Official 370z problems

ImportConvert

Just reading the forums and stating how I would correct the issues at hand:

-Transmission has weak synchro's.
---Don't skip gears.

-Some drivers find that the car does actually overheat on their daily commute. How they actually drive is anyone's guess, but on the street I can't imagine being able to drive any of the cars I have owned to the point of overheating if everything was in working order.
----Get a cooler with a thermostat. Too cool is just as bad and maybe worse than too hot.

-Early models had a whining sound come from the PCM.
----Swap it out.

-Some 2009's used oil.
----Fixed via Nissan.

-The paint is 3mm thick. This is some of the thinnest in the industry. It allows for truly awesome "depth" of color.
----A clear-bra is mandatory.

-Some people complain about "cabin noise". I have driven 370's and don't think it's an issue.
----If you must, there are many products on the market like "Blockit", and others.

Armonster

Interesting. Can someone elaborate on this?

spearfish25

When you change gears, a synchro must match input and output shaft speeds to get the gears to align. A synchro is a chamfered ring that helps the two shafts match speeds as one slowly engages the chamfer. If you skip gears, you have a larger disparity in input and output shaft speeds, and that burden is put on the synchro to overcome (additional wear). So by sequentially rather than skip shifting, you make the synchro's work easier.

You can safely skip shift if you double clutch. By double clutching, you manually match input and output shaft speeds and negate the need for a synchro. This is how guys who killed their synchros continued driving and how EVERYONE drove before a synchromesh gearbox.

The beauty of SRM is that it allows a perfect 6-4 double clutch downshift and even does the blip for you.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

hansoac

This is only a problem if you are in a hurry: Walking out of a convenient store/gas station/ mall/ etc; and you get "Hey man nice car, what is it, how fast does it go, where did you get it, how many seats does it have, can I lick it, can my wife lick it and i watch, what colors do they make, thats a pretty color, etc" That is the only issue I have run across, keeps me from getting places in a hurry

ImportConvert

Well, this one will take a lot less time to answer now, at least.

Mt Tam I am

I find that young ladies want to go for a ride in it. As a result I've had trouble sleeping just thinking about the one who is coming back Thursday or Friday for one (a ride in the car only). Graduated from college in December. I'm sure I have a better shot of winning the lottery, than winning her*, but I enjoy driving around with pretty girls all the same.

* I bet I'm older than her father.

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Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

zmyride

Issues for me:

1. Speed limit signs appear blurry on the freeway.

2. I love my 370Z, so do cops. I got pulled over for going below the speed limit in a construction zone. He asked to see my drivers license and insurance then let me go. He told me he'd been watching me for 5 miles before pulling me over. Why the heck he pulled me over for going under the speed limit, god knows.

3. Cannot haul grocery. trunk too small, no cover. I'm not willing to buy a cover yet.

4. Get lots of jealousy and stares from 350Z drivers.

5. Paint quality.

AllForTheCash

I have skipped gears for years on my manuals and never had any transmission problems, but then again I'm at low RPM and doing what you call "double clutching" (sometimes pulling in and out of gears without the clutch) 1-3, 3-5, or 2-4, 4-6. I do not do this with hard launches or high RPMS. No problems ever.

Funny thing is they mention the same thing on other car websites and drivers argue they never have problems with the synchros

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2010 370z Brilliant Silver/Frost - Touring - Sport - Navigation - 6MT

ImportConvert

Just do a search on "370Z Synchro" or the like.
Double-clutching takes all the stress/work off the synchro. I wouldn't think you would have an issue.
The paint is very thin (3 mils) and very soft. I do not have a technical spec for its softness, but I can say that I have seen a TON! of 370Z's on the lots locally, and almost, if not all of them I have looked at already have swirls, scratches, and other stuff. I have never seen this on the camaro's, mustangs, corvettes, etc. The 370Z's just get scratched easier it looks like. Looked at 2 Nissan dealerships, so it's not just 1 bad wash-boy killing cars.

OldGuy

No problems at all on my '09 Base. Nver back to the dealer since purchase---although I've only put 5,100 mi. on her. They only concern I really have so far is the thin paint and I drive very carefully and defensively because it is so vulnerable to chipping, etc. Glad I have the ClearBra.

Masa

The thin paint in my experience is more to do with Japanese manufactured cars. I owned multiple Nissan and Honda vehicles and I noticed the paint used by both manufacturers were thinner and more prone to chipping compared to my VW GTI and other family/friends non-Japanese cars like Ford etc.

OldGuy

I wrote the above post after owning my 2009 Z 1.5 years and 5,000 miles. I'm now at 4 years and 12,500 miles. The problems I've encountered are relatively minor and as follows:
1) Thin paint resolved with ClearBra from day one of ownership. Bought the brand new and perfect. She's still perfect and looks showroom new.
2) Steering lock module. The unit never failed on me and was nevertheless replaced preemptively under recall.
3) Inaccurate ambient temperature module-replaced under warranty.
4) Horrific cabin noise-resolved by replacing crappy stock tires with Continentals
5) Sticky back hatch-new springs installed under warranty.
Aside from those relatively minor items, common to the new model in 2009, the car has been fine. I don't track her, so the oil temp has been within normal range in normal daily driving.
Had I to do it all over again, I would, especially as I bought the car at the end of the 2009 model year, cash and no trade, at a price below dealer cost. He was glad to move the car and I was glad to buy at that price, so everyone's happy. I expect to keep the car 10 more years for a full 100,000 miles.