troutspinner

I am looking for a used 350Z as a 2nd car. This would be for 100% enjoyment and have no practicality whatsoever!

I’ve always been a fan of the 350Z but I am a total newbie and need to do A LOT of research yet so I am hoping the great members here can give me a crash course.

I do not have a fixed budget in mind yet, the amount I would be willing to spend will be dictated by the condition and miles. Just for discussion, let’s use $20k.

But what I need help with is I don’t even know what year or model to look for. When I look at the models, Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring, Track….which one is the one for me?

I want the car as a toy to rip around the back roads while I crank the stereo, which I will most certainly build from the ground up. I could care less about factory GPS, or other toys in the car but I do want the car to be equipped with a suspension meant for tearing up the asphalt on back roads. I guess my only interior wants would be power windows and AC, keyless entry would be nice but that’s about it.

03-06 Look to have the same engine though the 06 has a little more HP and the 07 and 08 look to have another version all the while, power is just a few ticks more in HP and Torque. Is there any one year I should stay away from or is there any one year that I should favor? Or am I even looking at the wrong car altogether?

I’ve always thought that one day I would buy and restore a muscle car but now that I am at a point in my life where I can afford to do that, no way! That would be like a job, I just want to enjoy. I will admit though, I do like to tinker and am pretty good with my hands so to work on a car once in a while would actually be fun to me.

Thanks for any and all help.

troutspinner

jmark

iTrader: (1)

I am biased but 07/08 Nismo 350Z.

CJM

iTrader: (3)

You have the money, get a low mileage 07-08. For you, I would advise not getting the Nismo edition since you are not a huge 350z fan and you pay a lot more just for the exclusivity of it.

07-08 track or grand touring would be perfect for you. Better brakes, better engine, etc. Perfectly suited for "tearing up backroads." Save a little for a quality suspension and you'll be good to go

jmark

iTrader: (1)

The 07/08 Nismo 350Z is the pinnacle of the 350Z line. You don't need to do anything as far as handling goes. It is the best factory handling 350Z Nissan built. They only made 1670 of them total in 2007 & 2008.

troutspinner

Thank you for the responses. CJM, I just went to the Nissan site and configured a current 370Z using the track model. While the current generation isn't what I am looking for the Track model does seem to be the one for me. Thank you for that.

Any reason to stay with 07-08 and not go even older and save some cash?

NismoDude

This.


As a fellow Nismo owner, I agree 100%, but for many it may be too hard edge sporting.

OP may want an AUTO trans (aka sequential gheybox), or leather seats, or if HIFI stereo is a real concern, the extra noise from the extra wide tires that come on Nismo's, and the firm ride might be a turnoff.

MI 35th

iTrader: (16)

Sell you mine for 30K
Faster than 90% of production hyper cars.

05 35th anniv, 001
Built Motor Single Turbo
Grand-AM cup suspension
Nismo V2 Aero
Volks
ETC ETC

troutspinner

Did you not read my original post? Heck No! on Auto or Leather, I want a car that's fun to drive, you can leave modern convenience for the other guy.

As for the top of the line models, I've often found that when you buy a top of the line model (any vehicle) that you pay 2x what the parts or features are worth. And often you end spending more money to replace those expensive features with better parts.

I've been researching pricing, it is all over the board. I found an 06 with 67k going for 8,500. Made me suspicious but it is a base model, no LSD so that is a no-go.

MI 35th, thanks for the offer. I am learning that many on CL are turbo'd or supercharged. While that is intriguing, I would prefer one that is not modified so I can make modifications as I see fit.

MI 35th

iTrader: (16)

Yah buying one form CL thats boosted is asking for trouble. I Understand and the 100K i put into my car is probably wasted when every jackhole on CL posts their cars up as "fast"

troutspinner

Now that is quite the hobby you have there! I'll have to do some poking around and read up about your car, sounds nice.

radiocrash

iTrader: (3)

get an 07-08. it has the HR motor which offers more power and it responds better to mods than previous years. the 06' year models often have a problem with burning oil so whether or not you want to take that gamble is up to you. 05' and 08' have the least issues, but like I said the 08' will be faster all day.

Deteria

iTrader: (2)

07-08 enthusiast 6MT for building up.

MI 35th

iTrader: (16)

The FI options for the HR suck, look into that. If you want to stay NA the HR is great, if you want to boost it get a rev-up. 05 35th or 06.

lumper1

You really should just read the 04 to present models list and changes and options, etc and get familiar with the cars and years and get a practical idea of what you want.

I would say for me it had to be an 07 or newer because I wanted the HR engine, the engine that was introduced in 2007 the high revving engine.
I also wanted a hard top, either silver or solar orange that was only available that year, and I Wanted it as stock as I could get it and under 50k miles if I could find one and under 15k$.
I found two for that price and bought one for 13k$ that was perfect for me.
I havent even picked it up yet , I go get it in two weeks.

Anyway everyone will have opinions, but you should do a little reading to get familar so you have some basic understanding of the changes.

My general rule of thumb is buy the newest model year you can afford, unless that year is a known year with issues.

Just my opinion,
Good luck
Lump

Whiteazn2

07 or 08 no questions asked lol