2007 Nissan 350Z 313GT

2007 Nissan 350Z 313GT

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Alias218

Original Poster:

1,485 posts

161 months

Thursday 19th June 2014
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In March I sold my much loved SEAT Leon Cupra R, which after 33,000 mostly trouble free miles had grown too long in the tooth to viably keep. Regret in selling her is perhaps too strong a word, however I do wish I had the means to keep her on as a second car.




In any case, she went off with her new owner (who I hope has looked after her as well as I tried) in order to make way for my new purchase:



A 2007 350Z 313GT. With only 35,000 miles (now 38,000) covered after seven years use, and a mostly garaged existence (a habit I'm ashamed to say I won't be continuing due to the masses of crap that fill my garage), she is in near perfect condition with only a few minor scratches, paint chips to the front bumper and mildly corroded wheels - which is to be expected of the RAYS fitted to these cars as they are notoriously corrosion prone. There are none of the gremlins associated with these cars - BOSE stereo packing up, duff window motors, clicking CV joints - and the built quality is rather good, especially considering the poor reviews in this area of the earlier cars.

She has come with FSH, a stack of receipts and a fresh clutch fitted 5,000 miles prior to my buying the car. With a £1,000 bill attached to changing the clutch, I'm pleased I have managed to find one with the work already done! Unfortunately, being a 2007 car, she is in the top VED bracket. However, sometimes you have to look the other way with these things or you would never drive anything remotely interesting.

Having moved from FI to NA, I can say that I think I prefer the characteristics of a turbocharged engine. However, that's not to say the NA lump in this is without its merits - she loves to be revved, something the 1.8T of my previous was particularly averse to, sounds fantastic across the rev range and can be quite brutal when applying the loud pedal on bends(!).

Plans for the future? Those wheels will need sorting at some point. Whether I will stick with the silver or opt for another colour has yet to be decided. I'm looking at lowering springs and spacers owing to the fact that the wheels do look slightly lost, however I don't want to ruin the geometry of the car which I fear I will do by doing this. Some have suggested a louder exhaust. I don't think it needs one! The standard item sounds great when you need it to, and even when just driving through the gears. It is also very quiet when on long drives, with no droning whatsoever. In fact, the car is very quiet in general when it needs to be and I don't intend to change that. Other than that, I intend to enjoy her and drive her whenever the opportunity presents itself. While the fuel bill is somewhat higher than my Leon's, which itself wasn't cheap I might add, I am seeing 27mpg owing to the majority of my miles being covered on A roads and motorways. A long 50mph average speed stretch of road to and from work also helps matters considerably!

Anyway, here are some poorly taken photos for you to look at. A photographer I am not; the only camera I own is attached to my phone!







Thanks for reading.

Edited by Alias218 on Thursday 5th December 18:57


Edited by Alias218 on Friday 6th December 16:47

JackReacher

2,118 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th June 2014
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Welcome to 350Z ownership! I've not tried one with the HR engine but apparently it's very good and revs better than the earlier ones.

I strongly recommend against wheel spacers, I listened to people on other forums saying that spacers didn't affect the drive and went for some 20/25mm spacers and regretted it straight after, more tramlining and the steering felt less precise. I've since removed them and enjoy the drive more, although it must be said, they make the car look much better!

It's odd how they seem to need clutches at different times, mine is on 78k miles and can't see in the history that it's ever been replaced, and hope it doesn't come up soon at £1,000!

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,485 posts

161 months

Thursday 19th June 2014
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I'm afraid I can't give you a comparison between the DE, Rev-up an HR engines as I've only driven the HR! It does rev quite freely though, although low down torque can be lacking somewhat even if they did improve that on this engine.

I thought as much with the spacers - I guess it comes down to style over substance. Most reviews, guides etc. I read prior to buying gave a general 40,000 mile window for clutches. You should be nearing your third clutch!

Which 350Z do you have?

JackReacher

2,118 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th June 2014
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Yes when I was looking I saw that the clutches seem to last about 40k, so mine may have been done but it's just not in the history. A new clutch is an expense I'd rather do without.

I have a 2004 with the DE engine, I have also driven a rev up but that was a long time ago so can't really compare. Mine has been generally quite reliable, although a cam sensor went, a wheel bearing needed replacing and recently the window motor stopped. Luckily I managed to take the motor out and give it a clean, reset the bushes and it works fine (otherwise a new motor is £200!) You should avoid these sorts of niggles as your mileage is much lower.

In respect of modifcations, the only thing mine has is a scorpian exhaust, which was put on by the previous owner as the original rusted away. It has a standard sound which I like, although I was tempted at one point to get some Berk high flow cats, as they sound very good.

I'm enjoying it but after a year I am starting to get itchy feet, and I miss the revs that I used to have on previous cars, I'm not sure a lazy torquey engine is for me!


cliffe_mafia

1,627 posts

237 months

Thursday 19th June 2014
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Nice car alias. I had one the same year and colour and it broke my heart when I had to sell it. It was too thirsty at the time and I needed to fit 2 kids and a dog somewhere!

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,485 posts

161 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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I'm hoping this will be reliable owing to the raft of upgrades to general quality Nissan made with this final iteration. With any luck it will be just general maintenance! It is due a fairly major service now, so that'll sting the wallet a bit but then she's golden for a couple of years. Plus the need for new tyres is appearing over the horizon, all four of them...

I can understand your pain, cliffe_mafia. They're not very practical cars but hey ho. However, it's not as bad as my C2 which would be full after a small bag of groceries and a bag back!

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,485 posts

161 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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Major service time! Oil, oil filter, spark plugs, diff. oil, brake fluid and air filter. Should tide me over for a while. Can any 350Z aficionados recommend a good engine and diff. oil for these cars?

Brake pads and discs aren't too far away (£360 EACH on ECP for the rear discs if I opt for Brembo! Will be shopping around methinks), plus four new tyres are in the not too distant future. Going to be an expensive summer.

sinbad666

184 posts

207 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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When I had my 350Z, Nissan did fixed price servicing which was very reasonable considering I got free use of there courtesy car for the day too.

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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Alias218 said:
Major service time! Oil, oil filter, spark plugs, diff. oil, brake fluid and air filter. Should tide me over for a while. Can any 350Z aficionados recommend a good engine and diff. oil for these cars?

Brake pads and discs aren't too far away (£360 EACH on ECP for the rear discs if I opt for Brembo! Will be shopping around methinks), plus four new tyres are in the not too distant future. Going to be an expensive summer.
Check your disks, see if they actually need changing, mine were still in tolerance by a long way, stuck a set of pads in myself, total cost £56, the pads are so easy to do. Disk should be nowhere near that.

JackReacher

2,118 posts

214 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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I bought a service kit from Horsham Developments which allows you to pick and choose which bits you want, I went for Motul 8100 5w/30 oil, then paid my local garage TGM sport to do the work.

As for brakes, when I changed my fronts I got some Pagid discs for about £60 and some Brembo pads, fine for road use but would want something better for track.

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,485 posts

161 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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I'll not be buying the Brembo items as and when the time comes, that's for sure! My Leon had the same Brembo callipers and I never found fault in using Pagid items (I don't do track days so that's a non-issue), so I'll likely stick with them. How anyone could justify £360 for a single steel disc is beyond me, especially a rear.

I'll certainly look at Horsham Developments for service items. Because I work in the industry, I get discount at places like Halfords and ECP (wahoo!) so I'll see how their prices compare. I should really do this work myself, but I hate working on the driveway. Workshop luxurys have made me soft!

Other than that, I love this car! It'll be such a shame when I swap it in for a 330d in a couple of years frown

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,485 posts

161 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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Small update.

Four new Bridgestone RE050As fitted this morning to the tune of £568 weeping Still, that should see me through for a while. Having looked at Horsham Developments, it transpires I can get the bits for a service cheaper through ECP and Opie oils, plus Nissan for certain things. That's next, then the dreaded VED is due!

Not that I'm worried as the noise this car makes makes up for all that, even to the point that I'll have rain in the face just to hear it! Although I did extrapolate my fuel bill across a full year and a degree of puckering occurred...eek

C'est la vie!

Level 7 Boss

209 posts

135 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
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Join the 350z forum and thank me later.

www.350z-uk.com/forum

95 fiesta si

1,600 posts

151 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
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I actually preferr the LCR. Maybe Iam biased cause I ran a MK1 Leon FR for 4 years and know how good a car they are. Good luck with the Nissan mate.

8bit

4,846 posts

154 months

Monday 14th July 2014
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Lovely car smile I was slightly surprised to see you'd sold your LCR but these are a nice step up, sure you'll enjoy it. A mate of mine has a Milltek exhaust on his, it sounds filthy smile

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,485 posts

161 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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It's been more than 6 months now and it's time for a small update.

Nothing really to add other than my experience with this car is a little jaded. I don't know whether it's because I liked my Leon so much or if it's another factor, but I'm having trouble 'bonding' with this car. It's a very quick car; although it doesn't always feel it. It's comfortable, it's well built, reliable... All of the above basically.

Perhaps I just liked FI driving dynamics too much. I'm coming around slowly, but my one word review would be underwhelmed. The straight line performance just isn't as blistering as you'd expect a 309bhp car to be. I've found virtues are to be found in its handling which vary from unstickable to non-existent depending on what corner it's on and how much loud pedal is applied! Either way, that aspect is great fun. The car looks amazing in my eyes, and she definitely has that 'look back over your shoulder once you've shut her down and locked her' quality (a snappy name, if I do say so), but the performance, or perceived lack thereof, puts a taint on the experience. I've found myself warming up to her now I've started revving her more (the Leon hated it and so I'm loath to rev anything too much!) so perhaps more adjustment to the driving dynamics is required.

I still enjoy driving the old girl and am hoping the experience of 350Z ownership is like an oak tree: slow to start off, but given time will grow into something great. Plus there's always the eye wateringly expensive option of supercharging to toy with...

Must buy a house first. Must buy a house first. Must buy a house first.


Anywho, since taking ownership she's had four new RE050A's, and a complete service, minus plugs, including a complete fluid service, new filters and new brake pads all round (Brembo stock for only £65! Bargain). Fitting them in a jiffy while the sun still shone saved a couple of quid too. She developed a rattle since my last post which after literally 5 seconds on inspection on a ramp transpired to be where excess metal where the solid exhaust pipe meets the flexi had corroded and caused rings to separate from main body of the exhaust. These jingled around until I unceremoniously chopped them off. Rattle gone.

Next on the to-do list: sort out the wheels and repaint the interior door grab handles. Why Nissan decided to colour them in using marker pens instead of using actual paint is beyond me.




N.b. sorry for the late reply 8bit, didn't realise you had replied. It wasn't an easy decision selling the LCR, but it was a long time coming. She was on 93,000 miles when I sold her, too high a mileage to use as a reliable daily in my book. As stated, if I could have kept her as a second car, I would have. To be honest, I was equally surprised when you sold yours!

Edited by Alias218 on Thursday 30th October 08:55

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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I know what you mean about the power delivery , I find my 370 underwhelming but the fact it is a very fast can you do need to rev it above 5000rpm but you still dont think you are really hauling unless you watch the speedo , thats the difference between NA and a turbo car really.

I have the RE050 on my 370 and hate them I had MPSS on my 350 and they were much better.


amusingduck

9,396 posts

135 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Alias218 said:
She was on 93,000 miles when I sold her, too high a mileage to use as a reliable daily in my book.[/footnote]
confusedconfusedconfused

Shenanigans

2,964 posts

188 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Alias218 said:
Nothing really to add other than my experience with this car is a little jaded. I don't know whether it's because I liked my Leon so much or if it's another factor, but I'm having trouble 'bonding' with this car. It's a very quick car; although it doesn't always feel it. It's comfortable, it's well built, reliable... All of the above basically.
Edited by Alias218 on Thursday 30th October 08:55
Exact feeling I've got with the Z4 3ltr I bought to replace the swift sport. The Z4 is by far alot faster than the swift. I feel the Z4 has less character despite the build quality being better. Not sure whether to stick with it and see how I feel or sell it and try something else.

I'd suggest maybe spending some money and upgrading either visual or performance bits, makes it more personalized to your taste. Plenty of goodies out there for it. Unfortunately its something I can't do with the Z4.

8bit

4,846 posts

154 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Alias218 said:
N.b. sorry for the late reply 8bit, didn't realise you had replied. It wasn't an easy decision selling the LCR, but it was a long time coming. She was on 93,000 miles when I sold her, too high a mileage to use as a reliable daily in my book. As stated, if I could have kept her as a second car, I would have. To be honest, I was equally surprised when you sold yours!

Edited by Alias218 on Thursday 30th October 08:55
No worries smile I actually tried to buy my LCR back recently but the guy I sold it to had sold it on already. Oh well.

Sorry to hear you're not so enthused on your new car though. N/A and S/C delivery are very different to turbo, I spent the first while in my Jag wondering if I'd done the right thing as the lack of that low-rev whack of torque made the car feel slower than it is. Took me a good while to start driving it properly, i.e. keeping the engine spinning quickly enough to be making lots of torque.

Know what you mean about being afraid to rev an engine though, after some of the issues my LCR had I was almost too scared to drive it!

Supercharger would be good though, get on it wink