370Z Roadster - Initial Impressions

NismoZ_840 · 12-09-2009, 05:22 PM

Touring NZ in a 370 Zed would be a dream! I had fun driving a campervan on the roads there even with left side manual, right side drive, and flipflopped turn signal/wiper (the hardest thing to master surprising!) The roads are perfect for a well handling car or bike and scenary absolutely amazing even by Colorado standands! Which island, town are you from?

Alanleb · 12-09-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert_Nash

370Z Roadster – Impressions

As some of you know, I got my 370Z Touring Coue 7AT with Sports Package last January. Prior to that, I had a 350Z Grand Touring Roadster (I generally get vehicles with everything available). Now that I’ve had my roadster for nearly two weeks and have almost 500 miles on it I’m now an expert on the 307Z Roadster!!! Well no, not really, but I thought I’d post some initial impressions.

I have a 7AT Touring model with Sports Package, Navigation ( Pics Here! ). Everything I love about the 370Z coupe is still here and some things are better. One noteworthy change is the upgraded heated and cooled seats. While the weather has been too cool to truly test the effectiveness of the cooling units they seem to work pretty well.

The Black Cherry is growing on me as well. It isn't that I didn't think I would like it but my '08 roadster was San Marino Blue and I truly loved that deep blue color and would love to see it brought back. Anyway, the Black Cherry looks great in the sun and has an air of "class" to it that is difficult to put into words.

Another improvement is the navigation system including the traffic and weather information. It’s difficult (and would probably be pretty boring) to describe all the difference in the nav system but they are there and I like the changes. The weather is an especially nice feature (being able to see real-time weather info for both where you are and where you are going or any city/location you are interested in).

Most importantly, the roadster only gains about 175lbs over the coupe so performance is still readily available and while the coupe is truly inspiring to drive, there is nothing quite like opening up a drop-top sport car on a crisp morning.

The only regret I have with my roadster is that I know it’s going to be sitting in my garage far too much for the next three months or so. Thankfully, our winters in Middle Tennessee aren’t usually too cold or too long but I know I’m going to be looking forward to spring with a lot of anticipation this year. In the meantime, I’ll probably try to find some excuses for visits to Florida or South Carolina or some other more southern location over the winter!

As I live with the vehicle over the coming weeks, I’ll come back and add to this thread but any others who take delivery feel free to add your thoughts as well!

Happy roaderstering!

Robert

I just ordered the exact same car. Have to wait approx 5 weeks. Going crazy about now. I have alot of questions about the NAVI. I downloaded the NAVI manual but still have questions. That black cherry is the nicest color I have ever seen.....

Al

swwnz · 12-10-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NismoZ_840

Touring NZ in a 370 Zed would be a dream! I had fun driving a campervan on the roads there even with left side manual, right side drive, and flipflopped turn signal/wiper (the hardest thing to master surprising!) The roads are perfect for a well handling car or bike and scenary absolutely amazing even by Colorado standands! Which island, town are you from?

Hi NizmoZ,
My hometown is Alexandra near Queenstown,South Island.Really looking forward to the new car[370Z roadster],even though the 350Z coupe is great,never did like the aesthetics of the 350Z roadster,looked like a bathtub with a pimple on the top for a hood,but Nissan have got it right with the 370Z roadster it reminds me of something Aston Martin would have done!.
Yes we have some great roads here in the South Island! also there are only 1 million of us in the whole island,and although the roads are well policed if one is careful and with the help of the trusty radar detector,you can extend it out now and again.
Of interest we are getting an odd spec 370Z roadster here in NZ,auto only,no nav console etc,19" rays wheels and the sports brakes,and no cooled seats!!.
We have ordered a solid red one,and it will be one of the first into the country sometime late February.
Hope you guys in the States,keep up the reports on your roadsters over there.
Steve.NZ

NismoZ_840 · 12-10-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swwnz

Hi NizmoZ,
My hometown is Alexandra near Queenstown,South Island..
Steve.NZ

The South Island is awesome, especially the scenery and the roads. I camped one night next to Lake Dunstan and went into Alexandra to Mt Bike (forget the trail name, bike shop on the main road pointed me where to go) and tasted some of the great Pinot Noirs down that way. I hit Queenstown the next. My cousin wrapped up her Undergrad at Victoria U in Wellington, thus my excuse to take month and tour your beautiful country! Alexandra was the furthest south I made and Paihia to the north. Enjoy your Z and the summer! Cheers!

swwnz · 12-11-2009, 01:19 AM

Cheers Mate,thanks for the kind words,if you are ever in this part of the world ,contact me.
Steve

dalparadise · 01-04-2010, 11:58 PM

If I may add to the 370ZR impressions...

A couple of surprises (for me, anyway) -- The wind deflector is actually lightly tinted tempered glass. Very elegant touch for a piece that is typically clear plastic, or mesh plastic on other cars.

The Bose system on the touring is very good in the Roadster -- it sounds better than the coupe version, in my opinion, for two reasons: a) shape and volume of the space with the top closed (also effects of sound deadening in the top itself and rear bulkhead for top storage. and b) positioning of the dual subwoofers -- I'm guessing they are under the seats or ported there, as very crisp bass can be felt in the seats at even moderate volume. I'm no fan of Bose, but this system is really good in this car.

The flat tire repair kit includes not only a bottle of fix-a-flat-like stuff, but a small compressor, too.

The synchro-rev feature works on a missed upshift (for instance an errant 2-5 shift), too, by blipping the throttle to keep from bogging down the car. Nice touch, and don't ask me how I know this.

I drove coupe and convertible back-to-back. The road noise in both seemed equal (though a bit too high). Bottom line on this point, the road/tire noise, top-up or down, is pretty quiet for a roadster and a bit too loud for a coupe, in general.

The Roadster gives up almost 1" of legroom, compared with the coupe. However, I am 6'2" and fit comfortably.

fisherg · 01-05-2010, 12:21 PM

Great comments. One thing however, did you actually measure the legroom between the coupe and roadster? The published specs for leg room, hip room etc... between them on the Nissan web site are shown as exactly the same. I test drove both as well and did not notice any real difference.

On the road noise topic, I did drive a coupe with the 19" Rays and a roadster with the 18" standard tires and the roadster was noticeably quieter to my ears. I would agree the Coupe was a bit too loud for me.

dalparadise · 01-05-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisherg

Great comments. One thing however, did you actually measure the legroom between the coupe and roadster? The published specs for leg room, hip room etc... between them on the Nissan web site are shown as exactly the same. I test drove both as well and did not notice any real difference.

On the road noise topic, I did drive a coupe with the 19" Rays and a roadster with the 18" standard tires and the roadster was noticeably quieter to my ears. I would agree the Coupe was a bit too loud for me.

Legroom was measured by butt dyno only. Perhaps the difference is in the seat, itself. Whatever the reason. I based my estimate on adjustment necessary to the seat position to get comfortable. I still had a little travel room in the Coupe seat. In my Roadster, I'm very comfortable, but the seat is pushed all the way back.

Both cars I drove had the 19"s they were identical in road/tire noise, which is to say it was about where I expected the convertible to be and louder than I expected the Coupe to be.

01-04-2010, 11:58 PM	#21 (permalink)
dalparadise The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 354 Drives: 2010 Z Roadster T/S Rep Power: 16	If I may add to the 370ZR impressions... A couple of surprises (for me, anyway) -- The wind deflector is actually lightly tinted tempered glass. Very elegant touch for a piece that is typically clear plastic, or mesh plastic on other cars. The Bose system on the touring is very good in the Roadster -- it sounds better than the coupe version, in my opinion, for two reasons: a) shape and volume of the space with the top closed (also effects of sound deadening in the top itself and rear bulkhead for top storage. and b) positioning of the dual subwoofers -- I'm guessing they are under the seats or ported there, as very crisp bass can be felt in the seats at even moderate volume. I'm no fan of Bose, but this system is really good in this car. The flat tire repair kit includes not only a bottle of fix-a-flat-like stuff, but a small compressor, too. The synchro-rev feature works on a missed upshift (for instance an errant 2-5 shift), too, by blipping the throttle to keep from bogging down the car. Nice touch, and don't ask me how I know this. I drove coupe and convertible back-to-back. The road noise in both seemed equal (though a bit too high). Bottom line on this point, the road/tire noise, top-up or down, is pretty quiet for a roadster and a bit too loud for a coupe, in general. The Roadster gives up almost 1" of legroom, compared with the coupe. However, I am 6'2" and fit comfortably. __________________ 2010 Platinum Graphite Roadster - Tour/Sport/6MT/GReddy SE catback/B&M short shift If the top is up, it must be parked. Last edited by dalparadise; 01-05-2010 at 12:01 AM.

01-05-2010, 12:21 PM	#22 (permalink)
fisherg Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 90 Drives: 10 370Z SR M6 Rep Power: 20	Great comments. One thing however, did you actually measure the legroom between the coupe and roadster? The published specs for leg room, hip room etc... between them on the Nissan web site are shown as exactly the same. I test drove both as well and did not notice any real difference. On the road noise topic, I did drive a coupe with the 19" Rays and a roadster with the 18" standard tires and the roadster was noticeably quieter to my ears. I would agree the Coupe was a bit too loud for me. Last edited by fisherg; 01-05-2010 at 12:24 PM.

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12-09-2009, 05:22 PM	#16 (permalink)
NismoZ_840 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 16 Drives: 350Z Nismo Rep Power: 16	Touring NZ in a 370 Zed would be a dream! I had fun driving a campervan on the roads there even with left side manual, right side drive, and flipflopped turn signal/wiper (the hardest thing to master surprising!) The roads are perfect for a well handling car or bike and scenary absolutely amazing even by Colorado standands! Which island, town are you from?

12-11-2009, 01:19 AM	#20 (permalink)
swwnz Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Alexandra,New Zealand Posts: 33 Drives: 370Z/300zxElise. Rep Power: 16	Cheers Mate,thanks for the kind words,if you are ever in this part of the world ,contact me. Steve