RE: You Know You Want To: Nissan 350Z

[300bhp/ton]

Are they that heavy? Looking on Wiki and Carfolio it seems to suggest the early coupes are 1424-1446kg. Although it does seem to claim latter cars as being 1500-1625kg (coupe, verts and autos).

1424kg might not be featherweight, but for comparisons sake:

F360 Spyder = 1450kg
2010 Lotus Evora IPS =1436kg
1990 Porsche 928 GT = 1580kg
1993 BMW M3 E36 series = 1460kg
2000 BMW M3 E46 series = 1570kg
2005 BMW Z4 3.0si E85 series = 1385kg
2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage = 1630kg


Seems there's some fairly well accepted sporting/sports cars that either weigh similar or more then the Nissan does.

[300bhp/ton]

big_boz said:

Well I thought you might say that, but an old Z28 (cool as it is) isn't comparable to a 350z.

Leggy 330ci perhaps? RX8 as already mentioned, cant think of much else that ticks the same boxes as the Z.....

Can you explain as I can't really see how you are making that distinction?

[binnerboy]

some other stuff at around the same money

all RWD and over 200BHP

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=us...

usual suspects plus a couple of boxters, skylines and RX7

[fwaggie]

20k miles a year, mostly on the motorways? £45k in petrol over it's lifetime?

Mad. Gimme a VW Passat diesel and a Caterham for weekend playing.

Cost more in the first place but works out cheaper after 10 years. (probably after 5 years)

I did look at a 370Z a few years ago but the interior let it down, very cheap and boy-racer-like.

[lauda]

300bhp/ton said:

Are they that heavy? Looking on Wiki and Carfolio it seems to suggest the early coupes are 1424-1446kg. Although it does seem to claim latter cars as being 1500-1625kg (coupe, verts and autos).

1424kg might not be featherweight, but for comparisons sake:

F360 Spyder = 1450kg
2010 Lotus Evora IPS =1436kg
1990 Porsche 928 GT = 1580kg
1993 BMW M3 E36 series = 1460kg
2000 BMW M3 E46 series = 1570kg
2005 BMW Z4 3.0si E85 series = 1385kg
2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage = 1630kg


Seems there's some fairly well accepted sporting/sports cars that either weigh similar or more then the Nissan does.

I've had this argument on here before and got shot down in flames. Brace yourself!

[300bhp/ton]

yonex said:

I think that being LHD and an auto the Camaro isn't really a good comparison.

That 350 is a steal, always been fond of them.

LHD doesn't really have much bearing on it. People buy and own LHD Porsches for example and it doesn't make them any less of a car than a RHD one is.

BTW - The 350z could be had as an auto too and conversely the Camaro a 6 speed manual was the standard transmission.

[Viper]

i brought an 07 a couple of years ago I dont really drive it that much (on 28K miles now) its good down the twistys with fairly solid handling
a little lardy as mentioned hence not that quick off the mark, you really need to give it the beans to get it moving, but good fun to own

parts arent to expensive either, dropped in a new clutch and flywheel £800 fitted

[300bhp/ton]

big_boz said:

Thats £13.5k so i don't understand the comparison with a £3.5k 350z.

Also what do you mean by "new" mustang? the post 2004 type? They don't start at much less than £9k and that is for a LHD, plus the real kicker, they drive AWFUL. I have rented several in the states and yes fine (and fun) for over there with long straight roads, but not comparable to a 350z AT ALL. Dim witted autobox, too wide for the UK, really crappy build quality, and i haven't driven one that didn't feel as if at least a third of its 300 odd horses hadn't left the stable never to return. If I lived in the states i would have one in a heartbeat, but an irrelevant car for the UK.

Oh dear...

[otolith]

It is heavy and it feels heavy. I don't mean the control weightings, which are fine, I mean it feels like there's a lot of mass being accelerated, braked and turned.

It does sit on the drive next to an 860kg Elise, though, in a spot which used to house a 1065kg MX-5 and next to a spot which used to house a 1380kg RX-8 with seats for two more people. So it does look pretty porky in that company.

[mat205125]

300bhp/ton said:

Are they that heavy? Looking on Wiki and Carfolio it seems to suggest the early coupes are 1424-1446kg. Although it does seem to claim latter cars as being 1500-1625kg (coupe, verts and autos).

1424kg might not be featherweight, but for comparisons sake:

F360 Spyder = 1450kg
2010 Lotus Evora IPS =1436kg
1990 Porsche 928 GT = 1580kg
1993 BMW M3 E36 series = 1460kg
2000 BMW M3 E46 series = 1570kg
2005 BMW Z4 3.0si E85 series = 1385kg
2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage = 1630kg


Seems there's some fairly well accepted sporting/sports cars that either weigh similar or more then the Nissan does.

I find it astonishing that the Evora is so heavy. I'm also shocked that the Z4 is so light.

Both are 6 cylinder two seaters, however one is made primariliy of good of steel, and the other is a bonded Aluminium frame with composite bodywork .... it's the steel car that's the lighter!

[big_boz]

300bhp/ton said:

Oh dear...

You disagree with what i have said? rented a 2005 mustang V6, and a 2011 mustang v6 both in cali, also a mate has a 2009 V6 in grand Cayman that i borrow off him when i am over there, all perfect for the job at hand and make an epic cruising car, but crap in reality, and rubbish through the bends.

And regards elaboration on the z28 vs 350 comment, granted i haven't ever driven a Camaro over here or over there but but i would suspect that having driven plenty of US metal over there, i would imagine that without spending some money on sorting the handling out it will be quite wallowy compared to a 350z, and knowing of a really nice looking (and sounding) Z28 that commutes sometimes through East Birely which i occasionally pass going the other way, its MASSIVE. I would be able to consider using a 350z as a daily and not be worried about parking or width restrictions or taking in and out of London, I am not sure i could say the same about a Camaro. As i said, very cool, but surely not as a daily driver to anyone who isn't very committed.

Edited by big_boz on Thursday 24th January 13:47

[alpha channel]

Well after doing a little rough maths at 25mpg I'd be spending less on fuel if I bought and ran this than I do on my 1.8VVC rover :eeek: (yet another reason to buy )

[stephen300o]

big_boz said:

stephen300o said:

The new Mustang isn't a million miles away from these really, but then I'd have to go for a 65, they're ridiculously cheap at the moment.

Edit: wow, http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

Edited by stephen300o on Thursday 24th January 12:59

Thats £13.5k so i don't understand the comparison with a £3.5k 350z.

Also what do you mean by "new" mustang? the post 2004 type? They don't start at much less than £9k and that is for a LHD, plus the real kicker, they drive AWFUL. I have rented several in the states and yes fine (and fun) for over there with long straight roads, but not comparable to a 350z AT ALL. Dim witted autobox, too wide for the UK, really crappy build quality, and i haven't driven one that didn't feel as if at least a third of its 300 odd horses hadn't left the stable never to return. If I lived in the states i would have one in a heartbeat, but an irrelevant car for the UK.

Yes the new Mustang, the old one was a last throw in because I like them and I really can't believe how cheap they are compared to vintage Camaros and such like.. anyway..
The Z is also really for touring too though isn't it, not really known to handle that well. I think the width argument is old news now really, as the rest of the world caught up with US car sizes some years ago, only around 5cm between them width wise.
Although the American cars are built on the cheap, they have always been very reliable.

But then everyone wants different things, I want to buy a 50 year old volvo..

[300bhp/ton]

tinyh98 said:

Mr Gear said:

I like 350Zs. Nice, heavy controls make it feel like an old-fashioned musclecar... in a good way.

Christ-knows who does those sorts of mileages in a car that will struggle to crack 25mpg though!

But at this price, it would make a great toy.

At an average price of £4 per gallon between 2003 and 2012, the fuel bill alone on this car would have been around the £30,000 mark. Eeekk

But would that not be true of most cars with a similar mileage and mpg potential? Suspect there's a few BMW's, Mercs, Volvo's and Audi's with similar credentials. Not too mention almost all 4x4's are going to be near to this mpg point.

[V6Paul]

lauda said:

300bhp/ton said:

Are they that heavy? Looking on Wiki and Carfolio it seems to suggest the early coupes are 1424-1446kg. Although it does seem to claim latter cars as being 1500-1625kg (coupe, verts and autos).

1424kg might not be featherweight, but for comparisons sake:

F360 Spyder = 1450kg
2010 Lotus Evora IPS =1436kg
1990 Porsche 928 GT = 1580kg
1993 BMW M3 E36 series = 1460kg
2000 BMW M3 E46 series = 1570kg
2005 BMW Z4 3.0si E85 series = 1385kg
2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage = 1630kg


Seems there's some fairly well accepted sporting/sports cars that either weigh similar or more then the Nissan does.

I've had this argument on here before and got shot down in flames. Brace yourself!

Haha, yep everyone loves to whip out the "its too heavy" line. I think part of that is for people who have actually driven them, the controls are purposefully heavily weighted which gives the impression of the car being heavy itself.

Of course its no lightweight, but I've never found its weight a problem personally!

[ZesPak]

mat205125 said:

I find it astonishing that the Evora is so heavy. I'm also shocked that the Z4 is so light.

Both are 6 cylinder two seaters, however one is made primariliy of good of steel, and the other is a bonded Aluminium frame with composite bodywork .... it's the steel car that's the lighter!

The Z4 is a 2 seater coupé though, at 4m, it's actually just as much as the 1st gen SLK, which has a folding hard top.

The weight I find of the evora though is at the same level (1380kg), which is a 4.3m 2 + 2.

Add to that that the modern-day Z4 is 1500kg (folding hard top) and the latest slk is 1450kg, the Alu of the Evora does seem to pay off.

[jamespink]

The Crack Fox said:

300bhp/ton said:

less exciting than some US offerings that cost similar these days.

Man, you're sooooooo predictable.

Example of exciting American car for 4k please...

[big_boz]

jamespink said:

Example of exciting American car for 4k please...

That is of a similar age, don't forget.......

[aka_kerrly]

Finlandia said:

Pah, it's not even been to the moon, let alone back. Average distance to the moon is approx. 240,000 miles, so nearly 60k short on its way there.

haha I'm glad it isn't just me that brings that up whenever people make references to the moon or intergalactic mileages.

I have to say the 350Z is something I have had a good look at in the past as a prime car to be a daily with a bit of zest. One thing I cannot get past is the boot, the design of the strut brace makes the boot more like a glorified glovebox.

[Guvernator]

RWD, realiable, decent enough power. I'd have one as a fun yet semi practical toy\track car if they weren't so god damn heavy. How they've managed to get a 2 seater sports car to weigh nearly 1600kgs I have no idea.