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It's a sports car, what else needs to be said.
Graham 'Smithy' Smith reviews the used Nissan 370Z - 2009-2010: it's fine points, flaws and what to watch for when buying one.
With the GT-R such a dominant presence in the performance car world, Nissan's Z-car sometimes seems lost in its awesome shadow.
It shouldn't be; it has a long and glorious history dating back 40 years or more to the classic 240Z of the late 1960s and is deserving of its own place in the sun.
While the GT-R has earned a deserved reputation as a musclebound coupe, the Z has always been more of a true sports car. The 370Z introduced in 2009 continued on that tradition with a car that was smaller, lighter and even faster than its predecessor.
Nissan's designers avoided the trend towards bigger and heavier cars by snipping 100mm from the wheelbase rear of the cockpit, and widening the front and rear track by 15 mm and 55 mm respectively.
By the time they were finished it was 65 mm shorter, 8 mm lower, and 30 mm narrower than the previous model. It was also 15 kg lighter, thanks largely to the use of aluminium panels.
Unlike the first Z-car, which had long elegant lines, the 370Z was chunky and purposeful with sharp headlights and taillights and tight wheel arch flares shrink-wrapped over 18-inch alloys.
The engine was an enlarged version of the wonderfully smooth and willing Nissan V6 that by then featured a new variable valve system to boost bottom-end torque and fuel economy.
Compared to the 3.5-litre 350Z there was 15 kW more peak power along with 5 Nm more torque. Underneath, the front suspension was new and the rear suspension was revised.
On the road, the 370Z was sharp and precise, with plenty of grunt and grip to match. Inside, there was leather trim and alloy highlights, sat-nav, Bluetooth, trip computer, climate-controlled air, cruise and six-stacker CD sound system.
IN THE SHOP
No complaints suggest that 370Z owners are a contented lot. The 370Z is well designed and well built, and that appears to be playing out in reality. There is nothing to suggest that there are problems of anything more than a minor nature. Look for a service record, poorly carried out crash repairs, and any signs of having been thrashed.
IN A CRASH
It hasn't been tested by ANCAP, but with a full complement of safety devices, including front, side and head airbags, ABS brakes, traction and stability control, it's reasonable to assume it would rate highly should they test it.
UNDER THE PUMP
It's a sports car, what else needs to be said. If you can resist the temptation to plant your right foot, you'll return decent fuel economy around 8.5-9.0 L/100 km. If you can't you won't, but you will enjoy the thrill of the drive. Nissan claimed an average of 10.5 L/100 km on 95-octane unleaded.
NISSAN 370Z - 2009-2010
Price new: $70,990
Engine: 3.7-litre V6; 245 kW/363 Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto, 6-speed manual; RWD
Economy: 10.4 L/100 km
Body: 2-door coupe
Variants: one
EXPECT TO PAY
$41,000 to $49,000
VERDICT
Tough looking, tough performing sports coupe. Good value.
RATING
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ALSO CONSIDER
- Porsche Cayman - 2009-2010 High performance mid-engined coupe delivers great driving dynamics, but it's a Porsche, which means it's expensive. Pay $80,000-$125,000. 4 stars
- Mazda RX8 - 2009-2010 Idiosyncratic rotary-engined, four-door coupe a thrill-a-minute driver, but is a car for the enthusiast. Pay $28,000-$45,000. 3.5 stars
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Audi TT - 2009-2010 Stylish coupe with lithe front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive chassis that's a joy to drive, every day if you want. Pay $42,000-$102,000. 4 stars
