there's no way around it the Nissan 370z is old it's been around since 2009
without a major redesign this one has a black stripe on it actually a toupee but
for 2018 we have a new heritage special edition we're looking at right here
there are also some minor styling and mechanical tweaks the 2018 Heritage
Edition is a throwback to the 1977 Datsun 280z Zapf edition now it's a
model so obscure that anything couldn't even provide us a photo to show you so
you're going to have to go and google it yourself for 2018 it's available in two
colors yellow and black and in this yellow model you have black stripes down
the side black stripes in the hood and on the inside a few yellow accent pieces
you can see the Heritage editions yellow steering wheel the yellow accents on the
seats and the gear selector but otherwise this is a completely bass 373
doesn't have a sport package doesn't have navigation this is a $31,000 car
and that shows it's like being in a time machine back to 2009 at the base
multimedia system there's no touchscreen you have to pair the Bluetooth through
voice commands which granted an owner would only have to do once but there's
no blind spot monitoring there's no cross traffic alert and that's something
competitors do have especially in the 30 to 40 thousand dollar price range like
the Camaro and if you think the Camaros visibility is bad you should drive one
of these you almost need a passenger sitting shotgun the whole time just to
tell you it's clear to back out a parking space or to make a right turn
but forget about all that stuff the Z is all about driving it's a two-seater
sports coupe rear-wheel drive got a 332 horsepower v6 it's just a cool car when
I was driving this a little kid on the side of the street
shouted at me hey mr. nice car and that just makes you
feel good my wife however she said I look like an
idiot driving it with the stripes and everything she actually called me I
don't think I can say that it's been a long time since I've driven the 373 and
I think what stood out most was just how nicely it ride the suspension is
actually pretty soft and compliant over rough roads and I had it on a highway
journey about 200 miles but also spent a lot of time driving in the city I never
felt it uncomfortable doesn't crash over bumps and it doesn't G are you out of
your seat plus you have a very nice seating position it's high off the
ground and it's not low to the ground like Scion fr-s will now the Toyota 86
or the Subaru BRZ on the flip side of that it's not a very engaging car to
drive and perhaps that's because this is the base model it's not the sport
package which adds limited slip differential and 19-inch wheels and
tires this is the absolute base model and it's a little squishy in corners and
it's not quick to respond and one of the things that the pre 7tz is missing it's
just a distinctive exhaust sound I hear a lot of engine sounds it actually
sounds like you've got your head sucking up sewing machine
it's a very loud engine but you're not hearing that from the exhaust the Camaro
has an optional multimode exhaust that the various modes opens up and that is
an exotic sounding v6 engine and I wish the 370z sounded like that and it might
if you uncork the exhaust with an aftermarket sports exhaust but you don't
get that sound straight from the factory
the most off-putting characteristic about the Z on the highway is it's nice
it is just loud there's a ton of road noise there's a ton of wind noise you do
have trouble hearing a passenger at 70 miles an hour
a lot of automakers that switch to turbocharged engines in their sports
cars but it's refreshing to drive the 373 naturally aspirated v6 it's crisp
it's clean there's no turbocharger lag what's new
for 2018 is an equity clutch now you may recognize the exiting name from the
aftermarket and he's not partnered with them to create a clutch that was a
little easier to use you the clutch take-up point was in a more natural spot
and really it doesn't drive like anything special the clutch is fine it
has medium effort the annoying thing about it on this model anyway is that
every time you use the clutch pedal you hear the collect safety switch click on
and off and you can feel it in the clutch bottle it's pretty annoying the
Heritage Edition in a few tweaks keeps the Z in the news for 2018 but it
doesn't really do a whole lot to move the needle on what's under the skin a
pretty old car but it's still just under $32,000 and that's pretty affordable for
something that looks this good well without the stripes anyway
you