New Car and Driver review of the 370z... oil temp fail!

Red__Zed · 09-03-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LT419

What the...

At the very least, they could hire consistent writers.

From a few of their online articles on the 370Z:

"Although we would never call an automatic and one of our favorite sports cars a match made in heaven ..."

"The new Z is a great little car: powerful, riotously fun to drive, affordable, and flat-out gorgeous."

"Do we love the 370Z? It might now be instructive for the reader to review the text and take a census of superlatives."

"With cars like the Z within reach, do adolescents still aspire to Mustangs?"

"Other automakers should take note of this success."

Now it's not a very good car? I'm confused.

see my previous posts on car and driver.

kenchan · 09-03-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

It's like they all had Japanese girlfriends that dumped them in the past.

lol!

zing!

Endgame · 09-03-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kent370

C&D certainly can be biased in some cases, but this story of theirs really doesn't state any 370z weaknesses that haven't been discussed before on this forum and elsewhere, so it's tough to make the 'bias' charge stick in this instance.

I knew about the oil temp issue before I purchased, and it didn't stop me from deciding on the Z. But, that doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Myself and many others here have experienced it first-hand, and not just on the track. I run synthetic oil to help mitigate, but I know the real solution is to add a cooler. It's just irritating that a car of this class with an optional "sport" package, doesn't include one, despite years of evidence showing a propensity for high oil temps.

Cheers,
Kent

My gripe is that they rate the Z so low in the fun to drive when it, in reality, should be at the top of that list. Like another poster mentioned, they some of their editors obviously LOVE it; and I have never heard of the Z not being fun to drive. They are biased. The oil temp issue is well known, but I have not had any of the problems as noted on this forum at times.

The point is this: The Z is still well above par in the fun to drive, cool car for its catagory. With a few 'small' tweaks (oil cooler and brake pads if you must....) it is almost perfect in its class.

Bear in mind I do LOVE the Stang, and am considering an Evo (4 doors...), but the Z is still superior in my book. That said, everyone's book is different...

PapoZalsa · 09-03-2011, 09:59 PM

I didn't buy the 370Z because of the HP, I bought it because I like the car and the Heritage/History of the Z.
Yes is not a perfect car but is the best bang for the buck concerning Sport Cars. Some of those issue can be corrected easy.

The only part that makes me mad is that Nissan knew about those issues and did nothing to correct them pushing it to the customer.

However, if you do not track the Z you should not have any braking or oil cooling problems.

C&D and MotorTrend Magazines are always bias and will pick up any muscle car over the Z, even the damn Genesis Coupe.

So what ever they write about the 370Z I wipe my butt with it...

FromG2Z · 09-03-2011, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

There are few car mags I pay attention to and C&D is NOT one. My Z is proving to be one of the funniest cars I have driven (Vettes, Stangs, 135i, RX8, full tuned 240sx).

The brakes are not THAT bad. This article is not a fail on the Z as much as it is a fail on C&D again. They are biased against the Z.

Of this list, I would pick up the Z all over again, and mod it almost exactly as I have my car set up now.

Item in bold above should be funnest just in case folks mistook your message

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokejr

If someone would have put a BMW emblem on the car they would have loved it.

Agree

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

My gripe is that they rate the Z so low in the fun to drive when it, in reality, should be at the top of that list. Like another poster mentioned, they some of their editors obviously LOVE it; and I have never heard of the Z not being fun to drive. They are biased. The oil temp issue is well known, but I have not had any of the problems as noted on this forum at times.

The point is this: The Z is still well above par in the fun to drive, cool car for its catagory. With a few 'small' tweaks (oil cooler and brake pads if you must....) it is almost perfect in its class.

Bear in mind I do LOVE the Stang, and am considering an Evo (4 doors...), but the Z is still superior in my book. That said, everyone's book is different...

Agree 100% again.

Although to be fair, purchasing my Z was a close toss up between the 5.0. Funny that I am considering it again because my kids and the ability to bring them in the back seat.... we'll see.

But yes, as previously mentioned, would have been nice to be able to get an oil cooler as a dealer installed option, along with track pads.

Dark Regent · 09-04-2011, 02:03 AM

Somehow I don't see how the brake pad and oil overheating problems in the 370Z, which generally only present themselves in track situations, compare to the Getrag MT82 transmission problems many Mustang GTs are having. While I think Ford's done a good job with the new 5.0, I think they really shot themselves in the foot with that Chinese POS tranny they opted for. Speaking of cutting costs.
Overall, I think the Z still wins.

DLSTR · 09-04-2011, 06:42 AM

From Edmunds:

"In Edmunds brake testing, a coupe with the Sport package's upgraded brakes stopped from 60 mph in a super-short 101 feet -- about the same as the outlandish Nissan GT-R supercar. A roadster with the Sport package took only 5 more feet to stop."

Seems ok to them!

As far as all the Mustang input here. When they get rid of the solid rear axle, I will consider it more of a sports car. More cheap cut corner engineering. Displacement no longer matters. When US manufacturers get out of the retro mode I will consider them again. The cars are just way too big/out of proportion. The mustang is more a GT touring coupe than 'sportscar'. Too big.

2011 Nismo#91 · 09-04-2011, 07:33 AM

Abuse any car on a track with out prepping it first it will have problems, maybe not the same problems but problems none the less. Why are people so shocked by this?

DLSTR · 09-04-2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011 Nismo#91

Abuse any car on a track with out prepping it first it will have problems, maybe not the same problems but problems none the less. Why are people so shocked by this?

One would think a car magazine would know without being reminded by the maker of the car in question lol!

sboden · 09-04-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapoZalsa

I didn't buy the 370Z because of the HP, I bought it because I like the car and the Heritage/History of the Z.
Yes is not a perfect car but is the best bang for the buck concerning Sport Cars. Some of those issue can be corrected easy.

The only part that makes me mad is that Nissan knew about those issues and did nothing to correct them pushing it to the customer.

However, if you do not track the Z you should not have any braking or oil cooling problems.

I agree and I will add I did buy my Z knowing the overheating issues. I don't track. I don't knock any other cars because everyone has a preference and if they love their car good for them. I think the Z is a great car and that is all I care about.

ChrisSlicks · 09-04-2011, 09:54 AM

No one in their right mind should be driving a car aggressively on track with stock pads, that's just insanity. They should be slapped for suggesting that it is possible at anything over a 50% pace.

It is clear that the lack of braking performance ate into there overall review, I know that I loose full confidence in a car on track if the brakes aren't 100%.

Mike · 09-04-2011, 10:32 AM

at least they ran into these problems and didn't even get as far as fuel starvation, they really would have loved that! Brakes and Oil cooler were easy fixes.

Red__Zed · 09-04-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

at least they ran into these problems and didn't even get as far as fuel starvation, they really would have loved that! Brakes and Oil cooler were easy fixes.

I don't understand how they lapped it so many times, and never ran into that issue.

kent370 · 09-04-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011 Nismo#91

Abuse any car on a track with out prepping it first it will have problems, maybe not the same problems but problems none the less. Why are people so shocked by this?

True, but the oil temp problem has been encountered by a semi-spirited drive up a public mountain road... That is unacceptable for any modern "sports" car.

cossie1600 · 09-04-2011, 01:54 PM

I don't know how many laps Car and Driver did on their car straight with the stock pads and fluid (it makes sense how they dont want to do any prep work on the press cars), but man it seems like a bad idea on a track with some heavy braking zones. I know my brakes feel a little softer after 4 hot laps straight at VIR. Someone had said they don't use real professionals to drive the cars?

At the end of the day, not happy about the $1000 on the oil cooler and the fuel starvation. Brake pads and fluid are almost given on any track days

09-03-2011, 09:59 PM	#49 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4500	I didn't buy the 370Z because of the HP, I bought it because I like the car and the Heritage/History of the Z. Yes is not a perfect car but is the best bang for the buck concerning Sport Cars. Some of those issue can be corrected easy. The only part that makes me mad is that Nissan knew about those issues and did nothing to correct them pushing it to the customer. However, if you do not track the Z you should not have any braking or oil cooling problems. C&D and MotorTrend Magazines are always bias and will pick up any muscle car over the Z, even the damn Genesis Coupe. So what ever they write about the 370Z I wipe my butt with it... __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

09-04-2011, 09:54 AM	#56 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	No one in their right mind should be driving a car aggressively on track with stock pads, that's just insanity. They should be slapped for suggesting that it is possible at anything over a 50% pace. It is clear that the lack of braking performance ate into there overall review, I know that I loose full confidence in a car on track if the brakes aren't 100%. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

09-04-2011, 10:32 AM	#57 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	at least they ran into these problems and didn't even get as far as fuel starvation, they really would have loved that! Brakes and Oil cooler were easy fixes. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

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09-04-2011, 02:03 AM	#51 (permalink)
Dark Regent Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NM Posts: 1 Drives: Honda Accord Rep Power: 14	Somehow I don't see how the brake pad and oil overheating problems in the 370Z, which generally only present themselves in track situations, compare to the Getrag MT82 transmission problems many Mustang GTs are having. While I think Ford's done a good job with the new 5.0, I think they really shot themselves in the foot with that Chinese POS tranny they opted for. Speaking of cutting costs. Overall, I think the Z still wins.

09-04-2011, 06:42 AM	#52 (permalink)
DLSTR A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: Süd Germany Posts: 2,462 Drives: 21Supra 2.0/22 M240i Rep Power: 21267	From Edmunds: "In Edmunds brake testing, a coupe with the Sport package's upgraded brakes stopped from 60 mph in a super-short 101 feet -- about the same as the outlandish Nissan GT-R supercar. A roadster with the Sport package took only 5 more feet to stop." Seems ok to them! As far as all the Mustang input here. When they get rid of the solid rear axle, I will consider it more of a sports car. More cheap cut corner engineering. Displacement no longer matters. When US manufacturers get out of the retro mode I will consider them again. The cars are just way too big/out of proportion. The mustang is more a GT touring coupe than 'sportscar'. Too big.

09-04-2011, 07:33 AM	#53 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,400 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40569	Abuse any car on a track with out prepping it first it will have problems, maybe not the same problems but problems none the less. Why are people so shocked by this?

09-04-2011, 01:54 PM	#60 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	I don't know how many laps Car and Driver did on their car straight with the stock pads and fluid (it makes sense how they dont want to do any prep work on the press cars), but man it seems like a bad idea on a track with some heavy braking zones. I know my brakes feel a little softer after 4 hot laps straight at VIR. Someone had said they don't use real professionals to drive the cars? At the end of the day, not happy about the $1000 on the oil cooler and the fuel starvation. Brake pads and fluid are almost given on any track days