Nissan 370Z is 100% sports car

The 2013 Nissan 370Z Roadster Touring boasts outstanding sports car performance that is priced well under the German and Italian competition — an entry level 370Z is yours for under $45,000.

Our gorgeous test Z was dressed in a midnight blue metallic paint and capped with a black cloth droptop. Conspicuous red-painted brake calipers glared out from 19-inch Rays alloy wheels, which were part of a sport package that pushed the price of our tester up to $50,000.

While the price tag says entry level, the Z is 100 percent sports car. The Nissan's 3.7 liter V-6 engine produces 332 horsepower. The Z, which weighs in at 3,488 pounds, does 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. A 6-speed manual transmission was a blast to rip through, especially with the top down.

Driving the Z was all about performance. Our tester's firm suspension, bigger wheels and low ground clearance provided sharp handling. The Z felt fast even at low speeds as it was hard to hold back in stop and go situations. The Z's sport tuning was great for highway straightaways and twisty roads, but gave the coupe a harsh feel on bad pavement and bridge expansion joints. The Z also suffered from permeating road noise with the top up, which was a great excuse to keep it down.

Despite being only a two seater, I found plenty of leg room with the roadster's power adjustable seats. The leather and mesh cloth buckets were both heated and air conditioned, features that kept the convertible top down on cool nights and in hot weather. The coupe's interior featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel and stick shift. Aluminum-trimmed pedals also stood out. Storage space was limited, but I did find some space behind the seats for a bag or two of groceries.

Trunk space was sparse, barely enough room to fit a couple of overnight bags, but it does offer a diagram on how to fit a bag of golf clubs into the tight space.

The Z has an engaging dashboard with red dials and digital readouts constantly changing on six gauges.

While overwhelming at first, I found the additional controls on the steering wheel, combined with a compact media center and a full array of radio dials, simple to operate.

The Z is expensive when compared to the Subaru Scion coupe offerings, which are clearly out-muscled on the straightaways by the Nissan, but all match in handling. On the higher end, the Z's agility, muscle and abundance of modern technology really gives the $90,000 Porsche Boxter S a run for the money. 

Clearly the Z is not a long road tripper and it would be hard to justify as a daily driver, but who wouldn't love to haveone sitting in his garage for a midsummer night dinner reservation for two or for a fall foliage run.

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