2009 Nissan 370Z Touring Long-Term Road Tests Archives

We bid a fond farewell to our Z car after a year of testing.

Read the complete wrap-up of our long-term 2009 Nissan 370Z.

Any final comments?

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

Above is a taste of what the road that I live on looks like. That stretch of tarmac shown looks gnarly, but you don't get a sense of how epically bad it is until you've driven it in the Z. It's like getting punched in the chin by Mike Tyson and watching Shrek Forever After in 3-D, both at the same time. After getting my bones jolted from their sockets during my first few passes, I learned to take it real slow over that patch. Like, barely moving slow.

Otherwise, the Z was a blast. Exceptionally controlled, with superb handling. Just watch out for the rough spots. 

Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 18,755 miles   

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

Below are the fuel economy numbers for January 2010. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.

As usual, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments. You'll see a couple of newcomers on this list as well.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.

Continue reading...

Categories: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid,2010 Honda Insight EX,2010 Mazdaspeed 3,2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD

Cheerios are no longer considered a balanced meal after a full week of eating them breakfast, lunch and dinner. This discovery led me to the grocery store in our 2009 Nissan 370Z last weekend.

I was skeptical that the rear cargo area was deep enough to hold my bountiful feast. But there was more room than I expected. See for yourself. Even loaded with my grocery purchase, there is still at least 9 Cheerios boxes and 2 gallons of milk worth of space remaining. I'm impressed.

Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 18,600 miles

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

Good grief this car is noisy. I know we keep going on about it, but there's really not much else to dislike about this car - but it's damn near a deal breaker.

The solution? Loud music. Really, really loud music.

The stereo can handle it (pretty well I might add) and if you can too, the buzzing and relentless noise this car generates is drowned out and all you're left with is the experience you expected to have in first place. I actually drove this thing way better once I stopped being so distracted by all the racket it makes.

Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 18,217 miles

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

1. seating position allows me to press the clutch all the way in without sitting too close to the steering wheel
2. shifter fits nicely in my hand
3. heated seats are always a plus
4. faux suede trim warms up the look of the interior
5. exterior and interior door handles are interesting
6. engine note sounds scrumptious (road noise doesn't bother me that much)
7. gear display is reassuring
8. sharp tail lights
9. grippy steering wheel
10. the way it takes a curve

Photos below are enlargable.

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

What the hell is taking so long for Gran Turismo 5 to come out? They built Rome faster. Like you, I was hoping for Santa to bring me a copy, but no, now Sony says it'll be summer before the fun begins.

Meanwhile, I've been playing a lot of Need For Speed. Yeah, I know. It's a game for wanks. It's arcade-y. Not realistic enough. But it's fun and Kevin Smith our Editorial Director is heavy into Forza 3 so I keep from playing it for political reasons that I really shouldn't go into here. Plus, I can drive a silver 2009 Nissan 370Z just like our long-term car on nights when I've gotten home in some other, maybe, less interesting ride.

Not that the 370Z is exclusive to NFS. The GT5 North American "Time Trial Challenge" competition involves playing through a demo that has you race a Nissan 370Z on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

You drive the course in two time trial events, aiming for the best combined lap time. And if you're really good, you could be the one U.S. resident or the one Canadian resident (one of each) to win VIP packages to the 2010 Indy 500. Check out this demo video, then tell me which game you're into: GT5 or NFS or FM3. Or, do you prefer to go out and actually drive real cars? 

Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

I have to agree with Erin Riches on this one, the suede trim on the 370Z is pretty cool for a car in this price range. Not that the 370Z is inexpensive by any means, but most manufacturers save the suede/Alcantara stuff for their top-end models. Odd that that GT-R's interior was covered in it.

But anyway, it's something I notice every time I get in the 370 which goes to show how even the small trim details can make a big difference when they're done right. I'd love to swap the big pieces of plastic on the doors of our Camaro with trim like this, it would makes a world of difference.

Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line 

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

I like this. Our 2009 Nissan 370Z displays the gear you have selected. It shows up right in front of you on the dash.

Have you ever had that moment when you're parked head-to-head with another car in a parking lot and that car is only an inch from your front bumper? You put the car in reverse but it's a tricky shifter and you're pretty sure you're in reverse. Wouldn't it be nice to have that reassurance right there in front of you?

Maybe this wouldn't happen on your every day car that you are so familiar with. But when you jump in and out of cars as often as we do, it's a nice feature.

Can you think of any other manual transmission cars that have this display?

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

I've asked a few people on staff what they think about the noise levels in the Nissan 370Z. We all pretty much agree that there is entirely too much road noise.

There is also a lot of engine noise, but that is actually quite lovely. The road noise, however, is a bit much. (I'm not sure why I'm writing like a Brit today with the "lovely" "quite" and " a bit" but go with me.)

When you have such a stiff suspension on a car like the Z, there is bound to be some noise. The road, tires, chassis, all contribute to this cacophony. When you don't have music on to drown it out, it's really really loud. I thought my Acura Integra let the road bleed in, but this is much more.

With that said, this is an extremely fun car to drive. The price you pay is the noise. But this is also supposed to be a car you can drive on a daily basis. And let's face it, how many times during your commute do you get to kick it out? Maybe when you scoot up an on-ramp or find a short stretch of open road. We're usually stuck in traffic or driving surface streets. Unless you are on a perfectly paved surface, you're gonna get the noise.

How do you feel about a noisy car? Does the fun factor outweigh the annoyance?

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

Here is what it sounds like when you start the Z:

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

I'll grant you this: The 332-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 in our 2009 Nissan 370Z serenades you with all kinds of noise and vibration when you ride close to its 7,500-rpm redline.

But I would still take this V6 over almost every other six-cylinder in this price range, because like it or lump it, the VQ-series V6 is athletic. There's enough torque to get the car out of the hole in a hurry and power builds noticeably as you work up to higher engine speeds. This engine isn't about having a nice-and-easy flat torque band; you're building up to something.

I just can't get excited about the 306-hp 3.8-liter V6 in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and the 304-hp 3.6-liter V6 in the Chevrolet Camaro. They sound pretty good. They have nice, flat torque bands. But there's no athleticism in the way they rev, and if you're driving a car with two doors, why scrimp on that?

Of course, the twin-turbocharged, direct-injected, 3.0-liter inline-6 in the BMW 135i gives me pause. It has that perfectly flat, boring torque curve I've railed against, but it's so powerful and so smooth, and I so can't be blamed for liking it...

And maybe there's an opportunity here for the 2011 Mustang and its 305-hp 3.7-liter V6 if it can combine genuine performance character with a little refinement than our Z's brutish V6.

Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 18,047 miles

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

What do you want to know about the 2009 Nissan 370Z?

Have you driven one, been in one, seen any on the road? Any pictures or video you especially want to see?

Write you questions, reviews and requests in the comments section.

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

Below are the fuel economy numbers for December 2009. We've listed the best, worst and overall average tanks.

As usual, a couple of cars are out on the road or unavailable at the time of this writing. I'll continue to add them as they come in and let you know in the comments.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.

Continue reading...

Categories: 2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Dodge Ram 1500,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Suzuki SX4,2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS,2010 Honda Insight EX,2010 Mazdaspeed 3,2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD

Our long-term Nissan 370Z was just what I needed over the long holiday weekend: fun. And it has four times the range of our Mini E. Literally. I got 360 miles on a tank.

If you have the time, energy and enthusiasm to appreciate the Z coupe, this is a neat car. Every drive is exciting in the 370Z. The steering is quick. The suspension is stiff. The car's responses to input feel immediate. And when the six-speed gearbox is in proper working order, it's fun to shift. I like the almost leaden weighting of the shifter through the gates, along with the precise clutch takeup. And honestly, the 3.7-liter V6 is fine, too, even with its strained character at high rpm. It has a lusty sound at startup and at low rpm. And I can't think of another V6 in this price range that matches its torque response.

But for myself I'd take the 370Z roadster. And I mean it. I'd like to own a Z roadster. Because (1) the handling is 98 percent as sharp; and (2) the ride is quieter because there's a full bulkhead. Yes, this a backdoor slam on hatchbacks, because, well, with that open cargo area, they can be noisy.

Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 18,002 miles

Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring