First Drive: 2013 Nissan 370Z

Nissan Z-line of sports coupe has been around since 1969 when the Datsun Fairlady Z started being produced. The Fairlady Z was around until 1978 with three different versions. From 1969 to 1973, the Fairlady Z was also known as the 240Z, which was powered by a 2.4L I6. From 1974 to 1978, the Fairlady Z was known as the 260Z, which was powered by a 2.6L I6. The U.S. market only got the 260Z in 1974. From 1975 to 1978, the United States got the 280Z, a Fairlady Z that was powered by a 2.8L I6. All versions of the Fairlady Z were 3 door hatchbacks that came with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The successor for the Datsun Fairlady Z was known as the 280ZX, also known as the Nissan Fairlady Z, which was in production from 1978 to 1983. The 280ZX came with 2.0L I6 engine, a turbocharged 2.0L I6, a 2.8L I6 engine, or a turbocharged 1.8L I6 engine. The 280ZX was also a three door fastback  with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Next in the Z-line is the Nissan 300ZX that was produced with the Z31 chassis from 1983 to 1989 and was produced with the Z32 chassis from 1989 to 2000. After a two year hiatus, the Z-line returned in 2002 with the Nissan Fairlady Z Z33, known better as the Nissan 350Z. It came with a 3.5L V6, while the Nismo 350Z came with a 3.8L V6. The 350Z coupe was produced from 2003 to 1008 while 350Z roadsters were produced from 2004 to 2009. Replacing the 350Z is the 370Z, which went into production in 2010 and is the current version of the Z-line. The 370Z is a front-mid engine, rear-wheel drive sports car that is available as either a roadster or a sports coupe. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was the first one to take the 370Z coupe on a test drive. I got to the Nissan booth right when it open.

The Nissan 370Z has a very sporty exterior. The headlights are integrated well. The 370Z has a nice sporty profile. On the inside, it is all about sportiness. There are three gauges on the top middle of the dashboard that display the time, battery voltage, and the oil temperature. It is a sporty dash. The car I test drove came with paddle shifters, and they work well. The 370Z is sports-tuned, so the seat is stiff, but not too stiff to break you back. I had a nice amount of leg room and head room behind the wheel. The 370Z is a two seater, so if you want to drive around with two passengers, then the 370Z is not for you.

The 370Z is powered by a 3.7L V6, paired with either a seven-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmssion, that produces 332 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and it felt quick behind the wheel. The 370Z is sports-tuned and it handles well. The car was very responsive when I turned the steering wheel. There was no jerky motions coming from the car when I used the paddle shifters. The 370Z has a stiff ride, so you will feel every bump, but not to the point that the car becomes uncomfortable to drive or ride in.

The 370Z has been featured on Top Gear USA, Top Gear UK, Top Gear Australia, Born to Race, Fifth Gear, Motorweek, RTL Autowereld, Gek Op Wielen, Top Gear Korea, Auto Esporte, Fast Five, 200 M.P.H., Jane By Design, 90210, Pretty Little Liars, The Green Hornet, Cars.TV, Switched At Birth, and The Sitter. The 370Z is playable in Dead Heat, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Asphalt 3D, Need For Speed: The Run, StreetRally, Asphalt Injection, Auto Club Revolution, Speed Driver 3: Crash Hour, Speed Driver 4: World Fever, Driver: San Francisco, Need For Speed: Undercover, Need For Speed: Shift, Need For Speed: Nitro, Gran Turismo 5, Asphalt 5, GT Racing: Motor Academy, Need For Speed: World, Just Cause 2, Nitto 1320 Legends, Shift 2: Unleashed, Forza Motorsport 3, Real Racing 2, and Car Town.

Overall, the Nissan 370Z is a great car. Although the ride is stiff due to the sports-tuned suspension. The paddle shifters enhance the experience with the automatic transmission. There is plenty of leg room and head room for the driver and passenger, but there are no back seats. The engine generates great power for a naturally aspirated V6 engine, and I felt power through the entire rev range. With some engines, you do not get a good amount of power at lower rpms. The 370Z is quick, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds. The car has a good sporty exterior and a good sporty interior. The Nissan 370Z is a good sports car. Prices for the base 370Z coupe start at $34,420. Prices go up to $39,120 for the 370Z Touring Coupe. Prices for the 370Z Roadster start at $41,470. A Nismo 370Z Coupe goes for $43,020. That is not bad for what you get with the Nissan 370Z. This is a fun sports car and if you are in the market for a sports car, give the Nissan 370Z a test drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Nissan Versa Sedan

The Nissan Versa has been sold in the United States since 2007. The Versa has been on sale in Japan since 2004. In Japan, the Versa is known as the Tida. At the 2011 New York Auto Show, the second-generation Versa was revealed and went on sale in late 2011. The hatchback version of the Versa will be based on the Nissan Note while the sedan version of the Versa will be based on the Nissan Sunny. The Versa is a front-engine, front-wheel drive compact car and it serves as the entry level car for Nissan in the American market. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take the Nissan Versa Sedan for a test drive. The Nissan Versa is the least expensive new car available in the United States.

The Versa Sedan has a boring exterior styling. I prefer cars with sporty aggressive or luxurious exteriors. The Versa Sedan does not have luxurious styling or a sporty aggressive styling. The headlights are big and not streamlined. There are no sleek lines or curves going along the sides of the Versa Sedan. The interior feels cheap. A 5" touchscreen, bluetooth connectivity, an interface system for the iPod, radio data system, and 60/40 split fold-down rear seats are all options for higher-end Versa Sedans. But the standard Versa interior is boring. There is nothing luxurious about it. The radio looks cheap. The S and S plus trim levels do not come with power windows and power door locks. I drove the SV trim level that had power windows and power locks. The seats come with cloth upholstery. The driver seat is uncomfortable. I had decent leg room, but my head nearly touched the roof of the car.

The second generation Nissan Versa Sedan has been featured on Motorweek and Vrum.

The Versa Sedan is powered by a 1.6L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 109 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission also available for the Versa Sedan. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 107 mph. The Versa did not feel quick. The Versa Sedan has a rough ride. It was also noisy inside the Versa, which makes it hard to hear the Nissan product specialist explain the car. The Versa Sedan has a cheap drive quality to it. Prices for the Versa Sedan start at $11,990. Prices for the Versa Sedan SV starts at $15,240.

Overall, the Nissan Versa Sedan feels cheap, The exterior is bland and cheap. The interior is cheap. The drive quality is cheap. The Versa Sedan has the lowest base price of any new vehicle. The engine feels underpowered. The car does not feel fast. The Versa Sedan has subpar performance. This is a horrendous car. But the base prices of $11,990 can attract first time car buyers. But you get what you paid for. I have had fun behind the wheel of cars with base prices of under $17,000. I enjoyed driving the Chevrolet Sparkand that has a base price of $12,995. The Versa Sedan is just too cheap of a car for me to recommend to experienced drivers. But it is a good car for teenagers who just got their driver's license because the Versa Sedan has the lowest base price. They do not need a fancy car starting out. But for everyone else looking for a new vehicle, look elsewhere.

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