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Top 10 cars for summer

9. Nissan 370Z Roadster

Courtesy of Nissan USA
For less money than a BMW Z4 or Porsche Boxter, the Nissan 370Z Roadster offers largely the same experience and the peace of mind that comes with Japanese reliability.

  • By Andrew P. Collins Contributor

Handsome successor to the 350Z, Nissan’s latest 370Z consistently ranks high in the critical dollar-to-fun ratio. With two sporty seats, a performance-oriented interior, and over 300 hp., the 370 ticks all the boxes that sports car enthusiasts love. I find the coupe somewhat sleeker looking, but the $40,500 Roadster is the way to go to maximize the summer sun.

For less money than a comparable BMW Z4 or Porsche Boxter, you get largely the same experience plus the peace of mind that comes with Japanese reliability. And you won’t have to shrink away from stoplight shenanigans against those German drop-tops, either. With over 300 hp. on tap, the Z Roadster can haul to 60 in around five seconds, with the lighter coupe dialing in even faster.

Direct steering feel, great power, and a svelte structure define the Z, and that’s the recipe for a great way to round out your summer commute between barbecues and the beach.

For those who really want to turn up the heat, the performance aftermarket for the Z is massive. But if you’d rather go the other direction and select a “mature” alternative, you may want to look at its upscale cousin: the Infiniti G37.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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