Thinking of buying a 370Z

[ZeroX]

Hi, I owned a series IV 300ZX about 10 years ago and I have been looking at a 370Z but I am a bit confused by the running costs.

 

I currently own a 2011 Jaguar XKR which has the 5.0 supercharged V8. Looking at the numbers the 370Z with the 3.7 V6 pays only £15 less in tax, and has the same (terrible) fuel economy. Is this right? I find it very hard to believe that in the real world the 370Z is that bad in terms of pollution and economy.

 

Also, 370Z's registered after 2017 pay significantly less tax than those registered before 2017, are the engines the same or are the newer models more economical?

 

Another car I am looking at is the BMW 440i, this has similar performance to the 370Z but is much cheaper to run. Basically I was a bit shocked when I looked at the figures for the 370Z, especially when compared to the XKR that I currently own.

 

Thanks!

[GranTurismoEra]

Its all relative....I think mixed driving 22-24 mpg...I have the automatic which is 7 speed and sits at 2.3k at 70mph. I was getting up to 38mpg at 60mph in restricted motorway. 

 

The 370 is lighter than the BMW with a lot less tech and features. Less to go wrong. 

 

Regarding tax thats when the tax rules changed. April 2017 was also based on cost of car being less than £40,000 new which many dealers sold discounted from 2018- 2020. I got my 6 month old Nismo in 2017 14k of New List price. That was then now the 2020s with low miles are around £30-£35,000

Edited May 18, 2022 by GranTurismoEra

[Jack94]

Welcome to the forum. 

 

As above, the 370z engine has never changed, but in 2017 the tax brackets did. 

Pre 2017 it was banded purely based on CO2/km, the 370z was band L & the XKR was band M (the highest). 

 

Whereas now after the first year every vehicle is charged the same (unless the emmisons are zero, in which case its still free). Also if the list price is over 40k you have to pay a supplement for the first 5 years. 

 

20-25pmg is easily achievable, and I'd expect other running costs like servicing, parts etc to be a fair bit cheaper than you're paying now. 

[Andy_Muxlow]

Hi and welcome along buddy. Good luck in your search. It’s all about what you want. What you’re looking for in a car. I love 350z’s ands 370z’s I have owned a bmw, after 6 months I found it very beige. Very comfortable and stuff yes, but boring. 

[ZeroX]

I have seen one that I really like:

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204144655298

 

But unfortunately it is a 2013 model so it falls into the very expensive tax band. I am still confused about the tax on cars that were £40,000 or more at list price. My understanding was that the list price cannot be circumvented by simply "discounting" the price at the actual sale. If that were the case a dealer could sell a £100,000 car for £35,000 and take the remaining £65,000 as a donation or something. Also, how does the government system know that when you tax your specific vehicle what the price of the sale was when it was brand new?

 

I haven't seen any post 2017 ones I like, and I would have to pay quite a bit more in that instance anyway.🤔

 

[Jack94]

That one you linked is actually being sold by an owner on here funnily enough- 

 

 

I think even the most expensive 370z (Nismo) was just under 40k new, so you shouldn't have to worry about the extra payment anyway. 

[Loadmaster]

15 hours ago, ZeroX said:

I have seen one that I really like:

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204144655298

 

But unfortunately it is a 2013 model so it falls into the very expensive tax band. I am still confused about the tax on cars that were £40,000 or more at list price.

 

It's been explained above about the tax changes in 2017, you can also read through the quite complicated banding system on the DVLA's website. Fortunately, my 2017 Nismo sits in the sweet spot of £165 for annual RFL - I doubt that I would have bought it had it cost three times as much, as is the case with those just a year or so older. Take a look through Autotrader and see the vast amount of 2017+ 'performance vehicles' that also cost only £165 to tax. 

 

It's all about getting the older, more polluting, vehicles off the road and getting us into newer ones.

 

As for MPG and general running costs, the 370Z is a 3.7 V6 (as I'm sure you're aware), so you don't buy it for economy. Mine generally does about 20 mpg locally and around town, but can easily achieve nearly 30mpg on a motorway run - not fantastic, but 50% better than my usual. I did a 365 mile return trip from Surrey to Stafford on the weekend, averaging 27 mpg, a lot of that above 70mph (ahem) on the M40/M6 Toll. If I'd wanted economy on that trip I'd have taken the Ateca which would hit 50mpg, but the Z was more appealing for the job on this occasion! 

 

Lastly, routine servicing is very reasonable, particularly if you use one of the specialist indies.  It's a relatively simple and low tech (aka lower cost) car to run and with less to go wrong, say in comparisson with a modern M car for example.  

Edited May 19, 2022 by Loadmaster

[GranTurismoEra]

Basically 30MPG is possible if only driving motorway and keeping at 70mph. Depends on driving style. 

 

£630 road tax. Ill be driving it till it hits £1000

[Ekona]

A 440i is a very different car from a 370. The former is much more grown up, the latter much more raw. That said, either are likely to feel much more playful than your XKR, have you driven either yet? I suspect one will appeal to you much more and make the question you’re asking almost redundant. 

[ZeroX]

I have sat in a 440i at a Sytner BMW but not driven one, I haven't seen or driven a 370Z yet. I guess the best thing to do would be to buy a 2017 or later car to avoid the high tax. The only thing I have noticed is that the newer cars look slightly different. Did they change the styling options that were available from that year onwards?

[Loadmaster]

You'll see far more BMW 440s than Zeds, of any flavour. Have a look on Autotrader and at least go and view a Z in the flesh.

 

As said before, they are two very different cars - which actually suits your needs?

[GranTurismoEra]

The MPGs in the real world not much different. Also road tax is a funny reason not to buy a performance car. Yet youd spend more on petrol within 4 months on useless trips lol

 

My old Director had the 440i at the time i had my original Nismo. Lets just say even the CEO had to look. 👀

Edited May 20, 2022 by GranTurismoEra

[Loadmaster]

1 hour ago, GranTurismoEra said:

The MPGs in the real world not much different. Also road tax is a funny reason not to buy a performance car. Yet youd spend more on petrol within 4 months on useless trips lol

 

My old Director had the 440i at the time i had my original Nismo. Lets just say even the CEO had to look. 👀

A mate of mine has a 440i - very nice car but just looks rather, erm, unremarkable. The dark blue paint might not help.

[ZeroX]

Really I am looking for which is cheaper to run; that will be the deciding factor. I only use my car to commute to work (about 9 miles each way) so I am not too fussed about how either one drives.

[Jack94]

If you're just looking for a comfortable, cheap to run commuter then I don't think the 370z is for you. 

I use my 350z as a daily all year round and it's not the most sensible choice, but it does put a big grin on my face every time I drive it. 

Edited May 20, 2022 by Jack94

[GranTurismoEra]

That cheaper 17 road tax comes with other issues on the car you may need to spend that on anyway such as the clutch or leaking door seal (wet seatbelt) lol

 

I had the Nismo at the time I was working 3- 4 miles away 5 days a week and going to gym 3 miles away. Still spending a good £40+ per week at the time. Oh I did use to go home at lunch times so thats like 20 of those trips per week.

 

I couldn't resist especially in the summer with the sun out. 440i like their lower liter counterparts are common as hell but good cars. Ive driven the 420D my mate paid over £30k for new through work....Not bad felt like an oversized boat tbh but comfortable and fast. Nice cruiser as drove from Oxford to Portsmouth with ease. Whereas the Z could give you a neckache if you sit wrong

Edited May 21, 2022 by GranTurismoEra

[Olly350z]

No disrespect but if your main criteria is cheap to run, cheap tax and sensible then I really think you're in the wrong place. 

 

Owning a Nismo myself, I believe I can speak with at least some experience and say they are not cheap to run, they are not cheap to tax, they are not cheap to maintain, and compared to modern horsepower, they arnt even that fast. Practicality is non existent, forget most multistorey carparks and where ever you'll go it'll attract attention, for good and bad reasons. If you want sensible, own a Honda Jazz like I do

 

BUT, they are rewarding to live with. There is something about that old school feel in a modern vehicle that just makes me smile. I took the girlfriends brother out last week for a blast, let's just say he left grinning ear to ear with the shakes and hes not exactly used to slow cars, owning a R32 golf himself.

 

Basically, if you're using your head, buy the BMW. If you want to be a child and relive your younger days (as we all do) buy the 370z. 

 

[ZeroX]

I think if I could find a 2017 model with the right shape I would consider buying one, but I haven't seen a facelift example that I like. Did they change the styling on the facelft models?

[Olly350z]

No, only very mild changes were made. They had smocked rear lights, darker door handles and a boot switch to name a few, very small non consequential changes that had no real point if I'm honest. On the nismos at least

 

I'm not sure what you mean by the "right shape"? Are you sure you're getting confused between the MK1 nismo and MK2? 

[GranTurismoEra]

Its the same car since 2009 with subtle mechanical fixes along the way, bodykits, seats and buttons...The 370 is a reliable car ive had 4 Zeds...Face lift GT was around 2015 with the nice grey wheels. Same with Mk2 Nismo.

 

MPGs are not much better on german performance cars as when you watch all the youtubers they seem to be getting low 20s despite being in the sticks. Considering its a 3.7 NA its actually quite economical and should really be drinking more. But many members have reported 25- 36 mpgs on a cycle. The highest i saw 38 mpg. Im not sure any other NA with a high 3.5 and above displacement could return that. Ive had £25 last me 6 hours of fast driving in the lanes with stops obviously.

 

23 - 24 MPG with Enthusiastic driving is not bad. If its only 9 miles start stop driving miles it will probably drop

Edited May 22, 2022 by GranTurismoEra

[ZeroX]

8 hours ago, Olly350z said:

I'm not sure what you mean by the "right shape"? Are you sure you're getting confused between the MK1 nismo and MK2? 

Yes maybe, what are the differences between the MK1 and the MK2?

[ShortPaul]

The mk1 is to the right side of the pic, hope this helps 

[ZeroX]

Yes I see, it looks like they tried to cut back costs with the MK2, at least cosmetically. Are they mechanically very similar?

[ShortPaul]

I can't see where they have cut costs cosmetically? 

[Olly350z]

9 hours ago, ZeroX said:

Yes I see, it looks like they tried to cut back costs with the MK2, at least cosmetically. Are they mechanically very similar?

 

I still think you're confused. This is a MK2 Nismo (mine) production ran from 2015 with a very minor facelift in 2018 onwards with smoked rear lights, darker door handles and a boot switch internally. Tax is annually £595 a year because as others have explained, it became the value of the vehicle instead of the emissions that dictated its tax bracket in 2017. If I had bought my Nismo only 6 months later, I'd be paying much less!

 

 

This is a MK1 

 

 

Cosmetically they are quite different, front and rear bumpers, blacked out headlights, sideskirts, different rear spoiler, different style Rays alloys, Recaro non electric seats compared to the MK1s cloth electric seats and the list goes on. I really struggle to see how the MK2 looks Cosmetically cheaper? It's just a different styling, one you prefer or don't as the case may be 

 

Mechanically they are 98% identical, with the MK2 having two changes to note which were gallery gaskets and steering lock mechanism refined.