RE: 370Z NISMO updated

Tuesday 26th August 2014

370Z NISMO updated

Hardcore 370Z freshens up and gets ... hang on ... softer and more civilised?



The Nissan 370Z NISMO is a curious car - despite its drift scene looks, the chassis doesn't quite deliver the thrills or the ability of, say, a Porsche Cayman, while the naturally aspirated 3.7-litre V6 runs out of puff just as you want it to start breathing like Nissan brand ambassador Usain Bolt at full chat. It feels a bit strangled.

More ventilation, less of the tea-tray rear wing
More ventilation, less of the tea-tray rear wing
Which is why when Nissan's press release detailing a package of updates for its MY15 370Z Nismo dropped into the PH inbox this morning, it piqued our interest.

Four major points to note: looks, interior, chassis and engine.

Those Fast & Furious visuals have been toned down a touch, with the bluff front end of the previous 370Z NISMO - complete with vast expanse of featureless white plastic - replaced by a finer-boned face. Some may say it's fussier, but the larger air intakes, extra slashes, black headlamps with new LED running lights and Nissan motorsport department's now signature red touches have wiped the gurn off the older 370Z NISMO's face.

At the back it's the same story. More slashes in a rear bumper that still frames two overly large and not all that noisy tailpipes, and the obligatory red touches. The tea tray rear wing is gone. Inside, the 370Z NISMO is treated to a new pair of 'Spinal' seats. Sounds painful, but they're designed to offer "improved support and rigidity using a shell that's lighter and stronger than the previous metal frames."

It means the awkward driving position should be improved - it's unknown if the wheel still doesn't adjust for reach.

Fangs for the memory, etc - Z's bumper now toothless
Fangs for the memory, etc - Z's bumper now toothless
Chassis wise, the revisions to the fastest 370Z (a significant amount of) money can buy are limited to revised spring and damper rates at the rear, so don't expect it to suddenly go running rings around even a base-spec Cayman - especially at a rather porky 1,535kg.

Nissan does claim that along with wheel arch liners and new carpets, the tweaked rear suspension setup actually delivers more refinement. Which is just what we didn't want. With that muted exhaust system, the NISMO is a bit too quiet - it doesn't bark like its looks might suggest. The 3.7-litre V6's 344hp output remains, as does the meaty six-speed manual 'box and 5.2-second 0-62 time. There's no mention of money, but expect the £37,015 price tag to linger, too - £10K more than the entry-level 328hp 370Z.

A little after a year since it went on sale, the latest improvements are by and large welcome for the new looks and those seats, but we're hesitant to predict they'll noticeably change the Nissan's character or ability.

The 370Z NISMO is an old-school sports car in a world of modern machinery; a typewriter to a silicon chip. That doesn't mean we don't appreciate the raw and honest sensations the car delivers, but just that ultimately, the original 370Z NISMO was outclassed by much cheaper and much more able competition.

Well, you knew the BMW M135i/M235i comparison was coming at some point...





   

 

 

Author
Discussion

Reavenger

Original Poster:

129 posts

132 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
The problem is the engine for me. On paper it looks fantastic, 3.7L V6. Lack of sound and character though.

The interior doesn't win any awards but I quite like the new looks. Especially the back. Still doesn't do it for me though especially at £36,000.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
It really should appeal so much more than most of its turbocharged, electronic-everything, competition... but somehow the reviews imply that it just doesn't deliver frown

I can't help but feel that if they'd kept the weight down to ~1300kg, it'd be a very different proposition.

renaultgeek

473 posts

147 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
exhausts are a bit max power

dlockhart

434 posts

171 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
10k for 16 bhp seems an awful lot. OK its not priced the same as the cayman its being compared to, but makes little sense compared to the base model surely?

GTEYE

2,092 posts

209 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Looks better, but I think it will take an all new Z car to make a meaningful difference to the way it sells.

Either that or the introduction of a 2.0d version.......

Amirhussain

11,486 posts

162 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I didn't even know Nissan were still making the 370Z, hardly seen any on road.

exceed

454 posts

175 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Please Nissan, just stop.

I had a 370Z and uprev'd it to higher output than this along with Akrapovic exhausts that MASSIVELY improved the sound.

But the problem is it's too heavy and too slow (okay slow is maybe a gross exaggeration), it's not that exciting.

Embarrassing stepping into a car that looks like this and then a Golf TDI greets all those around you.

I had a couple actually laugh at me when turning my car on when I first got it, never felt soo embarassed. They must have thought I had a bodykit on a crappy car underneath.

Only when going for it do you actually get a hint of V6 and even then it's rather muted... What they've done is gone a bit too GT, when all the competition are going towards sporty appeal (sales does the talking here).

I actually felt more pain when selling my Peugeot 106 than selling my 'Zed', looking forward to a proper review of this one and to see if they've listened to the consumers at all (don't think any of us asked for more comfort????).

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
exceed said:
Please Nissan, just stop.

I had a 370Z and uprev'd it to higher output than this along with Akrapovic exhausts that MASSIVELY improved the sound.

But the problem is it's too heavy and too slow (okay slow is maybe a gross exaggeration), it's not that exciting.

Embarrassing stepping into a car that looks like this and then a Golf TDI greets all those around you.

I had a couple actually laugh at me when turning my car on when I first got it, never felt soo embarassed. They must have thought I had a bodykit on a crappy car underneath.

Only when going for it do you actually get a hint of V6 and even then it's rather muted... What they've done is gone a bit too GT, when all the competition are going towards sporty appeal (sales does the talking here).

I actually felt more pain when selling my Peugeot 106 than selling my 'Zed', looking forward to a proper review of this one and to see if they've listened to the consumers at all (don't think any of us asked for more comfort????).
A golf TDi what ?

exceed

454 posts

175 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Engine note! Apologies for the omission!

3ananaPie

153 posts

129 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
dlockhart said:
10k for 16 bhp seems an awful lot. OK its not priced the same as the cayman its being compared to, but makes little sense compared to the base model surely?
A GT86 with a Turbo kit and aftermarket (or even a Toyota) kit would cost similar money but be fairly faster, with a better chassis and fuel economy (if that matters).

That said I really like this Nismo Z, and a friend of mine has been considering one. Too bad it isn't anything like the old Nismo Skylines.

How It Is

16 posts

115 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I liked the old 350z better, the styling on this one just does not look as nice

HeMightBeBanned

617 posts

177 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
How do they managed to make them so heavy? It's a modern automotive mystery along with, "Where does Jaguar hide the lead ingots in the 'lightweight' aluminium F-Type?"

FourRingedDonuts

107 posts

123 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I test drove the current model recently, a superb drive but not special or quick enough to spend £37K.
On seeing the GFV figure I almost ran out of the dealership. I'll almost certainly buy one in a few years if I don't buy a Porsche instead.

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I really like these - I think they look smart and the poor sound could easily be sorted with an exhaust, but they just don't seem to give enough bang for the buck when new, which is a shame, but as a used proposition at three years old, they do look quite good.

I'll take a three year old black one with a Greddy exhaust, please!

elementad

625 posts

149 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
That's a pretty negative take the car. You DO know the 370z lapped quicker than the pistonheads fabled m135i, golf r, m3 csl, a45 AMG, m235i, in an autoexpress track test. By well over a second.
Not bad for a 1500kg porker that "only" does 100 mph in around 12 seconds.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars/87055/faste...

Don't know where the M135i fell down as it supposedly outclasses in every department?

  • Edited to add the other cars on that list
Edited by elementad on Tuesday 26th August 19:22

JamesD1

821 posts

126 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
me and oh absolutley love the look of the car (best rear i think i've ever seen). price is very steep mind you, we have said for a while that a 370z will be on the cards one day but looks like it'd be a 2nd hand one.

Reavenger

Original Poster:

129 posts

132 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
2nd hand buy isn't a bad call. Only one problem.....tried searching the classifieds for one? There aren't any. I've seen one or two but not many. Perhaps not selling well?

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
elementad said:
That's a pretty negative take the car. You DO know the 370z lapped quicker than the pistonheads fabled m135i, golf r, m3 csl, a45 AMG, m235i, in an autoexpress track test. By well over a second.
Not bad for a 1500kg porker that "only" does 100 mph in around 12 seconds.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars/87055/faste...

Don't know where the M135i fell down as it supposedly outclasses in every department?

  • Edited to add the other cars on that list
Edited by elementad on Tuesday 26th August 19:22
I think people get carried away with the new hot hatches and assume that the 370 is slow, it is kind of the bottom of one division (GT) vs the top of another (Hot Hatch), plus there isn't that same turbo shove in the back, the 370 comes with a limited slip diff as standard which may be worth a few tenths.

They do need a bit more noise as standard though, the 350Z did as well, easily sorted, and price wise, I doubt anyone would end up paying 37 grand if they went into a Nissan showroom, the normal model can be had for £27,015 apparently so I expect there is a bit of room for discounts on that or the Nismo.

I am just glad it still exists as an option.

elementad

625 posts

149 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
elementad said:
That's a pretty negative take the car. You DO know the 370z lapped quicker than the pistonheads fabled m135i, golf r, m3 csl, a45 AMG, m235i, in an autoexpress track test. By well over a second.
Not bad for a 1500kg porker that "only" does 100 mph in around 12 seconds.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars/87055/faste...

Don't know where the M135i fell down as it supposedly outclasses in every department?

  • Edited to add the other cars on that list
Edited by elementad on Tuesday 26th August 19:22
I think people get carried away with the new hot hatches and assume that the 370 is slow, it is kind of the bottom of one division (GT) vs the top of another (Hot Hatch), plus there isn't that same turbo shove in the back, the 370 comes with a limited slip diff as standard which may be worth a few tenths.

They do need a bit more noise as standard though, the 350Z did as well, easily sorted, and price wise, I doubt anyone would end up paying 37 grand if they went into a Nissan showroom, the normal model can be had for £27,015 apparently so I expect there is a bit of room for discounts on that or the Nismo.

I am just glad it still exists as an option.
Agreed on all counts

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I was given the task of promoting these at trackdays, the price/bhp numbers looked good so I started calling it a Cayman for half the money whereas the truth was that they were pretty mundane to drive, didn't feel particularly quick and the engine lacked soul.