Hey guys just wanted to give my insight on the 370z. To give you my background in cars i have owned in the past few years 2 C6 corvettes, 2 C5 z06 corvettes, a lotus elise, and most recently a lotus exige s. I know the guys at the dealership quite well, so they gave me and my wife the keys to a silver touring manual car without sport pack. My impressions in short are that the car is improved in the interior area, much too quiet exhaust wise, shifting was nice and smooth, power was decent, ride felt better than the 350z, but my biggest problem with the car is the price. The car needs to be a sport/touring car to be worth getting one in my opinion, and it ends up being over 40k. And yes, for 40k, a base C6 will dance circles around this car in power, handling, looks, and fit and finish on the interior. It is a nice car for what it is, but IMHO wayyyy to much $ for the product and performance you get.

 

I first have to say that i am not a huge fan of this redesign having seen my first one in person to day at the local autoshow, but I think that the price is about what we can expect from this type of machine. The corvette in my opinion (having driven many and owned none) is a great car being held back by the chevy brand. Low rent interior pieces(malibu/colbalt steering wheel) even at the top level zr-1 make it last on my list of garage toys even though it is a magnificent car. In my opinion getting a top range Z at the price of a low end chevy corvette is a steal. Now I just wish we could fast forward to the mid cycle facelift.

 

OP is more than just a lurker OMG!

 

^no kidding, look at his join date. I guess he waited till a new design came out to speak up. ha!

 

Umm, GM is certainly not know for fit and finish. I drove a new left over 08 C6 and while it was nice it certainly does not justify $50k and and a $15k (or more) one year depreciation. The Chevy Cobalt-esque interior was a major turnoff too.

 

I'm surprised he kept silent for 5 years

 

Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.

 

Long time Z fan, owner, and registered on many Z forums. Yet I have to agree with the OP somewhat, even if he is a lurker. Dispite that I may yet own a 370z only for the simple fact that there isn't anything else from Japan that rivals the Z and in the domestic market the only car I would get is a Vette (but wanting the 3LT with Z51 package puts it higher than I care to go).

 

Holy shat!!

 

News flash dude.. Not all of us are looking for the fastest similarly priced car

Some of us like Z's and really don't care an ounce about vettes, tibbys, used caymans or any other "for the same money I can get .. BS".

And he found out that it's not for him. What a waste of a wait.

 

Go buy a vette then, sir.

 

Exactly what i expected, try to give an honest opinion to other enthusiasts about a car and get the typical "look at his join date, just a hater" type of response. I'm not a hater and did not hate the car at all, i am always looking for the best value/car in all areas to purchase, and was just giving my opinion on it. If it is what you like, then buy it. I have purchased many cars that others thought were not practical purchases, i mean i've owned the smallest most impractical cars known to man in the lotus, but it is what i wanted. So, sorry to offend anyone, just wanted to give another point of view from someone who has driven and owned many other brands, but also driven the 350z in the past many times.

 

Not really sure why you all are gettin' on the OP for sharing his opinion. I guess maybe his is not as important as yours eh? BTW, OP, the Z can be bought for less than $36k with sport and touring, but touring is not a must have in my book which lowers the price even more.

 

DId you know that the BMW Z4M was actually faster than the C6 corvette in a tight track so the C6 is not that fast. The E90M3 was quite faster as well. It got a big engine alright so I am sure it's fast in a straight line but I don't think the C6 was ever known for its handling. One thing for sure, the 370Z engine and gear box combination will feel much better/tighter than anything in the C6. The 370Z also has much better structural integrity as well. I test drove the Corvette, at idle, I could feel the engine was shaking the entire front end of the car. The shifter feels like it comes from a truck. The engine being a push rod, wasn't revving as smooth a overhead cam. Being a huge engine at 6.2L, it can get away with a lot of things but smooth revving isn't its strength. At parking speed, I thought the C6 steering feels like I was playing a Nintendo console.
If you want a straight line fast car, go for the Corvette. And by the way, GM is heavily discounting the Corvette. MSRP wise, same equipped, C6 is around 52K. The C6 Corvette is a very good muscle car, but not a typical sport car. It feels big, heavy (ironically since its weight was fairly light ... I think it has to do with the car not having a rigid structure), and lacking any kind of feel.

 

What's the story on owning 4 late model corvettes? I can see moving from a C5 Z06 to a C6 or vice versa, but going back and forth 4 times is odd to me...

Would love to own a lotus...certainly not the fastest or most practical car, but it's got to be very high on the fun-to-drive scale.

 

Half of your qualms with the new car seem to be purely subjective. Personally, I think the 370Z looks miles better than a normal C6. Also, The only thing performance-wise that the C6 really has over the Z is the power, which I'll gladly trade some for in exchange for being just as good/better in every other area (not just in performance), while still generally being less expensive.

 

i lurk here and i lurk on the main corvette forum..

i want to want a corvette. i mean 3200 lbs and 435hp. although the road feel sucks it has excellent curve performance too..

but ... its a chevy.. i'm not an interior connoisseur but gosh its sorta sucky.

base price on the 370z is what it is.. i mean anything else with the same hp to weigh ratio cost the same or more..

vettes are nice.. but for some bizarre reason i like the z better.. i WISH you could get a twin turbo upgrade that would put it in the corvette hp to weight range.. but you cant..

finally .. lots of talk about getting a vette instead. go over to the vette forum.. read some of the problems. many many users love their vettes and accept the issues like the roof de-laminating.. but i cant get around things like that.. there was one guy his diff is going.. his dealer agrees it needs to be replaced under warranty but GM is taking their time.. like 2 to 4 weeks to ship the replacement part to the dealer.. probably due to the money problems at gm.. so in the end.. its just plain tough to plunk down money on a new vette regardless of how cheap you can get it at..

had i unlimited play money.. i would buy a used c6, send it to halltech, lingenfelter or some similar highly regarded customizer and have the engine and drivetrain replaced with a turbo or supercharged drivetrain that included a blueprinted and warrantied engine..

 

I don't know why we get on someone who does not think the Z is the best sports car in the world. The Vette, while not the most pleasing in the interior or fit and finish is, nevertheless, a great street and track car. Stock for stock it will take the Z in most any condition. However, it is more money though it can be had in base coupe form for close to a loaded Z. To be a Chevy and sell the way it does, it has to be good. The Z is not usually compared with the super cars as is the Vette. They are different cars usually in different classes. The Vette has its following as does the Z and both are great cars. Both have had some issues and both have had owners say either is the most reliable car they have owned. I think each person is entitled to their opinion and will respect them for it. We would all be happiest if we bought the car that makes us smile the most whatever it is.....

 

I don't think he gave an order in which he purchased them

 

He didn't...I was hoping he'd elaborate.