should I not buy 370z?
 

I was into buying 370z and was excited to get it because it has been my dream car.

I am looking into buying either 2011 370Z nismo used with 25k mile (which still has remaining factory warranty for months) or 2010 370z touring w sports package manual with 41k mile but CPO.

Either one should be fine but I can't make up my mind.

anyway now i see so many problems with this car on the forum.
for example steering wheel lock problem... I guess this is okay if I cut the wire or unplug the fuse.
how about csc failure? this is only covered for 3yr/36000 as far as i know and I guess its not too uncommon for it to fail? should i buy an aftermarket one? if so which one and how much is it/ and to install?
how about oil consumption....?


goddd i was so close to making a purchase and now i am puzzled.. help me :(
I

The CSC will fail. Just replace it with an aftermarket one when it does. Oil consumption was only an issue on '09s. The steering lock is well documented and easily prevented. I wouldn't call that "so many problems" in the scheme of things.

mine is a 09. no issue. :)

it's not all the cars. definitely hard to tell wat the previous owner did or how the treated the car. if you're worried maybe your dealer can offer you extended warranty on it? not sure. you can buy extended warranty 3rd party too.

i would just save up a little more and buy new.

Get one, the SLU was recalled so you can either get it replaced or just pull the fuse. CSC failure isn't as common as you may think, my car has more miles then both of these daily driven and no issues whatsoever

People don't post on the internet when things are going great. They post when they are having problems. You get a skewed view of the world from this forum.

FWIW, let me be the first to post...my 2011 Z works perfectly. Hasn't spent a minute in the shop. My only complaint is that the stock tires wear out too fast.

Lock fuse you won't have to worry about the nismo, the 2010 you might need to get it fix but nissan recalled it so you can bring it to a dealership and get it done.

CSC failure buy an aftermarket, I think Joe, he's a sponsor here sells a good replacement, I'm not sure how much labor will be but it shouldn't be much, oil consumption is not a problem for me, just keeping the temps low seems like a "bigger" deal (won't really needed if you don't track)

wat's a typical labor cost to replace the csc?

might be handy for the op to know.

:iagree: Never had any issues with my '09.

Any car can have issues. I have 09 , I bought used at 38,000 mi and 1 week later I heard rod knock. So I got short block replaced. About 1 yr later 50,000 mi , I have valve cover leak and cam cover leak, so they are also changing coil packs and spark plugs . I believe this is related to short block job Nissan dealer did, so to accommodate me I don't need to pay deductible. Whatever you do get extended warranty, because any issue like this you would be out thousands, instead of just deductible.

First time short block job took 2wks, this time around waiting for coil packs and fixing cam cover , it's almost 3 wks that I don't have my car but warranty covers a loaner each time.
So again get extended warranty for any "expensive parts" car.

Is it just me or the OP complaining about a car before he has even bought it a little weird:icon14:
OP, if you are already worried about having to fix things on your Z that breaks when you don't even on one yet.............:icon14:
That seems a little crazy and maybe you should not be driving period:eekdance:

What's so weird about researching common issues with a car you're considering buying? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?

It's actually the opposite. I'd say it's quite reliable. The biggest issue is the CSC, but you can replace it with a better version.

Steering Lock- pull the fuse and never worry about it again

Oil Consumption- When I was buying, it seemed that the '09 was more prone, but again not widespread.

imo I would get the touring w sports package manual. Its a rare combination and all the goodies that come with a touring make it worth it. The Nismo is bare boned creature comforts.

I learned the hard way to get an extended warranty with any used sports car. 370z aren't as expensive to fix when compared to other foreign sports cars.

My biggest complaint is the blind spots on the car.

I'm pretty sure you're going to see ~$750 in labor just to drop the transmission. Add $100 for OEM replacement or $325 for ZSpeed's high quality replacement and you've got a ballpark figure :tup:

:iagree: but if he's buying used.... he should be asking the owner of the vehicle in question if there has been any repairs, recalls, or any issues.

Asking questions about costs of things that hasn't happened to vehicle he doesn't own is being a little too paranoid:confused:

We all know cars break down right, no matter what make or model....
If someone is concerned to the extent that they open a thread in a forum about our beloved 370z breaking with multiple issues..... I think for the OP he should buy a brand new one, or find one with existing warranty. That kind of goes for what ever he/she buys....

OP if you have that much concern about a vehicle failing... buy new or one with warranty. All your problems will be solved with warranty:tup:
Shop wisely brother:tiphat:

I thought csc is covered under 5yr/60,000miles

:iagree:


Mine is a Jan 09 build and have not had any issues :)

thanks, mr.jar! :tup: finally a useful post to get some real numbers down for the op. :D

I have an 09. Never had the csc go out. Never had the steering lock issue, and never had an oil consumption issue. (knock on wood).

09, uses no oil, my OCI is 6 months or 3500. Steering Lock never failed, I just pulled the fuse. CSC, I keep my fluid pristine in the clutch reservoir and change it when it gets slightly amber colored. I don't do clutch drops, shift maniacally at high RPM without regard for moving parts, so I don't reckon I'm due for one for any reason I can prevent.
That being said, I knew about the CSC going in and figured since the CSC design is used on quite a few other cars it had to be slightly more reliable than the odd few that quit.
Besides, it's a sports car! Things break on these all the time, it's common knowledge!
It's like elective surgery, do your research and deal with the side effects!

Wink's as good as a nudge!

wow..thanks for all the replies guys

would CPO warranty cover the csc failure?
I am leaning towards going for 2010 touring w sport package (CPO)
should i do PPI from other place before purchase even if its nissan cpo?

i keep thinking c3po when i see cpo.. lol


no idea, ask the dealer wats covered before you buy. also ask about extended warranties if you're that worried. make sure in writing that csc is covered, and hang onto that note. compare how much the ext warranty is vs the labor and parts price mr.jar noted and make your final decision.

hmmm okay I will ask the dealer. AFAIK even if the original warranty is expired, i can get extended warranty because it is a cpo vehicle...i think


Anyway, they are advertising this as a touring trim but i am not sure if it is, can you guys take a look and let me know?
2010 Nissan 370Z Touring, $21,995 - Cars.com

three problems you call it "so many"??? :confused:


OP, how many fingers do you have in total...?? :confused:

if you call this "so many problem..."

go buy a volks wagen or bimmer... then you will know what "gazillions" means.


1) pull the fuse
2) change the csc, it costs but not arm and a leg
3) mine is a 2011 and I have no issue at all.

fyi, an oil change for a mercedes c-class is about $250 at the dealer.

and you need to do that in the dealer otherwise the computer cannot be reset.


thus I think ~$850 to change the CSC is quite cheap since it's gonna last much long than 3 oil change for a sh!t-class

I think there is a thread around here where someone got confirmation from NNA that the CSC is not covered under the powertrain warranty. That being said, there are a few people who did get the dealer to cover it after 36K miles. However, there are plenty of people whose dealers would not cover it under the powertrain warranty.

FWIW, I have a 2011 with almost 50K miles and no issues. I am prepared to order the ZSpeed CSC and have it overnighted when it goes out. Mine is a DD so I definitely want to minimize the downtime.

Thanks for all these replies guys! I think i will definitely get 370z. I am just not sure if I should go for 2010 CPO version and save money (get 7yr 100k) or spend like 3k more to get 2012 version with remaining 18months or so warranty

I think all touring cars are going to have the sat/nav antenna on the roof in front of the rear hatch. I don't see it on that one.

Edit: I looked at the rest of the pictures, and that looks like a base/sport model with aftermarket leather seat covers.

To to add to the 09 remarks, mine was consuming 1-2 quarts between 3750 mile oil changes until about 30K miles, then it stopped.
I pulled the fuse before the steering wheel lock could fail, and at 50K miles, I have added fluid to the clutch reservoir once, after reading about the failure here. It was a little low. That was 6 months ago, and when I checked it last week it was still full. I do not hold the clutch in at lights; I shift to neutral. Don't know if that has anything to do with it.

I did have to have the rack/pinion assembly replaced for seepage; one of the bellows was wet. Also had to have the radio/ac control faceplate (part of the nav package) replaced because the volume and temp control knobs started acting irratically. These repairs were done at 30K miles.

OP- I think you are asking very reasonable questions. Thanks to all the folks who contribute to this forum, a great deal of information and owners' impressions are available here. Thanks to posters, by the way. I'm also in the market for a Z, just waiting for the right one to come along that's reasonably priced.

Initially I was looking at the 09 and 10, but there are threads on this forum about 09 engines having factory design problems being replaced. Obviously, many folks with 09s have had no problems, but the fact that some 09 engines have been replaced does mean that caution is prudent. Somewhere there is a post that the engine problem extended into the 2010 model year, but was corrected by Nissan somewhere around VIN # 503XXX. That's what the post said, to my best recollection, maybe others more knowledgeable can add more accurate information about this.


A 2011 or newer will simply avoid the possible factory engine problem. If I get one it'll either be a CPO, or I'll get the longest transferrable warranty available.
Also verifiable and regular oil change records tell a lot, and a dealer can give you history of warranty work. As you know, sports cars often get driven hard since that's what they were built for, but a well maintained car is always a best hedge against potential problems inherent to all cars. The extended warranty, whether cpo or otherwise, is insurance against unlikely but expensive repairs.

Am i the only one who is tired of seeing all these threads on" should i buy a 370z"???
There's like 50 of them.
All cars break. If u can afford this car, u can afford to fix it. If u can't afford repairs on a vehicle A smart person would buy something they can afford.
All cars have their problems. EVERY SINGLE ONE. if the OP doesn't realize that???
They need to rethink this car thing.

If you're looking for a sports/sporty car, you can do a lot worse than the Z as far as reliability is concerned. Three issues is not much.

There are other things that should be of more concern for most buyers:
- rear view/blind spots
- having to drive it in bad weather (rain, snow)
- fuel/tire/insurance costs
- buying a used beat on car vs a normal car or garage queen
- whether you fit in the car (height and width)
- other alternatives that match what your needs/wants are


Kudos for doing some research and even posting. As much as I agree with some people that it'd be nice if new members search and browse first, you honestly just got more answers in 24 hours than you may have found in over a week+ of browsing. That's still winning, in my book.

The short answer is: For the money there is no other car that has the looks, feel, power, reliability, and overall fun factor of the Z.

If you can afford it -- get it. You will love it!

OK, i'm here to answer questions, mines an '09 with probably the highest mileage of anyone on this forum...LOL :stirthepot: Currently at 261000kms, or 163xxx miles.

Mine burns a little oil about a liter/quart per oil change, tires, well if you drive nice will last you a while, maybe 30-40k miles at best. (rears) fronts double that. I go through a set of rears every 6 months or so, which is about 25k miles for me.
CSC will go, mine went at about 160k miles, as did the clutch, just replace everything when it does, clutch, flywheel and both the master and slave.
Next SLU went, it's a recall so no worries, just bring it in to make sure your good there.
I had a ECU go, warranty, only crap part was the wait for the part.
Oh and the front hubs went, 2-300 CD $ and a couple hours in my garage and all fixed.
For the record I drive my car hard all year round in the rain and snow, no track days, but I live close to the mountains and drive through them like i'm being chased! lol

Hope this helps...

:iagree:

Don't buy something your afraid to take care of

if you end up buying one, don't bash it after....

If you buy one, wouldn't that give you more right to bash it, having known about it and experienced it? Is it better to bash it when you've not even owned one? Perhaps one should never bash; but then again what *is* bashing?

Anyway, this thread makes my inner Plato cry uncontrollably. (And all of my grammar teachers.)