Nissan 350Z prices: Much further to fall?

[Chris71]

How far down the depreciation curve do you reckon early 350Zs now are?

Quite tempted by one, but I can see them getting down to the same sort of prices we currently pay for Porsche 944s and Nissan 200SXs before too long.

[martinmac]

They are going for about 7k for early models at the moment. As with many cars the difficulty is finding a good one. There arent many major issues with the cars but there seem to be plenty of bad examples out there.

[300bhp/ton]

Chris71 said:

How far down the depreciation curve do you reckon early 350Zs now are?

Quite tempted by one, but I can see them getting down to the same sort of prices we currently pay for Porsche 944s and Nissan 200SXs before too long.

I think they'll level out a bit. But perceived high tax and fuel consumption may not do them any favours.

And to be fair just look at how cheap a 300ZX is, or a 328i BMW. The 350 is newer, but I'm sure it'll drop to the same level given time.

Even 240Z's have taken years to claw their way back up and only now demand what I'd have thought is reasonable money. 260's and 280's aren't worth much.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 1st October 12:55

[bernies]

Here's one at £5,500, which is comparable to a good condition 944S2..

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2046895.htm

[martinmac]

The window motors are pretty bad for failing so not a big surprise. A new set of pads and you have a very cheap car.

Edited by martinmac on Friday 1st October 12:50

[Ninjaboy]

bernies said:

Here's one at £5,500, which is comparable to a good condition 944S2..

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2046895.htm

There's something i don't like about that ad. It screams scam to me in a strange way.

[fido]

martinmac said:

The window motors are pretty bad for failing so not a big surprise. A new set of pads and you have a very cheap car.

Didn't realise the flimsiness of the interior extended to the windows - did this get fixed in later models i.e. 05-06? Tempted to replace my runabout with a later 350Z .. but the 370Z is better in every aspect so it would be pains me to get one.

Edited by fido on Friday 1st October 13:03

[martinmac]

I havent had a problem with mine but window motors seem to be about the most requested second hand parts on the forum. For some reason the passenger side seems to fail the most which is strange as I would assume it gets used least.

Apart from things like the clicky rear axle there arent many major issues to worry about. The introduction of the 370z seems to have knocked prices for newer 350zs a bit and there are some very good examples for great prices at the moment.

[Gizmo!]

They're still relatively new. I think they'll drop to the 944 level - 3-4k for a rougher example, 8k for the best.

Currently being held up by the lack of competition and the fact that Nissan appear not to be selling any 370Zs - I've only seen about three on the road and the classifieds hardly have any.

[Chris71]

fido said:

The 370Z is better in every aspect so it would be pains me to get one.

I seem to be one of the few people who actually prefers the older car.

Okay, this is a slightly strange comparison given I've driven a couple of 370s and only passengered (on track) in a 350, but the earlier car seemed to be more composed and sounded miles better. The 370 struck me as a tiny bit under damped, it sounded a bit agricultural and it felt somehow ponderous.

Back on topic... what's the base price for a decent UK car in good mechanical condition with leather? Porsche 944s seem to have fallen to the point where £5k showed be a distinctly good S2 now and I was under the impression that reasonable Zeds started at about £9,000?

Normally I'm not particularly drawn to modern cars or Japanese cars, but there's something reassuring old school about a nice big sonorous V6 in the front of a small, tail-happy, 2-seater GT.

[martinmac]

I would say that 10k should get you a good GT. More than happy to help you find one if you decide to go ahead.

[Chris71]

I guess the flipside is that 350s are comparitively numerous compared to the other cars I'm thinking of (one of the main contenders - somewhat more leftfield - is a Lotus Excel!) so even if you have to trawl through more before finding a good one they'll always be more out there.

What's reliability like as a general rule?

Also, have they got to the point where early cars of average mileage are likely to need a bit of refreshing in the suspension? Do you reckon the bushes, dampers etc. would benefit from attention by this point or have they not got to that stage?

[martinmac]

I dont think there are major issues with high mileage, there are a few cars with over 100k miles on that I know and they are fine.

Mine is pretty much slammed with coilovers so it takes a bit of stick. Apart from Nissan having it for six months trying to fix the roof I have had very few problems. Its easy to get cheap parts so any changes you make wont cost too much.

For example the clicky rear axle that I mentioned is a 1k fix at the dealers, you can get all the parts and do it yourself for less than £200.

[300bhp/ton]

Chris71 said:

I guess the flipside is that 350s are comparitively numerous compared to the other cars I'm thinking of (one of the main contenders - somewhat more leftfield - is a Lotus Excel!) so even if you have to trawl through more before finding a good one they'll always be more out there.

What's reliability like as a general rule?

Also, have they got to the point where early cars of average mileage are likely to need a bit of refreshing in the suspension? Do you reckon the bushes, dampers etc. would benefit from attention by this point or have they not got to that stage?

I'd have thought dampers and bushes would depend on the car, driver and location. More miles = more wear as a rule. But if they live in an area with poor roads and like vigorous driving then they can wear quicker.

However I'd expect 8-12 years is the time these items start to fail/need replacing on many cars.

Also I suspect the vast majority of 350z's for sale are fine. Sure there will be some rough ones, but I can't believe its the norm. An 8 year old car is not old in my book and chances are more enthusiasts have owned 350z's than not.

[Drclarke]

Doesn't anyone buy a car they want anymore unless it's not going to cost them hardly any depreciation?

If you want one now just buy one, why deny yourself just for the sake of a few £?!?!

[Chris71]

Drclarke said:

Doesn't anyone buy a car they want anymore unless it's not going to cost them hardly any depreciation?

If you want one now just buy one, why deny yourself just for the sake of a few £?!?!

Simple - I'd rather spend the money while I'm running a car and enjoying it than when it's sat in the garage depreciating on its own.

It's not as if the 350Z is the only option out there for a petrolhead on a £10k budget! I also quite fancy a BMW Z3M Coupe, a Porsche 968, a Lotus Excel and all manner of very foolish classic Alfas, which have reached a plateau in their depreciation curve (to name a few!)

If I'm going to lose as much in depreciation on a Zed as I would nailing bits of 1970s Alfa Romeo back together then that definitely is a concern.

Edited by Chris71 on Friday 1st October 14:29

[Fire99]

Supply is still greater than demand. The car is relatively new and there is enough competition in the class to affect things.
They're also a strict 2-seater which restricts appeal and their luggage space is fairly naff with that big strut brace in the back. Add to that it's not a paragon of cheap running costs.

At the end of the day it's a cracking car but it doesn't fit in with the current trend of mass-market motors.

[BarnatosGhost]

Drclarke said:

Doesn't anyone buy a car they want anymore unless it's not going to cost them hardly any depreciation?

If you want one now just buy one, why deny yourself just for the sake of a few £?!?!

that wasn't very helpful.

Op - i think they've got a long way to fall yet - they are still building more so the presence of newer cars in the market will always force prices lower. I'd guess a reasonable baseline of 2.5k in about 5 years time when the macdonalds crew have got a firm hold of them. 5 years after that there'll be much fewer original cars left and they might appreciate slightly to 3.5 to 4k ish. Just my guess.

[Chris71]

Fire99 said:

They're also a strict 2-seater which restricts appeal and their luggage space is fairly naff with that big strut brace in the back.

Random question, but has anyone got a brochure or anything that quantifies exactly how much space there is in there? I need to get a barritone saxophone case in and that's 45x16x9 inches!

Also, although I'm sure you're right, I find it odd that people dislike 2 seaters. Although I have seen fully grown adults contort themselves into the back of supposed 2+2s like Porsche 944s and Alfa GTVs it's more for comedy value than actual transportation and usually those with kids opt for something a bit more staid anyway?

Edited by Chris71 on Friday 1st October 14:41

[Drclarke]

BarnatosGhost said:

that wasn't very helpful.

.

Sorry, didn't mean it to come across as obstructive. But I really don't understand why people deny themselves things they obviously really like or want because they are worried about the dreaded depreciation. It happens to all of us on all purchased goods but with cars we seem to make a big deal out of it.

Such a shame really.