I'm looking into getting a used 04 Z and was just wondering if it would be a smart move considering I'd be driving it year round? I live in NJ so it'd be subjected to snow, rain, etc. The car I'm looking at now has all season tires on it, and from researching online it seems like I'd have to buy a set of snow tires for next winter...but will the all seasons do fine in the rain?

Also the Z I'm looking at has 56k miles and seems to be in very good condition, but a mechanic friend of mine mentioned something about the timing belt going at around 60-80k miles. He wasn't speaking specifically about the Z but is this something I should worry about?

With all that said the carfax is clean and the car itself looks like it was kept in VERY good condition, at the moment the only thing stopping me from getting the car is the fear of being unable to drive it in bad weather and my mother who is running out of excuses!

 

sounds good to me. dont worry too much about rain, the all-season tires should help (as long as you dont drive like a maniac). but forget about snow driving (unless you have snow tires on).

as for the car's condition, make sure to check the top 100 questions FAQ here. just some issues might be the transmission, tire feathering, rear axle click (each year has its' own set of problems). as for timing belt, i would think 60-80k is when you would normally replace it.

just make sure its the right car for you, as in, do you need back seats. thats the only thing i wish my Z had.

 

No timing belt - no need to replace anything.

There's been a million discussions on daily driving a Z:

https://my350z.com/forum/new-owners/...ly-driver.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2008-n...ly-driver.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2008-n...ily-drive.html
https://my350z.com/forum/nismo-350z/...-question.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2008-n...heir-350z.html
https://my350z.com/forum/350z-roadst...ly-driver.html
https://my350z.com/forum/new-owners/...ly-driver.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2008-n...z-drivers.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2008-n...driver-zs.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2008-n...ly-driver.html
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2008-n...ly-driver.html

 

350Z for snow? There are better choices.

 

Yeah, don't we have a timing chain?

 

^yep..and i drive mine everyday all year,and its great.The potenzas suck really bad in the snow,but every tire i have gotton since has done really well.

 

I got mine in december and didnt have problems with it this winter,even though our winters are nothing like yours but it was alright in the light snow we had this year. mines an 04 with 50k miles in good conditition,its my DD and I love it.

 

I drive mine at leas five days a week, all year round. It's done fine in the snow. Only ever had trouble with one road, unploughed, and quite steep. Also, the TCS has gotten me stuck, it cuts the throttle at the slightest wheel spin, I just turned it off, and drove away.

And if your really worried, just get some chains, and keep in the car throughout winter.

Steele

 

how many fawking threads do we have to have on this?

DO IT

 

I drive it year round, whether Snow or rain. Just make sure u have Snow tires for the winter. thats all. No problem at all. VDC works like a charm if u are first time FR driver.

 

I drive my z year round. I can handle light snow (2-3 inches tops). usually only a few snow days a year at my location but this year was a bit heavier then normal, the z was immobile for a few days but I used up some PTO and had a nice little break from work.

Can't justify the cost of a set of snow wheels/tires for a few days out of the year, and usually only needing them 1-2 days out of the year since the snow stays pretty light.

 

that is purely your decison. if you think the Z is too much of a car for what you require or you cannot decide for yourself if this is the car for you, i suggest you look elsewhere

 

One word: Blizzaks.

 

Jesus

 

i drive mine year round and im on long island snow was a big issue for me you get stuck anywhere and everywhere

 

What is this "snow" you guys speak of?

 

...I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

Canadian Reggae Singer from the 90's!

http://www.myspace.com/snowtheartist

 

You did NOT just say that...

But seriously, I'm in St Louis - not exactly snow like you have. So far I've had it for a grand total of two dustings. FWIW, I had an RX-7 back when I was about your age (guessing)... it SUCKED in the snow, but it was totally worth it the other 360 days a year.

 

Quite a few, but if you search under Daily Driver you get 34 pages and hardly any have the subject Daily Driver. Search function pretty much sucks a lot of the time.
Of course Search DID lead me to a thread regarding which side of the engine is Bank 1 and which is Bank 2, but it was a$$-backwards. Anyone wanna buy a Bank 2 Cam Position Sensor, LOL