In the mid 1970s, Nissan introduced a car in the United States that helped the company stand out from other import automakers. While most import automakers were focusing on small, fuel-efficient cars, Nissan (then marketed as Datsun in the U.S.) launched a sleek, sporty coupe. That car was the legendary 1975 240Z. The original Z car gave Nissan a defining niche in the automotive market which carries on today with vehicles like the compact Sentra SE-R, Maxima sport sedan and the record-breaking Nissan GT-R. More than three decades later, the same spirit of the original Z car lives on as the fifth-generation 350Z and is entering a new chapter with the all-new 370Z. Although the sixth-generation Z (the 2009 370Z Coupe) has already hit the road and the 2010 370Z Roadster recently debuted at the 2009 New York International Auto Show, Nissan tossed us the keys to its lame-duck 350Z Roadster which soldiers on as a 2009 model.
Those in the market for the current Z Roadster have a wide variety of choices to pick from with Nissan’s Z Roadster competing against everything from the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Pontiac Solstice up to the Ford Mustang GT and BMW Z4. The 2009 350Z Roadster is available in three trim levels (Enthusiast, Touring and Grand Touring) with the base price starting at $36,870. The model we tested was a 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Grand Touring, which comes basically fully loaded starting at $41,570. Tossing in navigation, a sporty shade of red on the exterior and the omnipresent destination charge, our test model had an as-tested price of $44,660.
2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Exterior & Styling
Despite the aging design of the 350Z, it is easy to appreciate the car’s sporty, yet simple styling. Where most cars would have spoilers, diffusers and lower body cladding, the Z keeps it clean with just a single air opening in the front and dual chrome-tipped exhaust outlets in the rear breaking up the smooth lines. Other than new HID headlamps, LED taillights and a more aggressive hood that were added in 2007, the 2009 Z Roadster is almost identical to the model that launched in 2004, but the long wheelbase and short overhangs are reminiscent of the original Z car. Devoid of excessive badging or gaudiness, the 350Z is attractive from just about any angle in the optional ($500) Nogaro Red coloring. Finishing off the sporty, sexy look on the Z Roadster, the widely flared wheel arches make room for the 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels which prominently display orange Brembo® calipers.
The Z’s power retractable soft top is good for keeping out the rain and preventing sunburn, but like any other convertible, the Z Roadster definitely looks best with the top down. With a single latch controlling three roof locks, the Z can drop its top in less than 20 seconds. Unlike the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky twins, the Z Roadster features a power retractable top that hides under a stylish hard boot. Nissan even incorporated a tempered glass wind deflector between both seat headrests to reduce interior noise with the top down.
2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Interior
Nissan may have focused on quieting down the Z’s cabin, but there’s not much it could do to improve soften the ride of this sports coupe – that is the whole point behind the Z after all. Not to imply that the perforated leather seats are uncomfortable, we just think that it would take a dedicated sports car enthusiast to enjoy the Z as an everyday car. The sporty seats do everything they can to provide a luxurious ride and look, while offering enough bolstering to hold both occupants in place during high-speed cornering.
Our test vehicle added Nissan’s optional ($1,800) navigation system that featured a large, clear display with easy-to-use controls. Nissan's navigation system is probably one of the best in the industry and makes the Z's cabin more user friendly. Since the navigation system and the audio system are separate, this gives the Z a couple advantages that most vehicles don’t offer. First, unlike some other vehicles that offer a navigation system, the Z Roadster doesn’t lose the ability to offer a six-disc, in-dash CD player when equipped with a navigation system. Second, on long drives, sometimes it’s nice to turn off the navigation display and the Z Roadster does this without losing voice navigation directions or the use of the audio system. The separate audio system is a 240-watt Bose system that plays both MP3 discs and Satellite radio and features seven speakers including a large subwoofer mounted behind the driver’s seat. Also mounted behind the seats are a pair of storage compartments (since the Z Roadster has no glove box) and a covered 12-volt power outlet. Instead of a glovebox, the Z offers a small cargo net for the front passenger and another covered power outlet.
One of our favorite design elements inside the Z is the classic use of two sets of gauge clusters for the driver to check pertinent vehicle information. Above the center stack, the driver can easily view a trio of gauges that display battery voltage, oil pressure and a third gauge that allows for a number of customizable displays ranging from a stopwatch, outside air temp and even a custom RPM shift indicator. The main gauges (a large central tachometer flanked by a speedometer and odometer gauge on the right and a fuel level and engine temperature indicator on the left) are mounted directly to the steering column and tilt up and down with the steering wheel when adjusted. The biggest downfall inside the Z is the anything-but-sporty corporate steering wheel. Not that we expect something like the GT-R’s steering wheel (although that would look good in the Z), but anything other than the boring wheel used in the Pathfinder would really help spice up this cabin.
2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Performance & Handling
After only two years on the market, the Nissan’s VQ35HR V-6 engine was more than adequate in such a small, nimble roadster. As much as we’re looking forward to testing out the new 370 and its 332-horsepower, 3.7-liter VQ37VHR V-6, the 2009 Z Roadster should offer up enough power and acceleration to please even the most hardcore automotive enthusiast. With 306 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque, the 3,596-pound Z Roadster can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in under six seconds. Our test car came equipped with a quick-shifting, short-throw six-speed manual transmission that added to the pure enjoyment of this raucously fun roadster
To help eliminate the ill effects associated with removing a car’s top, Nissan added numerous structural reinforcements to strengthen the Roadster’s unibody chassis. The resulting supports add about 200 pounds to the Roadster’s weight compared to the 350Z Coupe, but, more importantly, the car’s handling was not sacrificed for open-air enjoyment. The Grand Touring package further improves handling by adding Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) as well as the aforementioned high-performance Brembo® brake system. The overall driving experience of the Z is one of the most exhilarating for a car starting at under $40,000 and can probably be summed up best by comparing it to a cross between Mazda’s go-kart-like Miata and a V-8-powered Chevy Corvette.