BMW Z4 Vs Nissan 370Z - Top Gear

Top Gear video shows BMW Z4 cavorting with dinosaurs

By Alex Ricciuti
July 28, 2009 7:04 PM
Filed Under: German, Japanese, Nissan, Porsche

It's not often that Jeremy Clarkson doesn't find an excuse to dislike what is usually a fine automobile. This video is fun to watch simply to see Clarkson gushing over the new BMW Z4 even as he customarily insults it with his usual witticisms. In the video, Clarkson claims he owns a Mercedes-Benz SLK, and it is surprising to hear that the acerbic reviewer actually ever liked a car enough to buy one himself.

The dinosaur bit is fun to see too. Top Gear is a top performing series and it's showing in the production values. To shoot your subject cars cavorting with extinct species can't come cheap. In fact, Clarkson is looking a little dinosaur-ish himself. Get that dude some Nivea cream for men.

The results are fairly predictable. The BMW Z4 is the looker and has the softer ride. The Nissan 370Z is the roaring, road-muncher, though a little less refined than the cool Bavarian.

Clarkson recommends the Z4 because it is "slower, less exciting, more expensive, and less well-equipped." Got it?

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Tags: Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, BMW Z4, Nissan 370Z

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Comments

Dlaor

July 28, 2009 7:17 PM

Why compare a convertible with a coupe? The z4 is money well spend, the Nissan is... well a Nissan, nuff said.

Renegade

July 28, 2009 7:26 PM

Yep why to compare a Z4 witch has cock factor almost as big as the M3, with a 370Z witch it's a driver's car.

Dlaor

July 28, 2009 7:43 PM

The Nissan is a go-cart. Cheap and noisy.

X6M

July 28, 2009 8:02 PM

Agreed, BMW is far more prettier than this cheap looking Nissan, this Z4 is the most beautiful BMW ever made!!

Edited by user on July 28, 2009 at 8:03 PM

Renegade

July 28, 2009 8:48 PM

@X6 ur a fanboy who's braking the rule number 8, constantly, so my answer to you will be none, I will just ignore you from now on. And I know that your truck-coupe is compensating your small shoes, if you know what I mean.

@Dalor, I don't know what kind of driver are you, but to pick the Z4 over the 370Z, it's like having sex with Rosie O'Donnell, when your grirlfriend is Megan Fox, don't forget that we are talking sports cars here, not big GT's, not Sedans, not SUV's. A sports car needs to be noisy and violent. And cheap? Wtf man, you either rolling in cash or your a snob who cares to much about the producer logo.

Dlaor

July 28, 2009 9:06 PM

It's not a Z4 M. It's a Z4 Roadster. Ofcourse the Nissan isn't really cheap, but I've driven enough Nissans to be able to tell the quality of the materials is mostly poor. Your comparison about Rosie O'Donnell and Megan Fox is irrelevant. BMW delivers great quality and yes they are expensive, but it's so easy to say that's because of the producer logo. The Z4 is balanced, good looking and has a great engine. What else could you want?

Lemon

July 28, 2009 9:08 PM

Renegade, I think that the Z4 seems to drive a little better than Rosie O'Donnel. The 370Z is more of a driver's car (and most likely the one I would choose), but they're a lot closer than you're implying. A twin turbo I6 with that much power and that little weight is a combination I sure as heck wouldn't mind taking for a ride. Also, if you're judging the car by the people who drive them rather than the engineering behind them and how they perform, should you be judging a car? I'm not really a bimmer guy but they sure can run at the track, noisy or not.

McNamara68

July 28, 2009 9:50 PM

hahaha Renegade is downin on em!

Edison

July 28, 2009 10:13 PM

@Dalor. Don't diss Nissan. Renegade will get his ass-less pantaloons in a bunch as he obviously can't judge a car on the basis of merits and flaws. BTW. The 370 is more of a track car than the Z4, as I think that was not the true intent of the Z4 in the first place.

@Renegade. The M3 is very much a driver's car. You know both Nissan and BMW make very good cars. You're as much a fanboy as those you accuse.

popilirol

July 30, 2009 10:37 PM

I couldn't agree more. Nissan, pufff... who cares? BMW is a BMW.

nederina

July 28, 2009 7:18 PM

COME ON AND BUILD THAT Z4 M COUPE BMW!!!

McNamara68

July 28, 2009 9:51 PM

they will . . . after rolling out another half dozen kiddie carriers

ricer8

July 28, 2009 7:25 PM

Would take the nissan. After owning many BMW's they have aged like Elvis. Bloated and not what they were. Maybe better in traffic. The z is a terror on the track though I have yet to own one.

N20_Purge

July 28, 2009 7:32 PM

The 370z is a better car hands down, but the Z4 is OK I guess.

andy

July 28, 2009 8:07 PM

i dont why some people just wanna diss nissan or whatever jap cars when they dont even know nothing about it, 370Z is better on every point, design, engine, handling.....Z4 is just a cheap gay vehicle for player when they top down the roof and try to race some body, one vote for nissan 370Z, a true tuning car

Edited by user on July 28, 2009 at 8:07 PM

Windtalker01

July 28, 2009 8:21 PM

m.... I'm not sure whether you have a Nissan. I have one at home. It's just 3 months old. I do find my family car is well equip, but..... the build quality is not as good as I expected.... I always heard some strange noice when I open the door handle and the dashboard plastic is really poor..... I have to agree with Jeremy, I would go for the Z4 for less fun, worse equip.....

X6M

July 28, 2009 8:25 PM

First of all, BMW is convertible and the Nissan has 26 bhp more and that's a big difference!

But seriously, BMW is much prettier .

Edited by user on July 28, 2009 at 8:32 PM

Dlaor

July 28, 2009 8:39 PM

Only the fact the Nissan has a V6 and the Z4 has a straight 6 already tells me enough about the quality difference between the cars.

fusion01

July 28, 2009 9:00 PM

Yeah the Nissan is for the driver. The kind of bloke who will take it on the track as often as is possible. Like me.

adz612

July 28, 2009 8:45 PM

I'm sorry, but I like both cars. I've driven both and they each have their strong and weak points. I'd sooner live with the Z4 on a day to day basis. The 370 is sharper to drive but noisy as hell thus more of a headache to drive day in and day out not to mention the interior quality, while leagues ahead of the 350, is still poor. The BMW is more expensive yes, but you get a much better made product. BMW for me thanks

Lemon

July 28, 2009 9:11 PM

Don't apologize; its good to hear a comment from someone who actually knows something about the cars...better yet, someone who has actually experienced them! Too many people are quick to rate a car they know little to nothing about.

Schizo0223

July 29, 2009 7:58 PM

Amen to that Lemon!

I have to agree with adz612. Where I live the BMW dealer and the Nissan dealer is right across the street from each other, and walking distance from where I live. The Nissan is a nice car, but it is obvious that it was made for a more serious hardcore driving. I'm also not a big fan of the Nissan interior quality either...The Infiniti G37 is a great bang for the buck family sedan...but the interior has put me off from buying it. The new Z4 is a nice cruiser...and frankly makes the SLK (from my beloved Mercedes) seem dated. They perfected the long nose design from the old Z4. It is rather pleasing to look at...for a BMW.

If I had to choose one I'd go for the Z4 because if I wanted a track car I'd go out and buy a Lotus Elise not a 370Z.

But then again a nice used Carrera can be purchased for that kind of money as well...and you don't have to worry about depreciation with that!

termigni

July 28, 2009 9:11 PM

thank god! BMW brand wh0res can shut their loud mouth!

X6M

July 28, 2009 10:51 PM

How long you want to say that?? All life?

scratchy996

July 28, 2009 10:54 PM

if you want a nice, comfortable coupe/cabrio, get the Z4. if you want a cheaper coupe, get the 370z.

owning a 370z doesn't automatically make you faster than a Z4, not everyone is The Stig.

termigni

July 28, 2009 10:57 PM

^and vice versa. if you are slow in one car, you are slow in the other car.

Edited by user on July 28, 2009 at 10:58 PM

termigni

July 28, 2009 11:14 PM

X6M you are a poser just like the X6M.

X6M

July 29, 2009 2:31 AM

"X6M you are a poser just like the X6M".

How old are you? 8,9??? Read your comment one more time please!!!

Edited by user on July 29, 2009 at 2:33 AM

BavarianMS

July 29, 2009 12:41 AM

What does the X6M have to do with anything? BMW brand whores?? The only poser I see here is you.

whitecar

July 29, 2009 2:52 AM

This is not a fair comparison and so the result is somewhat expected. I think the Z4 is a beautiful car but not a proper sportscar like the 370Z which you can muscle it around

alex_w115

July 29, 2009 3:00 AM

Quote Dlaor "Only the fact the Nissan has a V6 and the Z4 has a straight 6 already tells me enough about the quality difference between the cars" : care to elaborate on this one?? You think L6's are better quality than V6's? Must mean then that the old skylines are on par with the new Beemer then?

Dlaor

July 29, 2009 7:32 AM

L6 are the greatest engines period. If you want to have a v-configuration, get at least two more cylinders.

quilla_b

July 29, 2009 5:45 AM

Z4 hands down...class all the way. the 370 is just for racers.

muhaidib

July 29, 2009 5:49 AM

just a question, why does the photo gallery has pictures of the old Z4, not the new one?

ExoticCarOwner

July 29, 2009 8:03 AM

I would take the bimmer only because everytime I hear that horrible Japanese exhaust I think of a busted '97 Civic with its vin numbers filed down, tinted windows, and a bolt on body kit awaiting paint. The BMW has stature. In all fairness it should have been the BMW vs the new Porsche Boxter.

andy

July 29, 2009 9:20 AM

sorry , with the money you buy a Z4 , i could make my 370Z GT to be on steroid. only thing i hate about Z4 is size and interior space, its been designed for female owners, 335i is for male and 370Z is for male with strong blood pressure :)

scratchy996

July 29, 2009 12:57 PM

those must be really big females if Clarkson fits in the Z4 comfortably.

breza

July 29, 2009 3:30 PM

soft, ugly, non-sporty, female-orientated...that's not the BMW anyone wants. M3 CSL anyone? Zed rulZ

Prince_Ash

July 29, 2009 3:36 PM

i think they're both useless lol. but thats just me :P i wouldnt get either even if you paid me to use one of them.

tshac

July 29, 2009 6:52 PM

Z all the way!!

James2911

July 30, 2009 11:45 AM

These two cars are probably two of the best in their respective classes, so why diss either of them?

GeeNee

July 30, 2009 5:36 PM

Z4 = Utter Class... beautiful car. Something that will be remembered

Bojassem

August 3, 2009 7:48 AM

Why does everyone hate a Japanese successor? First, the GT-R.. and now the 370Z?? Come on guys, with the Z4 you're buying the name, plus the style, which I find it less-sexier than the 370z. Then comes the performance, undoubtedly the Z is faster! I'm not a fanboy of Nissans, but we're talking about the Z, not other models Nissan producing, so stop saying my mom's nissan cracked after few months of driving!!

Sammy_R-Gti

August 5, 2009 11:10 AM

why is this subject in the porsche section it has nothing to do with it?

Captain Scarlett

August 5, 2009 2:22 PM

I can't see the BMW as anything but a hairdressers car, i'm sorry but I just can't! I see Z4 owners as Boxster wanna be owners, but they know that with a few options, the Boxster is way out of their price range.

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