Engine harshness

nicknick · 06-17-2011, 07:38 PM

Well, I am so pissed off at Nissan! I have owned and loved a nicely modified 240Z that my friends still speak of today. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER SOLD THAT CAR!! Anyway i went to my nissan dealer ready to do a deal, I was going to trade my MX5 in on a 370Z. I love the look of the Z, i sat in it and it was nice, i liked it. I then asked the salesman to test drive one. He said of course. So off I went to test drive an auto version. Well let me tell you everything wqas good about the car except 2 things...ENGINE HARSHNESS AND QUALITY OF NOISE IT EMITS. YUK. This is/was a major turn off for me. I had driven it before and noticed to a lesser degree the noise but now that i was serious i guess i was taking more notice of it.

WTF was Nissan thinking releasing such a good sports car with such a debilitating issue. They really missed the boat on this one. I don't mind noise the MX5 is not a quiet car either but at least the engine/exhaust have a relatively pleasant noise. The Z engine noise and noise quality reminded me of my first car, a 1980 GM Holden Commodore with an auto and as 3.3 litre OHV pushrod motor that was designed in the 50's, which developed approx 60 KW.

As much as i have been looking at this car, the Z now since its 2009 intro, i have made up my mind that this noise and noise quality have turned me off the car. Really annoying cause every other aspect is ok. I must say the manual i drove in 2009 "felt better" maybe i should test drive a manaul again but wouldn't the noise be the same. Another thing i did not like was when i was going around a corner with the auto in auto mode, i did not like the feel of the transmission in the way it was delivering the power to the rear wheels it seemed loose and not too connected. The link between accelerator position, transmission shift speed and quality, to rear wheel connection seemed off.

A real shame, cause i so wanted to like this car, i guess i will still hover around this forum and see what the nest incarnation of Z may be like. In the meantime, I will keep my MX5 and possibly look into trading for a boxster or z4. I hear the engine noise in thosethings is good too and everything else is pretty much lineball with the Z.

Nissan you have pissed me off with this. Sorry guys if i have offended you, THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION. I just needed to express my dissatisfaction with Nissan dropping the ball on this one.

MacCool · 06-17-2011, 08:03 PM

As has been noted repeatedly in almost every test or review of the 370Z that I read, the engine does tend toward the harsh side at higher revs. It also tends toward the loud side for road noise. After driving the car, I found both issues to be far smaller deal than I was anticipating, having read those articles.

Each to their own. The car has exceeded my expectations, but everyone has different thresholds of irritation. I don't find it debilitating in the slightest. Personally, I'd be more inclined to label it as a "quirk".

yakz · 06-17-2011, 08:14 PM

The road noise doesn't bother me. They could have done better on exhaust sound and engine harshness. I am used to the engine harshness now though and I will rev right up near the red-line feeling like this:

VCuomo · 06-17-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

... Each to their own. The car has exceeded my expectations, but everyone has different thresholds of irritation. I don't find it debilitating in the slightest. ...

shadoquad · 06-17-2011, 08:24 PM

I don't have a problem with the engine harshness or noise. The engine noise is something you can easily fix aftermarket, too.

USMCASA · 06-17-2011, 08:28 PM

want something quiet and less harsh? get an old person's car like a buick lol

Cmike2780 · 06-17-2011, 08:31 PM

What noise?

shadoquad · 06-17-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCASA

want something quiet and less harsh? get an old person's car like a buick lol

God, I hate it when you and I agree on things

Mandingo · 06-17-2011, 08:32 PM

I actually like the way it sounds now. I admit, at first I thought it sounded like a tractor motor being pushed 2,000 rpm past redline.

Now, I think it sounds like it just means business. A no-frills, *** kicking sports car sound (aftermarket exhaust helps too

)

6spd · 06-17-2011, 08:36 PM

I didnt like the stock exhaust noise/harshness, but let me tell you, after putting the nismo s-tune exhaust on, totally different story, the noise/feel is total beast mode now.

true story.

11Thumper · 06-17-2011, 08:41 PM

Dude, don't buy it then. You seem to get pissed off quickly over stupid stuff. Perhaps you should remind Nissan that they work for you ONLY.

Z_ealot · 06-17-2011, 08:56 PM

wow, the trolls seem to be out in full force today don't they....

Armonster · 06-17-2011, 08:58 PM

Sounds like this is not the car for you. Besides, the seats are terrible.

Trips · 06-17-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicknick

Well, I am so pissed off at Nissan! I have owned and loved a nicely modified 240Z that my friends still speak of today. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER SOLD THAT CAR!! Anyway i went to my nissan dealer ready to do a deal, I was going to trade my MX5 in on a 370Z. I love the look of the Z, i sat in it and it was nice, i liked it. I then asked the salesman to test drive one. He said of course. So off I went to test drive an auto version. Well let me tell you everything wqas good about the car except 2 things...ENGINE HARSHNESS AND QUALITY OF NOISE IT EMITS. YUK. This is/was a major turn off for me. I had driven it before and noticed to a lesser degree the noise but now that i was serious i guess i was taking more notice of it.

WTF was Nissan thinking releasing such a good sports car with such a debilitating issue. They really missed the boat on this one. I don't mind noise the MX5 is not a quiet car either but at least the engine/exhaust have a relatively pleasant noise. The Z engine noise and noise quality reminded me of my first car, a 1980 GM Holden Commodore with an auto and as 3.3 litre OHV pushrod motor that was designed in the 50's, which developed approx 60 KW.

As much as i have been looking at this car, the Z now since its 2009 intro, i have made up my mind that this noise and noise quality have turned me off the car. Really annoying cause every other aspect is ok. I must say the manual i drove in 2009 "felt better" maybe i should test drive a manaul again but wouldn't the noise be the same. Another thing i did not like was when i was going around a corner with the auto in auto mode, i did not like the feel of the transmission in the way it was delivering the power to the rear wheels it seemed loose and not too connected. The link between accelerator position, transmission shift speed and quality, to rear wheel connection seemed off.

A real shame, cause i so wanted to like this car, i guess i will still hover around this forum and see what the nest incarnation of Z may be like. In the meantime, I will keep my MX5 and possibly look into trading for a boxster or z4. I hear the engine noise in thosethings is good too and everything else is pretty much lineball with the Z.

Nissan you have pissed me off with this. Sorry guys if i have offended you, THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION. I just needed to express my dissatisfaction with Nissan dropping the ball on this one.

Want some cheese to go with your whine?

Looks like you made your point! Hooroo

OMGWTFBBQ · 06-17-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armonster

Sounds like this is not the car for you. Besides, the seats are terrible.

06-17-2011, 07:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
nicknick Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 438 Drives: Mazda mx5 2007 6sp m Rep Power: 16	Engine harshness Well, I am so pissed off at Nissan! I have owned and loved a nicely modified 240Z that my friends still speak of today. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER SOLD THAT CAR!! Anyway i went to my nissan dealer ready to do a deal, I was going to trade my MX5 in on a 370Z. I love the look of the Z, i sat in it and it was nice, i liked it. I then asked the salesman to test drive one. He said of course. So off I went to test drive an auto version. Well let me tell you everything wqas good about the car except 2 things...ENGINE HARSHNESS AND QUALITY OF NOISE IT EMITS. YUK. This is/was a major turn off for me. I had driven it before and noticed to a lesser degree the noise but now that i was serious i guess i was taking more notice of it. WTF was Nissan thinking releasing such a good sports car with such a debilitating issue. They really missed the boat on this one. I don't mind noise the MX5 is not a quiet car either but at least the engine/exhaust have a relatively pleasant noise. The Z engine noise and noise quality reminded me of my first car, a 1980 GM Holden Commodore with an auto and as 3.3 litre OHV pushrod motor that was designed in the 50's, which developed approx 60 KW. As much as i have been looking at this car, the Z now since its 2009 intro, i have made up my mind that this noise and noise quality have turned me off the car. Really annoying cause every other aspect is ok. I must say the manual i drove in 2009 "felt better" maybe i should test drive a manaul again but wouldn't the noise be the same. Another thing i did not like was when i was going around a corner with the auto in auto mode, i did not like the feel of the transmission in the way it was delivering the power to the rear wheels it seemed loose and not too connected. The link between accelerator position, transmission shift speed and quality, to rear wheel connection seemed off. A real shame, cause i so wanted to like this car, i guess i will still hover around this forum and see what the nest incarnation of Z may be like. In the meantime, I will keep my MX5 and possibly look into trading for a boxster or z4. I hear the engine noise in thosethings is good too and everything else is pretty much lineball with the Z. Nissan you have pissed me off with this. Sorry guys if i have offended you, THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION. I just needed to express my dissatisfaction with Nissan dropping the ball on this one.

06-17-2011, 08:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	What noise? __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

06-17-2011, 08:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mandingo Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 625 Drives: '10 370z 6spd Rep Power: 3371	I actually like the way it sounds now. I admit, at first I thought it sounded like a tractor motor being pushed 2,000 rpm past redline. Now, I think it sounds like it just means business. A no-frills, *** kicking sports car sound (aftermarket exhaust helps too ) __________________ some mods

06-17-2011, 08:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 25	I didnt like the stock exhaust noise/harshness, but let me tell you, after putting the nismo s-tune exhaust on, totally different story, the noise/feel is total beast mode now. true story. __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

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06-17-2011, 08:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
MacCool A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Midwest Posts: 1,349 Drives: 370Z PW 2014 Rep Power: 16	As has been noted repeatedly in almost every test or review of the 370Z that I read, the engine does tend toward the harsh side at higher revs. It also tends toward the loud side for road noise. After driving the car, I found both issues to be far smaller deal than I was anticipating, having read those articles. Each to their own. The car has exceeded my expectations, but everyone has different thresholds of irritation. I don't find it debilitating in the slightest. Personally, I'd be more inclined to label it as a "quirk".

06-17-2011, 08:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
yakz Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 28 Drives: 09 370Z PG B+Sport Rep Power: 15	The road noise doesn't bother me. They could have done better on exhaust sound and engine harshness. I am used to the engine harshness now though and I will rev right up near the red-line feeling like this:

06-17-2011, 08:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3886	I don't have a problem with the engine harshness or noise. The engine noise is something you can easily fix aftermarket, too.

06-17-2011, 08:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
USMCASA A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,152 Drives: 09 370z CY M6 Rep Power: 18	want something quiet and less harsh? get an old person's car like a buick lol

06-17-2011, 08:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
11Thumper Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 754 Drives: '11 370Z, '01 S2k Rep Power: 17	Dude, don't buy it then. You seem to get pissed off quickly over stupid stuff. Perhaps you should remind Nissan that they work for you ONLY.

06-17-2011, 08:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Z_ealot A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 2,045 Drives: 09 370Z Touring/Sprt Rep Power: 10091	wow, the trolls seem to be out in full force today don't they....

06-17-2011, 08:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
Armonster Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 270 Drives: 2010 370z t/sp/6mt Rep Power: 14	Sounds like this is not the car for you. Besides, the seats are terrible.