Thanks to the Nissan dealer in Brighton for allowing the test drive!
I have to start by saying the new 370z looks magic! Its low slung, wide and muscular! Pity that the Zeds in Australia do not get the 19" wheels that the Americans get (albeit an optional extra).
The interior is light years ahead of the 350Z - the feel of the various surfaces is vastly improved. The seat, positioning of the pedals, steering wheel and gear knob are all familiar and that's no bad thing. You sit very low and thus the dashboard seems high and the view out the front wind screen is almost along the bonnet. Again no bad thing...
The entire key fob slots into a cavity beside the steering wheel and the engine starts at the press of a button - not the first but a neat feature because unlike some the button only requires one touch with the clutch depressed and the computer wizardry determines how long the starter motor is required for.
The engine is muted at idle and a little characterless. Depress the 'springy' clutch and engaging first requires strength. Both are heavy and bulky and later very very short in throw. Honestly, why have the throw so short and the movement between ratios so heavy? I would much rather a longer throw and light mechanical feel such that found in a Honda DC2 Integra Type R. Clutch engaged and we are away. Into second you realise that the revs linger for some time meaning little to no throttle is required to match the next gear. Same thing into third and fourth. I see whats happening here, the Engineers at Nissan have decided that rev matching on the way up through the gears is also too difficult for the average Joe. Coming to a set of lights and down shifting sees the tacho flaring to match revs. Again no effort required and I’m feeling left out.
The rev-matching system does work and work well, however, it’s boring! The only flaw i saw was when decelerating to approach say a speed bump and clutching from 3rd to neutral the engines revs flared for several seconds before its computers determined that I wasn’t going for a gear yet.
I turned it off and found that initial throttle response is dull and that is a complaint i have with of cars fitted with electronic throttle bodies! Heel and toeing was easy and no flaring revs when going into neutral. However, the engine is a little slower to respond to the throttle being lifted in the lower revs - this may be to make the driving experience smoother...
The engine is awesomely powerful and makes plenty of noisy on the way to the redline but that is all it is, noise. The engine sounds coarse and brassy as opposed to the raw and metallic note emitted from BMW's E46 M3 and certainly not sweet and smooth like another one of BMW's straight sixes found in the 130.
The steering is meaty and steering wheel well matched and I have never seen so many functions crammed onto steering wheel real-estate. The wheel weights up around corners and has decent feedback - nothing to get overly excited by.
Compliance and ride quality are very good. The chassis feels very stiff and suspension takes advantage of that. So the ride is firm to say the least - and the pay off - awesome body control in the twisty stuff. I didn’t experience any bumps mid-corner so I can’t comment how all of this works on rough surfaces. Grip levels were high but with this much power over coming the back tyres is only a sudden ankle moment away.
Not a lot pressure on the middle pedal is required to bring the Zed to a standstill. Pedal feel is a little over sensitive at first but a few applications later and modulating pedal is no problem.
Would I buy one? Only a longer test drive could see me answer that. The car feels heavy and powerful with strong brakes and enough grip to entertain. The ride is firm and steering is pretty good. Clutch and gearbox action are a let down but 370z isn’t alone in that department!
I have to start by saying the new 370z looks magic! Its low slung, wide and muscular! Pity that the Zeds in Australia do not get the 19" wheels that the Americans get (albeit an optional extra).
The interior is light years ahead of the 350Z - the feel of the various surfaces is vastly improved. The seat, positioning of the pedals, steering wheel and gear knob are all familiar and that's no bad thing. You sit very low and thus the dashboard seems high and the view out the front wind screen is almost along the bonnet. Again no bad thing...
The entire key fob slots into a cavity beside the steering wheel and the engine starts at the press of a button - not the first but a neat feature because unlike some the button only requires one touch with the clutch depressed and the computer wizardry determines how long the starter motor is required for.
The engine is muted at idle and a little characterless. Depress the 'springy' clutch and engaging first requires strength. Both are heavy and bulky and later very very short in throw. Honestly, why have the throw so short and the movement between ratios so heavy? I would much rather a longer throw and light mechanical feel such that found in a Honda DC2 Integra Type R. Clutch engaged and we are away. Into second you realise that the revs linger for some time meaning little to no throttle is required to match the next gear. Same thing into third and fourth. I see whats happening here, the Engineers at Nissan have decided that rev matching on the way up through the gears is also too difficult for the average Joe. Coming to a set of lights and down shifting sees the tacho flaring to match revs. Again no effort required and I’m feeling left out.
The rev-matching system does work and work well, however, it’s boring! The only flaw i saw was when decelerating to approach say a speed bump and clutching from 3rd to neutral the engines revs flared for several seconds before its computers determined that I wasn’t going for a gear yet.
I turned it off and found that initial throttle response is dull and that is a complaint i have with of cars fitted with electronic throttle bodies! Heel and toeing was easy and no flaring revs when going into neutral. However, the engine is a little slower to respond to the throttle being lifted in the lower revs - this may be to make the driving experience smoother...
The engine is awesomely powerful and makes plenty of noisy on the way to the redline but that is all it is, noise. The engine sounds coarse and brassy as opposed to the raw and metallic note emitted from BMW's E46 M3 and certainly not sweet and smooth like another one of BMW's straight sixes found in the 130.
The steering is meaty and steering wheel well matched and I have never seen so many functions crammed onto steering wheel real-estate. The wheel weights up around corners and has decent feedback - nothing to get overly excited by.
Compliance and ride quality are very good. The chassis feels very stiff and suspension takes advantage of that. So the ride is firm to say the least - and the pay off - awesome body control in the twisty stuff. I didn’t experience any bumps mid-corner so I can’t comment how all of this works on rough surfaces. Grip levels were high but with this much power over coming the back tyres is only a sudden ankle moment away.
Not a lot pressure on the middle pedal is required to bring the Zed to a standstill. Pedal feel is a little over sensitive at first but a few applications later and modulating pedal is no problem.
Would I buy one? Only a longer test drive could see me answer that. The car feels heavy and powerful with strong brakes and enough grip to entertain. The ride is firm and steering is pretty good. Clutch and gearbox action are a let down but 370z isn’t alone in that department!
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