According to Nissan, the original Z car – the 240Z – caused a commotion by rewriting the rules of sports cars in terms of style, performance, and value.

While this may be true or not, we can agree that the 1969 Fairlady ‘Z’ car was innovative and well-received, selling well throughout its life and that of its successors.

Most people remember the 350Z, the first of the 21st century Z cars and one which came sporting a complete redesign that looked pretty good.

Now they’re cheap; with $10,000 and over getting you a reasonably clean and low-mileage example, but for those who would like a reliable, manual transmission, rear-wheel-drive sports car in 2022, maybe the newer 370Z would be a better option.

RELATED: This Is What We Love Most About The Nissan 350Z

The Nissan 370Z Is Everything You Need And Nothing That You Don’t

Nissan 370Z
Via: Nissan

Nissan’s 370Z is based on the same recipe that made the 350Z so good, but this time with a slightly refined version of the same style.

A roadster was also available too, just like its older sibling, but under the hood, a change was made.

Instead of the 290-310 hp 3.5-liter V6, this time the 3.7-liter motor featured, bringing with it a 332 hp figure to compliment the 7-speed automatic transmission or 6-speed manual.

Of course, although this is essentially a junior GT car; it’s the manual you want if you really want to understand what the Z car is all about.

Nismo returned for the 370Z too, with a tuned engine producing 350 hp – a gain of 18 hp over the standard car – plus an upgraded suspension and braking system with a subdued body kit also applied to the exterior.

Nissan improved various aspects of this car over the outgoing 350Z, and thanks to heavy use of aluminum and even carbon composites, the car is light at around 3200 lbs depending on the model – enabling 5-seconds to 60 mph.

RELATED: 5 Reasons We'd Love To Own A Nissan 370Z Nismo (5 Sports Cars We'd Rather Have)

Nissan’s 370Z Is Simple, Quick, And Fun, And Costs Less Than You Might Think

Nissan-370Z
Via: Nissan

The car received an update a few years into its life in around 2012, so cars from 2013 onwards are likely to have more standard equipment.

A quick search firstly on AutoTrader confirms that there are many 370Zs available – 1000+ listings were in their database with a wide range to choose from.

Starting at around $11,000 you can get a 370Z Roadster with 130,000 miles on the clock from 2010, - 12 years old at this point.

For better mileage, you need to increase the budget to around $18,000.

That price point brought up many cars with under 50,000 miles on the clock, with 2010 - 2013 being the most common years of manufacture at this price.

The good news is that for the newest models with really low mileage, you can get one, including the Nismo version, for under $50,000.

In fact, about $40,000 seems to be the price for a 370Z Nismo with low miles – less than 20,000 – with various examples in this range; interestingly, the model year varies a lot, but the price stays more or less static.

Last model-year 2020 Nismo cars are up at $45-50,000 with low miles – under 10,000 – and this seems reasonable considering that these cars are still only 2 years old.

One thing to remember is that the car is part of a dying breed and if you can, you should experience what the 370Z has to offer while it's around.

It doesn’t offer cutting-edge infotainment or cabin quality on par with today’s sports cars, its drivetrain is not enhanced by hybrid tech or turbocharging, and it isn’t fuel-efficient.

But it can offer up 350 hp through the back wheels: and you can change gears yourself, in style, with little electronic intervention to spoil the party – that’s the appeal of the Z car.