PH 370Z Breathes Fresh Northern Air
Prize-winning PHer Andy Nelson reports on his week with our 370Z loaner
After a week of waiting as fast as I could (writes PHer Andy Nelson), the day finally dawned when I entered the hallowed turf of PistonHeads HQ, the walk to the front door taking me past the car park, which included the PH Caterham, Seat Cupra R, Garlick's barge and 'my' Nissan 370Z.
370Z with Andy's daily driver...
I waited at the turnstiles while the security guard woke Garlick up. I think it was a little early for Paul and Pete, but we went back out to the car with a much-appreciated coffee in hand. After a quick tour of the toys available I established my driving position with the seat as low and as far back as possible with a fair bit of rake. This left 10mm of clearance between my head and the roof, which was fine on the motorway but on the twisty stuff meant I kept crashing into the roof.
After a chat and a quick tour of the palatial PH towers, it was off to face the 260 miles back to Darlington in time for a 2pm meeting.
...and his TVR fun car.
As I squeezed through the rush hour of Teddington I realised how wide this car is for a two-seater 'sports car', as the car and the cabin are wider than the 5-series. If it wasn't for the head room it would be a very pleasant place to do some GT-style touring, especially with all the toys and connectivity that this one had.
I expected to spend the next hour grinding round the M25 and playing with all the buttons, as we all know reading the manual is not an option. The gods, however, were smiling and the M25 was clear. Yep, it was 8.30am on a Monday morning and as I sailed round to the St Albans junction even the variable speed limits weren't on! (We arranged that as part of the prize, obviously... Ed.)
Never mind the quality, feel the width
It was then off up the A1 via sunny Carlby (nr Stamford) to visit my father, who ignited the petrolhead in me at an early age. Another coffee and a quick spin later he declared it a hooligan's car and spent the rest of the week ringing me to check I had not stuck it into a ditch.
A couple of favourite back roads were taken in from Stamford to Carlby and then Carlby to the A1 via Clipsham, which gave me the first glimpse of what the car could do. It goes like a stabbed rat (Ugh, that's nasty! Ed), with huge amounts of power between 4500 and 6500rpm. This is a rev range that I am not used to using as the 5-series is a diesel (bloody chancellor) and the TVR hits the limit at 6000 and has a different power curve with more low down. The synchro matching function on the gearbox is brilliant especially on A/B roads when changing down. It takes a little getting used to around town but it stayed switched on all week.
There's a whole world beyond the M25!
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. When I got back into the 5-series after a week, even with the diesel intrusion and run-flats, there was a very quiet and welcomed hush when compared with the cabin roar in the 370. Maybe different tyres would sort this, but for a car that seems so well screwed together this was a real let down. Luckily the BOSE stereo was good enough to drown most of it out but holding a conversation at motorway speeds was difficult.
All this, and they get broadband too!
The 370 was used all week including a run to Leeds and a brilliant trip over Swale and Wensley Dale, when the 20-mile commute home became an 80-mile detour - see photos - in the evening sunshine. This car is most at home on these types of roads and, although extremely hard across the bumps, gives you loads of confidence and is very sure-footed, especially when a sheep runs out into the middle of the road.
On the Thursday I lost the race to the keys as Kerry wanted to take it to work with her and I had to take the TVR for its MOT (which it passed first time no advisories!).
Yes, you guessed - we're jealous!
Kerry's words upon bringing the car home were, 'it's OK but I'd rather have the TVR'! She liked the synchro gear changing and the power but then proclaimed it a girl's car. I think she may have been trying to wrangle it for the Friday - she failed.
Another trip to Leeds on Saturday saw some trunk road bashing, and the fourth tank of fuel in the week. On Sunday it was decided a trip over to the seaside was required to clear the cobwebs out, unfortunately too late for the Malton meet (sorry Mark). The run up Sutton bank then Pickering to Whitby was frustrating stuck behind the usual Sunday chaos on the road.
There were a few overtaking moments which brought a large smile and a yelp from the passenger seat every time. However another niggle became apparent, with the car so good from 4500-6500rpm you want to utilise this. In 2nd gear at horsebox speed the revs are approx 5000, leaving you with not a lot to go until the overtake, and a mid-overtake change. In 3rd the car is too sluggish and the lower rev range doesn't give the oomph needed. I think this is all relative as it is quick all the way up the rev range - it just 'feels' slow!
Whitby - site of many a Northern hoon
Monday morning came around and the 370 had to go back. Was I sad to see it go? Yes, it had been a great week and proved that you could live with a 2-seater. Would I have one instead of the 5-sereis? No, the road noise got to me and the top of my head would be permanently bruised, and the 22mpg could not be sustained at 35k miles per year. It would be great as a toy car but there are many options for £35k that I would put above it, including TVRs and Porsches.
Would I recommend anyone to buy one as a daily driver? hell yes, especially if you are only doing 10k miles per year. Or have shares in BP...
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