This is my first sports car and its a blast to drive. It is a 2006 base model. So far it is bone stock, mainly because I only had it for a little less than 4 months. I kinda wanted to leave it stock for the first 6 months to ensure that nothing is wrong with it. I think this car is really great with a few exceptions.
1. The first disppointment is that the door doesnt feel solid when the windows are rolled down. Whenever I shut the door with the windows down, the door sounds like its going to break. It seems as if the window isnt tightly secured within the door. Anybody else had this problem? Let me know if its just my car so i can get that fixed.
2. The second disppointment is that my air condition is starting to smell mildewy at the first several seconds at start-up. Is this a common problem? or is it just my car? It has been really rainy lately here in hawaii. There also seems to be a lot of water under the car after it has been parked. Could this ecxcessive condensation cause the odor?
3. The Paint job isnt that great and the quality of the body doesnt seem as good as my old toyota and my dad's lexus. Within the first two months I already had a chip on my front bumper. And no matter how often I wax my car (at LEAST every other week), the car never seems to feel as smooth as the lexus or toyota. Maybe i'm just being too picky. I must say though, I really like the color of my pikes peak white.

Is it just me or do all you other Z owners experience these "problems". Well, let me know if it is just my car that is like this.

 

all 3 are common to my knowledge...at least they all happen to me...just part of the joy of owning a Z

 

All three are normal.
Ship happens.
Get used to it.
Love it.

 

1. This is common with the windows rolled down. Nothings going to break; it's just the way the door panel, side window and regulator are designed.
2. Never heard of excess moisture inside my Z. But then again, I live in Colorado!
3. You're being picky. I'd agree the Z's paint isn't as good as a Lexus, but the $$ was spent on performance. That's what you bought it for, wasn't it?

 

2. The second disppointment is that my air condition is starting to smell mildewy at the first several seconds at start-up. Is this a common problem? or is it just my car? It has been really rainy lately here in hawaii. There also seems to be a lot of water under the car after it has been parked. Could this ecxcessive condensation cause the odor?

This can happen to any car. just get some AC odor remover, follow the instruction and let it circulate in your AC to kill off the mold/mildew.

 

Paint chips on the front bumper are normal for a car that sits as low as the Z. Take a look at your bumper. Compare the distance from the ground to the bottom of the bumper with another car and you'll see what I mean.

If rock chips really bother you, buy a bra for the car.

 

The window is frameless, so this is to be expected. My old Stealth was the same way.

Try this: A few minutes before reaching your destination, turn the compressor off, turn the temperature selector all the way down and turn the fan all the way up. This will run the warmer outside air over the evaporator and "dry it out". This is where the mildew you smell is forming. Run it this way until the air coming in is maybe slightly cooler than the outside air (3-5 minutes). This will work for any car, obviously.

Two months? Consider yourself fortunate. I got my first in less than a week.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Z ownership!

 

I bet your Lexus did not have a painted surface that was as close and as exposed to the ground as the 350Z. If all you got to complain about is this, you really dont have much to complain about.

Try owning a MB and dealing with all the electrical problems etc...

 

the mildew smell can happen in any car....especially if you store the car in an area with poor air circulation....the paint chips...welcome to having a car low to the ground and a huge front fascia... ...(with the car being so new you could probably take it back to the dealership and they will clean your air vents out for you at no charge if the smell has been there from the start)

 

1. The first disappointment is that the door doesnt feel solid when the windows are rolled down.

Agree. Its a poor design. Maybe that's the reason the windows do not work.

2. The second disappointment is that my air condition is starting to smell mildew

You live in Hawaii. The average humidity is what? 90 percent?

3. The Paint job isn't that great and the quality

I’m talked out about 350Z paint.

 

Thanks for all the replies. It seems that most of my "disappointments" are common and understandable. I'd hate to be the complainer, but writing about all the good stuff would just take too long. haha. Its a great car and I'm glad I bought it. No Regrets.

 

flame me if you want, but i am surprised at how many people complain about paint chips on the z. what do you expect if you are driving at high speeds with rocks and who knows what flying around. i never had a car that never chipped. i rememer a z forum member complaining that the paint was cheap after having his car keyed. i have almost 50K miles and have a few chips, but nothing abnormal. i understand that its a car and ****t will happen.

 

our Z is horrible at avoiding rock chips, i dont think the paint is that great and we all suffer from common rock chips.

 

Congrats, you are now officially a Z owner. Enjoy.

 

I have had my Z for exactly 30 days and I have several chips in the front I am getting some touch up paint and a clear bra installed next week to help the problem.

The windows are frameless so I expect rattles.

The mildew smell is in mine sometimes as well I will try running the fan to stop that.

Overall I love my car I am having a blast modding it and it is just way too much fun to drive.

 

ummm, u sure ur waxing right then? Cuz my Z is one of the smoothest cars I've ever felt, granted it gets 3stepd or clay and a 2 step everytime i wax

 

^^ lol exactly! I'm a previous owner of a benz I will never go back

 

My 03 daily driven has'nt 1 paint chip

 

Good point. Thx.

 

rock chips are a pain in the a$$, fortunately it can be prevented by purchasing a clear bra but then again the bra may mess up ur paint job because it only protects the part you covered so when u take it off it may look like you have two different paints on ur car