My wife use to own a 2007 Solstice GXP (Auto), in stock form the power was ok. After I had it tuned to 290hp 325lbft at the crank it was a little rocket. Well unfortunately I totaled the car one day coming home from work.
I needed another car to replace the Solstice and still wanted the fun factor as you described the Mazda Speed 3 has. I looked at a lot of cars, but came down to buying the 370z. Coming from a tuned turbo charged car like the Solstice it was hard to tell if the 370z was faster. It’s the extra torque that made the Solstice feel like a rocket; the 370z is faster the ¼ mile times don’t lie. The best I could get with the Solstice 13.6, based on others confirming the 370z 7AT 13.3 ¼ mile time is faster.