Clunky Convertible Top Operation

Danny89141 · 07-23-2010, 02:13 PM

Hello all. I just bought a 2010 370z Roadster, and I am absolutelt in Love with the car. The only criticism so far, is that the operation of the hard cover is pretty clunky, especially when the top is just about to close. It seems like the cover free falls about 3 inches before coming to rest and locking. I previously owned an Audi S4 cabriolet, and the top's operation was smooth as silk (although it took almost twice as long to open and close as the 370z does).

Anyway, I ran into my salesman a few days after I bought the car, and he indicated that that's just the way the top operates, and that there is no adjustment, etc.

Comments?

fisherg · 07-23-2010, 02:49 PM

In general I'd agree it's abrupt in its action but I don't pay attention to it anymore. The gas shocks which control some of the movement are part of the reason but the "hydraulic" action of the top makes it fast. A pure motorized top would be much slower. It sounds like yours is similar to mine.

susu · 07-23-2010, 03:50 PM

Yep, same here .. you will get used to the "clunkiness". Just hope long term durability is good! Same cannot be said about the top cover . see other posts here in this forum

Danny89141 · 07-23-2010, 04:09 PM

Thanks for the replies. I know I will get used to it.

Lee123 · 07-23-2010, 11:32 PM

Thanks for posting this. I got mine in April and have wondered about the jerky and noisy operation since it was brand new. Especially the cover slamming down. It's good to know that's normal.

vividracing · 07-24-2010, 01:01 AM

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your Z!

Kirkster · 07-24-2010, 01:36 AM

Yea. They did seem to go with the "gravity is your friend" method on closing the top. But as this is my first vert I don't mind a bit...

TripleBlkZ · 07-24-2010, 01:08 PM

same here, but learned to live with it.....

Zaggeron · 07-24-2010, 01:11 PM

Welcome and congrats. Clunky here as well, but as others have said, you'll get used to it.

vifferman · 07-25-2010, 05:01 PM

Yes, the clunky top operation is normal for the 370z. Several early reviews made mention of it. I don't like it, but I love my "ZR" and it's such a relative bargain in its class that I can live with the clunky top.

Danny89141 · 07-26-2010, 04:46 PM

I am with you. My short list included a Porsche Boxster and a Corvette Roadster. After you comparably equip those models, you are North of $70K. With performance to match the Boxster, at a price several thousand dollars below, you can't beat the ZR!

Hi-Step'n370Z · 07-31-2010, 08:44 AM

Clunk or no clunk, the fact is that WE have a nice, secure, attractive and protective cover over the closed top on our Z Roadster, and Porsche does NOT, which I really don't understand. It looks terrible and offers no protection when the top's down at all. I'm thinking a sun bleached area, and what about all the "dirt" and or general debris that will get in there?

With the top up, the Z is a gorgeous automobile, and every time I hear the clunk, I feel that my Z has just been finished off transforming herself into the awesome beauty that she is when she goes topless.

Man, I love this car!

Zfish · 08-02-2010, 11:44 PM

I too read the reviews regarding the clunkiness. I figure that is just the top letting me know in no uncertain terms that it is fully down. The final clunk is like the green light coming on in the tree: throttle down, clutch out, and gone.

WICKED_GRIN · 08-03-2010, 08:19 AM

I’ve had my Roadster since April and it was a little clunky in the beginning but now it has quieted down considerably!

07-23-2010, 02:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Danny89141 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 10 Drives: 2010 370Z Roadster T Rep Power: 15	Clunky Convertible Top Operation Hello all. I just bought a 2010 370z Roadster, and I am absolutelt in Love with the car. The only criticism so far, is that the operation of the hard cover is pretty clunky, especially when the top is just about to close. It seems like the cover free falls about 3 inches before coming to rest and locking. I previously owned an Audi S4 cabriolet, and the top's operation was smooth as silk (although it took almost twice as long to open and close as the 370z does). Anyway, I ran into my salesman a few days after I bought the car, and he indicated that that's just the way the top operates, and that there is no adjustment, etc. Comments?

07-23-2010, 02:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
fisherg Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 90 Drives: 10 370Z SR M6 Rep Power: 20	In general I'd agree it's abrupt in its action but I don't pay attention to it anymore. The gas shocks which control some of the movement are part of the reason but the "hydraulic" action of the top makes it fast. A pure motorized top would be much slower. It sounds like yours is similar to mine. __________________ THE OPEN ROAD IS WAITING.....Solid Red Touring 370ZR w/Navi

07-24-2010, 01:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
vividracing The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilbert, AZ Age: 38 Posts: 7,306 Drives: 350Z,370Z,GTR Rep Power: 39	Welcome to the forums and congrats on your Z! __________________ Rocky @ Vivid ♦ 480.966.3040 x236 ♦ Rocky@vividracing.com Email, PM, or call me directly for aggressive The370Z.com member pricing!!!

07-24-2010, 01:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kirkster A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Peoples Republic of MD Posts: 1,792 Drives: Roadster of DOOM Rep Power: 19	Yea. They did seem to go with the "gravity is your friend" method on closing the top. But as this is my first vert I don't mind a bit... __________________ Powertrain Warranty voided on 5/14/2011 Mod List:GTM Supercharger,SmartTop module, Oil Cooler, GT-R Start button, Nismo Exhaust, BC Racing ER Coilovers, Backup Camara For eastwest:

07-24-2010, 01:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Zaggeron A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,951 Drives: '10 370ZR '13 BRZ Rep Power: 18	Welcome and congrats. Clunky here as well, but as others have said, you'll get used to it. __________________ 2010 Platinum Graphite 370z Roadster:Touring/Sport 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited

07-23-2010, 03:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
susu Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: canada Posts: 73 Drives: 370z roadster 6mt sp Rep Power: 16	Yep, same here .. you will get used to the "clunkiness". Just hope long term durability is good! Same cannot be said about the top cover . see other posts here in this forum

07-23-2010, 04:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Danny89141 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 10 Drives: 2010 370Z Roadster T Rep Power: 15	Thanks for the replies. I know I will get used to it.

07-23-2010, 11:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lee123 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix Posts: 84 Drives: 2010 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 15	Thanks for posting this. I got mine in April and have wondered about the jerky and noisy operation since it was brand new. Especially the cover slamming down. It's good to know that's normal.

07-24-2010, 01:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
TripleBlkZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 333 Drives: 2014 QX50 Rep Power: 15	same here, but learned to live with it.....

07-25-2010, 05:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
vifferman Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 62 Drives: '04 TSX, '10 370ZR Rep Power: 16	Yes, the clunky top operation is normal for the 370z. Several early reviews made mention of it. I don't like it, but I love my "ZR" and it's such a relative bargain in its class that I can live with the clunky top.

07-26-2010, 04:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Danny89141 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 10 Drives: 2010 370Z Roadster T Rep Power: 15	I am with you. My short list included a Porsche Boxster and a Corvette Roadster. After you comparably equip those models, you are North of $70K. With performance to match the Boxster, at a price several thousand dollars below, you can't beat the ZR!

07-31-2010, 08:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
Hi-Step'n370Z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: new york Posts: 425 Drives: '10ZR S/B AT Tour NV Rep Power: 277	Clunk or no clunk, the fact is that WE have a nice, secure, attractive and protective cover over the closed top on our Z Roadster, and Porsche does NOT, which I really don't understand. It looks terrible and offers no protection when the top's down at all. I'm thinking a sun bleached area, and what about all the "dirt" and or general debris that will get in there? With the top up, the Z is a gorgeous automobile, and every time I hear the clunk, I feel that my Z has just been finished off transforming herself into the awesome beauty that she is when she goes topless. Man, I love this car!

08-02-2010, 11:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
Zfish Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Marina, CA Posts: 24 Drives: 2010 370z roadster Rep Power: 15	I too read the reviews regarding the clunkiness. I figure that is just the top letting me know in no uncertain terms that it is fully down. The final clunk is like the green light coming on in the tree: throttle down, clutch out, and gone.

08-03-2010, 08:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
WICKED_GRIN Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: New England Posts: 466 Drives: 370Z Roadster Black Rep Power: 16	I’ve had my Roadster since April and it was a little clunky in the beginning but now it has quieted down considerably!

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