Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post - Nissan 370Z vs. rivals

AK370Z · 05-12-2010, 11:06 PM

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Summer is coming, so the Nissan 370Z Roadster could hardly have arrived at a better time. With an evocative history dating back to the 240Z of the late Sixties, the Z-car has a cult following. But is the newcomer set for mainstream success?

The Roadster adds an electric folding canvas top to the coupé version’s tempting package of 3.7-litre V6 engine, six-speed manual gearbox and high specification. And it faces two very different rivals here.

With a folding metal hard-top, the BMW Z4 arguably has the roof most suited to the vagaries of British weather. And while it can’t match the Nissan’s power, performance isn’t lacking. Its 3.0-litre straight-six engine and rear-wheel-drive layout follow the traditional roadster formula.

If you’re after ultimate driving thrills, Porsche takes some beating, and the entry-level Boxster fits the bill perfectly in this company. The mid-engined model has a smaller powerplant and fewer luxuries than its competitors here, but timeless looks and legendary handling make it a force to be reckoned with.

There’s only a few thousand pounds between our trio on price – so we test them in four key categories to find this summer’s best two-seater...

The results
1. Porsche Boxster
2. BMW Z4
3. Nissan 370Z Roadster

Which is the most user friendly?

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You don’t buy a roadster because it’s practical and easy to get on with. But the more user-friendly a car is, the happier an owner is likely to be – and the more fun it will be to run.

You could be forgiven for assuming the mid-engined Boxster is the least sensible choice, but you’d be wrong. Yes, you have to release a manual locking lever before deploying the powered hood, but once you’ve done this, it folds around 10 seconds faster than its rivals. And it also operates on the move – something that isn’t possible in the Nissan or BMW.

Living in the UK, chances are your car will spend more time with its hood up than down, so being able to open and close it on the move is a big plus. It means you can take advantage of every shaft of sunlight or avoid being caught out by a shower.

The secret to the Boxster’s success is the fact it doesn’t feature a tonneau cover. This does leave the canvas hood on show when stowed, but it still integrates neatly with the surrounding bodywork. And it doesn’t eat into boot space. The Porsche has another trick up its sleeve – it offers two load areas. Together they provide a maximum capacity of 280 litres.

Another surprise is the Boxster’s 64-litre fuel tank. With economy on our test of 26.1mpg, it gives the Porsche a healthy range of around 370 miles between fills. CO2 emissions of 221g/km rank it close behind the BMW and comfortably ahead of the Nissan. Annual road tax will set you back £245.

Thanks to its folding hard-top, the BMW is arguably the most practical car for UK weather. The extra protection provided by the tin-top design is especially handy during colder months, and the mechanism feels beautifully engineered. Unlike the Porsche, it can be operated only while the car is stationary, meaning it’s easy to get caught in a downpour.

And with the hood stowed, the BMW struggles, as the already modest load space is cramped for anything more than a couple of soft bags. It can also be difficult to retrieve items through its narrow opening. The BMW has the most refined cabin with the roof down, and its extra pair of side windows help to minimise buffeting.

Economy of 27.8mpg was the best in test, and with CO2 emissions of only 199g/km, the Z4 is the least polluting choice, meaning buyers will have to fork out £235 for a year’s road tax.

Nissan owners should get used to the sight of fuel pumps, because the 370Z achieved only 20.1mpg in its time with us. And even though it has an enormous 72-litre tank, the Roadster won’t manage to cover much more than 300 miles between fills. High emissions of 262g/km result in annual road tax of £435.

Although it can’t match the boot space on offer in the Porsche, the Nissan’s hood doesn’t encroach when folded, and the company proudly claims that you can fit a set of golf clubs inside.

Folding the canvas top requires nothing more than the flick of a switch, but the mechanism retracts noisily and its vibrations rock the car as it settles into place. You also have to raise the side windows yourself when the hood is fully deployed. And with the roof up, the shallow rear screen makes reversing a tricky task.

Which has the best interior?

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A special car needs a special cabin. So which fits the bill here?

With the hood safely stowed, the world and his wife can admire your roadster’s interior, so it needs to look good. And as you’ll be the one spending time in it, a car’s ability to make each journey feel special is a priceless asset. Good ergonomics and plenty of kit also add to the enjoyment. But which of our drop-tops boasts the best cabin?

The 370Z has a wealth of retro touches inspired by the original Z-cars, including a trio of racy circular auxiliary dials above the centre console. But while their red-on-black typeface recalls the firm’s early sports cars, it’s at odds with the white-on-black of the main instruments.

One thing you can’t fault the Nissan for, though, is the amount of standard kit inside. The GT pack includes heated and cooled leather seats, a CD changer, cruise control and xenon headlights. And Connect Premium (£1,550) adds sat-nav plus a 9.3GB hard drive.

If only the company had spent as much money on the ergonomics.

The steering wheel adjusts for rake only, while the seatbase feels too short and lacks under-thigh support. They’re electrically adjusted, but the controls are oddly located next to the wide transmission tunnel, and feel cheap. In this company, however, much of the Nissan’s cabin is below par – most notably the switchgear, elements of which are derived from other less exotic models in the firm’s range. A smattering of leather and suede help to lift the ambience a little, but poor plastics on some surfaces lower the tone.

In contrast to the dark finish in the 370Z, our BMW’s light- coloured interior is a revelation. And even with the roof in place, the Z4’s extra side windows make the cabin feel bright and airy compared to its fabric-roofed rivals. Finding the correct driving position is also easy, thanks to a fully adjustable steering wheel and excellent seats.

On the whole, the interior is well built and robust, and while some of the switchgear is shared with other BMW models, it’s of such high quality that it simply doesn’t matter. It’s also the only model on test to feature an electronic parking brake, which saves space on the centre console. One area where the Z4 can’t beat the 370Z is on standard spec. While the £33,830 price brings xenon headlights, leather trim, climate control and MP3 inputs, the car trails on toys.

Standard equipment is not the Porsche’s forte – much of the kit found on its rivals is relegated to the Boxster options list, including xenon lights and climate control. As an example, our test car had more than £11,000 worth of extras fitted, including nearly £4,500 on its lurid Exclusive paint finish and black Boxster S alloy wheels.

From behind the wheel, this seems less important, and the low-slung driving position and perfectly placed pedals provide a masterclass for interior designers. The dark leather upholstery and rooflining
made our model feel a little claustrophobic, and the traditional Porsche approach is sober for such a fun car. There’s no faulting the build quality, though, as the Boxster feels the most solidly assembled vehicle on test, with superb plastics and material quality.

The Porsche’s layout is by far the sportiest of our test trio, too. Its centrally mounted rev counter and easy to read black-on-white instruments successfully blend clarity with real racing intent.

Which is the best to drive?

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Sharp looks are all well and good – but the best roadsters must deliver behind the wheel thrills, too

Cruising along in the blazing sunshine with the top down is critical to the appeal of these models, but the roadsters in this test are built as much for driving pleasure as they are for posing appeal.

The Boxster is the most focused car in our test. Its flat-six engine is muted on start-up, although there’s a pleasing rasp when you blip the throttle – especially with the optional sports exhaust system fitted to our example.

All of the controls are perfectly weighted and well judged, while the stubby gearlever is accurate. There’s plenty of feel from the steering, and its mid-engined layout provides a neutral balance to the chassis that the other cars simply cannot match.

Body roll is negligible, but the suspension is still comfortable on long motorway drives. And while the engine can’t rival the torque outputs of its opponents, the lower kerbweight means the car never feels slower from behind the wheel. In fact, the Boxster beat the BMW from 0-60mph by one-tenth – with a time of six seconds exactly – and its in-gear performance was impressive.

Explore the rev range further, and the acceleration gets harder and faster. But even at lower speeds, the Porsche provides an enjoyable experience. Precise and well weighted controls combine with the tractable engine to make it easy to drive.

The BMW is also in its element at low speeds, thanks to soft and supple suspension. Its run-flat tyres can still drop heavily into ruts, and the steering could do with more weight, but overall, it is relaxing to drive.

Turn things up a notch, though, and the Z4 begins to struggle. Body control deteriorates across undulating tarmac, while hard acceleration or deceleration sees the nose pitch up or downwards dramatically, which is disconcerting in such a high-performance machine.

The engine feels the least responsive, too – this became clear at the test track, although there’s not much between any of our cars. The design of the BMW positions the driver slightly ahead of the rear axle, which provides near-perfect weight distribution. This balance is evident in corners, where the Z4 grips impressively.

Push too hard into a corner in the 370Z, and the front tyres will wash wide of the desired line. What’s more, the rear wheels break traction, thanks to the car’s incredibly stiff suspension set-up.

At higher speeds on bumpy roads, the 370Z darts around nervously and the fidgety ride quickly becomes tiring. In fact, the suspension is so stiff, we experienced a severe vibration through the bodyshell during
our brake tests, although this didn’t affect its performance.

At least the engine provides the kind of strong acceleration we’ve come to expect from a Z-car. The Nissan was fastest from 0-60mph, in 5.9 seconds, and was only beaten for pace in our sixth gear 50-70mph run.

Yet the Japanese car’s 3.7-litre engine doesn’t sound nearly as sweet as its rivals’. Its exhaust takes on a harsh note in the mid range that sees a strange vibration make its way through the wheel, pedals and gearlever – a major drawback in an open-top model.

Which is the most stylish?

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These cars need to look good with their roof up or down – whether it’s made of metal or fabric

Creating a sporty roadster sounds like a car designer’s dream job, but it’s a double-edged sword. The complexities of ensuring a convertible looks as good with the roof up as it does down can make this a formidable task.

It’s a trap the team behind the BMW undoubtedly fell into. The Z4’s folding metal roof is a great piece of engineering but, stylistically, it’s the car’s Achilles’ heel. When in place, the hood’s bulky mechanism stunts the roadster’s smooth flowing lines. The sharp angle of the rear window, flat rear deck and deep rear wing only serve to make the rump appear oversized. And the wheels look lost in their arches. Fold the hood down, though, and the BMW is transformed – its long-nosed proportions are reminiscent of the traditional British roadster, with a flowing bonnet, stubby rear and a low windscreen.

It’s full of muscular, cartoon-like curves – if you asked a child to draw a sports car, the Z4 shape is probably what you’d end up with. The slanted shark nose, wide kidney grille and distinctive headlamps give it an imposing and unmistakable face.

Specification and colour choice are critical, though, and while the optional 18-inch alloy wheels and black paint of our model look classy, it’s rather conservative compared to its rivals here. In contrast, the Nissan is no shrinking violet, thanks largely to our GT-spec test car’s bright Le Mans Blue paint and optional 19-inch alloys. The latter add real presence and fill the arches perfectly.

Other elements are more subtle, but no less pleasing.

For example, the integrated indicators in the Z badges on the front wing are a neat touch. However, the 370Z is the only car to have a visible aerial, and the prong on the rear deck gives it the look of an oversized radio-control toy. As with the BMW, the Nissan looks best when its roof is folded, where the speedster-style rear clamshell and muscular haunches lend it an air of real purpose.

With the roof in place, the size of the rear is accentuated, and the fabric top looks as though it is an afterthought. This is a pity given how often it will be erected.

The best balance between summer and winter style is arguably provided by the Boxster. The firm’s evolutionary approach means the latest car is a familiar shape. Ignore the vivid blue paint on our model – it’s an ill-advised £2,774 option – and it looks great, whether the roof is up or down.

A mid-engined layout gives the Porsche a squat shape, making it appear more purposeful and focused than the BMW and Nissan. Side-mounted engine intakes and a central exhaust add to the sporty lines.

And while critics will say the Boxster’s styling is too similar to its Cayman and 911 stablemates, we think this is a strength, rather than a weakness.

When the roof is stowed, you’ll notice there are no fancy tonneau covers to hide the fabric hood. It’s not exactly messy, but doesn’t provide the same slick profile of its roadster rivals in this test, either.

Source: Nissan 370Z vs. rivals | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express