Review after driving the Z for a day

Matt · 10-22-2009, 12:57 PM

I've done hours and hours of reading, across the [seemingly] entire Internet, trying to absorb every possible piece of information available about the 2009 370z. I actually think I got pretty close to getting it all...

I've read the bad reviews. You know, the ones where people can't stand the Z. Whether they be BMW lovers or Camaro drivers, they nitpick about every little detail and turn in negative. I've also read the euphoric reviews. You know, the ones where the driver is so excited to be driving a Z, he couldn't possibly notice anything wrong short of the steering wheel missing.

So here I go, my semi-lengthy review after driving the 370z Nismo for one day. I'll try not to make this too Nismo-specific. This will be more geared to the people that are considering buying a Z.

- The exterior is beautifully done by Nissan. While some hate the look of the Nismo body kit and spoiler combo, I absolutely love it. Pictures don't do it enough justice. You lose the fangs from the front end of the base/touring, and go more towards the 350z style (which I prefer...although I certainly like the "fangs" as well). The Nismo rear bumper is a thing of beauty. The #1 thing I've heard so far from my friends is, "I thought it would be smaller!". Love it.

- The exhaust is good, not great. Compared to the base/touring exhaust, it has a noticeable, aggressive rumble to it when you start it up, as well as in higher RPMs....however, it slower dissipates at idle and lower RPMs. It won't hold a candle to the likes of Stillen and F.I, however if you're like me and you do not want to break any noise ordinances and enjoy a [slightly] quiet cabin, the Nismo exhaust is near perfect. Loud when I want it to be, quiet when I want it to be. The tips look great as well.

- The rims and tires on all the versions of the 370z are awesome. While the non-sports version leaves a little to be desired in terms of styling, I think they all still look great. I'm not sure why some people go out and get new wheels as their first big "upgrade". I've had aftermarket rims on all my previous cars, and don't think I'd ever change these out.

- The "road noise" is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. I've driven MANY cars and while it's not the quietest, it's extremely far from the loudest. I have a 1972 VW bug. I've driven "Humvees". Those are loud. I've also driven a G35 and a Lincoln Towncar....those are certainly quieter. But do you seriously want to get into a 370z and not hear anything? Didn't think so. There is no "road noise"....just "the sound of your 370z".

- Gadgets and such. The FOB is great. With controls on the doors (within 2-feet) unlocking/locking the doors, the FOB never leaves the safety of my pocket. The gauges are good, except for the far left display with mpg/mph, etc. It's a little too "1990's" for me. I would think they'd have something a little more modern, but I guess they reserve some of the niceties for the Navigation owners

- One of the concerns for many people looking at the Z as their daily driver is space. Let me tell you. I take frequent trips up the east coast with my girlfriend, and we carry a lot of **** with us. Guess what? I tried to fit it all last night....and it all fits. It sure as hell blocks my entire rear view, but it fits just fine. A friend asked me last night, "What about when you go grocery shopping?". Friends, if you're biggest worry is having enough room for your groceries, get a Murano.

- Blind spots. They are there, sure as ****. Are they bad? Not in my opinion. I don't need a special side view mirror or back up camera, even with my "obnoxiously large spoiler" (as one reviewer said of the Nismo spoiler). I can see just fine. I'm addicted to backing into parking spots, and even with my 1 day old car, I still do it with ease. Unless you're in a neck brace and your peripheral vision is horrible, you're not gonna have any issues.

- Performance. I've never driven the 300z. I've never driven a Porsche. I've never driven a Ferrari. The most hp I've ever had beneath my right foot is 162 (only counting my own cars). I'm not going to argue with people way smarter than me on performance, but I will say it's amazing. Linear acceleration from 10-20 or 70-80. When I push the pedal, the car responds generously and vigorously. And I haven't even hit 4800 RPMs yet (obeying break-in the best I can). The brakes blow away any brakes I've had before as well.

- Sync-rev is amazing. Heel-toe fanboys out there tell us they leave it turned off, but trust me....they leave it on!

- Suspension is weird in the Nismo. I'm no pro-tuner or track guru, but the Nismo is supposed to have it's own upgraded Suspension and dampers, yet it actually rides rougher than the base/touring. While it hits bumps and reacts firmly, it immediately stiffens back out. Not sure I'm explaining it well, but it certainly doesn't handle uneven pavement, bumps, low-quality roads with the most finesse.

- Nismo specific information now. I've read all over these forums, "Is the Nismo worth it?". The best answer I've read is "if you want the Nismo, then yes". Can you upgrade the base/sport/ to achieve better performance than the Nismo, with less money? Absolutely. Can you get all the luxuries of the Touring for nearly the same price? Absolutely. Does the Nismo have enough to warrant the price difference anyways? Yes! I won't go into full detail, but with all the extras in the Nismo, and no plan (or need) to do any additional performance upgrades, the Nismo is perfect for me.

When I got the Z, I was thinking I would drive it for 3-5 years until the "next best thing" came out. But as much fun as I've had in the past 36 hours driving the car, I hope this will have a permanent spot in my garage, regardless of what future cars I may purchase.

370Zsteve · 10-22-2009, 01:04 PM

Outstanding!

Endgame · 10-22-2009, 01:12 PM

nice review...

StLRedrider · 10-22-2009, 01:16 PM

congrats and welcome aboard, can we see some pics of your new ride

StLRedrider · 10-22-2009, 01:18 PM

just seen the pics

Matt · 10-22-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StLRedrider

congrats and welcome aboard, can we see some pics of your new ride

http://www.the370z.com/new-370z-owne...red-nismo.html

:P Love the car!

370Zsteve · 10-22-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

http://www.the370z.com/new-370z-owne...red-nismo.html

:P Love the car!

That's the first time I've seen pics of the Nismo in red. I never cared for the Nismo look until I saw these pics...stunning.

theDreamer · 10-22-2009, 01:24 PM

Congrats on the car, nice review, and great pictures.

j.arnaldo · 10-22-2009, 01:37 PM

...in which case, if I love my 350Z--which I do--, I'd probably flip over the 370! It's definitely cuter than the 350! Maybe, $ome day, I'll be able to get one...Congrats, dude!

Matt · 10-22-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.arnaldo

...in which case, if I love my 350Z--which I do--, I'd probably flip over the 370! It's definitely cuter than the 350! Maybe, $ome day, I'll get one...

I've never driven a 350z, but I parked next to an 08 350z yesterday. It's certainly a visual upgrade, to me at least, from the 350z. The 350z is still really nice!

Lug · 10-22-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

That's the first time I've seen pics of the Nismo in red. I never cared for the Nismo look until I saw these pics...stunning.

It's weird. I usually loath red sports cars...until I saw the first red 370Z and thought that it looked pretty damm good. Then I saw the first pics of the red NISMO. HO Ly Shite! The color just does something magic to body shape.

BTW, Berk HFC's on the NISMO will equal big big win! Only mod I'd do.

370Zsteve · 10-22-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug

It's weird. I usually loath red sports cars...until I saw the first red 370Z and thought that it looked pretty damm good. Then I saw the first pics of the red NISMO. HO Ly Shite! The color just does something magic to body shape.

BTW, Berk HFC's on the NISMO will equal big big win! Only mod I'd do.

When I stoped at a local dealer with my wife, (who has always said she loathes red cars) she saw the red Touring and said "wow, it looks like a Ferrari".

Matt · 10-22-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug

BTW, Berk HFC's on the NISMO will equal big big win! Only mod I'd do.

What does that do in terms of emissions? I'm not really worried that much, as my state doesn't have inspections or any requirements that I know of, but I certainly don't want to do something that may be a no-go in another state if I move in the future.

What about sound? I don't want it to be so loud that I have to compensate with the volume knob on the radio, but I wouldn't mind a little longer-lasting rumble, as well as a more aggressive idle.

Lug · 10-22-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

What does that do in terms of emissions? I'm not really worried that much, as my state doesn't have inspections or any requirements that I know of, but I certainly don't want to do something that may be a no-go in another state if I move in the future.

What about sound? I don't want it to be so loud that I have to compensate with the volume knob on the radio, but I wouldn't mind a little longer-lasting rumble, as well as a more aggressive idle.

HFC's will normally pass any emissions test AFAIK, even California's. They are just a bit more expensive to make. I can't tell ya how much the sound will change but I'd bet not much. The HFC's are seeing hp gains of about 10 to 15 hp in every dyno I've seen and don't cost too terribly much. That said, I hear they are kind of a beotch to install.

VCuomo · 10-22-2009, 02:37 PM

Great review, and welcome to the club!

10-22-2009, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Matt A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Augusta, GA Age: 41 Posts: 1,680 Drives: 2010 Avalanche LT Rep Power: 19	Review after driving the Z for a day I've done hours and hours of reading, across the [seemingly] entire Internet, trying to absorb every possible piece of information available about the 2009 370z. I actually think I got pretty close to getting it all... I've read the bad reviews. You know, the ones where people can't stand the Z. Whether they be BMW lovers or Camaro drivers, they nitpick about every little detail and turn in negative. I've also read the euphoric reviews. You know, the ones where the driver is so excited to be driving a Z, he couldn't possibly notice anything wrong short of the steering wheel missing. So here I go, my semi-lengthy review after driving the 370z Nismo for one day. I'll try not to make this too Nismo-specific. This will be more geared to the people that are considering buying a Z. - The exterior is beautifully done by Nissan. While some hate the look of the Nismo body kit and spoiler combo, I absolutely love it. Pictures don't do it enough justice. You lose the fangs from the front end of the base/touring, and go more towards the 350z style (which I prefer...although I certainly like the "fangs" as well). The Nismo rear bumper is a thing of beauty. The #1 thing I've heard so far from my friends is, "I thought it would be smaller!". Love it. - The exhaust is good, not great. Compared to the base/touring exhaust, it has a noticeable, aggressive rumble to it when you start it up, as well as in higher RPMs....however, it slower dissipates at idle and lower RPMs. It won't hold a candle to the likes of Stillen and F.I, however if you're like me and you do not want to break any noise ordinances and enjoy a [slightly] quiet cabin, the Nismo exhaust is near perfect. Loud when I want it to be, quiet when I want it to be. The tips look great as well. - The rims and tires on all the versions of the 370z are awesome. While the non-sports version leaves a little to be desired in terms of styling, I think they all still look great. I'm not sure why some people go out and get new wheels as their first big "upgrade". I've had aftermarket rims on all my previous cars, and don't think I'd ever change these out. - The "road noise" is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. I've driven MANY cars and while it's not the quietest, it's extremely far from the loudest. I have a 1972 VW bug. I've driven "Humvees". Those are loud. I've also driven a G35 and a Lincoln Towncar....those are certainly quieter. But do you seriously want to get into a 370z and not hear anything? Didn't think so. There is no "road noise"....just "the sound of your 370z". - Gadgets and such. The FOB is great. With controls on the doors (within 2-feet) unlocking/locking the doors, the FOB never leaves the safety of my pocket. The gauges are good, except for the far left display with mpg/mph, etc. It's a little too "1990's" for me. I would think they'd have something a little more modern, but I guess they reserve some of the niceties for the Navigation owners - One of the concerns for many people looking at the Z as their daily driver is space. Let me tell you. I take frequent trips up the east coast with my girlfriend, and we carry a lot of ** with us. Guess what? I tried to fit it all last night....and it all fits. It sure as hell blocks my entire rear view, but it fits just fine. A friend asked me last night, "What about when you go grocery shopping?". Friends, if you're biggest worry is having enough room for your groceries, get a Murano. - Blind spots. They are there, sure as *. Are they bad? Not in my opinion. I don't need a special side view mirror or back up camera, even with my "obnoxiously large spoiler" (as one reviewer said of the Nismo spoiler). I can see just fine. I'm addicted to backing into parking spots, and even with my 1 day old car, I still do it with ease. Unless you're in a neck brace and your peripheral vision is horrible, you're not gonna have any issues. - Performance. I've never driven the 300z. I've never driven a Porsche. I've never driven a Ferrari. The most hp I've ever had beneath my right foot is 162 (only counting my own cars). I'm not going to argue with people way smarter than me on performance, but I will say it's amazing. Linear acceleration from 10-20 or 70-80. When I push the pedal, the car responds generously and vigorously. And I haven't even hit 4800 RPMs yet (obeying break-in the best I can). The brakes blow away any brakes I've had before as well. - Sync-rev is amazing. Heel-toe fanboys out there tell us they leave it turned off, but trust me....they leave it on! - Suspension is weird in the Nismo. I'm no pro-tuner or track guru, but the Nismo is supposed to have it's own upgraded Suspension and dampers, yet it actually rides rougher than the base/touring. While it hits bumps and reacts firmly, it immediately stiffens back out. Not sure I'm explaining it well, but it certainly doesn't handle uneven pavement, bumps, low-quality roads with the most finesse. - Nismo specific information now. I've read all over these forums, "Is the Nismo worth it?". The best answer I've read is "if you want the Nismo, then yes". Can you upgrade the base/sport/ to achieve better performance than the Nismo, with less money? Absolutely. Can you get all the luxuries of the Touring for nearly the same price? Absolutely. Does the Nismo have enough to warrant the price difference anyways? Yes! I won't go into full detail, but with all the extras in the Nismo, and no plan (or need) to do any additional performance upgrades, the Nismo is perfect for me. When I got the Z, I was thinking I would drive it for 3-5 years until the "next best thing" came out. But as much fun as I've had in the past 36 hours driving the car, I hope this will have a permanent spot in my garage, regardless of what future cars I may purchase. Last edited by Matt; 10-22-2009 at 11:38 PM.*

10-22-2009, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 43	Outstanding! __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

10-22-2009, 01:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
StLRedrider A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: St.louis,Mo Posts: 17,755 Drives: O9Sprt/Touring,p-51 Rep Power: 60	congrats and welcome aboard, can we see some pics of your new ride __________________ Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today J.Dean

10-22-2009, 01:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
StLRedrider A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: St.louis,Mo Posts: 17,755 Drives: O9Sprt/Touring,p-51 Rep Power: 60	just seen the pics __________________ Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today J.Dean

10-22-2009, 01:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	Congrats on the car, nice review, and great pictures. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

10-22-2009, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	nice review...

10-22-2009, 01:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	...in which case, if I love my 350Z--which I do--, I'd probably flip over the 370! It's definitely cuter than the 350! Maybe, $ome day, I'll be able to get one...Congrats, dude!

10-22-2009, 02:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
VCuomo Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 887 Drives: BMW 335i Sport Rep Power: 17	Great review, and welcome to the club!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Driving me spare	leep159	Europe	13	02-04-2010 08:30 AM
Driving Songs	bigaudiofanat	The Lounge (Off Topic)	48	10-04-2009 10:21 AM
Test Driving?	shadyDR	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	19	06-05-2009 01:50 AM
Normal driving	Nikon FM	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	5	05-13-2009 11:08 PM
Winter driving and the Z	matt2112	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	14	05-07-2009 09:49 PM