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I am new to the Nissan 350z and wanted to reach out to all of you to get advise from all of you. I recently saw a 2003 350z for sale from a woman who has only driven it about 1,000 miles this past year. It currently has 41,000 and is a touring trim. It is also an automatic (I know I know), but that does not bother me as I do not know how to drive a manual (again, I know...I know, its a shame).
Anyway, a little about myself, I just turned 40 last week and my better half has given me the go ahead to by a "fun" car for myself. I only plan on driving it in the spring and summer months. I do not plan on tracking it or anything, just enjoyable casual driving.
Is there anything about the 2003s that I should be worried about or watch out for? I heard something about oil consumption, can someone please give some details about this? Is this something that I need to watch out for often? Would I just have to top it off every month?
Also, the seller of the car sent additional pics to me and I noticed that the rear of that car says "Fairlady Z". Is that normal? I have not seen that before.
Any info or help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Hello, yes all year can have the oil consumption issue. But more noteably the 06. However if left uncheck, it can do damage to the block. If you do regular oil changes, not a big deal. Top off and move on.
As far as the whole "fairlady thing" it could just be an aftermarket badge, not a big deal unless its rhd.
As with all cars. Get an inspection done. These cars like to burn the window mowers.
Hello, yes all year can have the oil consumption issue. But more noteably the 06. However if left uncheck, it can do damage to the block. If you do regular oil changes, not a big deal. Top off and move on.
As far as the whole "fairlady thing" it could just be an aftermarket badge, not a big deal unless its rhd.
As with all cars. Get an inspection done. These cars like to burn the window mowers.
Agree. ^^
And 350Z was NEVER known as "Fairlady" in the US. It's clearly a "JDM" thing for people to put the domestic market name on it... in the same way some people refuse to call it an "ACURA NSX"; only "Honda NSX" will do. Identity crisis.
A lot of Z's all years have transmission issues, they not being the strong point of the car but in particular, early ('03-04.5) Zs have it even worse with symptomatic third (and sometimes 5th, oddly) gear synchros. Usually grinding or difficulty engaging. However, if/when you get a Z, you'll baseline the car with new fluids and......
Doy, just realized/remembered yours is an A/T car. So never mind the last paragraph (left in for other seeking '03-04 buying caveats.... laff...)
Here's an endorsement from a similar circumstance. Hope this helps you in your decision.
I purchased an '03 Touring with 42,000 miles 3 years ago with the same intentions that you described.
As it turns out, the car is WAY TOO MUCH FUN for just weekend usage.
I use it a my daily commuter ( as long as temps are above freezing ), and after 33,000 miles, I've experienced ZERO ISSUES, and have nothing but the utmost admiration for the car's DURABILITY and PERFORMANCE.
I continually push this car to its limits for:
A pre-work day adrenaline RUSH
A mid day lunch break STRESS RELIEVER
And then high tail it home for a lightning quick ESCAPE from work.
Keep in mind, the car will soon be 14 years old, but still looks relevant and SHOCKS everyone when they hear how old the car is.
I'm at the point where I need new tires, I had an alignment done, it will need another due to pot holes, and I lied, I do have an issue, a passenger power window switch that sometimes needs a door slam to get it to function ( a common connection issue ).
So, that's my story... Hope we can hear yours if all comes to happen.
Thank you all for the replies, I appreciate it. Yeah, I am really excited about the car. The person I am buying the car from is the original owner who bought it off the lot with 3 miles on it. She has started t grow her family so has not been able to really drive it very much and I do not think she has driven it very hard, so I think that is a good thing. Judging by the pictures, it also seems like she has taken good car of the car which is nice. She is asking $11k, but I am hoping I can get it for $9k.
She has also agreed the a PPI which is great, but unfortunately she asked if I can find a shop/place near her area so she does not have to travel too far as she is also in the middle of moving and is currently driving her son to his new school 30 minutes each way. Should I just have it checked out by a Nissan dealership? How much should I expect to pay for a PPI? I know it will need new tires as she said that is the only thing it needs. She said all the fluids were changed at 30,000 miles including the radiator flush, oil and brake fluids were done last year. So it sounds like I may have found a nice one, but what do I know. She did say there area few rock chips on the front of the car (no biggie though).
Here are some of the pics she sent me of the car...
Last edited by pkalhan; 11-20-2016 at 04:45 PM.
Reason: did not want to show license plate number
car looks like a gem. the nissan dealership should, and i say should because the tech in my area are a bunch of monkeys, but thats another story, be able to do the PPI for you rates varies but its anywhere between 1-200 bucks. steep but worth it.
if all goes well, i wouldnt hesitate to buy that car for 10k. its low mileage, well kepts and rock chips are just unavoidable so dont make a big deal of it. interior is clean and if its mechanically well, sign the check and enjoy it. these cars are hardy and can handle the punishment.
Are you from Pittsburgh as well? What a small world. Yes it looks like it. I am hoping, if I am able to purchase the car, I can take care of it as well as the current owner has.
As everyone has noted, that seems like a good catch.
On the automatic trans.... don't let that get to you. While all of my Zs are and have been manuals, I welcome the A/T in my non-Zs because there's just times that I feel like being shiftless. Oh, and A/T cars, if you shop around, it's easy to see that they are generally less abused.
But yes, seriously, even at $11k, given what we know of the car and can see from pics only (mileage and seeming condition), that's a good price. $10k would be an excellent price but.... 40k mile cars are rare these days. Good luck!
I just took possession of the car! I am really excited to be the new owner of this beautiful 350z and can't wait to put some new tires (they need them) on it so I can start driving it.
11-19-2016, 07:00 PM
New to this site and the 350z
