OK I'm the type of person who doesn't drive alot basically to work and back and all of my friends and such live close by so I only average about 8000-9000 miles per year. I'm thinking of trading in my current car for a 03-04 350Z with no more than 30K miles but I would like to know how reliable the 350Z engine is in the long run especially when it gets close to 100K miles if it is properly maintained? I feel I probably won't even get another car again if I get the 350Z or it won't be until it reaches 100K miles and with my driving habits that'll take over 7 years to do so I pretty much plan on keeping the 350 for the long run especially since I'm like $3000 upside down on the car loan I have now. I always wanted the 350 over that car I have now so I'm trading it.

 

the engine is great! its the tranny and the tire feathering you have to worry about with the 03, not to much the 04. The Z is a solid car, you'll love it. There is allot of good info on this site!

 

There are less problems with the 04 rather than the 03. Smal things though, nothing too bad. Stay away from 06 because of its oil eating habits.

 

This is a Nissan 350Z.


This is reliable transportation.

Any questions?

 

I am very rough, properly far more then anyone on here, my 03 Z has never had a mechanical problem, if driven proper I am sure the tranny and clutch could carry close to 100k and the engine no doubt could easily hit close to 200K.

I meet someone with 92K miles on his 03 Z with everything original and no problems

You'll see lots of reports of transmission failure or tyre feathering, those are issues to look out for but I dont think they are that wide spread, just that forums tend to have a concentration of problems that in reality on represent a small amount of 03-04 Zs

Even without the tyre feathering issue, the Z is still bad on tyres, I get around 20Kmiles

 

How reliable is the '03-'04 350Z?


it's a japanese car, the VQ engine is rated one of the top ten best engines in the world.
my friend got an early 90's nissan v6 pathfinder(almost 300k miles), still running on the original clutch.

 

+1 I had a 91 pathfinder that i sold with 245k, and the person I sold it to still drives it everyday with over 400k. only major repairs are maintenance things like timing belts etc. I have a 98 pathfinder now with 150k and it runs like a top. So I can vouch for their motors.

BTW, the only problem I had with my '91 clutch was the slave cylinder went out. I replaced it for under 150.00 and kept on getting up.

 

The key thing to note is that all the major/annoying problems listed in the TSBs should have already been encountered by the previous owner, during the 30K miles of his ownership. If he's a good owner, he would have fixed them all, leaving you with a problem free car.

 

My '03 runs like new with 46,200 miles on her. Never had problems with engine, tranny, electrical...... nothing!

Just listed my car for sale a few minutes ago, see link in sig.

 

Back to the topic of Nissans and knowing them for high mileage. Before i purchased my 03 Z, i had a sentra. 338k miles. Dead. I am going to say relating to you is easy i had the same concearns due to the Z's "sports car" title and i thought things would go wrong and expensive. Not so true, of course good tires cost their bit. my friend, the most money you will spend is in modifications... so choose your game wisely. Start mods? or not? the choice is yours. Wish you the best and may you find the perfect car.

Sam.

 

I've got 80k in my 03.. it's a grea car except the damn window malfunctions...
it eats 1-2 qt of oil between oil change though, just synthetic all the way and warm up all the time, then I bet u can drive it 4 a long a.s time!

 

Yes, i have an 03 approaching 55k, still runs like a champ....just make sure you have a warranty, I've had my tranny replaced thought the powertrain warranty twice already,

 

Engine sucks. Get an RSX.

 

my passenger window stopped working...other then that 50(k) trouble free miles on my '04 Z

 

I had zero problems with my 04, tranny is a little weak.

 

'03 50k miles no problems engine wise. Orig everything. Only thing ive replaced was maintanence parts like tires/belts/oil. I did have a window motor/handler replaced under warranty, but it was free. Tire feathering should of been dealt with by now, because the tires would be bald on an '03 after 4 years. Treat your car right, like you want it to last and you won't have any serious issues from either of those years. Beat on your car like some of the people around here, and you'll be burning a couple quarts of oil each change just like any other beat on engine.

 

just under 40k on my 03 and no problems other than having the driver's window moter retimed, new bose head unit (which I dont use the CD player anymore since I got Sirius), and the tire cupping adjustment. Runs like a champ.

BTW. My 00 Maxima is right at 265k miles and still running strong.

 

My '06 doesn't burn a drop.

 

If past engines are any indication and I think they probably are --
My 280zx had 115k on it when I junked it due to rust, but no engine problems at all. My 300zx had 126k on it when I sold it with no engine problems ever.

I never had to add a quart of oil to either car. With the 280 I had a bi-annual valve adjustment and injector cleaning and it always ran like a top. I never did either maintenance with the 300 and at the end it did have a clogged injector. Routine maintenance would have prevented that. The most serious repair I ever had with either car was a new brake master cylinder which cost less than the every 60k timing belt replacement, oh and a few mufflers at about $400 a pop.

The engines have a reputation of being bulletproof. That doesn't mean that every single one is however.
It's very likely you'll spend more on tires than on the engine.

 

i drive a 2004.5 z...love it.

i coudnt ask for anything more...well maybe a APS TT kit lol...but other than that, its a great car!

Jake