Small write up of my 350z - TTS - 370z
Discussion
So this is quite a long and not exactly the most exciting write up of my last 3 Cars as they all quite similar but if you are wanting some more info let me know!
2004 - 350z Review 2 ½ Years
Purchase Price 9k – 48,000 miles
Sold – 4.4k – 80,000 miles -
These are figures I remember as being the most common for the driving conditions.
Average mpg hard driving – 15
Average mpg normal – 25
Average mpg eco – 30
Full tank of fuel - £120ish (Cheaper these days at 1.35p/litre)
Average miles per tank 375
I spent roughly 1.5k per year keeping the car on the road. With a 1.5k budget you always have enough to look after the car properly.
Tyres: Michelin pilot sports at £260 for the rears. Full set looking at approx £900. I usually managed to get around about 13k miles out of the rears and would change these every 14 months.
Fronts would last 20k. Unfortunately you can’t swap the tyres around either as the fronts are a different size to the rears; 245s vs 265s.
Servicing around about £300 a year
Tax - £260
Mot - £40
The rest of the money I would put into a fund to make sure that I always had enough if anything went wrong. Which it did so would usually end up spending all of it.
See below for big bills:
TIC £1,000 on new exhaust sounded great it was y pipe back so really made a change and the 350z seemed to rev more happily after the install.
TIC £600 Brakes fronts needed replacing, discs and pads. Brembos so not cheap but different set of aftermarket pads and discs can be had for a lot cheaper.
Those were the two big hitters but it did end up having a few others bits and pieces of work done. Nothing major but the odd extra hundred here and there or on top of a service to keep it all in shape was common.
A little bit about the car, it was a big and quite heavy V6. Its 3.5 litre lump would reach the redline very quickly and the mountains of torque would always make it pull whatever gear you are in. This car was quick 5.4 seconds to 60 and it would reach the 155mph top speed. The GT nature of the car was shown in the cabin having quite comfortable seats and what I would call a fairly supply ride. It wasn’t a bone shaker and had some give but still felt in touch with the road. This was to be my first N/A sports car with a BHP of 300 approx. With a fairly heavy front and no weight over the back wheels it was quite easily to get into trouble if you did anything silly, the traction control would keep everything in shape but it would kill any power and you lose some of that enjoyment of driving. In the 2 ½ years of driving I only had one “oh s
t” moment when dropping a gear down to second and stamping on the accelerator, a small miscalculation on my part the back wheels squirmed and fought to get away from me as slithered down the road like a snake. I could understand that in the wet but this was in the dry and the car really felt like it wanted to throw me straight off road.
The 350z never missed a beat though and it always felt strong, not many cars would pull away from it on the straights but in the corners it felt quite heavy over the front wheels and the backs would always look to kick out if you pushed it too hard. There was a nice feeling before this though and you can really feel them squirm before they gave way, it was always the same indication so you could feel quite aware of the situation. When you weren’t driving it properly it was hard work. A heavy clutch in traffic after a couple of hours of moving bit by bit in the m25 car park meant that my leg wouldn’t need to be going to the gym! The gearbox felt great if a little clunky and mechanical sounding. It had a short and direct throw through the box, it was a pleasure and made even the short journeys a little exciting sitting in what was as close to a supercar as I could get!
1 Year with the TTs
Purchase Price £20,000
Average mpg hard driving – 18
Average mpg normal – 28
Average mpg eco – 36
This car was a crazy buy but I really wanted to go back to a turbo'd engine after having my focus ST. I couldn’t quite afford a TTRS so thought lets at least try a TTs out and see what they are like. I loved it and I was sold, bought it the same day. It felt new inside with 24,000 on the clock. It was well put together and inside it is fantastic a little nicer place to be than the 350z. Oh and did I mention it was an auto. My first car with an auto box! I was driving lots of miles and this just seemed the right thing to do. Best bit about the car is the auto box it's just brilliant it pops when you change gear and its fast to act on the paddles. Servicing has been cheap but I did have to replace the cambelt which was £700. Tyres aren’t expensive either and I use the Eagle F1s which feel great. They have a bit more give on the side walls compared to the Michelin pilot sports. Which in turn has a different effect on the car it doesn’t have that quite precise feeling but then it's just slightly more supply and comfortable. To be honest in a convertible 4WD pocket rocket its hardly noticeable but on the limit it does feel different.
As you do with a new car that you drive lots you get used to the power, so very shortly after getting it I took it to get a remap. Now pushing 320ish BHP it was fast. Anything up to about 60 it was quick specially with the launch control. The torque curve is flat and with 320lb-ft it pulls you forward. The 4WD system is great, okay so its FWD then sends the power to the rear when it loses grip but dam it shoots off down the road quick. The car is 5.6 Sec to 62 standard and with the remap I think it probably has dropped to sub 5. The 5.6 always felt a little conservative. Have confirmed this with a few friends in quick cars and they are always surprised by the TT. The autobox really does make all the difference the shifts are so quick it's very hard to imagine exactly how you can shift that well in a manual. (I cant!)
I have had about 15,000 miles out of tyres with minimal wear. I do a lot of motorway driving though so I can sometimes see 25k+ out of a set.
Servicing - Oil change every 9000 miles then a £250 full service every 18,000. Cambelt - £700, Tyres - £600, Remap - £500, Spark Plugs - £100.
After a year with the TTs it was time for another change, to be honest I couldn’t get rid of the TT and I know my girl loves it. It’s a great car in so many ways that it would be a shame to sell it. So we have kept it. It currently has 52,000 miles on it! So you can see just how much I have driven it. I admit the car is a little girly but it's fun, quick and most of all safe. The systems in it are just brilliant they keep it pointing straight in all conditions and it just eats the road up.
Okay so what could I get that would replace the TTs. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back to N/A what I did know I wanted was a move back to manual. Just feels a bit more in tune with the car even if my shifting is far from perfect. My list comprised of E92 M3 - 414BHP monster, Supercharged 350z, Focus RS MK2 - (In lairy green please) and the Latest Scooby (Not 2014). These cars had been banded around for ages just wasn’t sure which would work for me. I kind of knew I wanted something fairly new which meant no 350z and no M3 (£30k plus for all the ones I liked). So it leaves the RS Focus and the Latest Scooby. So I am getting on for 30 next year and I am still a kid at heart but could I really buy a Scooby or a Focus RS. Probably not. So that’s my list shot. An Audi S5? Nope don’t be boring, it's too obvious a step up and too mature a move from the TTs.
Then by chance a garage local to me got a 370z still in warranty. Oh my it a GT edition with all the trimmings and alacantra on doors. My god I was sold. Looking at the specs 332bhp, RWD and 3.7 Litre N/A.
With my current commute a round trip of 110 miles I want at least 30MPG so I wasn't too sure if this was wise! They have improved on 350 in lots of ways. I can happily see around about 34 MPG on my work runs and I usually get 25mpg with spirited driving. It will go low, very low if you are silly but then again what do you expect with 3.7 litre engine.
I wanted a bit more of an animal and I got it for sure. Its great fun a little scary and I feel I have to be more cautious than with the TTs.
I will keep it brief as really only been driving the car for 1000 miles now so not really enough to give you a real idea of what it's like day to day.
I will start with the apparent downsides It's quite noisy on the motorway the tyres seem to roar a little bit.
The exhaust is quiet as standard, its all engine noise no pops or bangs just full on N/A which is nice but sometimes you just want that burble which is missing, Its great for my commute though and feels very much the GT Car.
Its heavy. Big and heavy it’s a muscle car in a jap body after all.
Best bits so far
You can feel everything as your sat on the rear wheels. When they lose traction or kick out you know it.
Fully loaded with tech (reversing camera, satnav, dvd player, hdd) It’s a boys car (anyone moving from a TT can appreciate this)
So that isn't really written all that well but hey just thought I would share!
2004 - 350z Review 2 ½ Years
Purchase Price 9k – 48,000 miles
Sold – 4.4k – 80,000 miles -
These are figures I remember as being the most common for the driving conditions.
Average mpg hard driving – 15
Average mpg normal – 25
Average mpg eco – 30
Full tank of fuel - £120ish (Cheaper these days at 1.35p/litre)
Average miles per tank 375
I spent roughly 1.5k per year keeping the car on the road. With a 1.5k budget you always have enough to look after the car properly.
Tyres: Michelin pilot sports at £260 for the rears. Full set looking at approx £900. I usually managed to get around about 13k miles out of the rears and would change these every 14 months.
Fronts would last 20k. Unfortunately you can’t swap the tyres around either as the fronts are a different size to the rears; 245s vs 265s.
Servicing around about £300 a year
Tax - £260
Mot - £40
The rest of the money I would put into a fund to make sure that I always had enough if anything went wrong. Which it did so would usually end up spending all of it.
See below for big bills:
TIC £1,000 on new exhaust sounded great it was y pipe back so really made a change and the 350z seemed to rev more happily after the install.
TIC £600 Brakes fronts needed replacing, discs and pads. Brembos so not cheap but different set of aftermarket pads and discs can be had for a lot cheaper.
Those were the two big hitters but it did end up having a few others bits and pieces of work done. Nothing major but the odd extra hundred here and there or on top of a service to keep it all in shape was common.
A little bit about the car, it was a big and quite heavy V6. Its 3.5 litre lump would reach the redline very quickly and the mountains of torque would always make it pull whatever gear you are in. This car was quick 5.4 seconds to 60 and it would reach the 155mph top speed. The GT nature of the car was shown in the cabin having quite comfortable seats and what I would call a fairly supply ride. It wasn’t a bone shaker and had some give but still felt in touch with the road. This was to be my first N/A sports car with a BHP of 300 approx. With a fairly heavy front and no weight over the back wheels it was quite easily to get into trouble if you did anything silly, the traction control would keep everything in shape but it would kill any power and you lose some of that enjoyment of driving. In the 2 ½ years of driving I only had one “oh s
t” moment when dropping a gear down to second and stamping on the accelerator, a small miscalculation on my part the back wheels squirmed and fought to get away from me as slithered down the road like a snake. I could understand that in the wet but this was in the dry and the car really felt like it wanted to throw me straight off road.The 350z never missed a beat though and it always felt strong, not many cars would pull away from it on the straights but in the corners it felt quite heavy over the front wheels and the backs would always look to kick out if you pushed it too hard. There was a nice feeling before this though and you can really feel them squirm before they gave way, it was always the same indication so you could feel quite aware of the situation. When you weren’t driving it properly it was hard work. A heavy clutch in traffic after a couple of hours of moving bit by bit in the m25 car park meant that my leg wouldn’t need to be going to the gym! The gearbox felt great if a little clunky and mechanical sounding. It had a short and direct throw through the box, it was a pleasure and made even the short journeys a little exciting sitting in what was as close to a supercar as I could get!
1 Year with the TTs
Purchase Price £20,000
Average mpg hard driving – 18
Average mpg normal – 28
Average mpg eco – 36
This car was a crazy buy but I really wanted to go back to a turbo'd engine after having my focus ST. I couldn’t quite afford a TTRS so thought lets at least try a TTs out and see what they are like. I loved it and I was sold, bought it the same day. It felt new inside with 24,000 on the clock. It was well put together and inside it is fantastic a little nicer place to be than the 350z. Oh and did I mention it was an auto. My first car with an auto box! I was driving lots of miles and this just seemed the right thing to do. Best bit about the car is the auto box it's just brilliant it pops when you change gear and its fast to act on the paddles. Servicing has been cheap but I did have to replace the cambelt which was £700. Tyres aren’t expensive either and I use the Eagle F1s which feel great. They have a bit more give on the side walls compared to the Michelin pilot sports. Which in turn has a different effect on the car it doesn’t have that quite precise feeling but then it's just slightly more supply and comfortable. To be honest in a convertible 4WD pocket rocket its hardly noticeable but on the limit it does feel different.
As you do with a new car that you drive lots you get used to the power, so very shortly after getting it I took it to get a remap. Now pushing 320ish BHP it was fast. Anything up to about 60 it was quick specially with the launch control. The torque curve is flat and with 320lb-ft it pulls you forward. The 4WD system is great, okay so its FWD then sends the power to the rear when it loses grip but dam it shoots off down the road quick. The car is 5.6 Sec to 62 standard and with the remap I think it probably has dropped to sub 5. The 5.6 always felt a little conservative. Have confirmed this with a few friends in quick cars and they are always surprised by the TT. The autobox really does make all the difference the shifts are so quick it's very hard to imagine exactly how you can shift that well in a manual. (I cant!)
I have had about 15,000 miles out of tyres with minimal wear. I do a lot of motorway driving though so I can sometimes see 25k+ out of a set.
Servicing - Oil change every 9000 miles then a £250 full service every 18,000. Cambelt - £700, Tyres - £600, Remap - £500, Spark Plugs - £100.
After a year with the TTs it was time for another change, to be honest I couldn’t get rid of the TT and I know my girl loves it. It’s a great car in so many ways that it would be a shame to sell it. So we have kept it. It currently has 52,000 miles on it! So you can see just how much I have driven it. I admit the car is a little girly but it's fun, quick and most of all safe. The systems in it are just brilliant they keep it pointing straight in all conditions and it just eats the road up.
Okay so what could I get that would replace the TTs. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back to N/A what I did know I wanted was a move back to manual. Just feels a bit more in tune with the car even if my shifting is far from perfect. My list comprised of E92 M3 - 414BHP monster, Supercharged 350z, Focus RS MK2 - (In lairy green please) and the Latest Scooby (Not 2014). These cars had been banded around for ages just wasn’t sure which would work for me. I kind of knew I wanted something fairly new which meant no 350z and no M3 (£30k plus for all the ones I liked). So it leaves the RS Focus and the Latest Scooby. So I am getting on for 30 next year and I am still a kid at heart but could I really buy a Scooby or a Focus RS. Probably not. So that’s my list shot. An Audi S5? Nope don’t be boring, it's too obvious a step up and too mature a move from the TTs.
Then by chance a garage local to me got a 370z still in warranty. Oh my it a GT edition with all the trimmings and alacantra on doors. My god I was sold. Looking at the specs 332bhp, RWD and 3.7 Litre N/A.
With my current commute a round trip of 110 miles I want at least 30MPG so I wasn't too sure if this was wise! They have improved on 350 in lots of ways. I can happily see around about 34 MPG on my work runs and I usually get 25mpg with spirited driving. It will go low, very low if you are silly but then again what do you expect with 3.7 litre engine.
I wanted a bit more of an animal and I got it for sure. Its great fun a little scary and I feel I have to be more cautious than with the TTs.
I will keep it brief as really only been driving the car for 1000 miles now so not really enough to give you a real idea of what it's like day to day.
I will start with the apparent downsides It's quite noisy on the motorway the tyres seem to roar a little bit.
The exhaust is quiet as standard, its all engine noise no pops or bangs just full on N/A which is nice but sometimes you just want that burble which is missing, Its great for my commute though and feels very much the GT Car.
Its heavy. Big and heavy it’s a muscle car in a jap body after all.
Best bits so far
You can feel everything as your sat on the rear wheels. When they lose traction or kick out you know it.
Fully loaded with tech (reversing camera, satnav, dvd player, hdd) It’s a boys car (anyone moving from a TT can appreciate this)
So that isn't really written all that well but hey just thought I would share!
Edited by inf on Tuesday 4th November 14:01
Cheers for the write-up, I'm giving serious thought to getting a 350Z sometime relatively soon 
I do quite a lot of miles but most of my commute is motorway so I'm not too concerned about mpg. What I'm slightly wary of is the interior, it looks like a comfortable enough place but seems pretty dull/gloomy looking. How did you find it?
I do quite a lot of miles but most of my commute is motorway so I'm not too concerned about mpg. What I'm slightly wary of is the interior, it looks like a comfortable enough place but seems pretty dull/gloomy looking. How did you find it?
Clearly you have a penchant for 2 seater sports cars! Have you any more photos? I own a 350Z. I agree with the points made about it being a heavy car and it's liking for trying to kill its driver. Only on Sunday did mine try and spit me off the road! As for economy, I have average around 27mpg since I bought her in March. Not bad considering.
liner33 said:
Nice , from a fellow 370 owner. I fitted a invidia system to mine and it sounds much much better, dont get close to 34mpg on a run though , lucky to get much over 28 on mine
The only time I can get around the 34mpg mark is my work trip which is pretty much 55 Miles of motorway at 5:45am. I pretty much average about 55-60mph when I arrive. So it can be done but it I must admit it’s not the most exciting thing! I am looking at different exhaust systems at the moment I need to get on youtube to check some of the sounds out. Do you have any vids of your car with the exhaust on? Only problem is the girl really wants to look at going stage 2 on the TTS so it may have to wait to mod the 370z!
thatguy11 said:
Cheers for the write-up, I'm giving serious thought to getting a 350Z sometime relatively soon
I do quite a lot of miles but most of my commute is motorway so I'm not too concerned about mpg. What I'm slightly wary of is the interior, it looks like a comfortable enough place but seems pretty dull/gloomy looking. How did you find it?
The 350z was great for my commute it was a bit shorter than what I am doing as I was only doing about 70-90 miles a day. The interior is slightly more plastic than the 370z or TTS so it’s not quite as nice. Mine was predominately black so it was quite gloomy, it might be worth looking at the tan interior If you can find one as it is a little bit brighter. I had the bose system which was good but it does have issues with the AMP I believe. The bose system doesn’t have an auxiliary input but it does have a tape player which can be changed on the back to become the auxiliary I would check the 350z UK forums for this mod. The 350z was rattle free at 80k miles which I was really impressed with. At 80k miles I was starting to get issues with the electric windows. They wouldn’t always work, this is a common fault, not sure on what the costs were to rectify this as it was intermittent for me but it’s one thing to watch out for. I do quite a lot of miles but most of my commute is motorway so I'm not too concerned about mpg. What I'm slightly wary of is the interior, it looks like a comfortable enough place but seems pretty dull/gloomy looking. How did you find it?
Alias218 said:
Clearly you have a penchant for 2 seater sports cars! Have you any more photos? I own a 350Z. I agree with the points made about it being a heavy car and it's liking for trying to kill its driver. Only on Sunday did mine try and spit me off the road! As for economy, I have average around 27mpg since I bought her in March. Not bad considering.
The 2 seater thing all started when I had an MX5 for 6 months as everyone on pistonheads raves about them I just had to try it. The MX5 was good but just didn’t have enough go so that’s when I moved on to a 350z. The 350z is definitely one of my favourite cars. Which model of the 350z do you have? DE/HR? I will upload some more photos shortly of the 3 carsQuite a few videos like this on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caNj3p80F3o
One of my car inside from the dashcam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2jk5RJC3rw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caNj3p80F3o
One of my car inside from the dashcam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2jk5RJC3rw
inf said:
The 2 seater thing all started when I had an MX5 for 6 months as everyone on pistonheads raves about them I just had to try it. The MX5 was good but just didn’t have enough go so that’s when I moved on to a 350z. The 350z is definitely one of my favourite cars. Which model of the 350z do you have? DE/HR? I will upload some more photos shortly of the 3 cars
Mines a 2007 HR. The interior is much improved over the DE cars. Although the painted plastic is crap - it comes off so easily. I have a thread on here a few pages back. Edited by Alias218 on Wednesday 5th November 22:03
Snap. Nice write up about your experiences and sounds like it was an interesting transition from Nissan to Audi to Nissan. the 370Z is a cracking car and I mimic your sentiments about it not being as forgiving as some others might be. Mine gets a frequent run down the M3 and can see up to 31mpg if I feather it. I'll also be following with interest to see what exhaust you plump for. I'm in the same boat and feel it needs something to bring the V6 to life a little. Have toyed with the idea of forking our for a Tanabe Medallion (purely due to the proximity of the car to others' houses and my early-morning start ups), but not sure I'd feel the benefit of the extortionate cost!
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