2009 Nissan 370Z

We've seen some great Japanese sports cars go bad. Of course, to give credit where it's due Japanese have built great cars, in fact, some of the best. I couldn't complain about the new GT-R, the replacement for the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, and many other great cars that came to us from the land of PlayStation.

The replacement for the 350Z, however, isn't the best Nissan could do. Great engine, great performance, bad looks. The 350Z was a proud thing. It was a legend that replaced the 300ZX, which is also a timeless classic. 350Z had great looks; so why have Nissan spoiled it?

Remember the 350Z? A buff shape with lots of pointy shapes? Yes, that one. Nissan literally built themselves all over again with this car. And what's more, Nissan built it exactly the same way it looked as a concept - stunning! I've seen a concept Z in a magazine before it hit the public highways. When I saw one in person, I couldn't tell the difference! A lot of car manufacturers give us photos, or at least sketches of what their upcoming car will look like, and when it is unveiled, it looks totally different! This one was spot-on.

Now, the character of the "Z" has changed into an "S." Stay with me, you'll see what I mean. If you look at the letter "Z," you'll see sharp, pointy edges and angles. That describes the 350Z. It has a lot of pointy angles. The 370Z, is more round, it has more curves, and that spoils the original character of the 300ZX, and the 350Z, which came before the 370 in the Nissan Z line-up. The cars carrying the Z-badge have always been sort-of pointy, square, and sharp. The new one is round, and smooth; kind of like an "S."

That's the biggest problem with the new car - it kills the character that the Z cars have built ever since they hit the streets. And that's bad, especially when you consider the fact that Nissan has been building the Z cars even when they were called Datsun. That was an eternity ago! And the question is the same - if you have a recipe for a great sports car that has served you for years, why change the recipe? And with the 370Z, I'm afraid they have.

I'll try not to bash Nissan into the ground with my opinion about the 370Z, and move on to more important matter - the engine. The engine is the same one that is bolted tot he Infinity G37. That's fantastic! Whenever I hear about a car company replacing a model and making it with a bigger engine, it's always a good thing! Now, to be honest, I'm not one of those who runs around, hands in the air, thinking that we'll die tomorrow because of global warming, and though that's not exactly a popular view these days, I don't pay much attention to it. So, for me, engine size matters, and the bigger, the faster, the stronger, the better.

So, a flaw on the outside has made up for itself on the inside. The outside might have softened up, but the heart is still pumping, and this time it's pumping out more! But, if I had the money to buy the 370Z, I wouldn't buy it. The car's personality just isn't there anymore, and when that's gone missing, so is my desire to look at one twice, if I see one. And while the 350Z always turned my head, this one doesn't. For this very reason, I wouldn't want to turn its key.