More 370z questions

[Ecosseven]

Morning all,

 

My research into 370z ownership goes on. If I buy a 370z it’s likely that I purchase an approved used car from a Nissan Dealership. I’ll be looking for a manual coupe in GT spec in silver, titanium, black, red or blue (not keen on white despite it being fashionable these days and yellow doesn’t float my boat either) Is it worth taking the extended warranty? I know that zeds are generally very reliable but perhaps it’s worth it for the extra piece of mind.

 

A few other questions.

 

1. A lot of the road test reports comment on the engine being harsh at high revs. I like to use all the revs when driving a sports car. Will the 370z rev smoothly all the way to the 7.5K red line or does it start to sound harsh or start to feel strained at high revs?

2. How bad is the road noise at speed? This is something else that most road test reports commented on.

3. Can the car be run on normal unleaded? I know the handbook recommends super unleaded.

4. How much can I expect to pay for major and minor services. I’m assuming they alternative every 9000 miles?

5. Insurance costs for me are reasonable (36 with full NCB). Are there any insurance companies that specialise in insuring zeds?

6. Does the car tramline badly on broken or uneven roads? The 370 is quite heavy with very wide tyres.

7. Talking of tyres how much does a full set cost and how long can I expect them to last.

8. I have heard a few comments about changing the exhaust to make the 370 sound more like a sportscar. Which aftermarket system is recommended and what are the associated costs? Will this invalidate my warranty?

 

Thanks and all the best

[mbs]

1.Take a teat drive

2.Take a test drive

3. not recommened

4. Depends on where in the UK you are.

5. Not that I am aware of, all the usual suspects insure.

6. Take a test drive

7. Depends on make anywhere from £800 - £1600

8. I have a Stillen fitted circa £1200 including import costs.

[EH 370z]

Hi

 

I can answer some of your questions but some may be better answered by others!

Q1 - Yes a bit, but in truth not enough to make you sick, I would highly recommend a test drive in the car and gauge it for yourself, it wouldn’t put me off.

Q2 - Same as above the road noise has raised a few eyebrows on here, but all things considered I don’t think it’s that bad compared to a similar car like a Boxster. Plus alot can depend on the tyres you use.

Q3 - Yes you can run it on normal unleaded, but again there is some debate over the overall economics of this (i.e. you get a better consumption using the Super ULP)

Q4 - Depends on your dealer, but as a rough starter, I wouldn’t bay any mother than £220 for a P1 and no more than £350 for a P3 service, We offer a discount to members so the last P3 we did, was billed out at £274!

Q5 -Dunno

Q6 - No, I don’t think so but again it depends what you are used to - again I would suggest a test drive

Q7 - There are tyre specialists on here, that would be a better gauge

Q8 - Again personal preference and I wouldn’t be the man for this! But the warranty would only be invalidated by anything connect to the exhaust!

[R35LEE]

Buy one Road noise is a sh!tter but runflats don't help, luckily the Bose volume button does

[ScottyZ]

I found the engine harsh at high revs. I then had an Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust system fitted at the same time as the Berk High Flow Catalytic Converters for around £2400 fitted. The harshness has now gone, the engine is alot more free revving, the car is definately quicker and now it sounds like a sports car should with around 340 BHP. Also the exhaust looks so much better than the standard one. I bought my car new in March and had the above fitted in June and have absolutely no regrets whatsoever - it really did change the car!

 

No doubt with the amazing deal you will get if you do your research, sorting the exhaust out should shouldn't be too painful on the old wallet!

 

Cheers,

 

Scotty

[Mark@Abbey m/s]

Q3 - Yes you can run it on normal unleaded, but again there is some debate over the overall economics of this (i.e. you get a better consumption using the Super ULP)

 

Are you sure? they do have closed loop knock control but running on 95 octane will have a big instep in BHP/Torque levels.

[Railgun]

Q3 - Yes you can run it on normal unleaded, but again there is some debate over the overall economics of this (i.e. you get a better consumption using the Super ULP)

 

Are you sure? they do have closed loop knock control but running on 95 octane will have a big instep in BHP/Torque levels.

 

I'm not sure about the figures, but my first fill up was with 95 octane ( had no choice ). I thought or noticed nothing, till I filled her up with her first tank of 99 ( at least under my ownership ). Seriously noticeable difference. Not sure about getting more mileage per tank, as to be honest, my driving style goes hand in hand with my mood. Sometimes pedestrian, sometimes rockin the revs ( like most Z driver's I'm guessing )

[bronzee]

I’ll be looking for a manual coupe in GT spec in silver, titanium, black, red or blue (not keen on white despite it being fashionable these days and yellow doesn’t float my boat either)

 

2. How bad is the road noise at speed? This is something else that most road test reports commented on.

There's a blue one that I see on quite a regular basis. The lovely vibrant blue of the 370 really stands out, in a good way. There doesn't seem to be any other current cars about that are that hue of blue.

 

 

The 370 I had for a day, running with the Bridgestone Potenza RE050's, it gives off a lot of road noise, so much so that my co-pilot commented on it. I'm not a fan of the RE050's on a 350 either for that reason plus more. It's a personal thing, as others don't mind them.

 

If it were me, I shoe the car with Yokohama Advan Sport V103. Quieter and they handle better and hold on to the road better and don't upset the traction control at the drop of a hat. (I'm presuming in the UK that the 370 comes out stock with the Yoko's on, as they're supposed to do in NZ?)

[Fred020]

Hi Ecosseven. Before buying a Z a few weeks ago, I had concerns very similar to yours.

 

1. A lot of the road test reports comment on the engine being harsh at high revs. I like to use all the revs when driving a sports car. Will the 370z rev smoothly all the way to the 7.5K red line or does it start to sound harsh or start to feel strained at high revs?

I read those reports too. The engine gives a lot of vibration through the gearstick at high revs, but I would not call it "harsh". Neither would I agree with one Telegraph reviewer who said it makes a sound "redolent if inadequate lubrication". The gear stick vibration is extreme though, at very high revs, and Nissan should really address it. I would call it "unrefined", but gear knob vibration, however bad, does not equate to "strained" in my mind.

Coming from a Mazda RX-8 (great car), I like to rev the full range too. I was used to banging the engine off the rev limiter on a daily basis . In the Z you don't seem to do that. There isn't a reason to because so much power is available further down the rev range. In my 6 weeks of ownership, I have only been above 6k 2 or 3 times. I therefore haven't found the engine's behaviour at extreme revs to be a drawback.

 

Around town, the the low speed ride is suprisingly smooth. Above 40 mph, the very firm rear suspension makes itself felt. On a bad road it can be a case of "ride em cowboy!", but those roads are quite rare.

 

2. How bad is the road noise at speed? This is something else that most road test reports commented on.

It is bad. One compensation is that the engine is quiet, mitigating overall cabin noise. Compared to the Mazda RX-8 I owned previously, the cabin in the Z is probably the same or quieter at speed, becuase the Mazda engine and transmission were louder. It is a drawback though, and the car isn't going to get quieter with age.

 

3. Can the car be run on normal unleaded? I know the handbook recommends super unleaded.

No. The handbook forbids running the car on normal unleaded. Section 9-4 states that if premium is not available, you may partially fill the tank with unleaded, but you must then "avoid full throttle driving and abrupt accelleration", and you must also fill up with premium as soon as possible.

 

I find that the car can do over well over 30 mpg on the motorway. On my daily commute it gets about 26 MPG. An improvement on the 21.8 I had from the Mazda, but as that car used normal unleaded the savings are small (but welcome). Petrolprices.com is your friend.

 

4. Servicing costs - don't know.

 

5. Insurance - don't know.

 

6. Does the car tramline badly on broken or uneven roads? The 370 is quite heavy with very wide tyres.

It doesn't seem too, although as with all "sports" cars, you will feel road irregularities through the wheel.

 

7. Tyre costs - don't know. I am expecting a full set to be £700 - £800. I expect to replace the rears maybe every 14000 miles and the fronts every 18000.

 

8. I have heard a few comments about changing the exhaust to make the 370 sound more like a sportscar. Which aftermarket system is recommended and what are the associated costs? Will this invalidate my warranty?

 

I have a harsh view of modding: it is never an improvement and it just makes the car less desirable. Millions of man hours have gone into designing, testing and redesiging the car. You aren't likely to trump their efforts with a trip to Halfords or even a local light engineering company. Leave well alone. I am biased though, preferring a quiet exhaust.

 

Overall, I am delighted with the 370Z. It is not a perfect car. But it is wonderful to drive and own, so far. And I am enjoying the up-to-date gadgets too - satnav, USB connection, auto headlights, auto wipers, cruise control, voice control. And the looks are great.

 

Have one or more test drives to address your concerns. Also make sure you an put up with the extraordinarily large wing mirrors - some find these a bar to side visibility.

[Chris`I]

Please dont run it on 95RON. If its too rich for you to run on premium unleaded, then this isnt the car for you. I havent read the owners manual in detail, but if its anything like the 350z (if anything it will be moreso) then it really wont like 95RON.

 

On and new exhaust sorts out the NVH and road noise problems

[ioneabee]

On and new exhaust sorts out the NVH and road noise problems

 

NVH ?? and how will a new exhaust sort out road noise ?

[Chris`I]

On and new exhaust sorts out the NVH and road noise problems

 

NVH ?? and how will a new exhaust sort out road noise ?

Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH)

 

New exhaust means you will be booting it everywhere listening to that, and thats louder than road noise (it was a bit tongue in cheek comment)

[ioneabee]

On and new exhaust sorts out the NVH and road noise problems

 

NVH ?? and how will a new exhaust sort out road noise ?

Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH)

 

New exhaust means you will be booting it everywhere listening to that, and thats louder than road noise (it was a bit tongue in cheek comment)

 

jst like turning up the bose then

[Ecosseven]

Hi Ecosseven. Before buying a Z a few weeks ago, I had concerns very similar to yours.

 

1. A lot of the road test reports comment on the engine being harsh at high revs. I like to use all the revs when driving a sports car. Will the 370z rev smoothly all the way to the 7.5K red line or does it start to sound harsh or start to feel strained at high revs?

I read those reports too. The engine gives a lot of vibration through the gearstick at high revs, but I would not call it "harsh". Neither would I agree with one Telegraph reviewer who said it makes a sound "redolent if inadequate lubrication". The gear stick vibration is extreme though, at very high revs, and Nissan should really address it. I would call it "unrefined", but gear knob vibration, however bad, does not equate to "strained" in my mind.

Coming from a Mazda RX-8 (great car), I like to rev the full range too. I was used to banging the engine off the rev limiter on a daily basis . In the Z you don't seem to do that. There isn't a reason to because so much power is available further down the rev range. In my 6 weeks of ownership, I have only been above 6k 2 or 3 times. I therefore haven't found the engine's behaviour at extreme revs to be a drawback.

 

Around town, the the low speed ride is suprisingly smooth. Above 40 mph, the very firm rear suspension makes itself felt. On a bad road it can be a case of "ride em cowboy!", but those roads are quite rare.

 

2. How bad is the road noise at speed? This is something else that most road test reports commented on.

It is bad. One compensation is that the engine is quiet, mitigating overall cabin noise. Compared to the Mazda RX-8 I owned previously, the cabin in the Z is probably the same or quieter at speed, becuase the Mazda engine and transmission were louder. It is a drawback though, and the car isn't going to get quieter with age.

 

3. Can the car be run on normal unleaded? I know the handbook recommends super unleaded.

No. The handbook forbids running the car on normal unleaded. Section 9-4 states that if premium is not available, you may partially fill the tank with unleaded, but you must then "avoid full throttle driving and abrupt accelleration", and you must also fill up with premium as soon as possible.

 

I find that the car can do over well over 30 mpg on the motorway. On my daily commute it gets about 26 MPG. An improvement on the 21.8 I had from the Mazda, but as that car used normal unleaded the savings are small (but welcome). Petrolprices.com is your friend.

 

4. Servicing costs - don't know.

 

5. Insurance - don't know.

 

6. Does the car tramline badly on broken or uneven roads? The 370 is quite heavy with very wide tyres.

It doesn't seem too, although as with all "sports" cars, you will feel road irregularities through the wheel.

 

7. Tyre costs - don't know. I am expecting a full set to be £700 - £800. I expect to replace the rears maybe every 14000 miles and the fronts every 18000.

 

8. I have heard a few comments about changing the exhaust to make the 370 sound more like a sportscar. Which aftermarket system is recommended and what are the associated costs? Will this invalidate my warranty?

 

I have a harsh view of modding: it is never an improvement and it just makes the car less desirable. Millions of man hours have gone into designing, testing and redesiging the car. You aren't likely to trump their efforts with a trip to Halfords or even a local light engineering company. Leave well alone. I am biased though, preferring a quiet exhaust.

 

Overall, I am delighted with the 370Z. It is not a perfect car. But it is wonderful to drive and own, so far. And I am enjoying the up-to-date gadgets too - satnav, USB connection, auto headlights, auto wipers, cruise control, voice control. And the looks are great.

 

Have one or more test drives to address your concerns. Also make sure you an put up with the extraordinarily large wing mirrors - some find these a bar to side visibility.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I have a test drive arranged for Saturday in a manual GT coupe.

[Ecosseven]

I had a test drive in a 370z on Saturday. I was impressed. The suspension wasn’t as stiff as I had expected and although the car was loud (mostly tyre roar) it wouldn’t put me off using one as a daily driver. Looked great in the metal as well. A couple of things I did notice were the lack of reach adjustment on the steering and the rear poor visibility. It was good to drive a car with a N/A engine as well – no turbo lag!

[sipar69]

I had a test drive in a 370z on Saturday. I was impressed. The suspension wasn’t as stiff as I had expected and although the car was loud (mostly tyre roar) it wouldn’t put me off using one as a daily driver. Looked great in the metal as well. A couple of things I did notice were the lack of reach adjustment on the steering and the rear poor visibility. It was good to drive a car with a N/A engine as well – no turbo lag!

 

Don't let the road noise put you off mate - it's such a great car in almost every other respect and the Bose stereo helps!

[Kev T]

Get a decent exhaust system and bingo tyre noise a thing of the past !!

[Fred020]

I had a test drive in a 370z on Saturday. I was impressed. The suspension wasn’t as stiff as I had expected and although the car was loud (mostly tyre roar) it wouldn’t put me off using one as a daily driver. Looked great in the metal as well. A couple of things I did notice were the lack of reach adjustment on the steering and the rear poor visibility. It was good to drive a car with a N/A engine as well – no turbo lag!

 

Great. A note on visibility: If you put the drivers seat high up, then the the rear screen, as seen in the rear view mirror, has its top edge cut off by the ceiling trim at the rear, meaning your rear view extends only a couple of hundred yards behind the car. In other words, Nissan made the ceiling trim too low just there, a surprising blunder. If you put the seat too low, the huge side mirror can impede your side view at roundabouts. It all depends on your height. Have another sit in a 370 and check it out.

 

I am giving you the bad news up front! Another oddity is the small size of the boot. It could have been twice as deep, but Nissan put a subwoofer unit under the existing boot floor, and filled the space around it with big blocks of polystyrene. Lift up the false floor in the boot and you see what could have been useable space loosley filled by polystyrene blocks. It's clearly a design shortcut, and Nissan could have come up with a better arrangment.

 

Not a perfect car as I said. But the above niggles are small compared to the other benefits of the car.

[Chris`I]

A note on visibility: If you put the drivers seat high up, then the the rear screen, as seen in the rear view mirror, has its top edge cut off by the ceiling trim at the rear, meaning your rear view extends only a couple of hundred yards behind the car. In other words, Nissan made the ceiling trim too low just there, a surprising blunder. If you put the seat too low, the huge side mirror can impede your side view at roundabouts. It all depends on your height. Have another sit in a 370 and check it out.

I'm only 5ft 6in and vis out the back is fine, but those wing mirrors are a nightmare. I also refuse to have my seat in a sportscar anywhere but on the lowest setting

 

I am giving you the bad news up front! Another oddity is the small size of the boot. It could have been twice as deep, but Nissan put a subwoofer unit under the existing boot floor, and filled the space around it with big blocks of polystyrene. Lift up the false floor in the boot and you see what could have been useable space loosley filled by polystyrene blocks. It's clearly a design shortcut, and Nissan could have come up with a better arrangment.

Coming from a 350z I can see where this design flaw has come from. In the 350z they did the same, but the boot was deeper. I assume they did it to make space for the spare wheel and also to make the boot floor flat. However in the 370z a few things have changed. The strut that was over the boot area in the 350z is now below. This has raised the boot floor. Also in the UK the spare wheel is omitted. So in other countries you still need it. So over here we have a massive amount of wasted space. Still at least being here, you know that now and can remove some of the foam and pack around it if you need extra space