So we've been trying to figure out recently why our 2009 Nissan 370Z doesn't get more editorial love, and I keep hearing negative comments about the ride. "Rough." "Hard." "[Insert lewd comment here]." With due respect to my perhaps prematurely geriatric colleagues, I beg to differ. This Z has got one of the most supple sports-car rides I've ever experienced.
I aimed the Z at every rut and pothole in sight on my way to work this morning, and I failed to elicit anything I'd call "impact harshness." The Z's ride is firm, taut, controlled...but rough? Hard? No way. There's a BMW-like refinement in the way this car traverses broken pavement. In fact, I'd say it's more BMW-like in this respect than our 135i -- a car that no one (well, other than me) has ever spurned on account of its harsh ride. As for the Evo MR, which has no shortage of suitors in these parts, the Z rides like a Lexus by comparison.
The Z's got issues, yes. The ride isn't one of them.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 8,344 miles
PDXLager says:
12:41 PM, 06/30/09
"I aimed the Z at every rut and pothole in sight on my way to work this morning"
*twitch* *twitch* *twitch*
huyracing says:
01:18 PM, 06/30/09
thats what i said, its not the ride. how do i get paid for my wonderfully accurate automotive insight?
SadButTrue says:
01:27 PM, 06/30/09
@huyracing,
If you're referring to your comment on Austria's post, weren't you just seconding my comment (two above yours)?
Nonetheless, your check is in the mail. :)
-JS
carguy622 says:
01:41 PM, 06/30/09
Maybe the Z's ride issue is like that of my Miata. While it soaks up bumps well it's just a little flinty and edgy overall (it feels like the tires are just grazing above the road surface ready to change direction at a moment's notice), and it can get tiring on a long drive.
huyracing says:
01:51 PM, 06/30/09
lol. yes i did second your comment, but based on my own experience. :)
SnakeDoctor says:
01:52 PM, 06/30/09
Hard ride for a sports car? No.
Hard compared to the rest of the long term fleet? Of course; you missed the point.
addicted says:
01:56 PM, 06/30/09
Maybe it's the visibility? I own this car and agree, it's definitely not the ride. The car has a ridiculous amount of grip (while staying extremely compliant, espcially given the short wheelbase), and great accelerative abilities, but the lack of visibility to any corner of the car is not confidence inspiring. A sports car should be about having fun pushing it a bit and the Z took a good amount of seat time before I was confident in it as a dance partner.
SadButTrue says:
02:01 PM, 06/30/09
@Snakester,
Hard ride compared to BMW 135i? No.
Do people avoid the 135i because of its ride? No.
The Z's ride is one of its strong suits. That's the point.
Regards,
S.B. True
threader says:
03:48 PM, 06/30/09
Nice to see a little hate on other sports cars than the 08 STI.
huyracing says:
06:21 PM, 06/30/09
STI is not a sports car...
felonious says:
09:33 AM, 07/ 1/09
Carguy622 - too much compression damping but just-right rebound, that's my guess.
yellowmiata says:
11:57 AM, 07/ 1/09
Just like food or movie critics who seem soft if they can't identify problems in the restaurant or film they critique, it seems many of the threads in the long-term blogs are about pointing out problems rather than balancing pros and cons. I wish the merit of a review didn't hinge on finding problems with vehicles as I'd rather know what's good AND bad rather than what X manufacturer forgot. Cheers to those reviewers who can consistently find both the good & bad. We need both to make educated decisions.
hondacura4 says:
06:22 PM, 07/ 1/09
My brother and I sampled a 6MT 370Z 2 weekends ago. Loved the interior and the visual substance advantage it has over the 350Z however the engine lacked refinement as like past enlarged VQ's it had a certain grittiness to it that made me want to stop driving it. It had good power everywhere but when revved it just didn't seem happy....at all. Given its redline and the fact that its a (great) sports car that is one area that should have been high on the list of priorities.
Nissan, rawness and refinement can reside in the same engine as there are plenty of examples, past and present. Your own VQ30 was one of them.
If Nissan could fix that 1 issue this car could be 5 times better in my eyes.
SadButTrue says:
07:58 PM, 07/ 1/09
@hondacura4,
You know I'm with you all the way on that one. Let's start a VQ30 appreciation society (particularly the tweaked '00-01 Maxima version).
-JS
supergoji says:
06:11 AM, 07/ 2/09
at least it's not like the 03 track lol.
i only drove it for about 5 minutes. but it seemed fine to me. my 96 300zx has a much more compliant ride.