370z Driving Feel

m4a1mustang · 10-04-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

This post just made me hit limp mode

my2004Z · 10-04-2011, 04:19 PM

My previous ride was a 2004 DB 350Z MT. It was a pleasure to drive but had a rollercoaster element to it when pushed to the limits. You know, a good roller coaster convinces you that you are about to die and then reels you back in and sets you down with mild bruises and whiplash. My 370Z doesn't make me feel like I'm about to lose it all. Instead it does what I tell it to do and it doesn't argue or penalize me as much as the 350Z would. A lot of people like the excitement of almost losing it all and is why I think they experience disappointment in the 370Z. Now that I have kids I would rather be damn sure that I am going to make it through the turn and get home safe.

onzedge · 10-04-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Onzedge-had an iPhone-related premature misfire go off in your userCp. Promise I was saying something nice

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Not sure if I should report this post for profanity

I can't determine the sexual act the poster is describing.

RoshDawg · 10-04-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

My fanboyism is so diversified I almost look like a car guy

I love the z, and the s2000, and the mustang, and the 5series...and the subaru...and the 3 series...and even the tj jeep I owned

Did you really hit limp mode on the street?

Well I gotta say, I like all those cars too.
N yup, my friend n I were taking turns driving my z, didn't have a good view of the oil temp during his turn. Stupid I know. Didn't take long at all tho..

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

The Z is an excellent sports car. It has some issues, such as oil temps, but the driving experience is terrific.

I agree, getting a Z1 oil cooler in a few weeks to just make the experiences last longer!

11Thumper · 10-04-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastfatdude

Well, i came from another cheap 'sports' car and i have to admit, the s2000 has much better driving feel...in a way more connected to the road. However, for long commutes, it becomes an absolute chore with the engine sound, vibrations and crampness of space...

I still love both cars though...

I've driven my S2000 on 800+ mile (per day) trips and it never really bothered me. I have an AP2 but still, the differences are somewhat minor in the end. When it gets too loud I drop the top (makes it less noisy lol) and enjoy the breeze.

Perhaps it's because I have the 7AT, but my Z is fairly happy doing the commute gig or being stuck in traffic. It doesn't feel like a chore at all. It's fairly relaxing, more room than my Honda and more comfortable. I'm 6'2" and 235 lbs mind you.

Forget the transmission differences for a minute. If I had to track one I would pick the Z. It's just easier to drive at the limit and a little more fun at the same time. The S2000 has better road feel but is waaaaay too

-happy for me.

To each his/her own. Just enjoy the ride!

Red__Zed · 10-04-2011, 04:52 PM

Ap2 isnt a real s2000 you wimp!

Oh...sorry...wrong forum

11Thumper · 10-04-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Ap2 isnt a real s2000 you wimp!

Oh...sorry...wrong forum

Oh lord...the old 9 is larger than 8 debate?

Red__Zed · 10-04-2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11Thumper

Oh lord...the old 9 is larger than 8 debate?

Luckily, I was able to transcend that whole debate with the old 10.5>9>8 line

onzedge · 10-04-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Luckily, I was able to transcend that whole debate with the old 10.5>9>8 line

11Thumper · 10-04-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Luckily, I was able to transcend that whole debate with the old 10.5>9>8 line

Well the AP2 has bigger...uh hem...wheels.

Oh yeah, and a longer stroke.

Dwight Frye · 10-04-2011, 06:22 PM

My 09 w/ Touring & Sports package is a daily driver. It's a true sports car when I want it to be and I really don't have complaints about the performance. I don't track it but have seen the oil temp hit 230 on the freeway doing about 85 MPH in 95 degree weather so I may add an oil cooler next year anyway.
This is all Nissan needs to do in my IMNSHO:

- All leather interior instead of the leather & alacantara or whatever that fake suede crap is called. It would look 100% better. I'll probably have mine reupholstered at a custom shop when it starts to show wear.
- Make the clock an analog clock with hands & face to match the other gauges
- Redesign the fuel & temp gauge pod for analog needles and a more pleasing cosmetic layout to better match the speedo & tach
- Add an interior hatch release button
- Tune the exhaust for a more pleasing note
- add some damn soundproofing to lower the noise level at freeway speeds

None of these would be expensive to implement. And I think the car would be as close to perfect as you could make it considering the overall value of a 370Z for the cost.

themann1984 · 10-04-2011, 06:23 PM

The 370Z is pure sex! It is hot, loud, and rough!

Red__Zed · 10-04-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11Thumper

Well the AP2 has bigger...uh hem...wheels.

Oh yeah, and a longer stroke.

Not compared to my s

11Thumper · 10-04-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Not compared to my s

UNKNOWN_370 · 10-04-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZzzZz

For it's price, we all know the Z performs great #'s wise (straightline and ever more so in the corners) and it even improves upon the 350z in every way, but there is something more to be desired in terms of the overall driving experience. In creating something better than the 350z, something was lost along the way. What the 350z had was a living aura. Even if it performed worse, it felt alive. This 370z, while super quick and precise, feels cold - almost ghostly.

Care to express your thoughts on the Z's driving feel? What do other members here who own a 370z think? How does your driving experience compare vs prior cars; BMW, Mini, Mazda, Subaru, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, Mercedes?

Having driven 33,000 miles since Feb. 2009, I'll start first.

Many car reviewers complained about NVH, road noise, and the high-rpm engine ruckus. It's more than that. To try and put it into words...

- I've got to drive 8+/10 of the car's limit (acceleration/corners) to really enjoy it. For those times I'm just cruising, if there's traffic, or if I just want to chill, I don't enjoy driving the car at all and it becomes more of a chore. Like a caged wild beast, it's just dying to roam free. It seems like it's really not in the car's personality to enable the driver just to sit back, drive casually, appreciate "all its' little things', and enjoy the ride. I'm not talking about creature comforts here, more about the general lack of "sports car refinement" in the feel and acoustics of the car pertaining to the powertrain, intake, exhaust, suspension, shifter, throttle, on and on. Something's missing... like the body is there but the soul is not.

Some may just brush it off and say "it's a sports car - it's supposed to be like that". However...

- There is some sort of manufactured artificial feel to it that makes me feel disconnected from the road and driving experience. A sports car should not be like this. It's like going at it bare-back vs. going at it solo WITH a condom if you know what I mean. There's just a certain numbness and fakeness to it. I'm not sure if its the suspension or chassis tuning, engine/throttle response. Now I'm 100% stock so those of you that are modified feel free to chime in here.

- It would've been ideal if the driving experience felt like it was more than what the performance #'s shows on paper. In that regards, a little more like a BMW.

- Smooth roads are great but... There is a general lack of suspension/chassis tuning and refinement on non-smooth roads. Any type of highway bridge joints or just general uneven pavement makes the car twitchy & jittery and feel sloppy cornering. It's borderline nasty and makes me dread the noises and feel of it.

- It's been well talked about on Edmunds Inside Line and other automobile blogs/reviews, that given a choice between a garage full of other cars and the Z, the Z is one of the last one out of the garage. Everybody knows what awesome performance and beautiful exterior the Z has but I feel Nissan's design decisions & sacrifices in search for performance #'s for $30k totally lends itself to NOT being a more well-rounded sports car.

It's almost as if the 370z is designed to be a 3rd car, one for the weekends where you really couldn't give a sh!t driving balls to the walls like a madman. If they really wanted to go all out on performance and chase #'s, go all out and forget all the creature comforts and compromises like emissions, MPG, muffling the intake/exhaust, trying to make the car smoother. Be a brutish, crass, unrefined hardcore mofo - don't even attempt to hide it! It should be like a stripped down POWER version of what S2000 stands for in terms of handling .... and do it well. A 375HP/380TQ "Japanese Muscle Car" that can handle the corners a bit. Then there would be no trying to mask it as a sports car. We would all know what it is.

Does it suffer an identity crisis and lack focus? Is that why sales of the 370z suck so badly? You can mention the weak economy but lots of other cars like the new Muscle Cars are selling well. I chalk it up to being lifeless and unable to stir the emotions of the marketplace.

Or is it really just me?!

Happy

Dude... same thing I feel. I saw F&F and said, "dude, jdm is the shizznit. So I bought a spanking new jdm-mobile. My neighbors thought I was hot and my steering felt like the best thing since sliced bread. It really helped car mags were praising the Z for being the best performance buy on the market. I felt really good about myself and my purchase.
Then some time in the middle of 2010, Z reviews went down the tubes and car forums weren't as jealous as they were in 09? To my disappointment, the Z is no longer the Ace Bro cool of automobiles. It began to feel poserish.
So one night I was home bored and I wanted to watch a movie... I rented transporter 1 thru 3. That's when I realized, maybe there's something to german cars? I began reading corporate sponsored mags and going to german car blogs. I made a new friend at the job that owned a M3. He let me drive one.

That's when I knew I was driving a LIFELESS pos. I was like how can I have spent the last 16 years driving jdm when I could have been driving german aryan perfection. I know those cars are $50k more than mine. They stay in the shop more than peoples garage. But the steering is so full of life. And those darn asians. They just can't build a sports car. All your points hit like home. THANKS! I'm going to spend 30k more so my sdrive can be more refined and less sporty while maintaining my current performance numbers.

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10-04-2011, 04:19 PM	#77 (permalink)
my2004Z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 285 Drives: 09' 370Z w/Sport 7AT Rep Power: 37	My previous ride was a 2004 DB 350Z MT. It was a pleasure to drive but had a rollercoaster element to it when pushed to the limits. You know, a good roller coaster convinces you that you are about to die and then reels you back in and sets you down with mild bruises and whiplash. My 370Z doesn't make me feel like I'm about to lose it all. Instead it does what I tell it to do and it doesn't argue or penalize me as much as the 350Z would. A lot of people like the excitement of almost losing it all and is why I think they experience disappointment in the 370Z. Now that I have kids I would rather be damn sure that I am going to make it through the turn and get home safe.

10-04-2011, 04:52 PM	#81 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	Ap2 isnt a real s2000 you wimp! Oh...sorry...wrong forum

10-04-2011, 06:22 PM	#86 (permalink)
Dwight Frye Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Occupied California Posts: 423 Drives: '09 Tour/Sport/6MT Rep Power: 16	My 09 w/ Touring & Sports package is a daily driver. It's a true sports car when I want it to be and I really don't have complaints about the performance. I don't track it but have seen the oil temp hit 230 on the freeway doing about 85 MPH in 95 degree weather so I may add an oil cooler next year anyway. This is all Nissan needs to do in my IMNSHO: - All leather interior instead of the leather & alacantara or whatever that fake suede crap is called. It would look 100% better. I'll probably have mine reupholstered at a custom shop when it starts to show wear. - Make the clock an analog clock with hands & face to match the other gauges - Redesign the fuel & temp gauge pod for analog needles and a more pleasing cosmetic layout to better match the speedo & tach - Add an interior hatch release button - Tune the exhaust for a more pleasing note - add some damn soundproofing to lower the noise level at freeway speeds None of these would be expensive to implement. And I think the car would be as close to perfect as you could make it considering the overall value of a 370Z for the cost.

10-04-2011, 06:23 PM	#87 (permalink)
themann1984 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 100 Drives: 09 370Z Yellow M6 Rep Power: 16	The 370Z is pure sex! It is hot, loud, and rough!