Edmunds Comparison: 135i vs. 370Z
if the 370z was stock. im talking both modified
intake, tune, down pipes, test pipes, catback:335i
intake, headers, test pipes, catback, tune: 370z
plus all that exhaust stuff for the bmw will cost more.
we have more agressive gearing, less weight, instant power. not as much torque though. about 100ftlbs less when equally modded.
but im sure a more agressive tune on the 370z could fix that when people start playing with the intake lift and duration and start replacing the exhaust cams.
hell we might be able to get 400hp na with: intake, headers, test pipes, catback, tune, cams, vvel tuning, bigger throttle body, and the usual hotrod sstuff.
intake, tune, down pipes, test pipes, catback:335i
intake, headers, test pipes, catback, tune: 370z
plus all that exhaust stuff for the bmw will cost more.
we have more agressive gearing, less weight, instant power. not as much torque though. about 100ftlbs less when equally modded.
but im sure a more agressive tune on the 370z could fix that when people start playing with the intake lift and duration and start replacing the exhaust cams.
hell we might be able to get 400hp na with: intake, headers, test pipes, catback, tune, cams, vvel tuning, bigger throttle body, and the usual hotrod sstuff.
Intake $140 , Tune $629, and Downpipes $699
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The 135i will of course have much greater tuning potential. A 135i with a simple tune will offer performance comparable to a SC or turbo 350Z.
For another point of perspective, a tune for the 350Z from the likes of uprev and technosquare will cost ~$700 and yield somewhat small power increases. Spend that $700 on a 135i though and you'll be rewarded with an extra 80whp and 70wtq.
For another point of perspective, a tune for the 350Z from the likes of uprev and technosquare will cost ~$700 and yield somewhat small power increases. Spend that $700 on a 135i though and you'll be rewarded with an extra 80whp and 70wtq.
I'm as much a fan of the Z as the next person....but this is clearly a fanboy statement. No way in hell your gonna get 400hp without some type of mild FI....maybe 360-370hp with everything you can think about doing NA...but that'll be it.
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Great comparo and I'm sure it's right on. 2 years ago, when I heard/read about the 135i, I thought for sure it was my next car. I was turned off by the high prices of the car, even though it offered a lot of performance. I got over it. Seeing the 370z, I love it. I can't wait for the dealer to get them. If I can get one for less than 35k the way I want I will buy one.
Man you said it. I neeed to hold out at least another year likely two before I jump to another car but damn Nissan is making it hard to keep the 03 track.
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The carbon ceramics like a traditional BBK is more about resistance to brake fade. Along with that, you get decreased weight, little to no brake dust and extended rotor life. Of course these brakes are super expensive and for the typical street car is unnecessary.
The feel and responsiveness of ceramic brakes said to be great, but many who track their car replace them with regular steel rotors due to price of repair.
About the 370Z vs. 135i braking, well the article noted that the 135i's brakes are more linear and easier to modulate which points to better brakes IMO.
Here's what their lead senior editor Ed Hellwig has to say:
I like this guy 
Lead Senior Editor Ed Hellwig says:
This wouldn't have been a very tough decision if the 370Z was nothing more than the old car with a bigger engine and some new styling. I never much cared for the 350Z. Lots of potential there, but it was always hard to exploit it. I would have chosen the 135i in a second.
But Nissan went further, much further. The 370Z feels like a real sports car, not just a Japanese muscle coupe. You can push it hard around turns without feeling like it's about to bite your head off at any moment. The steering is accurate and nicely weighted, too. And when you're not running at full speed, it's a comfortable, refined car that doesn't beat you up.
I could say almost all the same things about the 135i. It, too, is easy to drive fast and comfortable everywhere else. There's more room inside and less road noise on the highway as well. But in the end, that's why I would pick the Z. It has that edge that makes it more than just a fast daily driver. It's the opposite, a fast sports car that just happens to be comfortable enough to drive every day. It wasn't always this way with the Z, but it is now and I like it.
This wouldn't have been a very tough decision if the 370Z was nothing more than the old car with a bigger engine and some new styling. I never much cared for the 350Z. Lots of potential there, but it was always hard to exploit it. I would have chosen the 135i in a second.
But Nissan went further, much further. The 370Z feels like a real sports car, not just a Japanese muscle coupe. You can push it hard around turns without feeling like it's about to bite your head off at any moment. The steering is accurate and nicely weighted, too. And when you're not running at full speed, it's a comfortable, refined car that doesn't beat you up.
I could say almost all the same things about the 135i. It, too, is easy to drive fast and comfortable everywhere else. There's more room inside and less road noise on the highway as well. But in the end, that's why I would pick the Z. It has that edge that makes it more than just a fast daily driver. It's the opposite, a fast sports car that just happens to be comfortable enough to drive every day. It wasn't always this way with the Z, but it is now and I like it.
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You can't? The old 300ZX TT had a twin-turbo 3.0L that could get to 400HP+ even easier and cheaper then the 135i or 335i can and it was made 18 years ago...
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I can't agree more with this..
[We can appreciate that there are some of you who believe the BMW 1 Series bears some resemblance to the car that's widely recognized as the original sport sedan, the BMW 2002, but there are also those among us who still think it looks like a potbellied pig. Sorry, but it's no breathtaking Z8, or even nearly as lust-worthy as a 335i coupe's sweeping lines. It's not going to age well, either. ]
[We can appreciate that there are some of you who believe the BMW 1 Series bears some resemblance to the car that's widely recognized as the original sport sedan, the BMW 2002, but there are also those among us who still think it looks like a potbellied pig. Sorry, but it's no breathtaking Z8, or even nearly as lust-worthy as a 335i coupe's sweeping lines. It's not going to age well, either. ]
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