350Z any good?
Discussion
I had a 350Z for 18 months after my Focus RS (mk2) and absolutely loved it. I chose it over the S2000 in terms of drivability and living with it day to day. It may not be better in the twisties, but for 95% of other driving it is the better car arguably.
It has huge power, it is easy on the limit (unlike the S2000 which has a tendency to snap) but make sure you put decent tyres on it as it is sensitive to that. It was also reasonably cheap on the servicing/parts front, just fuel is a killer! It isn't chuckable like a GT86, but it has a huge amount of grip.
The weak point was the gearbox synchros for me, in 1st on the 350z and 5th and 6th on my current 370Z (just been replaced courtesy of Nissan).
Mine was an end of the line anniversary edition, it had much improved wheels on it IMO. It sounds glorious even stock, but the cassette player for a 2009 car was a bit of a shock!
Remember though, you can get a tape to AUX adapter so the cassette can serve a purpose.
It has huge power, it is easy on the limit (unlike the S2000 which has a tendency to snap) but make sure you put decent tyres on it as it is sensitive to that. It was also reasonably cheap on the servicing/parts front, just fuel is a killer! It isn't chuckable like a GT86, but it has a huge amount of grip.
The weak point was the gearbox synchros for me, in 1st on the 350z and 5th and 6th on my current 370Z (just been replaced courtesy of Nissan).
Mine was an end of the line anniversary edition, it had much improved wheels on it IMO. It sounds glorious even stock, but the cassette player for a 2009 car was a bit of a shock!
Remember though, you can get a tape to AUX adapter so the cassette can serve a purpose.
I made the same move in June last year after my Mk2 MX5 rusted to pieces. Went and bought a 2006 350Z Roadster - don't regret it one bit. One thing to watch out for is the road tax as £505 a year is a bit of a jump from the MX5. Feels a lot bulkier than the MX5 but still an incredible car!
I've had my '07 313ps GT (note: it's 313ps, 308bhp) for two years and 30,000 trouble free miles. Used as a daily it has been faultless. I find it's quick enough to be able to keep up with a lot of stuff (my friend has an E46 M3 and it's a dead heat, and I was stuck to the bumper of a RS Megane, which was presumably mapped judging by the black smoke on up-shifts) and while heavy it can hustle itself round some nice country B-roads quite well.
If you can stretch to it, get the 313. Interior quality is much improved, a bonnet bulge which I think looks great and of course that engine... Exhaust sounds great stock IMO. Residuals should be better on the 313, however that VED is a kick in the nuts every 12 months. Avg. 25-26 mpg.
If you can stretch to it, get the 313. Interior quality is much improved, a bonnet bulge which I think looks great and of course that engine... Exhaust sounds great stock IMO. Residuals should be better on the 313, however that VED is a kick in the nuts every 12 months. Avg. 25-26 mpg.
Alias218 said:
I've had my '07 313ps GT (note: it's 313ps, 308bhp) for two years and 30,000 trouble free miles. Used as a daily it has been faultless. I find it's quick enough to be able to keep up with a lot of stuff (my friend has an E46 M3 and it's a dead heat, and I was stuck to the bumper of a RS Megane, which was presumably mapped judging by the black smoke on up-shifts) and while heavy it can hustle itself round some nice country B-roads quite well.
If you can stretch to it, get the 313. Interior quality is much improved, a bonnet bulge which I think looks great and of course that engine... Exhaust sounds great stock IMO. Residuals should be better on the 313, however that VED is a kick in the nuts every 12 months. Avg. 25-26 mpg.
You're the second person to say the performance is close to that of an E46 M3. Interesting because the original road test figures had the M3 in the 11-12sec bracket for 0-100, the 313PS 350Z 13 sec dead in the EVO road test. So perhaps the M3 loses more power with mileage relative to the 350Z, or those road test M3s were particularly fit specimens?!If you can stretch to it, get the 313. Interior quality is much improved, a bonnet bulge which I think looks great and of course that engine... Exhaust sounds great stock IMO. Residuals should be better on the 313, however that VED is a kick in the nuts every 12 months. Avg. 25-26 mpg.
The 313 is right at the top end of my budget. I think I would have to wait for the price to drop a little, as I am sure it will do, these cars are not 10 years old and therefore cant be at the bottom of their depreciation curve....
A
The 313 is right at the top end of my budget. I think I would have to wait for the price to drop a little, as I am sure it will do, these cars are not 10 years old and therefore cant be at the bottom of their depreciation curve....Power-to-weight of 200/ton vs. 220/ton would suggest the E46 M3 to be the quicker car, but with two distinctly average drivers at the wheel a poor gear change or a lack of plums could easily nullify the advantage the M3 has. In the hands of professional drivers (such as in the EVO test) the difference is probably more telling. However, as far as you need to be concerned the difference is neglible. Re: cars being 10, mine is 9 in June an has probably lost less £1,000 in value despite two years and 30,000 miles - if the classifieds are anything to go by. If you can stretch to a 313 you'll probably be glad for it.
liner33 - thanks for the heads up. I wasn't aware of that. I took the old girl out this afternoon and the hot idle pressure is around 30psi, 60psi at 2,000rpm. Nothing to worry about yet!
GreenArrow said:
Alias218 said:
I've had my '07 313ps GT (note: it's 313ps, 308bhp) for two years and 30,000 trouble free miles. Used as a daily it has been faultless. I find it's quick enough to be able to keep up with a lot of stuff (my friend has an E46 M3 and it's a dead heat, and I was stuck to the bumper of a RS Megane, which was presumably mapped judging by the black smoke on up-shifts) and while heavy it can hustle itself round some nice country B-roads quite well.
If you can stretch to it, get the 313. Interior quality is much improved, a bonnet bulge which I think looks great and of course that engine... Exhaust sounds great stock IMO. Residuals should be better on the 313, however that VED is a kick in the nuts every 12 months. Avg. 25-26 mpg.
You're the second person to say the performance is close to that of an E46 M3. Interesting because the original road test figures had the M3 in the 11-12sec bracket for 0-100, the 313PS 350Z 13 sec dead in the EVO road test. So perhaps the M3 loses more power with mileage relative to the 350Z, or those road test M3s were particularly fit specimens?!If you can stretch to it, get the 313. Interior quality is much improved, a bonnet bulge which I think looks great and of course that engine... Exhaust sounds great stock IMO. Residuals should be better on the 313, however that VED is a kick in the nuts every 12 months. Avg. 25-26 mpg.
The 313 is right at the top end of my budget. I think I would have to wait for the price to drop a little, as I am sure it will do, these cars are not 10 years old and therefore cant be at the bottom of their depreciation curve....
liner33 - thanks for the heads up. I wasn't aware of that. I took the old girl out this afternoon and the hot idle pressure is around 30psi, 60psi at 2,000rpm. Nothing to worry about yet!
Another issue I had was the clutch fluid boiling due to the heat of the exhaust.
This meant I was stuck in traffic on the M1 on a hot day and the clutch pedal went to the floor and didn't come back!
This can be rectified with an aftermarket heat shield for the clutch fluid lines, a common issue apparently!
This meant I was stuck in traffic on the M1 on a hot day and the clutch pedal went to the floor and didn't come back!
This can be rectified with an aftermarket heat shield for the clutch fluid lines, a common issue apparently!
mattGT86 said:
Another issue I had was the clutch fluid boiling due to the heat of the exhaust.
This meant I was stuck in traffic on the M1 on a hot day and the clutch pedal went to the floor and didn't come back!
This can be rectified with an aftermarket heat shield for the clutch fluid lines, a common issue apparently!
Never heard of that issue beforeThis meant I was stuck in traffic on the M1 on a hot day and the clutch pedal went to the floor and didn't come back!
This can be rectified with an aftermarket heat shield for the clutch fluid lines, a common issue apparently!
ATTAK Z said:
mattGT86 said:
Another issue I had was the clutch fluid boiling due to the heat of the exhaust.
This meant I was stuck in traffic on the M1 on a hot day and the clutch pedal went to the floor and didn't come back!
This can be rectified with an aftermarket heat shield for the clutch fluid lines, a common issue apparently!
Never heard of that issue beforeThis meant I was stuck in traffic on the M1 on a hot day and the clutch pedal went to the floor and didn't come back!
This can be rectified with an aftermarket heat shield for the clutch fluid lines, a common issue apparently!
I was originally looking for one, but after being dissapointed by the interiors, and the fact the higher powered 313 bhp ones were over £10k for a nice one I upped my budget and bought a 370z.
328bhp, nicer looking, wider, lighter and well specced. If you can afford it stump up the extra cash, you wont regret it.
328bhp, nicer looking, wider, lighter and well specced. If you can afford it stump up the extra cash, you wont regret it.
Edited by nottyash on Wednesday 13th July 07:05
The 350z came with 309hp its 313ps but like the 370z they make nothing like that on a decent dyno , the 370z doesnt even make 300hp stock
My 370z made 309hp with a cat back exhaust, K&N filters, intake pipes and a remap , so its worth not putting too much faith in the published claims
My 370z made 309hp with a cat back exhaust, K&N filters, intake pipes and a remap , so its worth not putting too much faith in the published claims
liner33 said:
The 350z came with 309hp its 313ps but like the 370z they make nothing like that on a decent dyno , the 370z doesnt even make 300hp stock
My 370z made 309hp with a cat back exhaust, K&N filters, intake pipes and a remap , so its worth not putting too much faith in the published claims
I have to agree with the above statements. When vehicles sold, they need to adhere to the various figures obtained during homologation, with tolerances for manufacturing variances between vehicles. If cars were sold with such a disparity between homologated performance and actual there would be misrepresentation lawsuits left, right and centre. Just look at VW... My 370z made 309hp with a cat back exhaust, K&N filters, intake pipes and a remap , so its worth not putting too much faith in the published claims
Either your car has been negatively affected by your modifications or the dyno you were using is utter crap.
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