Friday 24th May 2013

Nissan 370Z: £26,995

Revised 370Z sees price cut by £3,005, first to mention M135i gets barred

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Cars are getting more expensive, right? Well not all of them, actually, as Nissan is reducing the list price of the 370Z as part of a facelift.

Toyobaru too wimpy ? Cheaper Zee says yes

The simplified MY2013 370Z range now starts at £26,995, which is £3,005 less than the ostensibly identical 2012 car. Yes, the front bumper had been slightly tweaked and there are some new paint colours available but otherwise the 370Z remains the same coupe it's been since 2009, just for less cash.

That means it's still powered by a 328hp 3.7-litre V6 that also makes 270lb ft of torque. Our colleagues at Autocar timed a 370Z from 0-100mph in 12.8 seconds back in 2009 so there's no doubting its performance credentials. As Nissan admits (or is that boasts?), the 370Z 'is set to make similarly-priced rivals look distinctly weedy'.

For those who crave more intensity from the 370Z experience, the MY2013 changes also bring the 370Z NISMO to the range. For £36,995, it gains another 16hp over the standard car, taking it to 344hp. A new bodykit improves airflow around the car, whilst suspension and brake upgrades should further improve the dynamic performance.

NISMO'd Zee is on its way soon

The base 370Z and NISMO models are only available as six-speed manual coupes, which appropriately conforms to the no-nonsense, slightly old-school attitude. For those wanting an automatic or a convertible (the big wimps), a 370Z GT is the only option. An auto GT coupe is £33,345, the equivalent cabrio £37,945. Both are also offered as manuals for £1,450 less.

Now it doesn't take a marketing genius to realise what Nissan is trying to achieve with its dramatic 370Z price cut and who those 'weedy' rivals are; it wants the attention of prospective Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ buyers. Chris Harris has compared them already on video and, whilst very different in their approaches, you can't help but smile that two such exciting coupes are available new for around £25,000.

And the NISMO? We'll be driving that as soon as possible. All of the revised 370Z models go on sale next month, with the first deliveries expected in July.

[rlc18]

M135i though?...

[Dazed & Confused]

rlc18 said:

M135i though?...

[MrTappets]

Still nice, but what about this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

[TameRacingDriver]

Absolute bargain, that. If you don't require 4 seats, and can cope with 20 MPG (which lets face it, isn't too bad for a car with this performance), this is a steal.

[Dazed & Confused]

MrTappets said:

Still nice, but what about this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

You mean that a 4 year old used version of the same car costs less than a new one?

While I'm shocked. Shocked!

[LuS1fer]

Excellent. Friend of mine recently bought one and loves it. I think the main issue is the VED rate being high.

[drophead]

This will do wonders to the second hand market

[TameRacingDriver]

LuS1fer said:

Excellent. Friend of mine recently bought one and loves it. I think the main issue is the VED rate being high.

Hardly an issue if you can afford £27K for a car, and 20 MPG fuel costs though.

[russy01]

MrTappets said:

Still nice, but what about this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

Come on, we all know we cant compare new cars to used cars.

Its such a shame though. If they could have shaved 100kg from the weight and made it look less like a dog turd they'd be putting the price up instead of down.

Whilst we arent allowed to mention it, if I had 30k for a new car id still go with the M135i. Similar dog turd looks, but better performance, massively better economy and much more practical. I cant mention driving dynamics as I havent driven either, but if the 370z drives anything like the 350z (which I have driven several) then id still put the money in BMW's hands as the 350z felt crap compared to a decent set up hot hatch.

Edited by russy01 on Friday 24th May 12:27

[J4CKO]

Much as I like these, they seem like a bit of a throwback nowadays, even at a reduced price they will plummet in value, not sure how many they sell nowadays, the Germans seem to have that market sewn up.

[V88Dicky]

TameRacingDriver said:

Hardly an issue if you can afford £27K for a car, and 20 MPG fuel costs though.

Exactly. A whole £9.42 per week to tax. I just don't get people who baulk at the idea, yet don't bat an eyelid at forking out best part of 30k on a new car?

[nickfrog]

J4CKO said:

Much as I like these, they seem like a bit of a throwback nowadays, even at a reduced price they will plummet in value, not sure how many they sell nowadays, the Germans seem to have that market sewn up.

I know someone here who may not agree with you. They don't seem to particularly depreciate more (or less for that matter) than German "equivalents" in % terms.

[wemorgan]

rlc18 said:

M135i though?...

Have those prices recently risen? I thought they were near £29k, but BMW website has the 3-dr hatch at £30.5k

[toppstuff]

I saw one of these with a sports exhaust fitted to it.

Sounded absolutely splendid.

[Pablo16v]

wemorgan said:

rlc18 said:

M135i though?...

Have those prices recently risen? I thought they were near £29k, but BMW website has the 3-dr hatch at £30.5k

Yeah, but apparently you'll get a £5k discount, free fuel for life and a couple of BMW coffee mugs

[JuanGandini]

Ok I'm not attempting to start a new vs used argument but for a lightly used M135i, I give you...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

...at the same price as the Japanese gas guzzler!

[Ecosseven]

Brand new cars have been available for around £25-26k for a while through internet brokers. I wonder what sort of deals will be offered now?

[Gorbyrev]

Wonder if this will be like the run on RX-8s where even with lower prices, thousands could be shaved off at the showroom. Do have a soft spot for the Z and, to my eyes at least, the design is ageing well. Thing is I could do with back seats. Let's see, 300hp, I could always get a

[russy01]

wemorgan said:

rlc18 said:

M135i though?...

Have those prices recently risen? I thought they were near £29k, but BMW website has the 3-dr hatch at £30.5k

I think the 5dr is cheaper. From what I remember a poverty spec 5dr Manual can probs be had for less than 30k list. But if you want any gadgets, 3drs and the auto box you are pushing low 30k's. But at the same time I hear of decent dealer discounts of up to 10%.

[TREMAiNE]

For many thousands less you could get a mint 350 which looks far nicer IMO!