Hey guys, I am in the market right now for a new car and one of them that I am really considering is the 350z. It looks like it has the whole package (except for rear seats but thats ok =P) Anyways I was wondering how many people are happy that they bought the Z. Are there any real big problems to look for? I read about the paint issue on the Z and that really made me reconsider. I appreciate any replys to this. Thanks for your time!

 

If the paint issue makes you apprehensive, then you don't want to hear about the other problems (manual transmission problems in particular...).

 

Im Happy with my purchase... so far

 

1,900+ miles on my baby so far and no problems to date. I have no regrets of purchasing it and it'll stay around for a VERY long time

 

this is my first Z car, had it 5 days and i can honestly say i am happy to drive a car again

 

*looks around* uhhh, your talking to a board full of Z owners, if we didnt like the car..... eh nm.

yes I like the car. I find some expect alot and thus are disappointed. maybe I expect too little... owell, drive em all yourself, only way to know for sure. dont expect porsche quality, STI speed, and S2k handling tho, but expect a nice intermediate of them all with a strong aftermarket.

 

Makes me wonder... what kind of paint problems am I supposed to have?

 

110% satisfied.

 

Duh?

 

orange peel and chips.

but on that basis, dont buy a mercedes either, except on them, when you get a chip, expect rust to go along with it. oh and orange peel? I challenge anyone to find a car without orange peel on a lot. wander through a mall parking lot, all newer cars and most older ones have it.

 

Luv my Brick. For issues, see my sig below.

 

I certainly would advise anyone buying a car to look it over very carefully before taking delivery. If it doesn't meet your standards, don't buy it.

For all problems mentioned on this forum, some have them--most don't. I feel lucky that I don't have the serious problems some have described. After one year I still look forward every day to driving it, even if I'm just sitting in rush hour traffic. Its a great car. Read any review in any magazine and the comments are nearly uniformly positive. All of the Z owners I have talked to in person say that they love the car.

Ares is right. The paint issue is the same for all car companies. Some cars from every brand have orange peel paint. Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, etc. When people here started complaining about the paint chipping from small road debris/stones, I started looking at cars. Found them on our fairly new Volvo, and lots of other high priced cars.

Nissan isn't perfect, and my dealer didn't know much about the car when I bought it over a year ago. The dealer is now up to speed and is knowledgeable about the car.

 

I love this car! Nothing comes close for bang for the buck. The exterior is clean and smooth looking, with good, powerful lines. The interior is well placed with the controls and has a very purposeful, spartan feel. This is exactly the kind of car that rewards you with more the harder you drive it. On a track it will hand a s2000 its own and put a boxster in their place with money left over for fun. Orange peel is on most, if not all, new cars. When I work on one that doesn't, I suspect a paint job has been done.
EDIT: can't type well to save my life...

 

I bought a 2004 Enthusiast, 6 sp manual, aero kit and just like a lot of other people here in rthis forum, I read about the paint chips, the tranny problems and the window crease. I know that usually the first year models on all cars take a few hits from the critics, i gave all of that some thought and placed my order and got my Z Sep. 5. I now have 2300 miles and ZZZero problems, this car is all that I thought it would be and then some. The Z rates. LOve this car!

 

I got my Z two and half weeks ago...it now has 5K miles on it (-bought it with 4K) and everything is perfect. I have read this board for ages it seems like and the only problem i can identify with so far are the window streaks. Thats it. Otherwise its perfect...LOOKS, ride, handling, POWER, fit & finish etc. It turns heads everywhere and provokes countless intersection and gas pump conversation from others. I have a super black with orange leather 6sp Touring model.

 

I am very happy with the car. I would buy it again. I have no problems with mine what-so-ever.

 

where are all the people with 15000 miles? No replies???...I want to hear from you guys not the 3 week, 1500miles guys???!!!

 

The best thing about the Z is the value of the car...

There is just nothing else on the market for this price where you can get this performance, style, & reliability. Yes, there are cars with better performance, there are cars more stylish (sexy), and even a few more reliable. But none that have all three characteristics at this price.

As far as “problems”, yes, a few. The main ones are the “window grease”, tire feathering, poor paint, poor stereo (both Bose & non-Bose), and a few transmission replacements. IMO it seems these problems are mainly on early-built ‘03s (Built & delivered in 2002.) My ’03 is a late build, May 2003, and I have had no problems… I think these are really not major considering this is the first year of a completely new, sports car.

But for the basics of a sports car; performance, handling, & good looks -- Nissan nailed it.

If you have the time to read the thousands and thousands of posts and threads on the forum, the VAST majority of us love this car, even those who are having problems. And 99% of us have no regrets and would buy it again in a second. Of course, we ***** about the car, after all this is a Z forum. It does get old, thread after thread, about how much in love we are with this car….

There is no proper description of this car, you just have to experience about 50 miles of open road, free of traffic & cops. Once you have experienced it there is no looking back or wishing you’d bought something else.

Good luck…Peace.

PS There are only a few of us with 15,000 + miles, after all most of us have only had a Z less than a year. But if you can find some of the high mileage guys ( a few have over 30,000 miles) I believe you’ll get the same message….

 

I dont have high mileage, right under 9000miles, but my car is a year old now, and I love it.

again, I urge you to try the car, things like the stereo... I think the complaints came from some expecting aftermarket quality, perhaps they hadnt had "premium" factory stereos before; I had an infinity system in my dodge, and it was no better than the Bose Z.

transmission replacements? I dont know a whole lot, but what I do know is that a noticable amount of people that needed 1 tranny replaced needed a second, which not to point fingers or make accusations does atleast raise the question of if its the car or the driver, too much coincidence for me there.

feathering and window grease, yup, their problems, and hopefully the worst I ever have to deal with.

 

We've had our first major snowfall where I am recently, and the roads are still snowed covered and icy. Now my Z is sitting in the garage, roads are just too darn bad, and it's only November.

Let's just say it pains me everyday to see it yet not being able to drive it. Obsession, passion, love, addiction............call it whatever you want, but they all fit.....

So, Spy, I guess my response to your question should be obvious.....resounding YES....