced sports cars and you saw that in every Z except the 300zx and the 370z. not that i'm a hater i currently own a modded TT300zx and in the past i have owned 280zx and two 350z's. All great cars but i'd have to say the 300zx takes the cake. Nice review!
Glad you enjoyed the review enough to watch it twice... and that you were listening closely enough to count. We hope you'll watch more of our work as the guys vary their metaphor usage. All their comments are unscripted so what you're hearing is improv commentary based on how the car sparks them. We appreciate you watching, commenting, and welcome more thoughts. Thanks!
You guys did a great job on this review. Better even than the UK top gear did for the 370z. I was debating between a 370z and a 2013 mustang 5.0... GOT THE Z and im glad I did. Especially since I have easy access to the Big Bear mountain roads. Keep it up guys.
henoch44 I went with the 370z because of the bumpy mountain roads. The independent rear suspension keeps you glued to the road. The damn thing feels like it's on rails. Only reason I didn't go with the 2013 Mustang was the solid rear axle and the weight. Try hitting a big bump mid corner on the mustang and you'll see what I mean. That rear end is going to slide right out from under you. The Z is easier to throw into a turn and to me the car feels more solid than the mustang. That being said. The new Mustang has independent rear suspension and an available V8 putting down 400+ horsepower. I've chased my buddy's 2011 M3 up the mountain and I've got to tell you. Sometimes I wish I had that extra 80hp he has. The ride isn't as comfortable as it would be in the mustang. On bumpy roads you're going to feel the bumps and you're not going to care because of how much fun you're having. I've taken my Z on a 1500 mile road trip and I was comfortable the entire trip. If you go with the Z DON'T get the base model. The sport model is $1,500 more but it'll get you big brakes, rev match, LSD, and wider forged wheels. That's a hell of a deal. Upgrading the brakes alone on a base model to the Akebonos that come with the sport model is going to run you at least $1,400 and that's assuming you install them yourself.
I loved the 350's back in 03' but that look just seems very tacky now. The 300zx and old s13 have a timeless look, still look good. Take the appeal from An Evo, STI, 2g DSM, The look for these cars never faded.
i own 2 300zx.. driven 3 350Z's. a 2003, 2004, 2006.And recently drove a 370. I will say that the 370 when driving handles the best, but you get a more "in control/real" feel in the 300ZX. The 300ZX, whoever said it was a shit car, your opinion just fell through about 30 stories. he refered it to the 300 in comparison which is what this was about,not because he owned one thats coincedental!. Love to see Nissan make a 300ZX with modern parts.. ie (twin turbo a 370Z engine ;).)
Very thorough and complete review for a good in-seat experience of the car, exactly what I need when I'm looking for a car. I'm bent towards the 350z though since it's what I've had my eyes on for a long time. And I especially liked how you talked about the interior noise of all the debris coming up sounding "like a hailstorm". I expected it to be near quiet minus the engine noise. Definitely subscribing to this channel.
Much of that noise is actually due to the tires. If you put a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on it you'll be surprised at how much quieter it will become.
i never test drove the 370z until just 3 days ago .people that like this car either haven't driven German or just don't know about cars. when i drove it, I did not feel confident in its abilities, and I think the main reason for this is the lack of visibility. It also doesn't feel as quality as Audi and BMW which I have driven. It tries to imitate them by a rough ride and heavy steering but that is not what makes them
@EverydayDriver How bad would you say the road noise is exactly? I'm very close to purchasing this car: Is the road noise bad enough to warrant second thoughts?
I want to create a monster with TT and the stillen charger. Man, I wouldn't want anything else. Quite frankly I wouldn't give a shit what brand. Just an amazing peice of machinery.
this would be so much cooler put the camera towards the road, feel as though riding in car, this is such awesome car would love to imagine the feel, nice
Todd! you love your 300 way too much. lol, that's okay though i don't blame you, it is a great car. IMO i think all the Z cars are great especially when you start comparing prices. The only other car that can compete with the Z is what.. the cayman? But that's also 10+ grand more. So for the money, there isn't anything better imo.
I love your guys' reviews! I have a delema though.. I am looking for a first car and want to know what you guys think, 370z sport package or hyundai genesis coupe 3.8 track pack. The hyundai is more practical but the z is more sexy.
There are plenty of turbo cars nowadays. What you dont see are high displacement cars with high boost turbos. Most of the cars with turbos have small engines with eco turbos to compensate for lack of power and improve fuel economy. Really the only 2 cars that have turbos oriented towards performance are the evo and sti.
What car payment? I bought it for $3,000 running on 5 cylinders with no rust, put in new injectors, timed it, springs and shocks, and now all i need to do is re-do the weather stripping.
@inferno0666 You kinda did, "better / more efficient" sounds exactly like newer technology. Don't be ignorant, just accept the fact that many of us still want to shift gears as it is one of the few things you actually can do in a car, taking away that is like taking away the smell from food. I accept that many people prefer a flappy paddle operated gearbox.
THIS IS AN AWESOME CAR! my favorite car on the road. it look so much better than many other cars yet my brother prefers the old BMW M3 and says this car is ugly, witch its not. and Jeremy Clarkson from the BBC top gear even says it looks bad! WHY?!?
What most people don't know is that the 370Z automatic transmission is slightly faster than the manual transmission in every way. Some magazine editors have achieved 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and ran the 1/4 mile in 13.1 seconds. Imagine someone that knows how to drive... Unless you've driven the 370Z you have no idea what the car can do. 0.99 g's on the skid pad.... 72+ mph on the slalom....
Road noise in them is pretty bad (dont try to use your phone above 40mph bad). That being said, I replaced my Michelin Pilots with Goodyear F1s and it made a big difference
I understand what you typed. I know you were talking to the guy who asked the question. That's not an excuse for being an idiot. Anyone can afford a sports car. They just have to actually try. One may have to make some sacrifices to own one. For example, they may have to give up having a smartphone, or having all they channels on Direct TV they want, especially give up eating out all the time. As long as they actually try, they could afford it.
@EverydayDriver With all the R&D being dumped into TC systems you would think that Nissan could atlest put a multi stage TC on the sport package z's. Thats too bad about the VDC on the 370, it really bothered my 350 in any "spirited" driving too.
@nismo007 You can get close to that with a G37 and a turbo kit. The guys from Specialty Z are very enthusiastic about the VQ37 engine; apparently Nissan did a great job with that engine and it can be turbocharged up to 600WHP, which they have done. Check out their blog. So that means you can safely boost that engine to about 500WHP. How is that for a daily driver?
These guys don't like the auto, but every review and fan forum report I have seen shows that the auto outperforms the manual no matter who is driving it. I have been a long term manual guy but got the auto for this reason. Drive both and make your own choice, but know that you will give up some performance with the manual. It's about 13.3 (manual) to 13.1 (auto) in the 1/4. Not much but...
@jotham4200 oh and the reason behind that is not comparing the top of the line (newer DE or better HR engine) on 350z, plus the 370z leather option is only available for the top model....my brother just got it (370) while I got a HR 350....but I def agree about the 300zx TT
The 350 doesn't look bad but I would agree that it looked boring, especially because I see lots of them in SoCal. I prefer a 370 anyday. I always wanted a evo x but now because no one I know owns one. I always looked at the 350z as a "mainstream" car, don't know if that can be said for the 370
Nice review... I wish Nissan engineers gave us something other than the overly common global VQ37VHR 3.7 liter engine. It's a great motor but the Z would stand much more specialized as a fantastic sports car if it had its sole motor.
I have extensive experience with VQ motors. Even before the VHR variable lift system in the current G/Z, the pedestrian VQs and the sporty/luxury VQs had completely different characters. If nobody told you they were all of the same engine family you'd never have guessed. A standalone engine would not be lighter, more powerful or most importantly cheaper than the VQ... there is no reason for a standalone engine. If the Z could use anything it's a rear mounted transaxle, as its weight balance is pretty horrible.
it was a time attack comp for a magazine.. after 6 hours of heavy breaking the Z's brakes went thats all.. wasnt meant to be a ready for the track car and that would probably never happen in daily driving!!
I agree 300zx had best shape looks Lamborghini Diablo came along copyrights license use same headlights from Nissan and sounds almost like v8 with right exhaust 300zx
@ludesh17 I heard the same too when tracking the 370z. Even with better pads and better airflow they fade quickly on the tracks. Obviously the car review didnt really nail the performance aspects of the car. There is a difference between tracking the car and going for a spirited drive in the canyon roads.
Hey guys. Great video, always watch your stuff. I'm in the market for a new sports car.. I've narrowed it down to the 370z and e46 M3 (hard to find a good used one). What do you guys think about the comparison? Thanks
If only because of reliability and cost of ownership, I'd go with the Z. I dd my 370Z with no problems. This is 8 years old and so my comment is aimed mainly at anybody who's currently making the decision whether to buy one or not.
@my2004Ze33 I'm no perfect driver, far from it. I never miss shifts though, Driving a manual is about the mechanical experience, being the one that actually changes the gear. And what do you mean by 0.2 sec at every turn? I meant that a manual possible takes about 0.2 seconds longer to 60. not 0.2 seconds longer to shift. The shift time is quite minimal if you have a short throw stick and you're a good driver unlike yourself.
plus I think they are talking to the extreme-hardcore owners. Even though it isn't like the GTR transmission, I've seen people get their stock base w/ sport pkg in the mid 13'....not bad for a transmission that sound like someone is riding the clutch. It's like telling e Ferrari or lambo owner that their car is not a real sports car.
