Performance of the base 370Z?
 

I am looking at purchasing a base model 370Z. The cost is at the very top of my price range. The performance specs of the 370Z are impressive but all of those tests are done with the sport model. Any thoughts on what the performance of the base 370Z would be? Can the 370Z get the power down to the road without the LSD? Would I be better off with an enthusiast version of the 350Z?

Power-wise the base will perform just as well as the touring/sport package or even better since it weighs a little less. The sport package is if you want better brakes and the convenience of the rev-matching manual transmission. It doesn't add any power to the car. Either way, the 370Z is quite a bit quicker than the 350Z, and I say that from experience since I currently drive an '07 Enthusiast (not for long!)

Braking and handling performance will be worse without the sport package, due to smaller brakes and skinnier wheels and tires. I would imagine the lack of an LSD would hurt performance also.

I guess . . .
 

I guess that it would really
depend on what your end
use of the car would be.

Are you going to track
or cruise (pleasure driving)
the car ? . . . or both ?

These answers might help
us help you.

I was going to just order a
base car for pleasure driving.
I don't need any of the bells or whistles.
I do hate that small compartment
above the radio though.

Tom Geer in Tennessee


.

You could pick up some of the handling with some very inexpensive mods, like sway bars and lowering springs, and still tinker with some performance stuff. I'd think you'd have to be on the track to miss some of the refinements, but at that point, you'd be swapping suspension stuff, coilovers, sways, and if you're really in the game, yank the brakes off for something reliable anyway.

Tracking with the factory sport brakes is still not going to be really fun if you're driving even moderate to hard.. at that point it'd be time to plan for a quality BBK.

Speed-wise should be the same but like others mentioned, the Base has smaller brakes, no LSD and skinner wheels while missing the spoiler too so off the bat it might not be as a good handler.

I keep going back and forth between a Base + Sport and just a Touring as they are about $1000 apart in price but I think in the end, I prefer having the Persimmon (and only Persimmon!) suede seats over the Sport package simply because the car will see a lot more highways than a track circuit.

Of course having the Touring + Sport would be ideal but I think I'll just spring for new wheels once the stock ones are done since I prefer big-lipped rims and the Z's back fenders have plenty of room to tuck them in. :hello:

If the base 370 is at the top of your price range, you might also look at the '08 enthusiasts. You should easily be able to pick up one of those for low 20's and even a touring '08 could probably be had for 25-27k. Dealers with leftovers are really giving decent deals to try to get rid of the 08s.

hey money why dont you get a base sport and add persimmon to it for about 1G and you get the best of both worlds...? just an Idea:hello:

If your struggling with payments and the other packages are too high, I just suggest the base, like Skorch said it weighs less.

That'll work but how do I score some new Persimmon seats for only a grand besides the ol' 5 finger discount :tup:?

just call a few custom shops and they should be able to help you out... it cost $985 to leather up a 4 door sedan I dont see why it should cost more than $1k to leather up a 2 seater :icon18:

Already we are seeing heavy discounts on 370Z's. Local dealership
(Portland, Oregon) had a 'Base' for $26.888 and 2008 350Z's for around $20.000. Buyers are in the drivers seat these days. Local Mazda dealership wiped out a 17 car 2008 Miata inventory in 5 days at $8.500 - $9.000 of MSRP.