Test Driving a 370z

Mt Tam I am · 01-03-2011, 10:08 AM

While still rolling, stall the car, just to feel how heavy it really is.
I would never say the Z has heavy steering compared to all the cars I have driven over the years.

EazyD · 01-03-2011, 10:14 AM

Isn't the steering stiffer the faster you go?

elmz · 01-03-2011, 11:40 AM

Are you sure it was a 370Z and not a 350Z? The 370 is super light compared to the 350. The 370 should feel very light and normal like most cars.

flashburn · 01-03-2011, 11:51 AM

Yeah, I didn't even notice a difference when I went from my RSX to the 370Z. It was probably a bit heavier, but nothing that I even noticed.

ImportConvert · 01-03-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmz

Are you sure it was a 370Z and not a 350Z? The 370 is super light compared to the 350. The 370 should feel very light and normal like most cars.

What do you mean by most cars? I have driven P71 cop cars (crown-vic's) and my G20 and even my build fox-body 5.0 and they were all WAY lighter than the 370Z's steering. Then they are not meant to handle. My '95 and '01 Trans Am's had steering very comparable to the 370Z in weight.

For "most cars", the 370Z is heavy. For a sports car, it's about right.

Vegitto-kun · 01-03-2011, 05:31 PM

the Z is heavier than normal cars

our laguna and megane are light as hell. hell I personally find the Z to steer heavier than our GT-r

I love it, makes you feel like the steering wheel is really connected to the car.

steveg78 · 01-03-2011, 07:23 PM

Why hasn't anybody suggested that the steering feels heavier due to the width of the front tires???

AlphaSnacks · 01-03-2011, 07:27 PM

My 370Z's steering is A LOT lighter than my 350Z's.

Having said that, it also depends on which 370Z you drive. The one I first test drove had 18s, which are heavier than the forged Rays and have a fatter sidewall, so its steering felt heavier, naturally.

Edit: Also tire pressure. A lot of these cars sit outside in the freezing cold and overtime PSI falls below 30s, which also makes steering heavy.

Forrest · 01-04-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnold K.

My 370Z's steering is A LOT lighter than my 350Z's.

Having said that, it also depends on which 370Z you drive. The one I first test drove had 18s, which are heavier than the forged Rays and have a fatter sidewall, so its steering felt heavier, naturally.

Edit: Also tire pressure. A lot of these cars sit outside in the freezing cold and overtime PSI falls below 30s, which also makes steering heavy.

I miss my heavy steering wheel of the 350z.

ImportConvert · 01-04-2011, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveg78

Why hasn't anybody suggested that the steering feels heavier due to the width of the front tires???

The front tires on a Z aren't very wide in the scheme of things. That's not the case here.

stealth23 · 10-09-2016, 05:43 PM

Ive noticed many owners here have this problem where the steering is very hard to turn when stopped but eases out when you start driving. As this is the case for my car since I have purchased it but have always suspected that there was some sort of an issue.

Showed my mechanic, we noticed that there was too much movement when shaking the wheels while on a lift. And that it shouldn't be very hard to turn while stopped. Which came to a conclusion that this could be a power steering rack(rack and pinion) issue.

Just wanted to put that out there.

Red__Zed · 10-09-2016, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stealth23

Ive noticed many owners here have this problem where the steering is very hard to turn when stopped but eases out when you start driving. As this is the case for my car since I have purchased it but have always suspected that there was some sort of an issue.

Showed my mechanic, we noticed that there was too much movement when shaking the wheels while on a lift. And that it shouldn't be very hard to turn while stopped. Which came to a conclusion that this could be a power steering rack(rack and pinion) issue.

Just wanted to put that out there.

In a 5.5 year old thread?

Nismodean · 10-10-2016, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

Try lifting weights once in awhile.

You sir, stole my troll! I demand satisfaction!

JARblue · 10-12-2016, 10:49 AM

My steering got really loose a few weeks ago all of a sudden on the road. Steering rack is on order and scheduled to be replaced next week. Under warranty, thankfully. 85K miles on the car.

01-03-2011, 10:08 AM	#16 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	While still rolling, stall the car, just to feel how heavy it really is. I would never say the Z has heavy steering compared to all the cars I have driven over the years. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." 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

01-03-2011, 10:14 AM	#17 (permalink)
EazyD A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 1,211 Drives: 2010 6MT Sport pkg. Rep Power: 26	Isn't the steering stiffer the faster you go? __________________ Pearl White 2010 370Z Sport, Stillen CBE, tint, K&N drop-in filters, GT-R start button, Kenwood DNX-6980 with backup cam, LED bulbs, Raceseng shift knob.

01-03-2011, 11:51 AM	#19 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	Yeah, I didn't even notice a difference when I went from my RSX to the 370Z. It was probably a bit heavier, but nothing that I even noticed. __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

01-03-2011, 07:27 PM	#23 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	My 370Z's steering is A LOT lighter than my 350Z's. Having said that, it also depends on which 370Z you drive. The one I first test drove had 18s, which are heavier than the forged Rays and have a fatter sidewall, so its steering felt heavier, naturally. Edit: Also tire pressure. A lot of these cars sit outside in the freezing cold and overtime PSI falls below 30s, which also makes steering heavy. Last edited by AlphaSnacks; 01-03-2011 at 07:29 PM.

10-12-2016, 10:49 AM	#29 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	My steering got really loose a few weeks ago all of a sudden on the road. Steering rack is on order and scheduled to be replaced next week. Under warranty, thankfully. 85K miles on the car. Mt Tam I am likes this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

01-03-2011, 11:40 AM	#18 (permalink)
elmz Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 674 Drives: 2014 Porsche Boxster Rep Power: 17	Are you sure it was a 370Z and not a 350Z? The 370 is super light compared to the 350. The 370 should feel very light and normal like most cars.

01-03-2011, 05:31 PM	#21 (permalink)
Vegitto-kun A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 2,011 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 262	the Z is heavier than normal cars our laguna and megane are light as hell. hell I personally find the Z to steer heavier than our GT-r I love it, makes you feel like the steering wheel is really connected to the car.

01-03-2011, 07:23 PM	#22 (permalink)
steveg78 Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MD Posts: 569 Drives: 09 370Z PG M6 +Sport Rep Power: 17	Why hasn't anybody suggested that the steering feels heavier due to the width of the front tires???

10-09-2016, 05:43 PM	#26 (permalink)
stealth23 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 73 Drives: 09 370z Sports pkg 6 Rep Power: 11	Ive noticed many owners here have this problem where the steering is very hard to turn when stopped but eases out when you start driving. As this is the case for my car since I have purchased it but have always suspected that there was some sort of an issue. Showed my mechanic, we noticed that there was too much movement when shaking the wheels while on a lift. And that it shouldn't be very hard to turn while stopped. Which came to a conclusion that this could be a power steering rack(rack and pinion) issue. Just wanted to put that out there.

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