Ha! Now that I've got you lured in here I'm looking for your top 5 or so, most important things to look for in a used Z.

I've got a buddy who works for a Nissan dealership and he's currently looking for one and has been on the look out for about 3 weeks now. The only thing is I've only purchased brand new cars so this is where you great guys/gals come in. It's hopefully an 04 or 05 Touring or better w/Nav, Black on Black leather, and 6spd m/t. Anything you can give me too look out for will be +1 because I know nothing as of yet.

Thanks for your time guys I really appreciate it.

 

1. tire feathering
2. make sure the transmission is ok
3. clutch problems
4. window motors, window grease
5. axle click

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head, is the car youre getting still under warranty?? If it is, then youll be ok. If its not under warranty, check for all those problems.

 

Plans are to have some sort of warranty on it.... my plans at least lol.

 

Welcome. Check Consumer Reports.

 

I'm in sales. I refuse to read consumer reports, but thanks. Your top 5?

 

1. Compression test.
2. Run a magnet around the body panels to see if there is any bondo
3. Road test to assess tranny and brakes.
4. Look in the fender wells and under the car for overspray (A sign the car's been repainted.
5. Check the oil. If it's filthy, its not a well maintained car

 

+2 for that one!

What kind of magnet? <---dumb.

 

Any kind. Just get a fairly good sized one and wrap in it a paper towel to avoid scratches.

 

**Or weld marks that look new. Inconsistancies in paint colour, immediate trigger it's probably had a ding. Especiallly in the rear quarter of the car, lift the carpet and check underneath again for inconsitancies.
**Check underneath the car for any low flying damage because of low ground clearance.


http://www.nz300zx.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=405 (from our 350 forum in NZ).
*Personal experience I would get the tyres changed before purchasing if riding on stock Bridgestone Potenza RE040's - leathal in the wet & very noisy!!!! AVOID!
*Watch the front stock black skirt in used 350's if very worn/ground down - it's whole unit to replace at about reasonably pricey.
*When replacing brake pads or if 350 has about 30-40k on odometre depending on how hard it's been driven, have the rotors checked!! The new brake pad compound wearing through rotors at an excessively high rate.
*Tan leather seats, they look stunning, but make sure you take care of the seats with something like Meguiars or Mothers Leather Cleaner and Meguiars or Mothers Conditioner as the colour tends to mark quite a bit from the ones I have seen.
*Keep an eye on the handbrakes. I've driven 14 x 350's all seen to be similar.

+1 on DavidV's comment

 

Thanks for the posts guys!! It's greatly appreciated. I'll print this thread on my way to the dealership in a few weeks when he finds on so I dont forget any of your good points!

Continue

Thanks

 

I think you will get more valuable info from this site than you will Consumer Reports, but if you want to avoid mistakes...the point of your question...you are foolish to be blind to a good source of information. Just take it in context of who is reporting it.

 

Why?

 

Because many of the products that I sell personally (high end AV equipment) is usually missed represents by the consumer reporters. So I tend to steer away from them on that regard.

 

Reliability data published by Consumer Reports is compiled from surveys completed by 350Z owners like myself.