Nissanrecently gave Z fans something to lust after at ZCON. Called theZ Kaze Concept, it’s a current Z equipped with a T-top roof, but,unfortunately, Nissan has no plans to put it into production. Not that it matters, as the drop-top market started declining the moment the crossover fad gained momentum.
But drop-tops aren’t the only automotive staple we’ve lost these last few years. The naturally aspirated V6 sports car with a manual gearbox is basically dead. In fact, Nissan was the last automaker to build such a thing. The Nissan 370Z turned out to be a final moment in time, never to be repeated. The 370Z wasn’t at the top of my list when it was new. The Honda S2000 was a masterpiece, not to mention the stock Porsche Boxster with its flat-six noises and all-around perfection. The present problem is that both the S2K and Boxster are increasing in value rapidly, while numerous 370Zs continue to drop their asking prices on the CarBuzz Marketplace.
It’s A Great Time To Spend Money On A 370Z
Because you’re reading this, I’m sure you suffer from the same condition I do. I start browsing the Marketplace to take my mind off work for a few minutes, and two hours later I’m convinced that what my life is lacking is the first TT RS with a turbocharged five-cylinder and a manual gearbox.
Last week, I was fixated on the 370Z after discovering that the nicest examples available are selling for roughly $20,000. Upon closer investigation, I realized that the market appears to have dipped significantly. On the CarBuzz Marketplace, you can see by how much the original asking price has been lowered, and there are deals to be had all over the place. They range from $449 off a 2010 Touring, all the way to $8,395 off a final year (2020) Base model with a manual gearbox. There are also loads of 370Zs available for between $3,000 and $4,000 off the original listed price.
With good models selling for $13,000, is it time to forgive the 370Z its shortcomings?
So, What Was Wrong With The 370Z?
Front quarter shot of a 2009 Nissan 370ZNissan
The V6 under the hood is the most-awarded in automotive history. It has powered several magnificent cars over the years, and I respect it. But it just sounded a bit rough in the 370Z. V6 engines aren’t known for providing amazing soundtracks, but the unit in the 370Z just made noise. Sure, you can fix it with an aftermarket exhaust, but we review cars based on how they come straight from the factory.
The interior was also lagging behind the competition, the road noise was terrible, and the 332-hp naturally aspirated V6 absolutely decimated gas.
Can We Forgive The Flaws For More Than 50% Off?
Rear quarter shot of a 2009 Nissan 370ZNissan
During its final year on sale, the Nissan 370Z had an MSRP of $30,090. For that price, it was easier (and cheaper) to buy the $26,580 Mazda Miata. But now that decent 370Zs are selling for $13,000, all the flaws above are so much easier to overlook. Years later, you actually enjoy the immediate response of the naturally aspirated V6, now that NA engines are basically dead. Turbocharging and electrification took over, and there are only five NA sports cars still on sale.
During my test drive, I also realized that naturally aspirated engines aren’t the only thing we’ve lost over the last few years. The 370Z feels extremely old-school in a wonderfully nostalgic way. It has a powerful engine at the front, a six-speed manual in the middle, and the power going to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential.
It doesn’t have any trick driving features, apart from a lovely rev-matching feature that will make you feel like a hero if you haven’t mastered the heel-and-toe yet.
The 370Z already has a huge cult following, which is why it’s so surprising to see how much the used values have dipped. I don’t expect these low prices to last as more manual NA sports cars go out of production. Pretty soon, enthusiasts will realize that the 370Z provides an experience that’s no longer available on the new market, and then those values will shoot up again.
