Input FR-S vs 370z

[DarkSunrise]

Drive both and see for yourself. I was in this situation a while back and found that repeatedly driving them hard was by far the easiest way to make the decision. Bring along your significant other so that the dealer will let you take the car out on your own. Used car dealers are much more accommodating about this.

With respect to the cars themselves, the 370z is powerful, but heavier. Compounded with the limited outward visibility, it makes the car feel larger than it is. But what really turned me off was the actual feel of driving it. Visibility out the back is awful. The engine and drivetrain are coarse and thrashy. The overall driving experience wasn't what I was hoping for. In comparison, the FR-S was more fun to wind out and toss around on the street. But obviously there are people out there who love the 370Z and the additional power it has, so again go see for yourself whether it's right for you.

Last thing I'll say is, if you like the lightness/agility of the FR-S, but want something with more power, I'd recommend a used Porsche Cayman S over the 370z in the $30-35k range. And if you like the additional power the 370z offers, I'd recommend trying a 2013 Ford Mustang GT with brembo pack. Just some thoughts.

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by GNS

370z is overpriced, overweight and underpowered for its class. It is faster than an FR-S/BRZ, yes, but the rear view out the back of the 370z - not to mention its total and utter lack of any semblance of practicality - will make you hate daily driving it.

You don't even know what class the Z falls in. If you knew you would rephrase this statement. A Z is not a competitor to a American muscle cars or the 3.8 GC. The 370Z's real competition is small and has 2 seats like it and comes with a 6 cylinder engine and a price tag that adds 30k extra.


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXQmHoQML1A"]Best Motoring - [3/09] 370Z vs Cayman S vs 997 C2 vs 135i vs S2000 - YouTube[/ame]


Last place car is the true definition of overpriced. 35k base? I would rather a 35k car that can keep up with 60-90k cars.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Kamus

Yes, if by that you mean having an amateur on the Z and a pro driver on the FR-S. But then, the pro driver would probably beat the lesser driver even if he was on an Accord.

The FR-S is good enough on it's own, no need to make shit up to defend it. Not even on a small Circuit like Tsukuba would it beat it. The difference in power is simply too great. And you can't even bring the argument that the FR-S is faster in the bends. Because it's just not true if both cars are stock.

I'm sure you can think of some scenario where the FR-S could use it's weight to it's advantage, like say some "initial D" style downhill race, but if you have no evidence, why make shit up? what's the point? here's the 370z in Tsukuba:

Nissan Nismo 370Z-1:06.64

Nissan 370Z-1:06.67

Here's the 86 in Tsukuba: 1:09.77

That's actually a great time for the FR-S if you consider the power and grip deficit the car has. That said, that's just Tsukuba, a really small circuit with straights that aren't that long and only 1 high speed corner. The gap would just get larger on a higher speed circuit.

Go look up 370Z vs. BRZ gymkhana. The "gymkhana spec" (in other words "modified") 370Z barely inches out the bone stock BRZ. If the BRZ had stickier tires the win would have gone to it. Hence why I said "on the right course."

[GNS]

Originally Posted by Kamus

Really?
Weight of the cars:

Gen Coupe = 3,389 (v6)
Mustang GT = 3603
Camaro SS = 3849
WRX STi = 3384
Lancer Evo X = 3,517
370z = 3,232

Please get back to me on how many of those are dedicated 2-seater sports cars. Thanks.

You don't even know what class the Z falls in. If you knew you would rephrase this statement. A Z is not a competitor to a American muscle cars or the 3.8 GC. The 370Z's real competition is small and has 2 seats like it and comes with a 6 cylinder engine and a price tag that adds 30k extra.

I didn't even mention any American cars or the GC. Thanks for the Strawman argument.

[HATED1]

here's an irrelevant pic that has nothing to do with the thread, I loved my 370z.

[gily25]

I tested both and chose the BRZ...agree with comments, heavy, fat ass(bad visibility to rear), clunky trans. I have to drive in traffic as my dd and the BRZ seemed more like sonething worth being stuck in. So I went for the less expensive knowing entry level sports car means upgrade and saved $ means upgrade sooner *2cents*

[Coheed]

The 370Z is a sick car. I would have bought one instead, but the BRZ has a back seat. This is actually important to me because I have two kids.

Also, the Simple FI kits get to 500hp easily. I wish the BRZ could get there as quickly. The BRZ with the heave of the 370's powerplant would be perfect imho. The BRZ would just love 270-280whp!

[Kamus]

Originally Posted by GNS

Please get back to me on how many of those are dedicated 2-seater sports cars. Thanks.

You mentioned cars in it's class genius. Those are it's direct competitors on price and target buyer.

So, give me your list of cars it should be compared against. Thanks.

[snapspinner]

So to get back to the OP question. I feel pretty qualified to answer because when I was deciding on which car to buy I started with a long list and whittled it down to the 370Z and BRZ/FR-S as finalists. I drove both a 370Z sport package and the Nismo version, as well as the FR-S and BRZ.

I think both are great looking and performing cars and I think either one would be worth owning. In the end for me a lot of the reasons for choosing the BRZ was economics and the way I felt about the car. Just some comparisions.

Insurance - It would have been 20% more for the Nissan (YMMV) About $200 more per year for me.
Gas mileage - The 370 gets around 22mpg on a good day the BRZ gets around 29mpg with the way I drive it. If you drive 12K miles per year you will buy roughly 132 gallons more or $462 at $3.50 a gallon.
Tires - The 19's on the Nissan vs. 17's on the BRZ. I'm planning on buying race tires and autocrossing. The extra 2" means a set of race tires would cost ~ $500 more for the Nissan.

Some other things that swung me to the BRZ are the following more subjective items.
The head unit in both the Nissans I drove was exactly the same as in my daughters Versa. WTF? A $35k - 45K car with a $10 stereo.
The twins drove more like the MR-2's I've owned in the past. I loved that car so it really swayed my opinion.
You can't fit a set of 4 race tires in the Nissan. The BRZ swallows them whole.

The things that I loved about the 370Z were.
Tons of torque, more power.
I love the looks especially with the Nismo version.
The Rays wheels that come standard with the sports package and Nismo.


Good luck with which ever one you choose, but I hope you pick a BRZ

[Snoopyalien24]

Originally Posted by Coheed

The 370Z is a sick car. I would have bought one instead, but the BRZ has a back seat. This is actually important to me because I have two kids.

Also, the Simple FI kits get to 500hp easily. I wish the BRZ could get there as quickly. The BRZ with the heave of the 370's powerplant would be perfect imho. The BRZ would just love 270-280whp!

The Twins weigh nearly 500lbs less. It could be even more if the rear seats are removed and lighter wheels are put on. Pretty crazy imo

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

A major gripe(like light steering/weak feeling brakes/torqueless engine/sloppy handling) makes me unhappy with a car overall. One can ruin it for me.

I dunno, light steering can be remedied with a manual rack right? I don't mind a torqueless engine but that's because I am still having fun rowing gears even with my rubbery shifter and half dead synchros.

SUB just curious have you driven a Miata or MR2? They have more displacement per unit curb weight than an RSX/Celica/FRS. While I don't like how my rev limit is only 6750, usually I use less than 3500rpm and the only gripe I have is that the 5 speed box's gears aren't close ratio, so when I shift into 2nd gear it feels like the engine is out of breath (it's just perception of course, the large rpm drop makes it feel like there's suddenly no power where 1st gear feels pretty brutal and jerky...) I think if I had the 6 speed I'd be mostly happy, 10% more oomph in gears 2-5, and a more sane cruising rpm. I feel like you'd enjoy an NB or NC Miata.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I dunno, light steering can be remedied with a manual rack right? I don't mind a torqueless engine but that's because I am still having fun rowing gears even with my rubbery shifter and half dead synchros.

SUB just curious have you driven a Miata or MR2? They have more displacement per unit curb weight than an RSX/Celica/FRS. While I don't like how my rev limit is only 6750, usually I use less than 3500rpm and the only gripe I have is that the 5 speed box's gears aren't close ratio, so when I shift into 2nd gear it feels like the engine is out of breath (it's just perception of course, but the large rpm drop doesn't help at all...) I think if I had the 6 speed I'd be mostly happy, 10% more oomph in gears 2-5, and a more sane cruising rpm.

just get a six speed duh. and while youre at it grab the 2zz it comes with. it works really well in those things.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by fatoni

just get a six speed duh. and while youre at it grab the 2zz it comes with. it works really well in those things.

Too much $$$ for a car that I might not even keep in a few years 2ZZ + 6 speed swaps run 4000 dollars minimum, and I only paid a bit over 5k for the car. I also feel like these engines are really outdated already. A C60 swap is about 2000 dollars, which is slightly more reasonable but still pretty steep. It would increase my gas mileage by maybe 5%, but that's like 2 tanks per 15000 miles lol.

[Propaganda]

Originally Posted by krushin

He even ADMITTED and TOLD ME that because they are in high demand "yeah we are marking them 2-3k above MSRP". Anyways i tried to explain the deal with PURE price, and how thats ridiculous

Originally Posted by Sekal

Wait a minute, they are marking up the FR-S price? They can not do that, Scion is Pure Price and that means you pay sticker.

Unless the dealer adds their own stuff, like tint for $600 and a "paint protector" for $800...

Only way they can mark up the Pure Price.

Pure price has nothing to do with MSRP..... the price you SEE is the price you pay