Should i buy a 350z?
Discussion
Hi guys
Looking for advice on 350z's, I'm looking at getting a new car towards the end of the year with a 6k budget. I've always loved the look of them and it looks like for the first time I'm actually in a position to get one.
my biggest concern is that my budget would get me a early DE engined one what performance wise is more than enough but the age is a worry (I've had several much older cars). I'm hearing mentions of rusting arches, worn gearboxes etc and are worried ive missed the boat with these.
Any one familiar with these? Are they still a good buy?
Cheers
Looking for advice on 350z's, I'm looking at getting a new car towards the end of the year with a 6k budget. I've always loved the look of them and it looks like for the first time I'm actually in a position to get one.
my biggest concern is that my budget would get me a early DE engined one what performance wise is more than enough but the age is a worry (I've had several much older cars). I'm hearing mentions of rusting arches, worn gearboxes etc and are worried ive missed the boat with these.
Any one familiar with these? Are they still a good buy?
Cheers
is this the car that would have been a competitor to the Honda S2000 around 2006?
If so I tried both back to back & came away thinking the Nissan felt cheap & plastic but the performance was more accessible than the Honda which you had to thrash like mad to get it to go. I hated the moving steering column & instrument cluster too. The Nissan in convertible form also looked gangly & awkward & the boot space was taken up with a brace bar. With the hood up & as per the coupe it felt gloomy. Unless you got the top GT model equipment levels were mean.
I went for the Honda & so glad I did, just felt it was the superior quality machine.
If so I tried both back to back & came away thinking the Nissan felt cheap & plastic but the performance was more accessible than the Honda which you had to thrash like mad to get it to go. I hated the moving steering column & instrument cluster too. The Nissan in convertible form also looked gangly & awkward & the boot space was taken up with a brace bar. With the hood up & as per the coupe it felt gloomy. Unless you got the top GT model equipment levels were mean.
I went for the Honda & so glad I did, just felt it was the superior quality machine.
My Son has an '03 coupe. It feels pretty quick and the handling is good too. They are prone to rust around the arches, but are generally pretty reliable.
The prices have dropped recently, so you should get something decent for your money. We're going to Le Mans in it this year. There are dedicated websites, where you'll get all your questions answered.
The prices have dropped recently, so you should get something decent for your money. We're going to Le Mans in it this year. There are dedicated websites, where you'll get all your questions answered.
Sept 2015 i bought my 05' 350z, waited to find the right one for me and its been great. Have a drive of a few and you'll love it. Cabin wise everything that you come into contact is good qaulity and i find the interiors have worn well.
By far the best sounding car for the price and the low end lb-ft is pretty mighty imo. In its class nothing will stay with it around a track ie RX8, S2000, Boxster S or 3.2 TT.
By far the best sounding car for the price and the low end lb-ft is pretty mighty imo. In its class nothing will stay with it around a track ie RX8, S2000, Boxster S or 3.2 TT.
was looking into one of these. supposedly they don't feel that fast, and the car is supposedly a little on the heavy side (for what it is)
i seen a great looking one at £6500 (fairlady import)
gears 1 - 3 are limited in torque opening up, so that makes it feel less quick in the down low range. but a £400 remap can lift these restrictions so you can get all the power down as it should be
defintely seems like a bargain these cars.
i seen a great looking one at £6500 (fairlady import)
gears 1 - 3 are limited in torque opening up, so that makes it feel less quick in the down low range. but a £400 remap can lift these restrictions so you can get all the power down as it should be
defintely seems like a bargain these cars.
Always wanted to love it as a Jap alternative to usual German stuff, esp as Japs make really good light sport cars. Have driven 350 and the improved 370, but for me it misses something. Feels too heavy for a sports car and too noisy for a GT. MX5, GT86, Supra, MR2, S2k, RX8, Evo, Imprezza all do one or two things really well that I can accept the compromise elsewhere.
Really glad Nissan make it though.
Really glad Nissan make it though.
Richman3997 said:
Hi guys
Looking for advice on 350z's, I'm looking at getting a new car towards the end of the year with a 6k budget. I've always loved the look of them and it looks like for the first time I'm actually in a position to get one.
my biggest concern is that my budget would get me a early DE engined one what performance wise is more than enough but the age is a worry (I've had several much older cars). I'm hearing mentions of rusting arches, worn gearboxes etc and are worried ive missed the boat with these.
Any one familiar with these? Are they still a good buy?
Cheers
I doubt you've missed the boat. But you'll only be able to buy what your budget allows.Looking for advice on 350z's, I'm looking at getting a new car towards the end of the year with a 6k budget. I've always loved the look of them and it looks like for the first time I'm actually in a position to get one.
my biggest concern is that my budget would get me a early DE engined one what performance wise is more than enough but the age is a worry (I've had several much older cars). I'm hearing mentions of rusting arches, worn gearboxes etc and are worried ive missed the boat with these.
Any one familiar with these? Are they still a good buy?
Cheers
I have to admit, I have seen a couple rolling about with rusty arches. But I don't know if that's indicative of the model.
In the UK market there maybe isn't a huge amount of alternative choice to the 350z as there are few other 2 seat sporting cars of this ilk.
BMW Z3 and Z4 probably the closest. Although in the USA the 350z was pitted more at Mustang sales.
Having had S2000, 350Z and Z4 Coupe I'd go for the Z4 in terms of overall usability if an option.
S2000 has a lovely gearbox and when you're giving it the beans it's great, but outside VTEC and in terms of general usage not the easiest to live with. Then again I had a leaky roof and drove it in a snowstorm for 3 hours which would put you off any RWD car.
350Z felt a bit heavy, I had mine remapped, with silenced decats and coilovers and it still felt a bit lardy on track for me. Coilovers made a world of difference even without stupid lows, damping was much increased. HSD Monopro I recall.
Z4C still looks good, sounds great (inside) and is quick enough for UK roads. No LSD so I imagine it'd be boring on track but for road use I like it. Tramlining is a bit of a problem, about to replace some bushes / suspension arms so hopefully this'll resolve things for me.
S2000 has a lovely gearbox and when you're giving it the beans it's great, but outside VTEC and in terms of general usage not the easiest to live with. Then again I had a leaky roof and drove it in a snowstorm for 3 hours which would put you off any RWD car.
350Z felt a bit heavy, I had mine remapped, with silenced decats and coilovers and it still felt a bit lardy on track for me. Coilovers made a world of difference even without stupid lows, damping was much increased. HSD Monopro I recall.
Z4C still looks good, sounds great (inside) and is quick enough for UK roads. No LSD so I imagine it'd be boring on track but for road use I like it. Tramlining is a bit of a problem, about to replace some bushes / suspension arms so hopefully this'll resolve things for me.
I've had a 350Z Roadster. I enjoyed mine. It had a remap, cobra exhaust, injen induction kit, and was slightly lowered on 19" alloys so suffice to say, it looked and sounded the part. In fact, the sound was the best thing about it, it was beastly at any revs and any speed and sounded almost supercar like at the top end - although bear in mind that mine wasn't standard, I don't know what a standard one is like, but when I hear them go past some of them sound rather quiet compared with the one I had.
Handling is a mixed bag though. It feels very heavy and doesn't feel comfortable being hustled, its much more a 7/10ths car. With that said, a standard LSD and plenty of torque make it an easy car to have some tail-out fun.
I've also had a Z4 Coupe. Also a nice car, but dare I say it, a little "polite" and "reserved" in comparison with the 350Z, but probably a better all round car.
Handling is a mixed bag though. It feels very heavy and doesn't feel comfortable being hustled, its much more a 7/10ths car. With that said, a standard LSD and plenty of torque make it an easy car to have some tail-out fun.
I've also had a Z4 Coupe. Also a nice car, but dare I say it, a little "polite" and "reserved" in comparison with the 350Z, but probably a better all round car.
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