1.) First time you drove a 370Z ... How did it feel? Fall in love right away? The first time I stood next to a GM 370z Nismo I fell in love with it. Unfortunately the dealer would not let me drive it...something about it being super exclusive or whatever. Same guys that wouldn't budge on their price, same guys that didn't get the sale, same guys who had to close less than 6 months later...but I digress. A week later I walked into another dealership, test drove it like I stole it, and then literally stole it because we got a helluva deal. Haven't looked back since.
2.) What car did you own before the 370Z? 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8...ridiculously fast. Love the Z so much more. It's fast and can handle. Probably also part of the reason it doesn't feel as fast as it is...because its very stable, much more stable than the Jeep. I wish the interior was a little more upscale, the Jeep's felt richer...but I've seen some builds in here that are both beastly and plush and that's part of the fun of it all. The wife had a 2010 Black on Black Camaro 2SS. Sexy car no doubt but it was huge. I wanted something that felt more like the cockpit of a fighter jet and the Z fit the bill.
3.) Do I just need more time driving the 370Z? Or, if I didn't get that tingling sensation right away, should I just move on? I would say spend more time. Visit a dealer that will let you drive the car, and if they don't... drive it anyway. If you're going to spend 30-40K on a sportscar you need to drive the hell out of it. I've never had a dealer refuse to sell me a car because I drove it too hard. But remember you really shouldn't be pushing the RPMs until its broken in and as most have noted, this car just gets sweeter when she's broken in. I'd like to make two recommendations. 1st find a dealer that has a used one and really put it through its paces. 2nd, find your local z meet and go. Really check out the cars and see if anyone is willing to take you on a spirited ride. If you were in SoCal I promise to take some years off your life and I'm bone stock. This car is meant to be driven with intention...it needs emotional content.
Here are the cars I test drove before I got my Z for the sake of comparison...keep in mind that both my wife and I were looking and this wasn't about price...I was looking for a tough but sexy driving machine, she was looking for a luxury sedan with some respectable kick. These were all tested in an 10 month span:
Audi: S5 Coupe & Convertible, A6, A7
BMW: 335ix, M3 Coupe & Convertible, 550ix
Cadillac: CTS-V
Ford: Mustang GT
Infiniti: G37, M37, M56
Jaguar: XF
Lexus: GS 350 & 550, LS 460, IS350 F Sport, ISF
Mercedes: E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe & Convertible
Nissan: 370z Roadster, 370z Nismo
After considering what you wrote I belive that this car has everything you want. It has looks for days...my wife catches people nearly breaking their necks almost daily. The car is that sexy. It looks fast standing still. Drive it hard and it'll snap yours too. Fun factor it has in spades, especially in the twisties. As everyone else has been saying it's deceptively fast....but if you want you can make it even faster. You can also make it your own with all the mods and accessories you can imagine. Plus you're also buying into a 40+ year old legacy and a brotherhood (and sisterhood) of incredible people. For that alone its worth it to me. Good luck with your decision. Z Nation!
