Friday 16th April 2010

PH Fleet: Nissan 370Z Coupe

A big PH 'hello' for the latest addition to our car park

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There should be a little space in every PHer's heart for the Nissan Z-car, shouldn't there? Well, that's what we reckon anyway, so we're putting the theory to the test by finding space in our car park for a new 370Z.

The Z has a long and illustrious history, highlighted recently by David Vivian's excellent PH Heroes article, and from the moment we first drove the newest version a year ago it was clear the 'fun factor' was still part of the core philosophy. So we had a quiet word with Nissan, and persuaded them a long-term test car was the only way we'd ever be able to properly appreciate the new machine's undoubtedly fine qualities. Charming folk that they are, they believed us...

OY10 PDX has now been with us a couple of weeks, and certainly looks the part in its gleaming Storm White metallic paint with Dark Grey interior – set off by a set of 19" RAYS forged alloys.

The Zed (or Zee as some would have it) has always been a value proposition, and as such the options list is relatively limited so it wasn't hard to pick one. All come with a lusty 3.7, 326bhp V6 VVEL petrol engine, limited-slip diff, and a six-speed manual gearbox with a seven-speed auto option.

The entry model comes in at £28,345, which seems especially good value as it's already well kitted out with Xenons, 'leccy seats and the like. However, being suckers for toys, we opted for the GT pack, giving us a full-house Bose stereo, full leather seats, bigger wheels, and synchro-rev with the six speed manual transmission – to which we also added Nissan's fab Connect Premium sat-nav. With Scratch Shield metallic paint adding £550 to the price tag, a fully-specced up 370 like this will set you back £33,350 which, when you start totting up the price of Porsche Cayman options, doesn't sound too scary at all.

Of course the 370Z isn't a Porsche, and we're not sure how many potential Cayman buyers would even consider a sports car with a Nissan badge on the nose. But that's not really the point if you're looking up at the Porsche from a more impecunious perspective, from whence the 370Z really does look a bit of a steal. After all, it delivers much of what the Porsche has to offer in terms of outright performance and grip, if not the extra topping of finesse on the limit that you'd expect to set the more exotic German apart.

But as a stand-alone driving experience, the 370Z is damn quick, and bags of fun. We like the way it looks too, so as you can imagine we’re pretty fired-up about getting to know it a whole lot better over the coming months.

Nissan 370Z Coupe GT Pack manual:
Engine: VQ37VHR
Cylinders: V6, 60deg.
Capacity: 3696cc
Bore x stroke: 95.5 x 86.0mm
Max power: 331PS/7000rpm
Max torque: 366Nm/5200rpm

Brakes disks: 355x32mm(F), 350x20mm(R)
Wheels: 19" RAYS forged alloy
Tyres: 245/45 R19(F), 275 /35 R19(R)
(Bridgestone Potenza)

Kerb weight: 1496kgs
Weight distribution F/R(%): 53/47

Top Speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.3secs
Economy: 26.9mpg(Comb.)

Insurance grp: 20E/47

[Mannginger]

What's going on with this picture, it looks like one of those silly cartoon cars.



Other than that I like the concept of the car and think it looks ok but I sat in one at the PH Sunday Service at Nissan's HQ and was distinctly unimpressed with the packaging. There's no room for anything in there, which is a shame IMO as it relegates it to being a second car for me and there's a lot out there that would take precedent in that space with that kind of money.

Phil

Edited for spelling

Edited by Mannginger on Friday 16th April 13:12

[soad]

Nice looking motor that, hard to argue with performance either. Me likey it very much.

[teen_cerbera]

I really want to like this car, I just cant see past the wing overlapping the headlamps, it just looks wrong to me

[esudfu]

I like this car. Maybe not as pretty as the 350 but has a certain look about it that makes it match the GTR a bit better visually.

However, how long has the 370Z been available in the UK? I haven't seen a single one on the road? Maybe not as big a seller as the 350 was?

[UncappedTag]

I have an itch to take one of these for a test drive. I like these a lot

[Yeast Lord]

Does it have a pointy quick front end like the s2k or more of the same tailout fun with a slow rack?

[Dan_1981]

So what else is in the PH fleet at the moment?

The M6, the 350Z....... and?

[Belfast Boy]

Had one of these behind me in my Zee yesterday, might wait a few years to buy one. I wouldn't even consider a Porker, they are too Common around here.
Never liked the 350z, but I agree I'm not sure about the light treatment with the overlap, might make it look dated quickly?

[chris_crossley]

Spookie....

Just had to make the choice between a Z370 and a Boxster PDK. Not fussed about the Cayman.

Think i am going Boxster, but can say the Z370 was very good to drive, Very chuckable. I test drove the auto (duff knee, so no choice). Gear changes where not as smooth as i would have liked. PDK on the porsche is impressive. You have to get the Porsche with the angry button (sports Plus) otherwise its a bit tame for my liking. To get the most out of the Z370 you need to have a heavy right foot.

Nice car, sure you will enjoy it.

[vz-r_dave]

I love this car, it has the right amount of HP, the right size engine, Nissan reliability and ofcourse price and it looks fantastic in the flesh. Some pictures make it look rather odd.

[vz-r_dave]

chris_crossley said:

Spookie....

Just had to make the choice between a Z370 and a Boxster PDK. Not fussed about the Cayman.

Think i am going Boxster, but can say the Z370 was very good to drive, Very chuckable. I test drove the auto (duff knee, so no choice). Gear changes where not as smooth as i would have liked. PDK on the porsche is impressive. You have to get the Porsche with the angry button (sports Plus) otherwise its a bit tame for my liking. To get the most out of the Z370 you need to have a heavy right foot.

Nice car, sure you will enjoy it.

Nice level headed input, doesnt happen around here that often ;-)

[R66STU]

Saw one of these the weekend at my local stealership.. Bloody nice car, and pictures dont do it justice.. (and in the flesh i can tell you, it looks much better that the 350) the way the roof slopes at the back looks cool too.

[Charge99]

I'll be up for one of these in a couple of years time when depreciation has taken it's toll... I've been in a friends 350z and it seemed a really good quick car, just couldn't bring myself to buy what is a bit ugly, esp from the back - The 370z looks much better though.

Only thing is, I wish they'd remove the limiter on these kind of sports cars, not for any practical reason, just because it's nice to compare like with like, especially when the Cayman and Boxster quote top speeds around 170mph.

[Dagnut]

Minor complaints about the colour and hate those rims...but this car has everything you could want. Agree with Earlier poster have not seen 1 on the road, has it been a flop?

[jon-]

I want that car.

I've still yet to see more than 1 370z on the road, and I do 20k PA and always keep a look out for fellow Z's.

I don't know why the British just don't get the 350/370... not that i'm complaining though. Who wants to drive something everyone has

[RacingPete]

jon- said:

Who wants to drive something everyone has

Completely agree with that, and actually when driving it recently and another one beeped as I was pulled over on the side of the road I was a little miffed that my exclusivity had been dented slightly.

[Dick Dastardly]

I've had a 350Z for two years now, which is one of the longest times I've kept a car. It's a very capable machine and great if you fancy a quick blast on a country road or just want a comfortable cruise along the motorway. Could do with a bit more power though.

[Luke.]

More interesting than a Cayman.

[Gizmo!]

I never liked the 350Z: couldn't take to it somehow.

However - I sat in one of these the other day at a Nissan dealer and really like it. The interior is a little plasticky but it's all very solid, nice-feeling plastics; the outside is stunning and it's not exactly slow.

The one thing is: the one I sat in was a '40th Anniversary' model: black, darker-coloured alloys and a gorgeous red suede leather interior. But it wasn't for sale.

[anonymous-user]

The NISMO kit makes it one of the best looking cars I've ever seen.

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