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Nissan 350Z

While many new car tuners have been awaiting the prospect to turn their ingenuity loose on the all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z, the Japanese auto maker allowed their in-house, racing-based performance group the earliest honor to interpret the mid-level sports car in tuner form. Released for the summer of 2009, the all-new Nissan Nismo Z improves on the theme set by a Nismo-outfitted 350Z. Bringing more power and edge than the predecessor, the new Nissan Nismo Z is a well-stated performance package to the already stunning Nissan 370Z.

Nissan Nismo Z Exterior and Interior Appearance

The Nissan Nismo Z exterior enjoys some gentle manicuring over the 370Z coupe’s front and rear body contours to improve the sport car’s hold to the ground. Starting from the simplified front fascia, the lower portion of the Nismo Z is wrapped with downforce-inducing body kit. The sloping rear deck lid is topped by a large racing style double spoiler which has more than a passing resemblance to a Porsche 911 GT3’s aerodynamic device. Through careful aerodynamic tuning for increasing downforce, the Nissan Nismo Z retains a 0.30 drag coefficient present on the new 370Z coupe.

Closer to the ground, the Nissan Nismo Z rides on standard five-spoke forged alloy wheels developed by Rays in Japan, which emphasize weight savings as well as allows the 14 inch front and 13.8 inch rear disc brakes to be viewable, well-vented area through large openings. Framing these special lightweight wheels, Yokohama ADVAN Sport Y-rated rubber features a fat 285mm width rear wheel for distributing the power within the Nismo Z’s rear wheel axle.

Using two-tone coloring throughout the interior, the Nissan Nismo Z cabin richly captures racing life. Including a set of cloth bucket seats, the Nismo-badged seats features side bolstering and anti-slip material to competently keep the driver and passenger secured through driving. A Nismo authenticating plaque vividly rests between the seats as a reminder to the vehicle’s performance capabilities. Behind the wheel, the engine ignites with a simple press of a button thanks to the standard intelligent key. Along with the clearly readable gauge viewable through the steering wheel, a three pod center gauge is found within the middle of the dash panel showing oil pressure, electrical voltage, and time. Lacking a rear passenger seat, the larger rear cargo area opens possibilities to an experienced few tuners in providing aftermarket add-ons such as upgraded stereo equipment or fitting a nitrous oxide system.

Nissan Nismo Z Engine and Transmission

Just like the Nissan 370Z, the Nismo Z features a 3.7 liter dual overhead cam V6 engine mounted just behind the front axle (technically making the sports car a mid-engine vehicle). Thanks to changes to the engine’s electronic control module as well as the Nismo exclusive tuned dual exhaust setup, the Nismo Z breathes out with 350 horsepower and 276 pounds feet of torque. An improvement of 34 horsepower over the outgoing Nissan 350Z-based Nismo, performance of the new Nissan Nismo Z favors the engine’s top end.

True to its performance design, the Nissan Nismo Z’s gear selection is driver-controlled through a manual transmission. Advertised as a SynchroRev Match 6-speed manual, this transmission is well-monitored for shifting movement and vehicle speed. During shifting, the SynchroRev match transmission intuitively bumps the engine’s RPM to make smooth gear changes.

Nissan Nismo Z Performance

With the Nissan 370Z achieving 0 to 60 miles per hour times in 4.9 seconds, it may be reason to expect the 350 horsepower Nissan Nismo Z to run this test in a one or two tenths less seconds.

Taking the sports car through the twists and turns of a closed circuit, Nismo’s suspension system enhancement makes this modified Nissan 370Z into a much more aggressive handler. With virtually any component stiffened beyond the specs of the 370Z, the Nissan Nismo Z sport suspension provides better body rolling resistance and car control through higher speed maneuvering.

Stickered at $39,130 as a starting price, the limited edition Nissan Nismo Z is fitted with a capable amount of racing-quality parts and accessories at a little less the half the cost of the Nissan GT-R.

Thinking about a 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata? Drive these cars before you buy!

There are some who would argue that the purest form of motoring is to be had with the top down in a vehicle that is light, nimble, and fully connected to the road – in other words, behind the wheel of a roadster. Built in the tradition of the great British two-seat convertibles of the past, the 2009 Mazda Miata has dominated the roadster market for the past 2 decades thanks to a convergence of amazing handling, great reliability and a thrifty purchase price. Starting at just $22,420, the Miata MX-5 offers drivers a 167 horsepower, 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine that also produces 140 lb-ft of torque. This might not sound like all that much power – and it isn’t – but the Miata’s secret ingredient is a remarkably light chassis that weighs only 2,400 lbs in total. With so little mass to deal with, the rev-happy engine gladly accelerates the Miata to 60 miles per hour in only 6.5 seconds. A 6-speed manual transmission is the logical pairing with this engine, but a 6-speed paddle-shifted automatic and a traditional 5-speed auto are also available.

The inside of the Miata is a bit tight – taller drivers will notice the lack of room, but most people will have no really issues settling into the car’s cockpit. Trunk space is also somewhat limited, especially in cars that are optioned out with the power retractable hard top. However, these complaints miss the point of the Miata, which is that when being driven at the limited it literally feels like it is glued to the pavement. On challenging, twisty roads the roadster is capable of leaving much more powerful vehicles in its dust due to its ability to simply slice through an apex without any hint of drama.

The 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata is truly one of the greatest roadsters ever to hit American shores. However, it faces an array of competitors from automakers intent on leaving their own personal stamp on the two-seat, open car concept. An interesting crop of roadsters are available on today’s market – some of which are brand new designs and others that are in their last year of production – and this article takes a look at 4 cars that should be driven before making a final decision to buy a Miata.

2009 Honda S2000 – MSRP $34,995

Of all the vehicles on this list, the 2009 Honda S2000 is the one which comes the closest to mimicking the Miata formula: small engine, small car, great balance and road feel. The S2000 does boast a major difference when compared against the Miata, and that is much, much more power. The Honda’s 2.2 liter 4-cylinder engine pumps out an impressive 237 ponies thanks to its high, 8,000 rpm redline. Unfortunately, the price to pay for this extra grunt is less torque low in the power band (162 lb-ft in total) and a somewhat twitchy pedal feel that some have compared to an on / off switch when it comes to power delivery. The S2000 is a much more challenging car to drive fast than the Miata as it asks for greater input from the driver and constant attention to throttle position and road conditions. A 6-speed manual is the only transmission choice, and the convertible can leap to 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds.

The 2009 Honda S2000 is 400 lbs heavier than the Miata, but it still manages to remain agile no matter how difficult a maneuver it is asked to perform. The roadster is somewhat more comfortable on the inside than the Miata and provides a few more boy-racer features such as a digital dash. A high belt-line ensconces occupants and gives the car a steel womb-like feel, and leather seats, a power top and a full range of power equipment are included in every S2000. These features account for some of the vehicle’s higher asking price.

The 2009 Honda S2000 has a much more aggressive image than the Miata, along with the power to back it up. If the price differential isn’t too much of a concern, and if living with the motorcycle-like engine doesn’t seem like too much of a hassle, then the S2000 is definitely worth a test drive.

2009 Audi TT – MSRP $32,700

The 2009 Audi TT roadster is the topless edition of the popular TT coupe. The only front-wheel drive vehicle on this list, the TT roadster is also available in all-wheel drive. Combined with the extra weight inherent in this type of drivetrain, the TT exhibits very different dynamics on the road. The vehicle’s magnetic ride control suspension ensures that the roadster remains composed at speed, but the joys of throwing a front-wheel drive vehicle into a series of twists is not nearly the same as that of a traditional rear-wheel drive car. The Audi is simply much bigger in most dimensions, and this is felt when the car is pushed hard.

How does the Audi make up for this particular shortcoming? Two words: luxury and power. There are two engines available in the 2009 Audi TT roadster, with the first being a 2.0 liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder unit that is good for 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. A 3.2 liter V6 can be ordered in the all-wheel drive version of the convertible, and it ups the performance ante with 250 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The latter engine can rocket the TT to 60 miles per hour from a standing start in just 5.3 seconds. The 4-cylinder can only mated with a 6-speed clutchless automatic transmission, while the larger engine can be fitted either the auto or a 6-speed manual.

The 2009 Audi TT roadster’s options list is much longer than the Miata, and it can be decked out with nearly as many comfort features as found in the larger A4 sedan. For many, this balances out the vehicle’s tamer driving experience and makes the TT a serious contender when it comes to choosing a roadster that is also easy to live with on a daily basis.

2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster – MSRP $36,870

The 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster is the largest car on this list, as it is based on the mid-size 350Z coupe. The Roadster manages to maintain much of the coupe’s original styling, with the addition of a somewhat complicated rear quarter. Despite its size and porky 4,100 lbs of weight, the 350Z is a relatively quick car, capable of topping 60 miles per hour in under 6 seconds. This is largely a result of the excellent engine that Nissan chose to install in the 350Z, a 3.5 liter V6 that generates 306 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the vehicle’s standard 6-speed automatic, the engine is quite lively and willing to pull hard in every gear. A 5-speed automatic is also available.

The 350Z Roadster doesn’t attack the corners with quite the same confidence as its hard top sibling, but it still provides plenty of feedback through the wheel and suspension to keep drivers interested while eating up the miles at a rapid pace. The Roadster is divided into Enthusiast, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels, with the Grand Touring providing dynamic stability control and Brembo performance brakes. Each edition of the 350Z Roadster comes with power windows, door locks, HID headlights and striking LED tail lights. DVD navigation is an option, as are larger wheels and additional suspension upgrades – recommended if the car is going to be driven hard.

The 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster is more at home speeding down the highway than playing tag down a mountain pass, but in a pinch it will pass for a more involved sports car as long as the going doesn’t get too extreme. The comfortable ride and larger size of the 350Z make it a popular choice amongst more mature buyers turned off by the toy-like dimensions of the Miata.

2009 Saturn Sky - MSRP $27,595

The 2009 Saturn Sky is the vehicle many people waited a very long time for General Motors to produce. It is stunning to look at, fun to drive and can be ordered with a hot engine under the hood. From a distance it appears as though the Sky’s exterior dimensions are similar to the Miata, but up close it becomes apparent that the domestic vehicle is larger and heavier – although not cripplingly so. The Sky’s size is still compact enough that it stays well away from 350Z territory and remains tossable and light when driven around a race track. An independent suspension helps to add a lot of agility to the Sky’s package, as does standard stability control and a limited-slip differential.

The 2009 Saturn Sky can be ordered in both mild and wild editions. The base roadster features a 2.4 liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 173 horsepower and 167 lb-ft of torque. The Sky Redline edition cranks the volume up to 11 with the addition of a 2.0 liter, supercharged 4-cylinder motor good for 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This transforms the Sky from fun to a complete handful and makes it a great option for anyone looking for a weekend track car that can pull double duty as a daily driver. Transmission options are limited to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic.

The 2009 Saturn Sky stands out in a crowd thanks to its startling original, European-flavored styling. Its extra size and weight place it squarely between the Miata and the 350Z Roadster, but without the front-wheel drive that hampers the TT it provides a more traditional platform from which to feel the wind rushing through the cockpit.