Ok so I'm 21 live in Massachusetts, currently carless . Share a car with my girlfriend and it sucks. My father who has currently been very helpful has offered to go car hunting and I found a beautiful 2004 red nissan 350z. Now my main concern is how are they in snow with blizzak snow tires? I'm a smart driver won't be flying on the highway with snow or ice on the road. Also how many miles do these cars usually last for? Is there any parts that go easily on them? My friend has a BMW and the water pump on it goes every6 months ad it's pricey!

Thanks

Cj

 

A) I am a BMW enthusiast. WPs do go, but for the love of god not every six months. have him file it as a lemon... I am Original owner of a 1995 525i, 248k miles original motor, and ive been through 4 WPs.

B) most any car will perform better in snow with blizzaks, IMHO theyre one of the best snow tires. That being said, a Z with blizzaks wont turn into a jeep, or a subaru, or even an RSX, magically. It's still a FR platform sports car.

C) smart drivers can handle most any car in conditional weather. Drive smart with good tires and it'll be fine. Its worth dealing with the, maybe, 3x a year it snows to enjoy during spring summmer fall and dry winter days.

 

i can attest from experience that small diameter wheel blizzak tires ( ie on 16s) on a Z32 along w Stillen sway bars ( specifically the rears) will make an incredible difference in traction.

Its not awd or a jeep, but the places i had driven that Z32 into and out of during an Alaskan winter in a snow storm are truly mind boggling due to teh above combination of products... sways are jsut as important as the blizzaks.. the way they distribute the traction is paramount in snow. Plus the Z33 has traction control .. i never had that.

 

I think it's worth it to, from all the reviews I have been reading sounds like with some tires and sway bars I'm good to go! Next some nice black rims ;P
Thanks for the help guys I appreciate it!

 

I agree with what everyone else said. I live right around Philadelphia and we get a few big snowstorms each year (obviously not as much as you) so I never really researched into snow tires because I still go to high school so if I can't drive to school I can just catch the bus. But I would definitely get the snow tires because of how intense the winters can be up there. It is totally worth it though because think of the 7-8 months that you don't need to worry about snow! If you decide to get it, post pics! Good luck

 

I've gone through one winter with the Z and it was fine, although it only snowed two days last year, I went out on both days on rather long trips.

a) They are fine in the snow with Blizzak tires. Control is key, push too hard and you'll slide around. Ice is a different story, but that's with any car.
b) There are members who have had the car for 200k+ miles. There are many small issue depending on the year (eg. fuel consumption), and some common issues across the whole board (eg. oil pressure sending unit, airbag light).
c) The main issue isn't so much the fact that it snows, but clearance issues. Too high of snow = Z won't clear it.
d) BMW's have a long line of issues, in my experience much much more than any Nissan I've seen. I had a 7 series detailed a couple years ago, and after having them steam-clean the engine bay, it literally shut off on the way home and randomly turns back on while I drive. End of the day needed a new alternator.

In conclusion, you'll be fine in the snow with Blizzaks. I have my Blizzaks on, ready for the snow this year. I would suggest running dedicated Summer tires and dedicated Winter tires if you plan on DD'ing your Z all year, that way you get the best of both.

 

With Blizzaks, your only issue will be depth of the snow. As long as you are not plowing it with the front end, the car will handle beautifully.

 

I live in Cali, what's snow?

 

U know.. the soap flakes they dump at the mall for the kids one weekend a year during Christmas..

 

The Z is definitely not a snow car. But if you are what you say you are "Smart Driver" with that good of a snow tire you should be fine. The Z is an amazing car. I just hope its a 6SM

 

I have on Pirelli sotozero snow tires right now with 2-4 inches on the ground. Handles fine... No better or worse than BMWs in the snow. I'll echo what others have said about clearance. I've been trapped in a parking garage after plows came by due to clearance.

 

My cars a street sweeper...I can barely get around town as it is
No snow for me

 

This is a thread I would delete and then send you a PM saying, "SEARCH!!!!"

 

 

Sway bras reduce traction, you may want to stay on the stock bars at first.

 

get yourselft a monster truck =D