BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0SI to Nissan 370Z?

[A44RON]

Had my Z4 Coupe for almost two years now. And while it's exceeded expectations in many ways, I think it's time for a change into something a bit more modern and with a tad more power.

Still want the same ingredients - coupe, rwd, naturally-aspirated, minimum six cylinders, decent throttle response & sound etc.

Looking at a 2010-2012 Nissan 370Z, on paper they tick a lot of boxes. What's people's experiences of running a 370Z?

Cheers

[Oldandslow]

Try here
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[coldel]

Join 350z-uk.com plenty owners there who are pretty honest about the pros and cons of their cars and don't just see them through rose tinted glasses.

[A44RON]

Thanks

I did briefly consider a 2008 350Z, but the interiors are way behind the 370Z

[flight147z]

I'm biased, but I can't see how it's anything other than a step back from the Z

Also interested to hear from those who have driven both to understand what about the Nissan is better than the BMW

Cayman would be the obvious step up I would have thought?

[cerb4.5lee]

flight147z said:

I'm biased, but I can't see how it's anything other than a step back from the Z

Also interested to hear from those who have driven both to understand what about the Nissan is better than the BMW

BMW for me really struggle in the sports car department(they are brilliant at sport saloons though), and my Z4M had a cheap feeling interior/lousy ride/crap gearbox/unresolved chassis. When I drove the 350Z I preferred the gearbox/engine, but it still felt heavy like the Z4 and the ride had a few issues too.

[CABC]

flight147z said:

I'm biased, but I can't see how it's anything other than a step back from the Z

Also interested to hear from those who have driven both to understand what about the Nissan is better than the BMW

Cayman would be the obvious step up I would have thought?

suspension is what holds the BMW back, it's needlessly harsh and quite unsporting. The 370 by comparison is more resolved. That being said, the 370 still feels very heavy and not sporty enough. Mods would address both car's issues to a degree.

I've always wondered why BMW never built a good Z. As a company they're clearly capable.

[cerb4.5lee]

CABC said:

I've always wondered why BMW never built a good Z. As a company they're clearly capable.

It has always fascinated me that BMW do such a good job with their saloons, yet they don't seem interested in putting the time in with the Z4. It is baffling really.

[coldel]

A44RON said:

Thanks

I did briefly consider a 2008 350Z, but the interiors are way behind the 370Z

Bear in mind the interior of a 370z is way behind the interior of equivalent BMWs etc.

The 350z-uk.com forum also has 370z's on it, if you type in 370z-uk.com it forwards you to 350z-uk.com automatically. Loads of owners on there who can give you proper information and user experiences (first thing they will tell you is to pull the fuse for the steering lock for example )

[coldel]

CABC said:

suspension is what holds the BMW back, it's needlessly harsh and quite unsporting. The 370 by comparison is more resolved. That being said, the 370 still feels very heavy and not sporty enough. Mods would address both car's issues to a degree.

I've always wondered why BMW never built a good Z. As a company they're clearly capable.

The 370z is as designed a GT car not a sports car, it certainly has the sporting credentials with the V6 and 300+ bhp but it is really a solid GT car. AS mentioned though the mod scene for the Zed is huge and the cars came with some nice surprises if you looked hard enough (OEM forged alloy wheels, carbon fibre prop shaft etc.)

[flight147z]

cerb4.5lee said:

BMW for me really struggle in the sports car department(they are brilliant at sport saloons though), and my Z4M had a cheap feeling interior/lousy ride/crap gearbox/unresolved chassis. When I drove the 350Z I preferred the gearbox/engine, but it still felt heavy like the Z4 and the ride had a few issues too.

CABC said:

suspension is what holds the BMW back, it's needlessly harsh and quite unsporting. The 370 by comparison is more resolved. That being said, the 370 still feels very heavy and not sporty enough. Mods would address both car's issues to a degree.

I've always wondered why BMW never built a good Z. As a company they're clearly capable.

I did look at the 370z when I bought my Z4 (but didn't drive one)

Back then the good ones started at about £17k. I can see they have dropped a lot since then though and there are now cars that I would be interested in from around £11k. They look like a nice option at that price, though I still think the practicality and the engine in the Z4 is better.

Externally the 370 still looks great, the 350 looks quite dated

[CABC]

flight147z said:

though I still think the practicality and the engine in the Z4 is better.

awesome engine.

[Mr Tidy]

CABC said:

awesome engine.

Certainly is.

But as I've had a Z4 Coupe for over 4 years I may be a bit biased too!

The only thing I would replace it with would be a Z4M Coupe.

[A44RON]

Yup the engine is an absolute peach and very flexible as a daily.

Dynamically the Z4 Coupe 3.0SI handles better than the 370Z, but there's no denying the Nissan is outright faster. I like the GT pretentions of the 370Z too.

Z4 Coupe feels like a half-sports/half-GT car, which is not a bad thing. I just really fancy a 370Z now, they look fantastic and still maintains that old-school appeal

[nunpuncher]

Z4C to 370Z is a sideways step rather than forwards or back. Neither offer fantastic handling or blistering acceleration.

If it's speed you want then go for the newer Z4 35i, TTRS (or anything else with a turbo) and get it remapped. If it's handling and covering ground quicker you want then get a cayman.

[A44RON]

Tiff and Jason Plato said the Z4C handled very well (even when compared to Cayman) when they tested it on Fifth Gear. The Cayman obvs had the slighter edge.

The two seats are almost over the rear axle and the Z4C has sublime weight distribution.

Any Audi TT is a no from me (lifeless steering and understeer).