FYI, I owned a 2005 350Z Enthusiast with AT. I looked at a 2009 370Z Touring. I compared the brochures and internet information and looked at the car at the dealership. Here are my impressions.
1. The car should have been marketed as a 2010. The 2009 Roadster could have been the 2009 lineup.
2. The parcel box behind the passenger seat is replaced by a much smaller unit. There is a small glove box in the dash.
3. Limited slip differential is only available on the "Sport" package. Now there are only two models the base and Touring. Each is available with a sport or navigation package.
4. The iPod interface only works with an iPhone when the iPhone is in airplane mode, meaning no phone availability. This feature in only available with the Navigation package.
5. On the dash I could not find the tire pressure indicator that was on my 350Z.
6. Even though there are aluminum doors the car is heavier than my 350Z.
7. I can't get the same packaged 370Z as my 350Z within $3,000 of what I paid for my 2005 Enthusiast. That meaning having Homelink® and limited slip differential.
8. I am glad that the car has a different name and that means the 350Z iconic car is frozen in history. Most of the time each year in car means it gets heavier and sometimes uglier. I cite the Jaguar XK-E as an example. Check out the beautiful 1961 models then look at an early 1970 models with those ugly federally mandated bumpers. The 350Z progressively got heavier as it aged.
9. Overall, the new 370Z is a good car and if they could loosen up their packages or make limited slip standard on all models it could be a deal maker. But for me to pony up $40,000 for a car I paid $30,000 for in 2005 to get limited slip and Homelink® is a deal breaker.

 

Many of us are baffled why limited slip is not standard in all Zs.

 

Is this a review or an options list? What did it actually drive like in comparison to the 350Z? Or are you just comparing features?

I did find the iphone/airplane mode informative. This should automatically switch between music and hands-free calls IMO.

 

That's an easy one. If all Z's had limited slip then many more teen age girls would be crashing. Most don't know what to do if they find themselves going sideways.

 

When I first look at a car I look at features and options. If interested, then I take it for a test drive. I assumed the 370Z would drive well and since I do not drive at the car's limit I assumed that it would be acceptable. I can usually be pretty happy with anything since I love cars of all types. So the little creature comfort things and cost of ownership makes the difference with me.

 

Thanks for the write-up, I wouldn't necessarily call this a review partially due in fact to the already-made observations many of us have made, whether in the forums or at the dealership. While the car has some dramatic increases in looks,that may be discerned differently amongst other enthusiasts. It's safe to say that change for the Z is good.

I'm not here to make this a debate or negative criticism, but some things you mention make it easy for me to counter-argument the justification. One thing that you said was that it keeps getting heavier and heavier over generations; sure it has gotten some weight, but due to stricter safety requirements... No bad can come out of extra safety, especially when Nissan had compensated with aluminum body panels and other sorts of goodies to negate any additional weight from the previous model. You also mention ugliness, but personally I think this car has an aggressive stance that makes it look good which is what the Z was made for (or should be in light of its original designs). You can't deny that when your at a light and a 370z pulls up to you, your not gonna even imagine the same architecture that the 370z brings.

One more thing I wanted to touch up on is the fact that you didn't actually TEST DRIVE the car and experience the car in whole. That's like buying clothes without even trying them out in the fitting room; just doesn't happen ... or does it? I felt the same way you did when I saw that "ugly as hell" Monterrey Blue 370z on the showroom floor. But when I started the car, I progressively became overly obsessed with the car starting with things such as the push button start and cluster sweep to substantial leaps to the handling department and torque curve. Look at me now, about to bite the bullet on a 370z base in black with the sports package.

I do agree with you on the LSD, that's like buying a shoe without laces IMO. Don't take this as a bash or disagreement, I just want to see what YOU think on a test drive and not what you see!

 

I'm not singling you out, but this statement keeps getting thrown out every time the Z has put on pounds over the years. No one ever cites what law was passed/amended or what safety equipment was added or improved.

It has been quoted that Nissan shaved 200 lbs off the 370Z with all of their weight-saving changes. I would really like to know what specific safety requirements were made between 2008 and 2009 that added 200 lbs back into the car to make it weigh the same as the 350Z model?

The 350Z already had 5 star Frontal Driver, Side Driver and Rollover Ratings from the NHTSA. If Nissan is implementing their own improvements fine, but everyone makes it sound like they are being dictated to by some government authority.

 

Not really a review. More of a comparison and quirks/complaints.
Where are the driving impressions?

 

people are biased..

they will say their car is better than the new 370Z, but deep down inside they know damn well the new Z is better in every way compared to the old Z..

 

A quick reply addressing most comments. The 370Z is a better car no question. Better interior materials for one and 18" wheels in place of the 17" ones on my 2005 350Z. Looks are a matter of changing opinion. The Z did not get uglier as it aged it looked pretty much the same with the exception of a few items. I know Nissan reads these boards and I think LSD and Homelink® should be standard on all models. For the 350Z you had to go beyond the base model for cruise control. Now it is standard across the board. I simply made the suggestion that these items would make the car a much better value because I would not have to shell out another $6,000 for Sport package for LSD and go for the Touring edition for Homelink®. Both of those items were standard on my Enthusiast 350Z for about $30,000. Since, I have no interest in paying $40,000 for the car that had additional items I did not want, I had no interest in driving it. However, the car is a good one and they did most things right. If they made a new "Enthusiast" edition for $32-33,000 I might be interested.

 

So are you suggesting that it's impossible for someone to like the 350 better than the 370? Just playing devil's advocate...

 

imho get the base with sports package buy a homelink mirror for 250$ and then you have your enthusiast. for right below ur 33k... i dont even know why they bothered to make the base model with out the sports package.

 

What do you think is iconic about the 350Z? I guess my G35 sedan is an "iconic car" also since it's now called the G37...

 

+1 so many people think the 370 is the best car ever made and the perception is that; either you like the 370 or you don't (but do deep down) but just say you don't because you bought the last few years of the 350 and you're jealous.

Then one Sherlock Holmes found a trend that the most vocal oppostion of the 350 was from HR owners which basically killed off any reputable input we have on the new car that is negative... oh well

 

Look at it this way. I like my 350Z. But if someone asked me which is the better car the 350 or the 370, I wouldn't hesitate to reply that the 370z is hands down the better car.

It's just like if I asked you whats 2+2. It would be an immediate reply of 4. There no need to think or hesitate, it's automatic, it's a habit. No one would argue if 2+2 actually does calculate to 4 because everyone knows it is 4.

Same applies to our subject of which is the better car. Which is the better car the 350 or 370? The 370 my good sir.

 

I don't think anyone argues that the 370 is not a better "car" in the aspect of performance. It is better in every way. I think they either don't like the styling and the increased price in a harsher economy. And that Ipod thing kinda bugs me. I added the USA-Spec Ipod adapter and hardwired it to my car. It plays music and then when I get an imcoming call, it rings threw my speakers and plays on the stock bluetooth. You would suspect the 370 to allow you to get incoming calls but other than that I personally really like the 370z. Cool car and I love the cut fenders I will admit though I'm not a fan of the styling and the need for huge aftermarket wheels

 

Funny, I was wondering the same thing? What makes the 350Z iconic? Just because it is no longer in production? (besides the convertible)

 

Iconic? I would say that the 350Z was the car that saved Nissan from going under. And it was the first Z since the end of the 300ZX. And when it debuted the 350Z out performed any car in it's class. Thats enough to make it iconic.
The 370Z improves on the 350Z. If you actually sit in a 370, you can see the lineage reflected in it's interior. It's a natural progression, no one can argue. To 350 owners, why would Nissan release a new Z that could be out-gunned by the older model? That wouldn't make sense.

So to both 350 owners and 370 owners: the 370 is a better performing can, and the 350 holds it's own in the family line. Everyone be cool, we all own Z cars.

 

This is one statement everyone should adhere to.

 

I'll have to disagree with the 350Z saving Nissan from going under because although they did not sell as many units as Toyota and Honda, Nissan wasn't close to bankruptcy like the current Big 3 is facing. If anything, the previous generation Altima was responsible for Nissan's increased sales as they sold really well against the likes of the Camry and Accord. Having the 350Z allows Nissan to finally have a sporty coupe in their lineup again but was no means the savior of the company.

Infiniti, on the other hand, was single-handedly revived by the introduction of the G35 sedan and coupe. They were struggling in the 2000's and really didn't make any product that challenges Acura and Lexus at the time. Once they launched a powerful RWD entry level sedan and coupe, their sales took off and from there they were able to continue the success with the FX and new M models.