2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster

Open-air fun for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster

In my next life, I think I’d like to come back as a roadster. Coveted by car enthusiasts, roadsters combine the thrill of driving for sport with the visceral appeal of the wind in one’s hair.

What exactly is a roadster? While definitions vary, most aficionados agree that a roadster is a two seat sports car with no B pillar and a deployable top. Some purists argue that roadsters should have plastic side curtains in lieu of windows, but current safety regulations prohibit manufacturers from going that route.

Despite their appeal, roadsters represent a small percentage of new car sales. Two-seat interiors aren’t practical for families with children. Since the top stows in the trunk, there isn’t a lot of room for cargo. 

Because of their limited practicality, roadsters are typically the second or third car in an owner’s garage. Models with luxury price tags can be a hard sell. An overabundance of engineering and design talent combined with its small customer base makes the competition within the segment daunting.

Z appeal

To its credit, Nissan has faced the challenge swimmingly, due in part to the coupe’s considerable fan base. The first Z roadster, introduced in 2004, added a new dimension to the coupe‘s winning formula. Read the rest of this entry »