Winter is coming, or rather, it’s already here. Car enthusiasts enjoy summer more than the season of snow. Sure, winter comes with Christmas. But we bet most gearheads would prefer going on summer road trips in their soft-top convertible. Bonus points if that trip happens to be on any of the coastlines.
But convertibles are often costlier to buy and maintain compared to the regular hardtop versions. And many summer cars available are already out of our budget in the first place. That’s because summer cars are essentially sports cars. That label of ‘Sports Car’ warrants the extra price. That’s one of the reasons why sleeper cars look like family sedans.
But there has always been one thing keeping the dream of an affordable summer car alive: the Mazda MX-5. The MX-5 is a favorite among car enthusiasts and is one of the most popular sports cars in North America for a reason. Getting this awesome Mazda (especially a used one) has been the go-to move for someone looking for a fun-to-drive car without worrying about messing up 401k plans or mortgages.
Owners of Jaguar F-Type SVR, Zenos E10, Alfa Romeo 4C Spyder, or Porsche Boxster have a blast in their cars, but they end up spending much more money over time. But there are good and affordable alternatives if you want something other than a Miata. A good year of a Z4 or S2000 comes to mind, but there’s one more you should consider, and it’s a Nissan.
Meet The Nissan 370Z Roadster
Like the MX-5, the 370Z is a fellow JDM sports car that serves the same purpose. That being of providing lots of fun at a minimal cost. Nissan wanted a nimble and lightweight sports car to compete with JDM classics like the Toyota Celica, Supra, Mitsubishi 3000GT, and Mazda RX-7. In 1970, they introduced the Fairlady Z aka Datsun 240Z.
It would be the first in the series of Z-cars in their lineup spanning 7 generations, 7th being the 2023 Nissan-Z. The 370Z carried the torch as the 6th gen of the lineup since 2008, taking over the 350Z.
That’s enough history lesson, let’s talk about the car we’re here to talk about. The 370Z, like the MX-5, is a 2-seater sports car with the engine turning the rear wheels and manual transmission available as standard. We all know that this combo lays the foundation upon which a car can build its reputation as one of the best cars to have fun driving.
And it’s got a convertible trim called the 370Z Roadster. Moreover, there isn’t much difference in the price between the two as well. You can find plenty of accident-free used examples of 2010-2013 models without crossing the $20,000 line. That’s a few thousand bucks over a used MX-5 from the same year. But you get your extra money’s worth, plus more.
More Power Equals More Fun
If you want a car to be able to plant a smile on your face, power (or quickness at the very least) is one of the most basic requirements we can think of. The Miata is very light, so the 2.0-liter four-banger’s power output of 167 hp (albeit at 7000 rpm) and 140 lb-ft is plenty to make things interesting.
But that is nowhere near the stock power of a 3.7-liter V6 that makes 332 hp (at 7000 rpm as well!) and a whopping 270 lb-ft of torque. That’s how powerful the 370Z is, that too in its stock variant. The aftermarket support of the Miata is unbeatable in its category, but the fellow Japanese tuner comes close in terms of availability and tuning compatibility.
And then there is the NISMO variant. Now, you’d have to stretch your budget limits over $20,000 or have to be pretty darn lucky to own a NISMO version. But if you somehow manage to do it, you are in for one heck of a ride. For those who don’t know, NISMO is Nissan’s in-house performance division à la BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, Fiat Abarth, and Toyota TRD.
So the 370Z Nismo is a normal 370Z with some performance and mechanical upgrades from Nissan itself, and it’s one rapid car. But the normal version is no slouch either. A 370Z roadster will do 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds and complete a quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds!
This Cool Convertible Is Bigger Yet Just As Nimble
One of the very few problems of the Miata is that it gets crampy. Big people won’t fit in properly, and lean & tall people will have trouble seeing through the low windshield. But the 2010 370Z is roughly 10 inches longer, 5 inches wider, and 3 inches taller than a Miata of the same year.
Also, the 370Z weighs more than the Miata, so there is no compromise in the overall sturdiness either. Without a solid roof, a car needs to have proper sturdiness elsewhere, which often results in a distortion of that sweet sports car driving manner. But the 370Z escapes that trap.
Also, the wheelbase is longer than Miata’s, so the handling is amazing. One of the most attractive things about the 370Z is its crisp handling around corners. The independent double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension do a great job of keeping the car planted at sharp turns.
Nissan 370Z Design And Features Were Ahead Of Time
You enter the car and position yourself on the driving seat, and you’ll immediately notice one thing. There is a stark difference between the 370Z and most other affordable cars of that era. Most if not all summer cars are fun to drive and do well in the performance department.
But the 370Z has better interior comfort & quality at a depreciated price. The 370Z enjoys some extra benefits like leather upholstery, an advanced (at that time) GPS navigation system, heated side mirrors, cruise control, automatic climate control, optional ventilated seats, keyless ignition & entry, and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player.
From the outside, the 370Z still holds up even today. A good balance of smooth curves gives it a sporty look, yet it’s easy on the eyes of people around it. Another department where it still holds up today is reliability. Like most reliable cars, there aren’t many problems with the 370Z. Overall, we think it’s a solid choice if you don’t want a Miata.
Sources: Edmunds, KBB, Nissan, Mazda, Hagerty