If I can put my tuppence worth in here, coming from a RX8 to the 370, I know what "mixing" the gearbox is all about to get in a "good overtaking" position, but the 370 is in a different class, effortlessly accelerates in 2nd, 3rd and well 4th just blows most of the motorway opposition away.
The car is noisy in a "raw" type fashion, the 8 was super smooth on the "loud" peddle, but I put this down to a mixture of 6 cylinders and a huge amount of rubber on the tarmac for the 370 and being able to continue to 9.5k RPM before up change on the 8.
I've had nothing but admiring looks and comments from workmates and friends alike, a friend who was over at the ring recently told me of Nissan having a promo day, the GTR's were getting a lot of "child" like attention from the wannabe's, but he said, the real star of the show was the 370, so the reviewer is talking out his ar5e here.
The suspension on stock, IMO, is not impressive, could/should be a lot lower and I don't find it stiff at all, more aimed at Merkins, a bit wallowy, but then again I have been used to a lowered set up on what was essentialy a go-kart, a very good go-kart though. My first serious mod will be to address this issue.
As for comparing what is around for the same price, believe me, I looked at all the opposition, couldn't afford the options list on the Audi or the Cayman, before you know where you are, both these are closer to 40k for the same spec. For the thrill factor, I believe that you would have to move onto M3 territory, a new M3 that is and if I had the dosh for one of them then I would have plumped for a GTR.
The 370, IMHO, is miles in front of the opposition and with a few carefully applied mods, would take it into another dimension.