It's no secret that 350Zs are getting cheaper and cheaper everyday. So I decided it'd be a good idea to do a flashback review on the very car I owned and inform future owners on what to look out for when shopping for their Zs.

Nissan 350Z Review | Wide Open Throttle

The review covers transmission woes, best models to look for, difference in motors, which respond best to mods and more.

 

Great read. +1

 

Ok read, I don't agree with the interior . The older ones are less plasticy and wear a let better.

 

About the transmission - I wonder why it took Nissan so long to figure things out? Really - I have an 07 Manual, and the 1st to 2nd is a bit sticky, but the 4th to 5th shift is awful. For a car that was built for speed, there is much to be said about the need to ride the clutch as you shift, thereby losing precious momentum - while I am no pro at heel at toe-ing, I am no novice to sticks (been driving them all my life).
All in all, while there may be issues, there is no car which in the price range which has put as much a smile on my face than while riding the throttle and seeing the needle dance to the right, all to the cadence of the HR angrily buzzing through the cabin. I love you my "Z"....

 

 

I agree

 

I like mine as it is. I must have been lucky, no transmission problems, when stock or now with 500 hp. But it's beautiful style sold me when they came out. I've always been a Z person, owning a 260Z, 280Z, and 350Z. It's how you take care of them, is how they take care of you and I must say, mine has taken good care of me. But a very nice post and definitely worth reading.

 

Great review, thanks!

 

It was a nice review until he said he an auto, stopped reading.

 

good review. the comment above me is stupid.

 

I haven't seen the tranny issues in my 03 either. Cars a couple hp under 600 and I beat it up at the thunder dome all the time. Only thing I have noticed that sucks is the 03 clutch fork. Replaced it with an 04 and good as new. I'm sure it will catch up with me seeing all the problems others have had though

 

.....'03 tire feathering was a BIG negative too!

 

Really, after 9 years some people still haven't figured out the feathering issue was just a bad alignment.

 

I have a 6MT 370Z. Please get over yourself and your ego. Anybody can drive stick, you're not special.

 

Good article. Pretty much spot on. I'd just say, I personally have no issues with the 350z interior, but I can see where people would complain if they bought themselves a Base / Enthusiast trim.

The rattles do get pretty annoying. I should probably invest in some sound deadening in mine :\ my subs don't exactly make it any better lol.

 

Glad to see this. I own a 2008 350z base and I'm happy with it. Have owned it for three years and have put 36K on her. Don't totally agree with needing the nav or the higher models. They come with a lot computer control stuff that make it 'less' of a sports car. Mine would be perfect with CC (soon to be added) and a LSD. A little worried about the 6spd though. Thought they would have been more bulletproof then the auto.

A sticky for a '350z buyers guide' should be made. Check out this link that helped me buy my 4runner. Tons of detail...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ers-guide.html

Someone should start one for the 350z.

Mason

 

Yes, anyone can drive stick but, can they drive it correctly? A lot of people I know that have manuals ride the clutch too much or push the accelerator between shifts to keep it shifting smoothly however, which will wear out the clutch faster. Half the fun of driving a sports car is driving manual, otherwise it would be about as fun as driving my wife's car around.

Like I said I read up until you said you had an auto and I would have to disagree with the interiors. I had an 04 before I switch to an 06 and I would rather have the 04 interior than the craptastic paint on the plastic I have on my 06. Not sure if they changed it in the 07-08 but the paint would come off just by accidentally scratching at it with your finger nail.

 

Awesome read reinforced my choice of car.

 

Nice read, but a lot of it was spent on reinforcing a transmission choice. My 04(bought it this Summer) has 90k on the original clutch and tranny, and I have to mess up to get it to grind. I am the fourth owner, so I doubt meticulous care is a factor. You win some, you lose some on the tranny issue, although I can see from reading other threads that there must have been more than one bad batch.
Love the car!

 

Same here