Nissan 350Z ..why so cheap?

[mike_1985]

I forgot to mention that the car was 2004 with 50k miles 2 owners and full fsh from mazda.

What entitles to a drivers car ? I keep seeing this on here and I missed what cars would go in that category

Besides the track days cars and nothing else that is more than 6 years old nor the elise ?

[Kuroblack350]

swerni said:

DucatiGary said:

Leatherhead said:

Ignore the prats on here. The 350Z is a very good car

spoken like a true gentleman

albeit one who has never experienced a proper car or has any knowledgeable input to add to this thread

thanks for your contribution

sorry but have to agree with Leatherhead.

I have owned and driven a large number of cars, including very high performance ones both on and off the track.

I really liked the 350z.
I don't know how anyone can say that its crap cornering.
If you don't want a car that you can stick the back end out I suggest you stick to front wheel drive

Having owned a 350Z for 3 years, I somehow feel obligated to comment, which is unlike me for this type of thread, but it would seem quite appropriate for a stack of people who've never actually *seen* a 350, let alone driven one

(you gotta love PH, it's all "I heard off a mate they were crap" and "the oversteer is not what I'd expect given my experience of a lowered Fiat Punto Sporting" ...flamin' priceless)

Just to counter some arguments, myths and general untruths spoken by non-believers...

1. It's not a bad car. Sure, it doesn't have the feel and poise of the S2000, but then it's not meant to. It's an old fashioned car in a lot of ways, a cheap GT if you will. You wouldn't compare a 456GT to a 355 now would you?

2. It's a decent track car. It's no Noble, but then it's not supposed to be my pedigree chums. I drove mine 1600 miles in one week last year, to the Ring and back. It was a superb autobahn cruiser, compliant and progressive track car, and very capable on the B Roads around the Ring area. (which in some ways are more challenging) I also got 32 mpg over the entire trip...

Lesson 1: Read proper reviews (Any car mag for example) rather than PH

More myths uncovered...

3. There are a stack of differences between the UK an Jap versions. The trim levels are totally different, as are a few components like the radiator... (our's is bigger apparently) I also believe the exhaust is a different spec, giving the UK models a slightly different sound. UK models also have a few minor details like headlamp washers and larger alloys as standard.

4. You can fit st in the boot. (no, really you can I not lying) As a knowlegable indvidual has pointed out, as long you use flexible bags, holdalls etc, it's all good.

Ok, the bad bits...

1. You can see the Renault influence sometimes...
2. The window motors will fail (see point 1.)
3. The boot struts may fail, leaving you angry and disappointed. And in pain.
4. The interior was designed well, but executed poorly. Build quality is Soviet and *will* annoy you.
5. Fairly typical Japanese approach to audio quality. Try capturing and imprisoning several angry wasps in a glass jar if your audio fails. (it will, see point 1)

Summary...

For the money, they are good cars. They look good, sound better. Buy one if you want one. Or don't, it really makes no difference to anything. At all.

Edited by Kuroblack350 on Monday 8th September 10:24

[bad_roo]

nervous said:

bad_roo said:

No, you're doing really well. Keep up the good work.

Thanks man. One day I hope to be you.

You just need to post more often.

[ab@]

As soon as I am settled in work, and stopped needing this city centre flat with its one parking space, I'm seriously going to look into the 350.

I have driven one, not thrown it around as it was my cousins and he was in it, but the sound as already said is addictive, its quick, 6 seconds is quick by any standards, its no supercar - but it IS quick.

Sub £9k you say? Its a bargain, no other way of looking at it IMO.

[DucatiGary]

swerni said:

If you don't want a car that you can stick the back end out I suggest you stick to front wheel drive

if that was aimed towards this way id like to point out every vehicle i have ever owned has been RWD or 4WD.

for the record

[bad_roo]

Front-wheel drive doesn't appeal?

[cabby_gaz]

thought i'd get in a blatant plug, my dad is selling this if anyones interested. its like new and a bargain for the money.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/354285.htm

[Dakkon]

swerni said:

stuckmojo said:

I always liked the 350. Is it really that slow? and what about MPG? I heard horror stories of single digit figures

mine used to average about 22.
It wasn't great but had something to do with the fact it was mainly town driving and it sounds so good at 3500-4000rpm

0-62 in circa 6 secs is hardly slow either

My average with mine was also 22mpg

[bobbylondonuk]

current 350z owner here!!!!

ok trying to be as impartial as possible...
1. cheap GT car (not supposed to deliver elise style performance)
will get decent luggage in for a weekend away provided flexible luggage is used.
2. torquey engine and sound
does make you feel that the car can do wonders in city traffic. although, I agree its not a light car. motorway cruising at 70-100 is a breeze..the car feels much better at higher speeds and that is the character of the car!!!
3. handling
pretty decent handling for a car in its market segment compared to other mass manufactured products. as like all other cars, it can be significantly improved by changing up tp performance biased suspension, brakes and other parts.
4. rare
not many on the streets compared to other models...this makes it look even better on the roads.
5. depreciation
it has lost me money...and im sure very good bargains are out there..but the jap imports are of lower spec than the uk cars (GT spec)....CHAV alert currently due to cheap imports of 5 yr old cars...i put my hand up on that one!!!!
6. fuel
i get 21.5mpg in london...and around 30mpg mark on long distance cruising.
7. interiors
typical jap interior quality. thats what you pay for!!!! change up to a good set of tyres and the interior noise will reduce, £50 and elbow grease to dynamat the car will make it really good.
8. Price
compare a premium EU product with same performance/styling and watch the bill increase. even the GT spec cars are 28k new! cant get an M3, cant get and AMG, cant get a porsche, cant get any other comparable GT with similar performance/styling for the money. The only other mass produced car is another Jap...RX8 (which is better on ride comfort and interior ambience...but not exactly exhilarating as the Z)

ready with target circles painted on my face!!!!

[Scawie]

boxster9 said:

Just saw a 350Z in my local newspaper for £8000, went on autotrader to find that for 9-11k you can get a good one....didn't these cost well over 25K new?

hbwold said:

Looking at the glass's guide the 350's are dropping around £800 a month and thats been consistent since July...

And I claim my free 350Z next July.

[Shnozz]

Kuroblack350 said:

Having owned a 350Z for 3 years, I somehow feel obligated to comment, which is unlike me for this type of thread, but it would seem quite appropriate for a stack of people who've never actually *seen* a 350, let alone driven one

(you gotta love PH, it's all "I heard off a mate they were crap" and "the oversteer is not what I'd expect given my experience of a lowered Fiat Punto Sporting" ...flamin' priceless)

Just to counter some arguments, myths and general untruths spoken by non-believers...

I understand that you are defending your own car (and presumably did your own positive evaluation before parting with your hard earned). However, it seems to me that the majority (if not all) of the less than positive reviews on this thread have come from people who HAVE driven the car, myself included.

In fact, the 350 gets rave reviews from the bulk of the motoring press (as you rightly point out). The usual follow the herd PH view from those who haven't driven half the cars they comment upon is based on the car magaizine and TG reviews. How mid-corner on the hammerhead a Ford GT would show signs of torque steer or whatever. Therefore, I would expect a strong following of the 350 on PH based solely on evo reviews and not necessersaladcream upon their own driving experience of the car.

Going against the grain of the bulk of motoring journals is something I rarely see on PH (largely because they havent driven half the cars to make up their own opinion). You agree with the bulk of the press, so congratulations for being in the majority (and I will bow down to the greater knowledge of the motoring journos who have driven far more sports and GT cars than I have).

However, MY opinion, was that I really really wanted to love the 350Z. But I didn't.

[bad_roo]

That is an entirely valid opinion. There were aspects of the car that you didn't like. Fair enough.

What I find a little grating is that there are some posters here who seem to think that Steve Sutcliffe, Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, Jethro Bovingdon, Bill Thomas, Mark Hales, Henry Catchpole, Oli Marriage, David Vivian and Chris Chilton are all talking out of their arses. The only genuinely poor review I've seen of the 350Z came from Clarkson. Draw your own conclusions.

I'm not saying that you should swallow the line of the enthusiast press without question. It's just that you rather open your judgment to question when proclaiming that said car is the sttiest handling thing you've ever driven.

[Chris71]

Must admit I'm slightly surprised by the responses on here. I haven't driven a 350Z but the reviews I've seen of them seem to be almost universally positive.

I suppose I'd have to sample one for myself, but slightly dissapointed by some of the comments I've heard on here - I was half contemplating the 350Z as a future purchase.

[Shnozz]

bad_roo said:

That is an entirely valid opinion. There were aspects of the car that you didn't like. Fair enough.

What I find a little grating is that there are some posters here who seem to think that Steve Sutcliffe, Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, Jethro Bovingdon, Bill Thomas, Mark Hales, Henry Catchpole, Oli Marriage, David Vivian and Chris Chilton are all talking out of their arses. The only genuinely poor review I've seen of the 350Z came from Clarkson. Draw your own conclusions.

I'm not saying that you should swallow the line of the enthusiast press without question. It's just that you rather open your judgment to question when proclaiming that said car is the sttiest handling thing you've ever driven.

I think you have mixed up nervous and myself as I never suggested the handling was that bad.

As I say, I am only too aware that demi-gods have found the 350 splendid and hence my surprise at not liking the car. I think it looks fantastic and very different, and coupled with the reviews from said learned journos I thought I would slap down a cheque there and then. Hence why I wanted to like the car so much. To be honest, I didn't know that Clarkson didn't like it, which does surprise me a little given his sideways driving style would rather suit the sledgehammer rather than scalpel.

It's interesting reading diderot's comments earlier in this thread given that he owned one for a few years and he pointed out my own 30 minute test drive conclusions as to the achilles heal(s)

"I ran mine as my one and only car and as a daily driver. It was utterly reliable, but like I said the build quality was shocking. It was thirsty, heavy, not that fast, noisy (particularly on the feathering prone Bridgestones) and the seats were horribly uncomfortable. But then again, for 8k good value I guess. "

[bad_roo]

Matt Becker, who knows a thing or two about vehicle dynamics, wanted to buy one but let on that the only reason he didn't was because Gav Kershaw had already ordered one. [/crassnamedrop]

Clarkson got his knickers in a twist about it being a Renault/Datsun that was styled by an Indian.

£10k is good value for one but every time I've been tempted to buy one I wonder if there's much it does that a nicely sorted, low mileage M3 GT wouldn't do just as well/better.

Edited by bad_roo on Monday 8th September 15:02

[Pulse]

bad_roo said:

That is an entirely valid opinion. There were aspects of the car that you didn't like. Fair enough.

What I find a little grating is that there are some posters here who seem to think that Steve Sutcliffe, Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, Jethro Bovingdon, Bill Thomas, Mark Hales, Henry Catchpole, Oli Marriage, David Vivian and Chris Chilton are all talking out of their arses. The only genuinely poor review I've seen of the 350Z came from Clarkson. Draw your own conclusions.

I'm not saying that you should swallow the line of the enthusiast press without question. It's just that you rather open your judgment to question when proclaiming that said car is the sttiest handling thing you've ever driven.

Unfortunately, this is the case for a lot of cars that Clarkson has not liked. People would rather follow Clarkson, than actually drive the car themselves and draw their own conclusion. This also happened with the Astra VXR, which although FWD, it's far from rubbish.

[nervous]

bad_roo said:

What I find a little grating is that there are some posters here who seem to think that Steve Sutcliffe, Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, Jethro Bovingdon, Bill Thomas, Mark Hales, Henry Catchpole, Oli Marriage, David Vivian and Chris Chilton are all talking out of their arses. The only genuinely poor review I've seen of the 350Z came from Clarkson. Draw your own conclusions.

ok, so despite the fact that I didnt like it, I should like it because others do? thats troublesome for me. on a number of levels. for starters, I hate carrots, but I know that Tiff Needel likes them. Am I wrong?

Last time I checked Roo, I was entitled to my opinion, regardless of whether it tallies with yours or those people you derived yours from. If its all the same to you, I'll carry on having opinions too. I might even not worry about whether they match yours.

[bad_roo]

nervous said:

bad_roo said:

What I find a little grating is that there are some posters here who seem to think that Steve Sutcliffe, Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, Jethro Bovingdon, Bill Thomas, Mark Hales, Henry Catchpole, Oli Marriage, David Vivian and Chris Chilton are all talking out of their arses. The only genuinely poor review I've seen of the 350Z came from Clarkson. Draw your own conclusions.

ok, so despite the fact that I didnt like it, I should like it because others do? thats troublesome for me. on a number of levels. for starters, I hate carrots, but I know that Tiff Needel likes them. Am I wrong?

Last time I checked Roo, I was entitled to my opinion, regardless of whether it tallies with yours or those people you derived yours from. If its all the same to you, I'll carry on having opinions too. I might even not worry about whether they match yours.

Now you are confusing personal taste with objective review. Do try to keep up.

[nervous]

bad_roo said:

Now you are confusing personal taste with objective review. Do try to keep up.

I like you. youre funny. and no one sees through these kind of weak-verbal-dodges, Im sure.

[bad_roo]

nervous said:

bad_roo said:

Now you are confusing personal taste with objective review. Do try to keep up.

I like you. youre funny. and no one sees through these kind of weak-verbal-dodges, Im sure.

Now there's irony for you, folks.