Living With It: 2009 Nissan 370Z (MotorTrend)
 

I'm not happy about what was said about Nissan's VQ V6. Seems like Nissan has pushed it to the limit in the 370z. My question now is where does Nissan go from here performance wise with this motor? It appears to be maxed out and stressed out--and not in a good way.

I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts.

Here's a quote from the article:

Full article can be found here:
Living With It: 2009 Nissan 370Z | Car News Blog at Motor Trend

http://www.the370z.com/images/370z%20motortrend.jpg

Great article. :tup:

This is not the first time it's been said that the new VQ almost seems maxed out to many automotive reviewers. Nissan is def reading these reviews and I think they are going to put a TT engine in their next Z update. With the GTR, they already have the technology in their hand. All they have to do is make a smaller (or detuned version of the GTR engine) engine with turbo and we will have our first TT factory ____Z :driving:

Yes. We have heard other reviewers say it seems maxed out. But I don't recall them using such negative statements like those in the article. "Rev it to 5000 rpm...it'll vibrate your fillings..noisy and harsh...not a pretty noise -- its just noise, like an industrial blender with bad bearings...unacceptable in this configuration...Nissan can and should do better". Thats waaaaay more than just saying it seems maxed out--the statements made here are more akin to saying this motor is garbage.

That does sound pretty harsh. I got to rev one at the nashville z rally and I personally was curious on how bad the engine vibration and noise was at the redline. I held it there for a good while and I will say it was slightly worse than the 3.5, but by no means horrible, or even bad. There was another guy there that did the same and he didn't notice any difference. This was in a yellow base model they had their personally at the Nissan headquarters and not the yellow touring they have as a part of the z rally. Maybe the z rally 370s and the demos have been beaten to death, I'm not quite sure.

I would love to see a TT Z again, but for now I've been pretty impressed with the Z34.

What's odd is that he's saying the motor is having issues at only 5000 RPM--that doesn't make sense.:confused:

As you say, maybe they will TT it in the next update or sooner in a special edition/upscale version. Hopefully they will follow BMW in what they did with their M3 (E46 version)--that motor was maxed out. And what's amazing is that the current M3 (E92) motor is 33 pounds lighter than the smaller straight six of the old car.

Nissan's VK Engine (VK50VE) comes to mind as a possible parallel to what BMW did with the M3. The VK is based on Nissan's VQ V6. The 5.0 L engine uses a 95.5 mm bore and 87.7 mm stroke. The VK50VE has Nissans VVEL technology (390HP & 369 lb-ft)

A version of the VK50VE would be awesome IMO especially with that impressive torque number.

HERE'S A LITTLE INSPIRATION FOR NISSAN:

Gimme a break ....I have driven my friends G37 94018084230 times and the G37 has the same motor....car drove like a dream and believe me I was rippin it way above 5000 rpms in several gears....Motor Trend is a buncha haters....Car and Driver and Road and Track are where its at anyway

I was just going to ask why do we not hear this bashing on the G37!?!? I have heard there was vibration in the higher revs, but not at 5k...

Has anyone else heard if the G37 is horrible??? I have not read anything but praise for the VQ37. Could an improper break in cause some of the issues they experienced?? Could excessive vibration be 'corrected' with a recall if it gets that bad?

guys, this vibration is in part due to the Z's more focused materials and transmission. The chassis is stiffer, the bushings they use all over the place are more than likely stiffer as well. The steering rack bushings and the shift linkage bushings must be harder on the Z because they wanted it to feel more awake and direct. All those little things add up to possibly make a big difference in the way engine vibration and noise is transmitted into the cabin and into the driver. Don't be upset if you sports car vibrates a little, its a small price to pay for more direct steering and agility. if you care so much then buy a lexus because you shouldn't be buying a Nissan sport coupe.

It's not the end of the world, stop bitching. If I'm going to 5k RPM, I don't care if the car vibrates a little, I'm probably not cruising around the city at this point.

Nobody's bitching...we are just having a discussion as to why such negative comments were made about the motor in the MotorTrend article. If anyone's bitching its the author of the article--no one on this forum is bitching about it.

I was talking about the article.

please! ive owned 330ci bmw, a 03 350z and 03 svt cobra these are my last 3 cars and i can tell you as far as noise and vibration they all do this, what ever this guy is lame. all sport or musle cars have this behaviors. if this guy is not used to driving cars like these cars then he Probably shouldnt write about them.ive own supras and just about anything else you could think of and none of them drove like a caddy.give me a break

I wonder if NVH of VQ37 is why Wards kept it off its 10 Best list.

My Mazda RX8 REVS to a wild 9000 rpm and is as smooth as , this doesnt sound good for the 370Z guess a test drive will tell .


Cheers
Michael

Yeah but it takes you 10 city blocks to get to 60mph:ughdance:



:p

Right. I was just reading up on the new E92 M3 and it appears that it also has noise and vibration, as do Vettes also.

Doubt it as the VQ was on for 08 due to the G37. Same engine...

LOL!! He is not lying!!! And actually, my RX8 does have some vibration and noise up high.

Rx-8 REVS to a wild 9000 rpm
 

And it's Ugly Too..........:rofl2::rofl2::rofl2:

Not with the MS kit!!

I see. Well now we have a conspiracy at Wards lol....I personally would have dropped the Chrysler Hemi 5.7 V8 off the list since it only makes 8 hp more than the VQ37 which is a V6. That Hemi is a sweet engine so not knocking it at all. It deserves a spot on the list but not to the exclusion of the VQ37. Wards got some splaining to do.

^^ I was surprised when it didnt make the list either...... what was the reasons??

No reason was given.

My personal feeling - if people are worried about a little vibration in an area of the rev range they won't use often in a sports car then they really should consider a different type of car.

Amen. That about sums it up :tiphat:

VR30DETT anyone?

Until then, I can't imagine the VQ37 vibration being as bad as some people are making it out to be (journalists). I've driven the G37, but I guess I'll reserve judgment until I drive the 370Z (hopefully sooner rather than later).


What do you guys think about a smaller VRDETT for the Z. Something like a 3.0 liter version of the GTR motor. 330hp would be pretty attainable with that set up, with the possibility for future modifications.
BMW did a wonderful job with their 3.0 I6-TT, almost eliminating turbo lag and creating pretty linear power delivery. Should Nissan follow suit?

I don't know about you guys, but I'm thankful that he's whining about it being "too low". Too many "sports" cars these days are getting a factory lift kit to appease all these soccer-moms that don't want to actually sit IN their cars and make it all but impossible to see the top of the roof [coughEvoXcough].

I LOOOVE me some low-ness! :driving: :tup:

I've had all three versions of the VQ in the 350Z and currently have a HR Z. I've found that the engine has become smoother and less harsh with each reincarnation. The 3.7 likely continues with this theme, but in the end may still seem a bit harsh compared to its competitors.

I doubt the majority will be bothered by this and will only really be noticeable if driven back to back with other cars.

:roflpuke2:
:owned:

Yeah, if you are worried about a little noise and vibrations...A sports car is not for you! lol.

:werd:

I'd say they could easily make more power with the VQ motor. Maybe a better balancer and some fine tuning to fix the vibrations, add in Direct Injection to cure the lower torque from the competition and even improve the intake manifold and intakes for more standard power. Could easily pull 370hp at the motor out to match the 370z designation.

Actually, if you were reading reviews in 2009-2010. This was the normal. Its what inspired Z hate and killed the sports car sales aside from Bush's wars and econ plans. The Z's NVH was grossly overexaggerated by many. NVH is above average and only slightly abnormal for a sports car of this caliber. Also, NVH issues decrease to normal for a sports car in the automatic Z.

anybody else notice the useless necro-bump, or is it just me? lol

Yes but I stopped caring, too many trolls around to even bother. :mad:

I wonder where these former forum posters* went off to. I guess they read the article and found better engines.

Except Endgame. He is still here.

Sorry in advance for the long post.
 

I definately feel like these votings are 50% politically motivated from a business standpoint. Japanese sports cars have always gotten the short end of the stick. The only reason why the VQ35 lasted so long on wards 10 best list is because, since 1998, no one was able to make an affordable v8 with more than 300hp and from 2003, no more than 350hp. Now here comes nissan with half the displacment, a third less weight and. Can pretty much hang with the overglorified mustang. By 2003. There were only 4 affordable sports cars to buy. Mazda's RX8 and miata. The Z and the mustang. Wards had no choice but to give the Z its respect. Tied for first place with a 6 vs the first place 8 cyl mustang.
2004 came the GTO. Perfect handling. The new fastest car on the block, but looked like a bloated accord. It lasted 3 years.
2005, mustang comes back with a new body, suspension and revised 4.6 motor. The Z gets fatter. For the first time the Z is losing a little to the mustang. 2006, a refresh and small jump in power take the Z at least getting closer to the stang. 2007 the vqhr retied the Z to the stang. 2009. The 370 burns stangs and old GTO.
What's the difference now. Camaro is coming out. (Domestic) mustang is planning a recovery refresh. (Domestic) Challenger is coming out (Domestic) Malibu and other american cars are making there entry to be more competitive in the international car market. How do we raise attention to our brands here in america and show we are competitive against foreign brands???
Hmmmm we oversell our domestics while nitpicking imports... lol.

EXAMPLE. http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...mparison-tests I have to use hyundai as prime example number one.
Camaro v6 vs genesis coupe 3.8. Car and driver admitted the gencoupe beat the camaro in acceleration, handling,ergonomics feedback, steering feel. Legroom headroom, power delivery trunk space and convenience... Car & Driver said the camaro won for coolness and gotta have it factor. I driven the camaro v6. It doesn't hold a candle to a gencoupe or a Z in performance. But this car gets kudo's.

With all the bailouts Bush advocated for and Obama agreed to uphold through transition. America needed to show the american cars are worth buying. How better than to make it look so by knocking the best affordable sports car on the market and giving praise to the bloated three. Nissan has always taken the blow when the domestic market needs a morale boost.

Honest buyers know what's up. We test drive and search for the truth. We don't allow Toby Keith style car magazine articles sort out the truth for us. We find it for ourselves. The Z is the best affordable sports car in overall pound for ppound performance and quality. (Minus the worst in-house stereo systems in the Z.)

Not a fanboy statement. Its the truth. Today cars like the 135 and EVO give a Z a run for its money. But at a starting price point of about 32k give or take a grand depending on year and deals made. The Z offers more on the entry level in spite of the lack of sport pkg at that price. And only 3k took you there. Today. The 2013 isn't the value it was. And maybe best bang for buck died in 2011 when the stang gave a 4.4 second gt option with .96g track grip and gobs more torque. But the Z HOLDS AN INDIVIDUALISM in the car market the muscle three can't dream of having. Not even the G37 copy gencoupe can claim individualism in the price range. The Z is better than most will admit. People who aren't slaves to the staus quo or the power of suggestion can decide for themselves with all honesty and resist statements based on popular influence. A rare jewel of character in americas car market.

Rotory motors have very little vibration due to the lack of cams and other. But pop an apex seal and vibration galore! That is why you get a buzzer and a shift light standard. They make great power, but guzzle fuel. I had a 93 tt R1 best car I have owned. I used to race and beat people with my cruise control.

I don't think the vibration is from the engine on the 370z feels more like the drive line possibly the clutch, or flywheel maybe transmission.

I know when I put the Nismo exhaust on my 370 with out the dampner it vibrated to hell. Yet when I added them the vibration went away.

My NISMO does not vibrate as bad as the 370 and it does not come with the dampners on the exhuast.

:gtfo2:

i have no issue's with the vq motor. it is what it is a very quick little v6 that get's the job done. i had a 350 and the only think i miss from that car is the exhaust
note. if only the 370 had a better stock exhaust system................

im fine with both my vq's