Back in the 1970s, when American gas guzzlers first became known as gas guzzlers, the Japanese car manufacturers made a name for themselves by making affordable, fuel efficient cars that were pleasant to drive. The Nissan Z cars were first made for the Japanese, until some marketing maven realized that there was an American market for the car. Enter the Japanese sports car.
The Nissan 370Z is the latest entrant in the Nissan Z class, and they’ve done something fairly interesting with this car that may escape most people’s notice, but shouldn’t. Japanese car companies have inherited a bit of philosophy from the Samurai, called “horse and rider as one.” What this means is that there’s not only a union between the two, but that they can go back and forth between extremes within the union instantaneously. This increases both the enjoyment of the experience and the utility that you get out of that experience. It’s really not a bad way to look at any vehicle, anywhere.
By not trying to achieve the fastest, or the hardest, or any of the “-ests” that most sports cars strive for, Nissan has produced a car you can ride on a day-to-day basis, but that you can still take out for a thrilling ride on the weekend or to impress that special someone in your life. The 370Z has a larger – and quite frankly more powerful – engine than its immediate predecessor, the 350Z. The handling is also quicker and more responsive, and the 370Z comes with variable valve timing and lift, which puts out 332 horsepower. Overall, that’s 17 more horsepower than the 2010 V8 Mustang – look out, cowboys.
A six speed transmission comes standard, but any serious driver should opt for the sport package. This particular deal includes a SynchroRevMatch, which tweaks the throttle during downshifts, meaning that you no longer have to heel and toe downshift. In addition, the 370Z can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Interestingly, it will also stop from 60 mph in 101 feet. Best of all, it gives you all of this with a fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway – which is rather respectable for a sports car with this much power.
The interior also offers features that will make your daily driving experience much more pleasant. There’s an overall attention to detail that makes the car feel much more expensive that it really is. In addition, the steering column and the seats move in such a way that shorter and taller drivers alike will feel comfortable. The instrument pod will also tilt along with the wheel, although some drivers have reported problems with gauge reflection at the higher tilt settings.
Overall, you’ll find that the power under the hood transmits well to the driver and the road, giving you tight control that could be described as – well – how many ways can you say smooth? In short, this is a fine car that’s well worth its price tag.
