RE: Nissan 370Z MY18: Driven

[cerb4.5lee]

I've had a 370Z GT Roadster for a few weeks now and I'm absolutely loving it. It has an upgraded intake and exhaust and I think it sounds brilliant. I love the old school feel of it and it raises a massive smile for me.

The weight of them has always been a concern for me and it isn't the last word in the tight twisties(my Mini Cooper S is better in that situation). It is more GT than sports car and I'm fine with that and I can see me being very happy with it.

The £575 tax is a bit of a wind up though in fairness when you consider that it isn't a V8 or really that quick.

[Shifter1]

cjm said:

Odd how people are saying its old tech and things have moved on then everyone seems to also complain about new cars switching from manuals to dual clutch gearboxes and from NA to turbocharged...

Yes. Agree. Quite contradictory. I honestly like that somebody still sells a car like the 370Z. Even if I prefer the 350Z looks.

But as old as the 370Z is, what makes it odd is exactly what makes it special. What else is out the like it which you can buy new?

Sure it's doesn't behave exactly like a sports car. But then again there is basically nothing out there any more which is like the 370Z let alone something which is like it and drives as a sports car. Maybe the new Vantage AMR with a manual will do. But I have never driven a new Vantage and have seen people saying the same thing people say about the 350Z and 370Z. It's more GT than sports car. Maybe the AMR treatment will change that. But even then, it is still a turbo and not a NA engine.

The fact is there is nothing out there which checks all boxes. A sports car which is a front engined coupe with a large-ish NA engine, great sound, enough power, manual gearbox, drop dead gorgeous looks, great on B-roads, you know, offering that real sports car feel. Not even if you up the budget or go back a few years. Actually I can't remember the last one which checked all the above boxes for me.

Currently, from those you can buy new, closest is a V6 manual F-type or the new Vantage AMR. But both are forced induction even if they would check all the other boxes. Sad, sad, sad unfortunately.

Edited by Shifter1 on Sunday 5th May 19:53