Soft-top Nissan is a serious performer.
The famous ‘Z’ nameplate dates all the way back to the first 240Z of 1969. So far, most of the cars to wear that badge have been lauded as great bang-for-buck sportsters, and we think the latest 370Z fits that bill.
The 370Z was Nissan’s follow-up to the highly-acclaimed 350Z. It was more performance-oriented than its predecessor, with more power, upgraded suspension, and a more rigid chassis. The 370Z was also shorter, wider and 15kg lighter; making it a strong entry-level track machine.
While the 350Z rivalled the Audi TT in performance and price, the 370Z was more closely in competition with the Porsche Cayman. The car was powered by a 3.7-litre V6 that produced 245kW and 363Nm. Power was put through the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional seven-speed automatic.
The interior was heavily updated in the 370Z, with a more luxurious feel, and better standard equipment as well. A satellite navigation screen was added, so too did seat and wheel adjustment mechanisms.
In 2010 Nissan added a roadster model that featured an electro-hydraulic roof, which was much easier to operate than the outgoing manual system. The roof can be deployed in 20-seconds, and a button on the door handles allow users to lower the roof from the outside. While the new system added convenience, it also added weight, with the roadster weighing 55kg over its Coupe sibling.
Creating the roadster was no easy task. Removing the roof caused a great loss to rigidity, so significant reinforcements in the A-pillars and side sills were necessary.
Other than that, the roadster performed similarly to the Coupe, with the same engine output, and a 0-100km/h time of 5.5-seconds.
Here we have a very clean example of a 2015 Nissan 370Z roadster, located in SA, with just 4600km on the clock. It’s a seven-speed auto and the seller is asking $53,000.