My wife fell in love with looks of the 350Z (however she has not driven one yet). I am considering trading in her "00 Black Mustang Covertible GT for a 350Z. I know from the past 25 years of owning and driving different cars such as the Corvette, Mustang and Trans Am that every car has pros and cons.
I don't however, have any history with the Nissan 350Z. Could you please give me your advice and recomendations on the Z. Here is the criteria. A daily driver for my wife, automatic transmission......Coupe or convertible is still a question. We do occasionaly take short trips so I thought the storage of the coupe was a little better than the roadster. Base, Enthusiast, Touring...etc. I have no plans to modify or race this vehicle. The intention is to have a fun, fast, reliable daily driver. Is the first year 03 OK or should I stay away from the first year made? I know I put out a lot of information in this thread, but I am just trying to be an informed buyer. Thanks.

 

Dude forever will I be in <3 with the Z. Uhhhhh
You might try teaching your wife to drive manual..she could do and and get really good at it in just a few days, and like a pro in 2 wks
First time I *EVER* took out a car as a test drive that was a manual, I started it from a stop in 3rd gear, and not once did I stall..and only learning to drive stick by watching someone else drive for a period of time. its sooo fun

 

If you are looking for reliability and hassle free experience, you may want to go with 2005 or 2006 models, not that the other years are that bad (maybe 2003), but to be on the safe side (regarding many of the little quirks).

It's definitely a fun vehicle and if you concentrate on the fun part you will be fine. It may help to have more of a rough skin with respect to the quirks.

For example, if you have a really picky personality combined with a bad dealership, you may experience this:
1) small traces of grease on the windows
2) bring it to dealer
3) things get worse after an incompetent tech takes the door apart.
4) windows start to behave oddly
5) you get annoyed and bring it back again
6) it get's worse
7) you start to hear other noises
8) you worry more and more
9) you start to be frustrated.

That type of thing *can* happen.

If you are more the fun type, less caring about little quirks it could be like this:
1) small traces of grease on the windows
2) you don't care and drive hard.
3) experience finished.


Basically my point is:
The 350z is a great car with respect to crash safety, driving fun, performance, design&looks, sportscar milage, overall quality.
But it has several little quirks that one can get picky about or may be lucky to never experience. Chances to experience these quirks are much higher with 2003 and early 2004 models.

I cannot say whether these quirks are more or less compared to other cars.
All other cars I have driven so far were either cars I didn't care about as much, or were a toyota suv/truck were there weren't any issues.

The z is a very reasonable prized sports car probably more prone to such quirks, but it may also be because people are so much more sensitive about it. Probably if you look into forums of similar cars (audi tt, mustang, rx8, ...) you may find that every car has lots of quirks.

Quirks that I know about from reading this forum (for stock non racing 350zs):
- window motors/grease
- fuel fill up
- axle noises
- tranny noises, notchy shifting (manual)
- tire wear

Quirks that I have experienced myself so far (2005 touring/manual by now 9k miles):
- windows quirk, but nothing serious, no problem for daily usage.
- maybe axle noises

Coupe has A LOT more trunk space. I even tried fitting a moutain bike in the trunk, and if I would have played a little longer and taken the bike apart a little more, it would have worked.
Snowboards can fit too (at least without binding, maybe with binding a little more difficult)

The roadster loses a bit of the nice Z line if the roof is up.

For what your requirements are I would recommend a Touring Automatic or higher.
You do want your wife to have VDC probably (safer ride) and the touring is the most typical trim if you want leather, better stereo and nav as an option. You can go with higher trims, giving better brakes (only really needed for track use) or lower trims without leather, but maybe not the base trim without the VDC (vehicle dynamic control)

hope this helps.

 

05 or 06 would be your best bet when it comes to reliablity.
FYI, I have a 05 and had EVERY single problem earlier models have.
If you can go for 06..it seems like most problems have been eliminated.

Since the car is for your wife, I would recommend the Touring model,
because leather seat is a MUST for women
Seems like that's all they care about, looks and having leather seat haha

 

^thats what I thought, but my 06 has the greasy windows, axle clicking, and the noisy and notchy transmission, but its not that big of a deal to me. Ive been wanting to take it in to the dealer, but dont want to go a day without driving the car...its that good!!! I think you will find the Z much more fun to drive than a mustang, but if you have owned camaros, corvettes, etc..you might find the Z as a little "slow" compared to those. But the 05 and 06 SHOULD give you less problems, and the 06 is a bit more refined than the earlier models (quiter, smoother ride, steering wheel and clutch need less effort). Good luck!!

 

I have the 2004 Touring Edition Coupe with the 6-speed. The only comment i have about the models of the Z is to not go the base model as they dont have cruise control but I think it also only comes with the 6-speed so it would be eliminated anyways. I am going to buy to the 07 roadster when it comes out so that i can use my current car for the mods that im afraid to do to my daily driver.

 

Not true I ht8 leather seats



For the OP, agree with the others get the latest one you can.

05 Enth here. Except for a slight pull to the right ( that was cured with a suspenison/wheel upgrade ) And the common cheap (thin) paint complaint.

No major problems whatsoever, Just love the Z

 

Double post plz delete...

 

I'd buy either an '05 or an '06 Enthusiast Coupe [Best Buy] / Touring Coupe [ power/heated/leather seats & the Bose stereo].





PS... The '06 has THE best lights [Safety], the improved interior [radio & cruise control buttons on the steering wheel] & suspension.

 

Base models don't come with automatics.... enthusiast would be next up.... and would be my first choice....(best bang for your buck)

As with any car ever manufactured there might be a problem here or there. I can say that nissan has treated me very well with the small problems I've had. (tire feathering, gas tank hard to fill)

I'm not really sure if you would want to stay away from the '03s, because I don't have one. Seems like more '03s have problems than later models but I don't know. Maybe look for an '04 or later just to be on the safe side.

All in all your wife should be very happy with the Z. It's nicer all-the-way-around than the '00 mustang GT. (be careful - she's going to get a lot more looks than in her mustang, lol)

Good luck!

 

With respect, if the misses is interested in driving a 350Z, then maybe she should post her own questions and concerns. I mean you buy a car for a 17 kid, not a mature woman.

 

I've got an '05 Touring 5AT coupe and it has been as close to perfect as I could ask for. Just drive one and you'll see what you've been missing. You will have no trouble forgetting the fact that you used to drive a, um, what was it again?

 

+1

 

Cmon david, where have you been???

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/8...4543F25492.htm

 

i don't usually keep a car for longer than two years...guess what...i've had my Z since 3/03 and still get excited every morning cranking it up. Unlike the mustangs and the corvettes, the Z is entirely a different driving experience.

 

Look for an 05 or 06 Enthusiast...it is best buy. But no leather & standard stero is garbage.

If you don't want the extra grief of aftermarket leather & stero, look for 05 or 06 Touring. It comes with leather & Bose Stero.

Actually, buying used your probably better with Touring. Cost of Enthusiast plus leather & stero mods will probably be more than cost of Touring.

 

^^ Agreed. Plus, for '06 Nissan deleted the Performance trim and lowered the price on the Touring model to make room for the Grand Touring at the top of the Z line.