370Z, very popular among all lifestyles

edeeZee · 07-20-2009, 07:36 PM

2009 Nissan 370Z at Gaywheels.com - Gay-Friendly Automotive Resource

2009 Nissan 370Z
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by Colin Mathews

The 370Z is a decided type-A extrovert. Like that jock friend of yours who always wants to put you in a head lock and give you a noogie when he sees you. Annoying because you have to go and fix the hair. But nice because you really don’t mind being pressed into that finely muscled chest. In fact, you don’t mind at all.

In the transition from 350 to 370Z, this car was forced to attended charm school and, thankfully, some rough edges were finally smoothed. The 3.7-liter VQ V-6 won’t win awards for being unobtrusive and hushed, but now the sound is more sport than thrash and (at least with 7-speed automatic in our test vehicle) far less of the engine’s mechanical liveliness makes it to the cabin and your fingers, toes, and backside. We’ll reserve final judgment until we drive the six-speed manual, but the annoying buzz, rattle, and hum that quickly grew tiring seems to have been banished.

More power and torque - throughout the operating range, courtesy of new VVEL valve trickery – go smack to the pavement, ripping you to 60 mph in the five-second range. Hold on, because this vehicle delights in sprinting down the road and soaring to its 7,500 rpm redline time and time again. The exhaust sound out the back – just like nearly every Nissan VQ-powered vehicle – announces the power under the hood, snarling sporting intent and ability in a blissful tenor bark. Far from subtle. But subtlety is not what the Z is about.

“Come on, come on, you can pass that entire caravan of Kias. NOW!” says the Z, always your ally for aggressive driving. Likely, you’ll oblige: throttle foot down, near-instant three cog downshift, mad rush from 65 to 90 mph. Touchdown! Scan mirror quickly for cops and jab dizzyingly powerful brakes. Blissfully irresponsible yet highly controlled. The seductive, accessible power and torque beg you to explore their limits every time.

A good old torque converter 7-speed automatic responds instantly to either the paddle shifters or tiptronic-style gearshift lever when the transmission is placed into manual mode, just a nudge to the left of the PRNDL line. Upshifts are firm and instantaneous with no torque converter slop or laziness. Even on dry roads, the 1st to 2nd shift produces a healthy snort of wheelspin, enough to induce the defeatable traction control. Downshifts are jerk-free, handled beautifully with automatic throttle blips, and upshifts also crack off with precision and authority. My initial dismay at driving an automatic Z faded when I drove this car with the aggression it encourages.

Alas, when the pace slows, this enthusiastic athlete chomps at the bit and doesn’t always make smooth moves. Two items seem at fault: the short-travel, oddly-calibrated electronic throttle and a 7-speed automatic that’s not so adept at unobtrusive operation during mild driving in full automatic mode. Manufacturers either seem to get electronic throttles - which are fast becoming the norm - right or not. The Z’s feels a little bit digital and at times disconnected from what’s going on in the engine room; very much out of keeping with a seat-of-the-pants sportscar. Why do ECUs think they know better than my right foot?

In combination with the sometimes awkward throttle, the 7-speed auto in full auto mode can be at times sloppy and hesitant. It usually slides lazily into gear rather than quickly and precisely like a Z car should. A mild press on the throttle results in a moment of confusion followed by a drop of multiple gears (why not just one?) and summarily more acceleration than you’d hoped for. Jerky and dramatic, ugh. Perhaps I needed to adjust my foot better to the short travel throttle, pressing it even less? Whatever the case, I just couldn’t seem to do moderate highway passing and acceleration without drama. So I defaulted often to the manual mode or used a click of the downshift paddle before adding more throttle (the transmission affords momentary gear selection in D before defaulting to automatic mode). Hey Nissan: can we get a reprogramming of the full auto mode? This transmission is so good otherwise.

Ride quality is remarkable given the Z’s tremendous handling capabilities. The suspension is surprisingly compliant over a variety of surfaces and incredible given the huge 19” wheels and low-profile tires included in our 370Z Touring’s Sport Package (a $3,000 option). Entertaining road manners, dizzying grip, and good ride comfort are yours in this setup; it’s clear Nissan engineers did their homework on the suspension, which now features an aluminum 2-link double-wishbone setup in the front. On a down note, there is a troubling amount of coarse and gritty road feel transmitted through the steering column on less than ideal surfaces. Baffling, given the suspension’s compliance.

The cockpit is vastly improved over the outgoing Z, which the motoring press generally labeled as cheap and plasticky. The black and ivory leather contrast on the interior was both sporty and elegant as was the faux-leather clad clamshell door that tops the center stack and reveals a cubby waiting to store your iPod, cell phone, or sunglasses. But why is said cubby lined with cheap synthetic mouse fur? And why is the expanse of semi-soft touch black dash the same dreary stuff that Nissan uses in the mediocre Maxima I drove recently?

Other items that irk are the odd fuel/temp gauge in the leftmost part of the cluster (hard-to-decipher orange LEDs that are hard to read in sunlight), and Nissan’s insistence on toggle switches for seat rake and fore-aft position stuffed into an awkward crevice between the drive tunnel and the driver’s and passenger’s inboard legs (same as in the Infiniti G, and just as awkward and fussy to operate). Last but not least, the rearward visibility in this car is perhaps the worst I’ve experienced. Forget C-pillar; it’s more like a C-boomerang that’s broken only by a small slit of a rear window. Best circle the car once before backing up lest you flatten an animal or small child. And our $39,000 tester had no backup camera or audible park distance warning feature.

Still, every time you take in that sinuous and aggressive - yet elegant and cohesive - exterior, any ergonomic sins are forgiven. The stunning Rays 19” wheels made our Z look sinister and ready for action even at rest, like a pit bull pausing on fat paws. I found the uninterrupted sweep of the sloping rear positively Porsche 911-like; at the opposite end, the low-mounted grille and unusually shaped headlights lend the Z perhaps an oddly aquatic look. But overall it’s clean, compelling, and clutter-free. It commands attention and exudes testosterone in a cool, confident way. The jock in a tux.

Starting at $29,930, this sharpened, screaming Z fills the middle ground between, say, the rough-and-tumble American players (Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro), and the sybaritic Porsche 911 (which starts at $76,300). Porschephiles will likely scoff at the comparison, but given its acceleration, balance, handling, and ride comfort, I think the 370Z is a very worthy, half-priced competitor. But for even less money ($23,040), the equally arresting 2010 Camaro is a phenomenal package in every respect; it offers arguably better road comfort than the Z (no steering wheel vibrations), more interior room, a far more cooperative six speed auto, and a stout V-6 that’s only about a second off the 0-60 times of this Z (and is far smoother in the process).

Perhaps Nissan’s 2009 370Z isn’t the most refined, nor the most practical, nor the greatest value amongst iconic high-performance coupes. But for those drivers who just can’t get enough type A in their diets, this Nissan will likely fit like hand in driving glove.

Nissan is a gay-friendly company.

Get a free gay-friendly insurance quote for a 2010 Nissan 370Z

Find a Nissan Dealer Near You

Read other Nissan reviews by Gaywheels.com's writers

Get gay-friendly financing

Photos Courtesy of Nissan North America

Nissan 370Z
2009 Nissan 370Z
N/A mpg | MSRP from $29,930
View used Nissan 370Z classifieds

20092009

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BTW peeps, I'm straight. I'm just astonished at how popular this car is among people from all walks.

arcticreaver · 07-20-2009, 07:46 PM

nice read and review.

Brazilbro · 07-20-2009, 09:14 PM

zZSportZz · 07-20-2009, 09:31 PM

Lol...i should point out...i like the vag

SnakeBitten · 07-20-2009, 09:49 PM

LOL. Wass up! A 370G for Gay friendly version....I want a black/straight friendly version. The 370BS.

cossie1600 · 07-20-2009, 11:36 PM

Nissan is a gay friendly company lol They just aren't very friendly to blacks when it comes time to finance. So what if the buyer is gay and black?

frost · 07-20-2009, 11:38 PM

The more the merrier.

355890 · 07-20-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edeeZee

[url=http://www.gaywheels.com/2009_nissan_370z.htm]2009 Nissan 370Z at Gaywheels.com - Gay-Friendly

Nissan is a gay-friendly company.

Get a free gay-friendly insurance quote for a 2010 Nissan 370Z

Well not to be ignorant.....But who gives a S**T what 4 puffs have to stay after bumming a ride in a Z.

How about " don;t ask....don;t tell " better for all.

m4a1mustang · 07-20-2009, 11:54 PM

What I don't get is the whole "gay friendly" deal.

"Gay friendly" insurance? Really? I'm pretty sure insurance is the same for everybody! (And it sure as heck isn't friendly... lol)

edeeZee · 07-21-2009, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

What I don't get is the whole "gay friendly" deal.

"Gay friendly" insurance? Really? I'm pretty sure insurance is the same for everybody! (And it sure as heck isn't friendly... lol)

Like that jock friend of yours who always wants to put you in a head lock and give you a noogie when he sees you. Annoying because you have to go and fix the hair. But nice because you really don’t mind being pressed into that finely muscled chest. In fact, you don’t mind at all.

I can see what part of the country you guys/gals are from, and in some places they're still pretty conservative in outlook and value system. But I guess if you give a call to certain businesses, and they hear your tone (feminized male voice), they might discriminate.

tonmed123 · 07-21-2009, 05:50 AM

Someone else went Gay on the offset thread WTF.

m4a1mustang · 07-21-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edeeZee

Like that jock friend of yours who always wants to put you in a head lock and give you a noogie when he sees you. Annoying because you have to go and fix the hair. But nice because you really don’t mind being pressed into that finely muscled chest. In fact, you don’t mind at all.

I can see what part of the country you guys/gals are from, and in some places they're still pretty conservative in outlook and value system. But I guess if you give a call to certain businesses, and they hear your tone (feminized male voice), they might discriminate.

But there are plenty of gay men that are pretty manly. I guess a girly gay guy might be discriminated against, but no one would tell with a manly gay man.

bluzman · 07-21-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

The more the merrier.

OMG, someone please help me permanently erase this visual from my mind.

370Zilla · 07-21-2009, 04:57 PM

ok

kdoske · 07-21-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluzman

OMG, someone please help me permanently erase this visual from my mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zilla

ok

tooo funny, you asked for it!

07-20-2009, 07:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
edeeZee Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: s. cali, los angeles Posts: 627 Drives: 09 370z plat 6 speed Rep Power: 266	370Z, very popular among all lifestyles 2009 Nissan 370Z at Gaywheels.com - Gay-Friendly Automotive Resource 2009 Nissan 370Z ShareThis by Colin Mathews The 370Z is a decided type-A extrovert. Like that jock friend of yours who always wants to put you in a head lock and give you a noogie when he sees you. Annoying because you have to go and fix the hair. But nice because you really don’t mind being pressed into that finely muscled chest. In fact, you don’t mind at all. In the transition from 350 to 370Z, this car was forced to attended charm school and, thankfully, some rough edges were finally smoothed. The 3.7-liter VQ V-6 won’t win awards for being unobtrusive and hushed, but now the sound is more sport than thrash and (at least with 7-speed automatic in our test vehicle) far less of the engine’s mechanical liveliness makes it to the cabin and your fingers, toes, and backside. We’ll reserve final judgment until we drive the six-speed manual, but the annoying buzz, rattle, and hum that quickly grew tiring seems to have been banished. More power and torque - throughout the operating range, courtesy of new VVEL valve trickery – go smack to the pavement, ripping you to 60 mph in the five-second range. Hold on, because this vehicle delights in sprinting down the road and soaring to its 7,500 rpm redline time and time again. The exhaust sound out the back – just like nearly every Nissan VQ-powered vehicle – announces the power under the hood, snarling sporting intent and ability in a blissful tenor bark. Far from subtle. But subtlety is not what the Z is about. “Come on, come on, you can pass that entire caravan of Kias. NOW!” says the Z, always your ally for aggressive driving. Likely, you’ll oblige: throttle foot down, near-instant three cog downshift, mad rush from 65 to 90 mph. Touchdown! Scan mirror quickly for cops and jab dizzyingly powerful brakes. Blissfully irresponsible yet highly controlled. The seductive, accessible power and torque beg you to explore their limits every time. A good old torque converter 7-speed automatic responds instantly to either the paddle shifters or tiptronic-style gearshift lever when the transmission is placed into manual mode, just a nudge to the left of the PRNDL line. Upshifts are firm and instantaneous with no torque converter slop or laziness. Even on dry roads, the 1st to 2nd shift produces a healthy snort of wheelspin, enough to induce the defeatable traction control. Downshifts are jerk-free, handled beautifully with automatic throttle blips, and upshifts also crack off with precision and authority. My initial dismay at driving an automatic Z faded when I drove this car with the aggression it encourages. Alas, when the pace slows, this enthusiastic athlete chomps at the bit and doesn’t always make smooth moves. Two items seem at fault: the short-travel, oddly-calibrated electronic throttle and a 7-speed automatic that’s not so adept at unobtrusive operation during mild driving in full automatic mode. Manufacturers either seem to get electronic throttles - which are fast becoming the norm - right or not. The Z’s feels a little bit digital and at times disconnected from what’s going on in the engine room; very much out of keeping with a seat-of-the-pants sportscar. Why do ECUs think they know better than my right foot? In combination with the sometimes awkward throttle, the 7-speed auto in full auto mode can be at times sloppy and hesitant. It usually slides lazily into gear rather than quickly and precisely like a Z car should. A mild press on the throttle results in a moment of confusion followed by a drop of multiple gears (why not just one?) and summarily more acceleration than you’d hoped for. Jerky and dramatic, ugh. Perhaps I needed to adjust my foot better to the short travel throttle, pressing it even less? Whatever the case, I just couldn’t seem to do moderate highway passing and acceleration without drama. So I defaulted often to the manual mode or used a click of the downshift paddle before adding more throttle (the transmission affords momentary gear selection in D before defaulting to automatic mode). Hey Nissan: can we get a reprogramming of the full auto mode? This transmission is so good otherwise. Ride quality is remarkable given the Z’s tremendous handling capabilities. The suspension is surprisingly compliant over a variety of surfaces and incredible given the huge 19” wheels and low-profile tires included in our 370Z Touring’s Sport Package (a $3,000 option). Entertaining road manners, dizzying grip, and good ride comfort are yours in this setup; it’s clear Nissan engineers did their homework on the suspension, which now features an aluminum 2-link double-wishbone setup in the front. On a down note, there is a troubling amount of coarse and gritty road feel transmitted through the steering column on less than ideal surfaces. Baffling, given the suspension’s compliance. The cockpit is vastly improved over the outgoing Z, which the motoring press generally labeled as cheap and plasticky. The black and ivory leather contrast on the interior was both sporty and elegant as was the faux-leather clad clamshell door that tops the center stack and reveals a cubby waiting to store your iPod, cell phone, or sunglasses. But why is said cubby lined with cheap synthetic mouse fur? And why is the expanse of semi-soft touch black dash the same dreary stuff that Nissan uses in the mediocre Maxima I drove recently? Other items that irk are the odd fuel/temp gauge in the leftmost part of the cluster (hard-to-decipher orange LEDs that are hard to read in sunlight), and Nissan’s insistence on toggle switches for seat rake and fore-aft position stuffed into an awkward crevice between the drive tunnel and the driver’s and passenger’s inboard legs (same as in the Infiniti G, and just as awkward and fussy to operate). Last but not least, the rearward visibility in this car is perhaps the worst I’ve experienced. Forget C-pillar; it’s more like a C-boomerang that’s broken only by a small slit of a rear window. Best circle the car once before backing up lest you flatten an animal or small child. And our $39,000 tester had no backup camera or audible park distance warning feature. Still, every time you take in that sinuous and aggressive - yet elegant and cohesive - exterior, any ergonomic sins are forgiven. The stunning Rays 19” wheels made our Z look sinister and ready for action even at rest, like a pit bull pausing on fat paws. I found the uninterrupted sweep of the sloping rear positively Porsche 911-like; at the opposite end, the low-mounted grille and unusually shaped headlights lend the Z perhaps an oddly aquatic look. But overall it’s clean, compelling, and clutter-free. It commands attention and exudes testosterone in a cool, confident way. The jock in a tux. Starting at $29,930, this sharpened, screaming Z fills the middle ground between, say, the rough-and-tumble American players (Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro), and the sybaritic Porsche 911 (which starts at $76,300). Porschephiles will likely scoff at the comparison, but given its acceleration, balance, handling, and ride comfort, I think the 370Z is a very worthy, half-priced competitor. But for even less money ($23,040), the equally arresting 2010 Camaro is a phenomenal package in every respect; it offers arguably better road comfort than the Z (no steering wheel vibrations), more interior room, a far more cooperative six speed auto, and a stout V-6 that’s only about a second off the 0-60 times of this Z (and is far smoother in the process). Perhaps Nissan’s 2009 370Z isn’t the most refined, nor the most practical, nor the greatest value amongst iconic high-performance coupes. But for those drivers who just can’t get enough type A in their diets, this Nissan will likely fit like hand in driving glove. Nissan is a gay-friendly company. Get a free gay-friendly insurance quote for a 2010 Nissan 370Z Find a Nissan Dealer Near You Read other Nissan reviews by Gaywheels.com's writers Get gay-friendly financing Photos Courtesy of Nissan North America Nissan 370Z 2009 Nissan 370Z N/A mpg \| MSRP from $29,930 View used Nissan 370Z classifieds 20092009 Find additional information on your favorite Saab , Volkswagen , Mazda or Toyota ShareThis Home \| Gay-Friendly Companies \| New Cars \| Used Cars \| Our Reviews \| Articles \| Free Price Quotes Insurance \| Vehicle Loans \| About Us \| Contact Us \| Advertising Info \| Dealers \| Privacy Policy ©2008 - Targeted Diversity Marketing, LLC BTW peeps, I'm straight. I'm just astonished at how popular this car is among people from all walks.

07-20-2009, 07:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
arcticreaver Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 769 Drives: 2009 Z34 7AT PG Rep Power: 924	nice read and review. __________________ http://www.facebook.com/arcticreaver - FaceBook http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sam-yang/a/832/325 - LinkedIn Profile

07-20-2009, 09:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
SnakeBitten Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Midwood Posts: 232 Drives: 05 DBZ M6 Rep Power: 17	LOL. Wass up! A 370G for Gay friendly version....I want a black/straight friendly version. The 370BS. __________________

07-20-2009, 11:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	What I don't get is the whole "gay friendly" deal. "Gay friendly" insurance? Really? I'm pretty sure insurance is the same for everybody! (And it sure as heck isn't friendly... lol) __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-21-2009, 05:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
tonmed123 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 223 Drives: 09 370Z Red M6 Rep Power: 267	Again Someone else went Gay on the offset thread WTF.

07-20-2009, 09:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brazilbro A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,131 Drives: Juke/240Z Rep Power: 848

07-20-2009, 09:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
zZSportZz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,095 Drives: 370z Blk on Blk 6MT Rep Power: 18	Lol...i should point out...i like the vag

07-20-2009, 11:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	Nissan is a gay friendly company lol They just aren't very friendly to blacks when it comes time to finance. So what if the buyer is gay and black?

07-20-2009, 11:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	The more the merrier.

07-21-2009, 04:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
370Zilla Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gainesville, Fl Posts: 41 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 16	ok

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