RE: PH 370Z Breathes Fresh Northern Air
Discussion
0836whimper said:
The paragraph on overtaking puts me off. Seems a narrow powerband.
Remember the OP drives a diesel BMW, is it automatic too?The other car is a TVR with a warbling torquey engine with a missing top-end too
I'm sure the 370Z is far from a slow car, it's just the delivery makes it appear the mid-range is lacking because it has fizz at the top end.
An example that I find interesting as a comparison is that the ST170 Focus was slated for having long gears and feeling slow.
The 306 GTi6 was praised by almost all for it's gearbox and power etc.
Both cars have almost identical long gearing, and very similar power. The thing that hurts the Focus is that it has more torque at low rpm, which makes the top end feel less sparkly, which clearly made people feel it wasn't very brisk.
Delivery is everything. Maybe Nissan haven't got it right for people used to driving diesels all day, but personally I'm glad Nissan are making cars with character and some compromise to make them thrilling to drive hard!
Better than being bland all the time to satisfy people who can't use a gearstick
Dave
Good write up, but please stop telling people about our lovely roads up here. Remember as far as Southerners are concerned it's grim up north and we only survive by herding whippets and eating flat caps. Telling them about our marvellous B roads, attractive countryside and lack of speed cameras (Co. Durham has NONE) will only encourage the bugggers to visit!
Dear Southerners,
Don't come up here, it's horrible
Thank you.
Rumblestripe (also of Darlo)
Dear Southerners,
Don't come up here, it's horrible
Thank you.
Rumblestripe (also of Darlo)
Mr Whippy said:
0836whimper said:
The paragraph on overtaking puts me off. Seems a narrow powerband.
Remember the OP drives a diesel BMW, is it automatic too?The other car is a TVR with a warbling torquey engine with a missing top-end too
I'm sure the 370Z is far from a slow car, it's just the delivery makes it appear the mid-range is lacking because it has fizz at the top end.
An example that I find interesting as a comparison is that the ST170 Focus was slated for having long gears and feeling slow.
The 306 GTi6 was praised by almost all for it's gearbox and power etc.
Both cars have almost identical long gearing, and very similar power. The thing that hurts the Focus is that it has more torque at low rpm, which makes the top end feel less sparkly, which clearly made people feel it wasn't very brisk.
Delivery is everything. Maybe Nissan haven't got it right for people used to driving diesels all day, but personally I'm glad Nissan are making cars with character and some compromise to make them thrilling to drive hard!
Better than being bland all the time to satisfy people who can't use a gearstick
Dave
, but it can catch you unawares as you pull out to overtake and then the rev limiter kicks in whilst you are negotiating your surroundings 
.ETA BMW is manual sorry missed that bit, see can be bothered to change gear
Edited by ANS2vrs370 on Wednesday 27th October 16:23
Rumblestripe said:
Good write up, but please stop telling people about our lovely roads up here. Remember as far as Southerners are concerned it's grim up north and we only survive by herding whippets and eating flat caps. Telling them about our marvellous B roads, attractive countryside and lack of speed cameras (Co. Durham has NONE) will only encourage the bugggers to visit!
Dear Southerners,
Don't come up here, it's horrible
Thank you.
Rumblestripe (also of Darlo)
Dear Southerners,
Don't come up here, it's horrible
Thank you.
Rumblestripe (also of Darlo)
I've test driven the 370z and overall it feels a well bolted together car, the fit and finish being of a good quality (apart from one horrid grey plastic/orange light dial). On the twisties it feels like a small car but it certainly isn't when you get around town, but as mentioned the road noise is intrusive.
The thing that dissapointed me was the acceleration, yes it is a fast car but it doesn't feel fast. It really didn't feel much faster than my 325i which is 100bhp down on the Nissan. On the test drive I had a bit of a drag with a 335i from stationary to NSL speeds and the 335i left me for dead.
As you can't use high speeds on roads the thing I am looking for in a more powerful car is punchy acceleration, the 370z just didn't have what I'd expect for a 330+ bhp car.
Anyone looking for a 2 seater I'd defo say give it a drive though, it is a good car and I do like the styling.
The thing that dissapointed me was the acceleration, yes it is a fast car but it doesn't feel fast. It really didn't feel much faster than my 325i which is 100bhp down on the Nissan. On the test drive I had a bit of a drag with a 335i from stationary to NSL speeds and the 335i left me for dead.
As you can't use high speeds on roads the thing I am looking for in a more powerful car is punchy acceleration, the 370z just didn't have what I'd expect for a 330+ bhp car.
Anyone looking for a 2 seater I'd defo say give it a drive though, it is a good car and I do like the styling.
Mr Whippy said:
0836whimper said:
The paragraph on overtaking puts me off. Seems a narrow powerband.
Remember the OP drives a diesel BMW, is it automatic too?The other car is a TVR with a warbling torquey engine with a missing top-end too
I'm sure the 370Z is far from a slow car, it's just the delivery makes it appear the mid-range is lacking because it has fizz at the top end.
An example that I find interesting as a comparison is that the ST170 Focus was slated for having long gears and feeling slow.
The 306 GTi6 was praised by almost all for it's gearbox and power etc.
Both cars have almost identical long gearing, and very similar power. The thing that hurts the Focus is that it has more torque at low rpm, which makes the top end feel less sparkly, which clearly made people feel it wasn't very brisk.
Delivery is everything. Maybe Nissan haven't got it right for people used to driving diesels all day, but personally I'm glad Nissan are making cars with character and some compromise to make them thrilling to drive hard!
Better than being bland all the time to satisfy people who can't use a gearstick
Dave
Seems the japanese don't do V6's very well (GTR excluded!) most of the toyota ones are also very mid-rangy with a bit of a strangled top-end.
ANS2vrs370 said:
Isn't the V6 in the 370 a Renault one?
(Disclaimer I know nothing and this maybe complete bull)
See disclaimer.(Disclaimer I know nothing and this maybe complete bull)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VQ37VHR#VQ37VHR
Edited by Blue Meanie on Wednesday 27th October 19:05
That review is word for word what my experience of my 350Z is like. Absolutely spot on.
I'd also agree with the 'unacceptable' noise level (in my 350). Its not me being pathetic, it makes it very hard to have a conversation at motorway speeds and destroys the 'GT' nature of the car. I won't take it for a motorway journey that I know will last over an hour.
I'd also agree with the 'unacceptable' noise level (in my 350). Its not me being pathetic, it makes it very hard to have a conversation at motorway speeds and destroys the 'GT' nature of the car. I won't take it for a motorway journey that I know will last over an hour.
MGR said:
That review is word for word what my experience of my 350Z is like. Absolutely spot on.
I'd also agree with the 'unacceptable' noise level (in my 350). Its not me being pathetic, it makes it very hard to have a conversation at motorway speeds and destroys the 'GT' nature of the car. I won't take it for a motorway journey that I know will last over an hour.
People really are getting too demanding about cars. My (no soundproofing) ITR has similar levels of NVH to my (old) Ford Orion. One was touted as a hardcore road-racer, the other as a small family saloon, just 10 or so years apart in design.I'd also agree with the 'unacceptable' noise level (in my 350). Its not me being pathetic, it makes it very hard to have a conversation at motorway speeds and destroys the 'GT' nature of the car. I won't take it for a motorway journey that I know will last over an hour.
I'll also wager that the 350Z and 370Z have better NVH than e.g. an original 635i (a 1980s sporting GT).
Yet you get people on here bemoaning current NVH levels, which will lead to the next gen of cars being even MORE remote from the driver, as the NVH engineers try and eliminate all vibration (like feedback from the wheel and the road) and minimise noise (which can give you early indication if there's a problem, not that 99% of drivers seem to have any mechanical sympathy).
havoc said:
MGR said:
That review is word for word what my experience of my 350Z is like. Absolutely spot on.
I'd also agree with the 'unacceptable' noise level (in my 350). Its not me being pathetic, it makes it very hard to have a conversation at motorway speeds and destroys the 'GT' nature of the car. I won't take it for a motorway journey that I know will last over an hour.
People really are getting too demanding about cars. My (no soundproofing) ITR has similar levels of NVH to my (old) Ford Orion. One was touted as a hardcore road-racer, the other as a small family saloon, just 10 or so years apart in design.I'd also agree with the 'unacceptable' noise level (in my 350). Its not me being pathetic, it makes it very hard to have a conversation at motorway speeds and destroys the 'GT' nature of the car. I won't take it for a motorway journey that I know will last over an hour.
I'll also wager that the 350Z and 370Z have better NVH than e.g. an original 635i (a 1980s sporting GT).
Yet you get people on here bemoaning current NVH levels, which will lead to the next gen of cars being even MORE remote from the driver, as the NVH engineers try and eliminate all vibration (like feedback from the wheel and the road) and minimise noise (which can give you early indication if there's a problem, not that 99% of drivers seem to have any mechanical sympathy).
I take your point havoc about feedback and listening for early signs of problems, surely steering & grip feedback doesn't have to come with a wall of white noise as all you can hear are the tyres/road noise. As for quieter than the 80's stuff see my earlier comment
'The other thing at cruising speed with lower revs is the cabin noise; this after a week started to get very wearing. I will stick my neck out and say it is as loud as the TVR in there without the engine note.'
There are far too many "car gays" these days.
All it means is you end up enjoying the process of modding your car to make it half interesting.
My Z4 with it's fabric roof is about twice as refined than my family car 306 HDi was in-cabin, and about three times more refined than the GTi6 I had before that which had lots more exhaust noise penetration.
People are actually out there buying the new Z4 for it's more refined cabin with the solid folding roof. WTF. For a car even half sporty the old Z4 is too refined in my view.
As said, car gays. Limp wristed fannies who wouldn't know a fun or interesting car if it hit them in the face.
Too many miles spent in a diesel BMW 5 series are the problem here I think
Dave
All it means is you end up enjoying the process of modding your car to make it half interesting.
My Z4 with it's fabric roof is about twice as refined than my family car 306 HDi was in-cabin, and about three times more refined than the GTi6 I had before that which had lots more exhaust noise penetration.
People are actually out there buying the new Z4 for it's more refined cabin with the solid folding roof. WTF. For a car even half sporty the old Z4 is too refined in my view.
As said, car gays. Limp wristed fannies who wouldn't know a fun or interesting car if it hit them in the face.
Too many miles spent in a diesel BMW 5 series are the problem here I think
Dave
Edited by Mr Whippy on Thursday 28th October 17:36
Andrew - fair point about tyre/wind noise - in part blame very-wide sport-spec tyres and big wingmirrors. Unfortunately the solution always seems to be more soundproofing and vibration-proofing (= more weight and 'numbing' of the true messages), NOT addressing the source* problem.
* Someone mentioned an EU directive about wingmirrors a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if they were being honest or ironic though... Then again, with blind-spots like the 370 has, you'd want big wingmirrors!
* Someone mentioned an EU directive about wingmirrors a couple of weeks ago. Not sure if they were being honest or ironic though... Then again, with blind-spots like the 370 has, you'd want big wingmirrors!
I wasn't too bothered by the road noise - it is especially noticeable when a little bit of gravel is on the road as the wheel arches being hit by little stones makes the car sound like it is on a rally stage with the interior stripped out.
Ironically the car comes with bluetooth phone connection, and anything over 20mph makes this a pointless feature as no one can hear you speak on the phone.
Ironically the car comes with bluetooth phone connection, and anything over 20mph makes this a pointless feature as no one can hear you speak on the phone.
Mr Whippy said:
As said, car gays. Limp wristed fannies who wouldn't know a fun or interesting car if it hit them in the face.
Too many miles spent in a diesel BMW 5 series are the problem here I think
Dave
humph *flounces off to bar*Too many miles spent in a diesel BMW 5 series are the problem here I think
Dave
Edited by Mr Whippy on Thursday 28th October 17:36
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Can I reclaim man points due to the TVR?
I think the road noise debate is going to roll on however it shouldn't detract from the rest of the car which is brilliant
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