350z - A few questions...
Discussion
Went to see one today, seemed "honest" enough but some observations on the test drive:
Clutch - Generally light (apparently heavy means on the way out - according to my internet searches!) but the bite point seemed to be variable. Engage 1st, bite point low, no issue. Change 1st / 2nd the bite point seems higher, same with 2nd / 3rd - ended up riding the clutch a bit before realising the peddle had to come up a bit more. Is this normal? I appreciate I'm not used to the "feel" of this clutch (especially coming from my KA!)but it did feel a bit strange...
Engine - Seemed exceptionally strong and very linear in delivery. Seemed to be able to carry speed well, didn't feel like we were going fast until I looked at the speedo!
Radio - didn't test it, but it didn't have (or I could find!) an aux in... Easy fix? Aftermarket headunit easy to fit / would it work well with the Bose speakers?
Generally a really nice car, seemed solid and planted on sweeping A & B roads - good price too for nigh on 300 bhp!
Clutch - Generally light (apparently heavy means on the way out - according to my internet searches!) but the bite point seemed to be variable. Engage 1st, bite point low, no issue. Change 1st / 2nd the bite point seems higher, same with 2nd / 3rd - ended up riding the clutch a bit before realising the peddle had to come up a bit more. Is this normal? I appreciate I'm not used to the "feel" of this clutch (especially coming from my KA!)but it did feel a bit strange...
Engine - Seemed exceptionally strong and very linear in delivery. Seemed to be able to carry speed well, didn't feel like we were going fast until I looked at the speedo!
Radio - didn't test it, but it didn't have (or I could find!) an aux in... Easy fix? Aftermarket headunit easy to fit / would it work well with the Bose speakers?
Generally a really nice car, seemed solid and planted on sweeping A & B roads - good price too for nigh on 300 bhp!
tallstevef said:
Went to see one today, seemed "honest" enough but some observations on the test drive:
Clutch - Generally light (apparently heavy means on the way out - according to my internet searches!) but the bite point seemed to be variable. Engage 1st, bite point low, no issue. Change 1st / 2nd the bite point seems higher, same with 2nd / 3rd - ended up riding the clutch a bit before realising the peddle had to come up a bit more. Is this normal? I appreciate I'm not used to the "feel" of this clutch (especially coming from my KA!)but it did feel a bit strange...
Engine - Seemed exceptionally strong and very linear in delivery. Seemed to be able to carry speed well, didn't feel like we were going fast until I looked at the speedo!
Radio - didn't test it, but it didn't have (or I could find!) an aux in... Easy fix? Aftermarket headunit easy to fit / would it work well with the Bose speakers?
Generally a really nice car, seemed solid and planted on sweeping A & B roads - good price too for nigh on 300 bhp!
The zed is really great value for money, not too sure on the clutch, i'm also still on the original and mine is pretty light, the radio is about 10 years out of date...who the heck puts a tape player into a car made up until 2009...there are aftermarket options and there is a specific section on the owners club where far better informed people than myself will be able to give you good advice.Clutch - Generally light (apparently heavy means on the way out - according to my internet searches!) but the bite point seemed to be variable. Engage 1st, bite point low, no issue. Change 1st / 2nd the bite point seems higher, same with 2nd / 3rd - ended up riding the clutch a bit before realising the peddle had to come up a bit more. Is this normal? I appreciate I'm not used to the "feel" of this clutch (especially coming from my KA!)but it did feel a bit strange...
Engine - Seemed exceptionally strong and very linear in delivery. Seemed to be able to carry speed well, didn't feel like we were going fast until I looked at the speedo!
Radio - didn't test it, but it didn't have (or I could find!) an aux in... Easy fix? Aftermarket headunit easy to fit / would it work well with the Bose speakers?
Generally a really nice car, seemed solid and planted on sweeping A & B roads - good price too for nigh on 300 bhp!
I meant to add....with the speed it is one of those cars that a lot of people first get into with big expectations of pace however some are left feeling disappointed, not because it is slow but because of how smooth the power delivery is you just don't feel it until you check the speedo, it is a quick car (the HR model hits 100 in 13 seconds dead) and with the right exhaust it sounds the part to.
Just to confirm what's already been said
Clutch ... I never really got used to mine in 7 years
Gearbox ... syncro a bit dodgy especially when changing gear at high revs
Bose ... left hand speaker problem and CD sticking problem well known but there is a fix (OE unit is made by Clarion apparently)
Engine very strong but can have problems if it's drunk 95 ron all its life ... check oil levels regularly (the dipstick on DE engine was designed by a dipstick)
Good guys with lots of help at http://www.350z-uk.com (not back up until Tuesday)
Go for a low mileage GT4 if you can find one
Clutch ... I never really got used to mine in 7 years
Gearbox ... syncro a bit dodgy especially when changing gear at high revs
Bose ... left hand speaker problem and CD sticking problem well known but there is a fix (OE unit is made by Clarion apparently)
Engine very strong but can have problems if it's drunk 95 ron all its life ... check oil levels regularly (the dipstick on DE engine was designed by a dipstick)
Good guys with lots of help at http://www.350z-uk.com (not back up until Tuesday)
Go for a low mileage GT4 if you can find one
Dean350z - I was wondering when the 350z forum would be back on line! Just typical that I was trying to look at it whilst it was down! 
HR model? Is this the engine code for the later 313bhp models?
Attackz - Interesting that you didn't get used to the clutch in 7 years! Not just me thinking it was a bit odd then! Found it a bit frustrating not getting "clean" changes on the test drive, thought I might get used to it but maybe not...
Didn't do any high rpm changes, the gearbox felt pretty chunky / hefty though.. In a good way!
Interesting point about the running on 95 ron fuel. What sort of issues? It's one of those things you can't really tell from service histories.
The one I looked at was at a Nissan dealer, it has a 1yr warranty on it, could extend to 3yrs for an extra £500. Given that the electric window motors (a weak point I researched yesterday) knock out at around £300 or so, I thought that the warranty was a good idea!
Didn't want to do anything fancy with the stereo - just something simple to allow me to plug in an MP3 player (aux in or USB). I know you can get head units with this kind of stuff on them quite cheaply now, the faff with the speakers is a bit of a shame. Hopefully the forum can point me in the right direction!
HR model? Is this the engine code for the later 313bhp models?
Attackz - Interesting that you didn't get used to the clutch in 7 years! Not just me thinking it was a bit odd then! Found it a bit frustrating not getting "clean" changes on the test drive, thought I might get used to it but maybe not...
Didn't do any high rpm changes, the gearbox felt pretty chunky / hefty though.. In a good way!
Interesting point about the running on 95 ron fuel. What sort of issues? It's one of those things you can't really tell from service histories.
The one I looked at was at a Nissan dealer, it has a 1yr warranty on it, could extend to 3yrs for an extra £500. Given that the electric window motors (a weak point I researched yesterday) knock out at around £300 or so, I thought that the warranty was a good idea!
Didn't want to do anything fancy with the stereo - just something simple to allow me to plug in an MP3 player (aux in or USB). I know you can get head units with this kind of stuff on them quite cheaply now, the faff with the speakers is a bit of a shame. Hopefully the forum can point me in the right direction!
tallstevef said:
HR model? Is this the engine code for the later 313bhp models?
Interesting point about the running on 95 ron fuel. What sort of issues? It's one of those things you can't really tell from service histories.
Yep HR = 313 PS = bulge bonnet = MY 2007 onInteresting point about the running on 95 ron fuel. What sort of issues? It's one of those things you can't really tell from service histories.
95 ron = pinking = worn rings = high oil consumption = bang if you let the oil level drop
Ask the seller what fuel they have used
Someone mentioned a tape player, if it has a tape player you can get a tape deck adapter which is basically a "fake" tape that has a wire with a 3.5mm jack so you just put the tape bit in and plug in your ipod and it acts as an aux in. Sony do ones that are really good quality, you'll get nigh-on CD quality with it.
Gooly said:
Someone mentioned a tape player, if it has a tape player you can get a tape deck adapter which is basically a "fake" tape that has a wire with a 3.5mm jack so you just put the tape bit in and plug in your ipod and it acts as an aux in. Sony do ones that are really good quality, you'll get nigh-on CD quality with it.
Link please. The clutch in mine is a bit weird, I've just changed to slave cylinder and its better than it was but it's not the most natural clutch, I think I probably need to do the master cylinder as it still sticks when hot. I've got the roadster and I've noticed the soft top doesn't go down properly in cold weather.
Really fun to drive though. Drives like a muscle car, deceptively quick at times. Really seems to get into its stride one into third and above.
Never had a problem with my clutch, I have an 04 GT in grey. The Bose are renowned for being average. Mine has been temperamental in the past, but got the bloke to check all the connections at last service and it's been okay since.
Mine is about to go up for sale, only 25k on the clock too...
Mine is about to go up for sale, only 25k on the clock too...
Tape adaptor - sounds like a low cost solution! The Sony one mentioned is only a tenner on Amazon (just type sony tape adaptor)
I wonder with the clutch if people have switched to a non-oem one - I assume they might have done that when doing power mods, but if it isn't too pricey then maybe that would give a solution to the strange or odd feel? Would be handy if you decide to go for the supercharger / turbo kits later!
Agreed about the slightly "muscle car" feel - seems "lazily" fast if you see what I mean. I was probably only at about 3K rpm in 3rd or 4th and was doing 60 without even trying - engine felt like it had a ton of go left in it!
I wonder with the clutch if people have switched to a non-oem one - I assume they might have done that when doing power mods, but if it isn't too pricey then maybe that would give a solution to the strange or odd feel? Would be handy if you decide to go for the supercharger / turbo kits later!
Agreed about the slightly "muscle car" feel - seems "lazily" fast if you see what I mean. I was probably only at about 3K rpm in 3rd or 4th and was doing 60 without even trying - engine felt like it had a ton of go left in it!
tallstevef said:
ewan - I'm beyond an electrical numpty, so if I do end up getting the car I'll probably try the Sony tape adapter thing first. Then (if that fails) get the guide and find a decent car audio specialist!
Seeing as you've had a couple, did you find the clutch strange / odd at all?
Clutch was pretty heavy on first zed nut not too bad on second one. Clutches can wear pretty early on some cars but relativity cheap to replace when you get parts fron traders on the forum. Gear changes can be a bit stiff when box is cold as well.Seeing as you've had a couple, did you find the clutch strange / odd at all?
Forum should be up and running tomorrow lots of good advice there and some nice zeds for sale as well
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