'10 NISSAN 370Z ROADSTER
Engine
3.7 liter, DOHC V-6 engine
Horsepower
332 at 7200 rpm
Torque
270 ft-lbs at 5200 rpm
Transmission
Rev-matching 6-speed manual
Price
$29,930 (base)
'10 NISSAN 370Z NISMO EDITION
Engine
3.7-liter, DOHC V-6 engine
Horsepower
350 at 7400 rpm
Torque
276 ft-lbs at 5200 rpm
Transmission
Rev-matching 6-speed manual
Price
$39,190 (base)
370Z ROADSTER
At first glance it becomes clear that Nissan engineers designed the 370Z convertible in conjunction with the hardtop, rather than it being an afterthought like the 350Z (with its oddly shaped roof line and humped rear). The drop-top 370Z not only looks great with the roof down, but it’s also extremely natural looking with it up.
Looks aside, though, the Z roadster surprised me the most with its coupe-like handling and stiffness. Never have I driven a convertible that didn’t feel like a convertible, meaning it creaked and rattled, flexed and bent—the Z didn’t exhibit any of that. It was solid and tight. A quick jaunt through some canyon roads further proved that fact, while also fortifying the standing of the 3.7-liter VQ37VHR V-6 as arguably the best V-6 on the market today. It provides a stout 332 hp and 270 ft-lbs of torque, and the power delivery is superb and linear all the way up to its 7500-rpm redline. The engine is extremely well matched to the chassis, providing ample power with little disappointment.
The 6-speed transmission has a nice, solid, mechanical feel to it that’s right in line with the character of the car. Although, if you try to be a gunslinger and draw for a gear too quickly, it will bite you. This transmission needs to be treated nicely. You can also pretend to be quite the hot shoe behind the wheel because the engine will automatically rev-match when you downshift between gears. Despite seeming a bit gimmicky, this nifty feature works exceptionally well and can heighten anyone’s driving experience.
A 7-speed automatic is also available and it provides crisp rev-matching shifts with little lag in between. Surprisingly, the slushbox doesn’t take much of the fun out of driving the car hard, and dare I say if you’ll be using the roadster for more street duty than track (most of you will), then the auto would be my choice.
Jumping into the cockpit, the large center-mounted tach to the now token dash-mounted gauge pods provide the driver with ample information. The well bolstered seats offer a heating and cooling feature, so if the top is dropped and you’re feeling a bit warm then the seats do a fantastic job of cooling you down.
The convertible 370Z impressed me so much that I would almost prefer it over the coupe version, especially in a year-round warm climate. With the right mods and some minimal tuning to the suspension, it could actually double as a light-duty track car. But if you’re more serious about going fast around a track, then you’ll definitely want to read on.