Why hasn't the 370z worked?

[jon-]

Great car, good value, decent performance (when compared to its TT / Z4 peers), every one seems to think they look fantastic, interest free deals, low servicing costs, yet no one has bought one.

Why?

Badge? Fuel Economy? Ignorance? Seats?

Looking at the market the few that have been sold are holding their value fairly well too!

[kambites]

If it's true, I'm guessing fuel economy is the big hitter. I see a few around, though.

[willisit]

If it did 10mpg more, I'd probably be after one (I do too many miles). They are fantastic cars - maybe a bit quiet (easily fixed) but a real improvement on the 350 and a really nice place to be.

Perhaps the looks are subjective? Maybe the lack of advertising? Maybe it's playing little-brother to the GTR a little too much?

Who knows. I love em.

[PumpkinSteve]

Did the 350z sell well? I don't think I've seen one IRL, never mind a 370.

[jon-]

PumpkinSteve said:

Did the 350z sell well? I don't think I've seen one IRL, never mind a 370.

AFAIK better than the 370z! I see the odd 350 still, seen 1 370z on the road in my life, and I used to work next to a Nissan dealer!

[Liokault]

Wow, they are under £18k with less then 5k miles now! I want one, must be one of the rarest/best private buy deals going now.

[jvl]

The BMW 135i looks like a better deal even if it costs a bit more. Similar performance but you get 4 seats, much better fuel economy and much cheaper road tax.

[300bhp/ton]

jon- said:

Great car, good value, decent performance (when compared to its TT / Z4 peers), every one seems to think they look fantastic, interest free deals, low servicing costs, yet no one has bought one.

Why?

Badge? Fuel Economy? Ignorance? Seats?

Looking at the market the few that have been sold are holding their value fairly well too!

Do you actually have sales figures to back this up?

Also world, US and Jap figures. Not seeing many in the UK means diddle squat really.

[Chrisw666]

The 350Z was never a huge seller and struggled to better 20mpg for most of the owners I have spoken to. They were so hard to shift that even when house prices were still high and money was free they were offering the GT spec cars at £18k to anyone who worked for the company or anyone who happened to have a friend or relative who worked for Nissan or some of its major suppliers.

[Ecosseven]

jon- said:

Great car, good value, decent performance (when compared to its TT / Z4 peers), every one seems to think they look fantastic, interest free deals, low servicing costs, yet no one has bought one.

Why?

Badge? Fuel Economy? Ignorance? Seats?

Looking at the market the few that have been sold are holding their value fairly well too!

I really like the 370Z but they cost a lot in fuel, road tax, and tyres. Service intervals are 9000 miles although I believe the costs aren't too bad when you consider the performance on offer.

[CaptainSensib1e]

I guess a lot of folks would rather get a few year old Boxster/Cayman than a new 370Z.

[jon-]

300bhp/ton said:

Do you actually have sales figures to back this up?

Also world, US and Jap figures. Not seeing many in the UK means diddle squat really.

No, just cars seen on the road. I'm talking about UK sales figures so it means something in the context of this thread!

Chrisw666 said:

The 350Z was never a huge seller and struggled to better 20mpg for most of the owners I have spoken to. They were so hard to shift that even when house prices were still high and money was free they were offering the GT spec cars at £18k to anyone who worked for the company or anyone who happened to have a friend or relative who worked for Nissan or some of its major suppliers.

They ran that deal for the 370z too.

[CooperS]

Ecosseven said:

jon- said:

Great car, good value, decent performance (when compared to its TT / Z4 peers), every one seems to think they look fantastic, interest free deals, low servicing costs, yet no one has bought one.

Why?

Badge? Fuel Economy? Ignorance? Seats?

Looking at the market the few that have been sold are holding their value fairly well too!

I really like the 370Z but they cost a lot in fuel, road tax, and tyres. Service intervals are 9000 miles although I believe the costs aren't too bad when you consider the performance on offer.

This is the real problem for many who might class themselves as piston heads (so logically how fast it goes comes into the equation) look at the performance and realise they dont need it.... hell i have a M and i dont really think i need it. Meaning the high through life costs (servicing, taxation and depreciation) just dont add up. I see far more TT TDI's than i do 3.2 TT around edinburgh.... ok the drive behind it might be company car tax but i'd reckon its people logically reviewing what they get for the extra outlay....

[V88Dicky]

I agree. People seem more interested in buying (every 3 years )'All Show and No Go' these days, hence the big rise in numbers of 'diesel sportscars' like the TT/Scirocco/3 series coupe etc etc.

It's a sad sign of the times I'm afraid.

[jon1980]

I had mine for 9 months and sold it for just under what I paid for it, but it was the black edition. Heavy old girl but still fun, very nice for a motorway waft! Fuel economy was not the best, £90 would get you around 330miles…


By jon1980 at 2011-10-03

By jon1980 at 2011-10-03
The Nav system was very good

By jon1980 at 2011-10-03

[The Hypno-Toad]

jon- said:

Great car, good value, decent performance (when compared to its TT / Z4 peers), every one seems to think they look fantastic, interest free deals, low servicing costs, yet no one has bought one.

Why?

Badge? Fuel Economy? This & this

No badge residual compared to Porsche/BMW/Audi competitors and 20mpg if you are lucky, which was about 5 less than the car it was replacing. Plus short on new supply due to the tsunami.

Shame, quite a nice car especially in the convertible form.

[RichyBoy]

I like to do heel n toe myself, if they're going to put a button that does it for you why not go all the way and give it a double clutch box. I guess I'd have one but it would have to be really cheap to account for the low mpg, high tax and huge amount of depreciation it faces.

[300bhp/ton]

jon- said:

No, just cars seen on the road. I'm talking about UK sales figures so it means something in the context of this thread!

Ok, but in reality the UK market, or potential market is pretty tiny for such a car.

I mean, truly how many R3 RX-8's, 135i's, Z4M's or TT RS's do you see?

You don't even see many 350z's on UK roads.

There are lots of reasons:

-Badge, as stupid as it is, it likely plays a part
-Running costs, with pricey fuel and road tax, those that could afford a new one, could also afford a used Porsche or M3. Which kind of makes you have to really want the 370z for the same outlay
-2 seat only, which hugely limits appeal compared to 2+2 coupes or 4 door cars like an Evo

Also, as a side question, did Nissan actually allocate or bring many into the UK? You might not see many, but in terms of expected sales they might have sold brilliantly well.

e.g. I was a couple of year ago interested in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Jeep UK are pretty fking useless though...... and had released to the media we expect Rubicon sales to be the lowest of the new line up.

No st, and do you know why they were the lowest - because Jeep UK had a grand total of 19 Rubicons. All of which pre-sold the best part of 6+ months before launch.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 3rd October 14:40

[RichB]

Not as good looking as the 350Z IMO...

[Steameh]

I love the 350Z and the 370, I just couldn't ever see myself in one because I prefer having 4 seats over 2. I rarely use all my seats, but I like having the option of using them if the need arose.

Hence I'd struggle to see past a G37 if I wanted a 370Z.