370Z Observations After Test Drive

I want a Z · 03-14-2011, 10:51 AM

Well, I am still on my hunt for a new sporty car. Been looking for about 2 years now and just can't pull the trigger. Saturday I was able to take a Z out for a test drive without the salesman. It's really nice to be able to take a test drive without someone babbling in your ear.
I drove a 2011 Automatic with Sport & Touring

I had all the positives and negative remarks about this car from the forum in my head while I was driving and here are my impressions.

Performance: Just awesome, car handles great, accelerates fast and is very fun to drive. No problem here.

Cabin Noise: With so many complaints on the forum about cabin noise, I paid special attention to this. I made sure I found some roads with some loose gravel to see about the wheel well complaints. There is a lot of noise in the cabin, but I actually really enjoyed it. It was nice to hear what the car is doing. The pebbles in the wheel well was really not that big of a deal, I loved hearing the engine noise. My only minor complaint was a few times I checked to see if the window were up all the way, it seemed like there was more wind noise in the cabin then I expected.
Overall I don't think the cabin noise is an issue, the car sounds like I would expect.

Paint: The paint, as others have noted, is not great. They had a convertible in the showroom that just look awful. I could see all the usual complaints.

Side View Mirrors - I have read some complaints that the side view mirrors are too large and get in the way of lane passes. I did not see this at all. I think the owners that are complaining just do not know how to adjust and use the side view mirrors correctly. I was changing lanes with confidence and did not feel nervous at all.

Seats: This is probably my biggest complaint and may actually prevent me from buying a Z. The seats are just not as comfortable as they could be. During my 15 min. test drive, I was constantly adjusting the seats to find a comfortable position. I also notice that the top of the seats have a lot of flex to them. If you push on the headrest, the top of the seat flexes. You can also feel this if you push your head back into the headrest. I looked at the roadster seats and they are different. The overall seat has much less flex. I would of like to see nissan spend and extra $250 and offer better seats.

Overall I really liked the cars, but I am going to have to give a better look at the 5.0 and cayman

m4a1mustang · 03-14-2011, 10:52 AM

You should come down to the Fairfax Z meet this weekend, you can check out my 5.0.

shadoquad · 03-14-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I want a Z

If you push on the headrest, the top of the seat flexes. You can also feel this if you push your head back into the headrest.

I didn't like this at first, although I read, I believe in the manual, that the top of the seat is designed like that specifically to prevent whiplash (iirc).

GZ3 · 03-14-2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

You should come down to the Fairfax Z meet this weekend, you can check out my 5.0.

lol steve always recruiting potential 5.0 owers on a Z site!

shadoquad · 03-14-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GZ3

lol steve always recruiting potential 5.0 owers on a Z site!

Yeah, he's

m4a1mustang · 03-14-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GZ3

lol steve always recruiting potential 5.0 owers on a Z site!

m4a1mustang · 03-14-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Yeah, he's

You know this from experience.

shadoquad · 03-14-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

You know this from experience.

No, I do

toxik · 03-14-2011, 11:29 AM

dude, steve's mustang gets around.... it has seen its fair share of butts

GZ3 · 03-14-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxik

dude, steve's mustang gets around.... it has seen its fair share of butts

hahaha, she's a Whore.0

shadoquad · 03-14-2011, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GZ3

hahaha, she's a Five Point Ho

GZ3 · 03-14-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

m4a1mustang · 03-14-2011, 11:41 AM

I want a Z · 03-14-2011, 11:42 AM

I really may have to go back and give the Cayman a good look.
I did test drive one a few weeks ago, and it was comfortable.
Also P's always rate 1st in quality. It's really interesting to read their brochures, so much information on the car compared to the sparse Z brochure

m4a1mustang · 03-14-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I want a Z

I really may have to go back and give the Cayman a good look.
I did test drive one a few weeks ago, and it was comfortable.
Also P's always rate 1st in quality. It's really interesting to read their brochures, so much information on the car compared to the sparse Z brochure

Are you looking at a new or used P car?

03-14-2011, 10:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
I want a Z Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MD Posts: 225 Drives: 03 Chevy Avalanche Rep Power: 15	370Z Observations After Test Drive Well, I am still on my hunt for a new sporty car. Been looking for about 2 years now and just can't pull the trigger. Saturday I was able to take a Z out for a test drive without the salesman. It's really nice to be able to take a test drive without someone babbling in your ear. I drove a 2011 Automatic with Sport & Touring I had all the positives and negative remarks about this car from the forum in my head while I was driving and here are my impressions. Performance: Just awesome, car handles great, accelerates fast and is very fun to drive. No problem here. Cabin Noise: With so many complaints on the forum about cabin noise, I paid special attention to this. I made sure I found some roads with some loose gravel to see about the wheel well complaints. There is a lot of noise in the cabin, but I actually really enjoyed it. It was nice to hear what the car is doing. The pebbles in the wheel well was really not that big of a deal, I loved hearing the engine noise. My only minor complaint was a few times I checked to see if the window were up all the way, it seemed like there was more wind noise in the cabin then I expected. Overall I don't think the cabin noise is an issue, the car sounds like I would expect. Paint: The paint, as others have noted, is not great. They had a convertible in the showroom that just look awful. I could see all the usual complaints. Side View Mirrors - I have read some complaints that the side view mirrors are too large and get in the way of lane passes. I did not see this at all. I think the owners that are complaining just do not know how to adjust and use the side view mirrors correctly. I was changing lanes with confidence and did not feel nervous at all. Seats: This is probably my biggest complaint and may actually prevent me from buying a Z. The seats are just not as comfortable as they could be. During my 15 min. test drive, I was constantly adjusting the seats to find a comfortable position. I also notice that the top of the seats have a lot of flex to them. If you push on the headrest, the top of the seat flexes. You can also feel this if you push your head back into the headrest. I looked at the roadster seats and they are different. The overall seat has much less flex. I would of like to see nissan spend and extra $250 and offer better seats. Overall I really liked the cars, but I am going to have to give a better look at the 5.0 and cayman

03-14-2011, 10:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	You should come down to the Fairfax Z meet this weekend, you can check out my 5.0. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

03-14-2011, 11:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	__________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

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03-14-2011, 11:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
I want a Z Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MD Posts: 225 Drives: 03 Chevy Avalanche Rep Power: 15	I really may have to go back and give the Cayman a good look. I did test drive one a few weeks ago, and it was comfortable. Also P's always rate 1st in quality. It's really interesting to read their brochures, so much information on the car compared to the sparse Z brochure