350Z Buyer's Guide?
Discussion
I'm potentially looking for a 350Z, and I'm wondering if there's a good buyer's guide, and if anyone can give me some pointers.
I'd be looking for a UK model with less than 60,000 miles.
What options should be considered? What common faults do they have?
Also, if anyone has a well looked after example for sale, please get in contact.
I'd be looking for a UK model with less than 60,000 miles.
What options should be considered? What common faults do they have?
Also, if anyone has a well looked after example for sale, please get in contact.
1) Go to www.350z-uk.com and sign up. All of the info you'll ever need.
2) Look for GT cars. The GT pack was leather, heated electric seats. BOSE stereo, 18" RAYS alloys, etc.
3) There are plenty of niggles, check that these have been addressed (clicking rear axle, Bose unit skipping, etc).
Do plenty of research!
2) Look for GT cars. The GT pack was leather, heated electric seats. BOSE stereo, 18" RAYS alloys, etc.
3) There are plenty of niggles, check that these have been addressed (clicking rear axle, Bose unit skipping, etc).
Do plenty of research!
As an ex-owner:
- Buy a GT, Leather, Bose, cruise, heated electric seats. Why have cloth seats?!
- Get one with rays if you can, but they corrode, so check thoroughly (my standard alloys started to corrode at 4 years and 23000 miles - I believe the Rays can be worse than that)
- Clicking rear axles were a common issue in the early models, it was a warrantly repair. Most noticable when reversing.
- Bose CD can skip. Mine did this until the unit warmed up. Again a dealer fix in the early models.
- My suspension developed a clunking noise. There was a Technical Service Bulletin for early models, but that didn't fix mine. In the end the dealer recommended new anti roll bar bushes as a possible fix, but also recommended I wait until it got worse so we could be sure. It never did, and I sold it as was.
- make sure the discs and pads are in good shape - dealer fit is £1100!. Parts can be sourced cheaper through 350Z-uk.
- the paint in thin on the nose and sides, so the car is prone to stone chips.
- Check for fogging inside the xenon lamps - they can only be replaced as a unit, and are bloody expensive.
- Get one with a tonneu cover (or buy one for £99), this fills in the gap under the rear strut brace, makes the car quieter and the content of the boot much less visible.
- the leather does not age well, it needs feeding to look good.
- Original Bridgestone tyres have stiff sidewalls. Recommended replacement on 350z-uk was Falken FK452's - not as stiff, but cheaper than alternatives if you are running on a budget. I can't remember more expensive recommendations.
I'm sure there is a buyers guide on 350Z-uk, this is just a brain dump from someone that misses their 'Z'.
- Buy a GT, Leather, Bose, cruise, heated electric seats. Why have cloth seats?!
- Get one with rays if you can, but they corrode, so check thoroughly (my standard alloys started to corrode at 4 years and 23000 miles - I believe the Rays can be worse than that)
- Clicking rear axles were a common issue in the early models, it was a warrantly repair. Most noticable when reversing.
- Bose CD can skip. Mine did this until the unit warmed up. Again a dealer fix in the early models.
- My suspension developed a clunking noise. There was a Technical Service Bulletin for early models, but that didn't fix mine. In the end the dealer recommended new anti roll bar bushes as a possible fix, but also recommended I wait until it got worse so we could be sure. It never did, and I sold it as was.
- make sure the discs and pads are in good shape - dealer fit is £1100!. Parts can be sourced cheaper through 350Z-uk.
- the paint in thin on the nose and sides, so the car is prone to stone chips.
- Check for fogging inside the xenon lamps - they can only be replaced as a unit, and are bloody expensive.
- Get one with a tonneu cover (or buy one for £99), this fills in the gap under the rear strut brace, makes the car quieter and the content of the boot much less visible.
- the leather does not age well, it needs feeding to look good.
- Original Bridgestone tyres have stiff sidewalls. Recommended replacement on 350z-uk was Falken FK452's - not as stiff, but cheaper than alternatives if you are running on a budget. I can't remember more expensive recommendations.
I'm sure there is a buyers guide on 350Z-uk, this is just a brain dump from someone that misses their 'Z'.
I bought the non GT as I was going to mess with it a fair bit. On a daily basis its mainly which of the features you would prefer, heated seats dont bother me, cruise control doesnt either. The rest of the upgrades I have sorted anyway.
Sent you an e-mail about the car check by the way.
Sent you an e-mail about the car check by the way.
Edited by martinmac on Sunday 5th December 13:57
I have had my Z for just over 2 years now from about 70k miles to its current 115k, and the car hasnt missed a beat, completely reliable and tough. I have used it as my daily commute of circa 70 miles a day through winters and summers and am yet to have a single engine or general fault.
That said, the passenger window motor was fried when i got the car but dealer warranty sorted that and the CD player skips alot, to the point where i rarely use it at all.
The note on paint is also very true, as mine has really suffered from this.
Running costs were slightly higher than i expected as the car is pretty thirsty unless your on the motorway, but servicing and tyres are about what you would expect.
I dont think i could ever get rid of mine as it has been great fun, and i will be supercharging it in Jan/Feb to be used as a weekend car (finally getting a company car)
P.S. they are terrible in the snow, as soon as the first few flakes have fallen any incline will seem like Everest
That said, the passenger window motor was fried when i got the car but dealer warranty sorted that and the CD player skips alot, to the point where i rarely use it at all.
The note on paint is also very true, as mine has really suffered from this.
Running costs were slightly higher than i expected as the car is pretty thirsty unless your on the motorway, but servicing and tyres are about what you would expect.
I dont think i could ever get rid of mine as it has been great fun, and i will be supercharging it in Jan/Feb to be used as a weekend car (finally getting a company car)
P.S. they are terrible in the snow, as soon as the first few flakes have fallen any incline will seem like Everest
350zed said:
P.S. they are terrible in the snow, as soon as the first few flakes have fallen any incline will seem like Everest
But any flat surface (my office car park, for example) will conversely become a playground!Forgot to mention: Open the boot and make sure that the struts are working (boot lid is supported by two gas struts). Mine has started to weaken and I've been clumped a couple of times so far.
Evo did a buying guide awhile back, google suggests it was issue 121. Here's a link to their brief web guide http://www.evo.co.uk/buying/buyingguide/224505/nis...
350Z's are a superb car, there have been various upgrades over the years, in terms of power and interior mainly. The power increased over the years and later cars had more torque higher up in the rev range I think. These would be more desirable but in truth you won't be disapointed by any of them. The interior was upgraded in 2006.
Tuning is tricky as you have to spend a small fortune to see any real gains.
GT's with the leather and cruise are most desirable and don't cost significantly more than base models - that said the base model has all the important oily bits, the only things it lacks are leather, cruise and the upgraded Bose (which is a bit sh*t anyway as already mentioned).
350Z's are a superb car, there have been various upgrades over the years, in terms of power and interior mainly. The power increased over the years and later cars had more torque higher up in the rev range I think. These would be more desirable but in truth you won't be disapointed by any of them. The interior was upgraded in 2006.
Tuning is tricky as you have to spend a small fortune to see any real gains.
GT's with the leather and cruise are most desirable and don't cost significantly more than base models - that said the base model has all the important oily bits, the only things it lacks are leather, cruise and the upgraded Bose (which is a bit sh*t anyway as already mentioned).
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff