I've done more research than any sane man should regarding purchasing my Z car.

I keep hearing the 03-05 transmissions suck. Really bad. To the point where it's not worth picking one up. Are the synchros really THAT weak? Are they all worn by 100k?

Consider this:
03-05 I can pick up a used one 100-150k miles for $5-6k
07-08 HR with supposed good trans/engine for $8-13k with 60-150k miles
Orrrrrr..... I found a guy with a 11' 370Z (sport) with 70k miles who will sell it to me for 10.5k

Are the early models that bad and that much less of a car? Is the 370Z THAT much better of a car? I feel like it is. I also feel like an 04 350z is plenty of car and would be less worrysome to park on the streets of Chicago. Cheap car I don't care if it gets a little dent.

Then again.... that 370Z is a SWEET deal.

What would you do? FYI all the money for this purchass is coming from another car that insurance totaled out (BMW track car some chick with no insurance t boned)

 

Have you priced a new gearbox?

 

But why waste money on a new gearbox when you can find a model that is less prone to breakdowns before you purchase?

 

If that Z34 spec has a clean history, you better jump on that deal. It won't come around again for a while.

No, there isn't anything horribly bad about an early model so long as it's been taken care of. I kept my '03 (instead of any of the other 33s in my sig) for both sentimental reasons and the flawlessness of its operation other than (see next)...

FWIW, the early transmissions can be troublesome. I bought my '03 Z in 2012 with 68k miles. Already had the occasional third gear gronk. Seven years later, with 77k, same trans no worse for wear, I just pay attention to my shifting to the point of it only gronks if/when I'm sloppy.

 

Yeah I'm not going to buy a car and then go find a trans for it. That's ridiculous.

So is it really the early 03's that have the most issues? Thst seems to be what's reported. I don't even really hear about it nearly as much abiut even 04".

Then you also hear about 07-08 5th to 6th gear grind

 

At around 125k my 5th gave up on track.
When rebuilding, replaced reverse as well, everything else was fine !

Note, you can really help out the whole drive line by having vibra-technics gearbox and engine mounts, plus better bushings for the diff. It got rid of some graunches in 2nd-to-3rd that I had around 80k.

 

will you just buy a damn car already....all your posts end up with the same answers

 

I have an '05 Enthusiast which I bought in Mar-2018 with ~124k miles. It has ~129k miles on it now. It still has its original transmission, which is working well.

 

05, 25th Anniversary Manual gearbox. Only issues is the syncro from 6th to 5th. If I pull out of 6th and put in 5th it grinds a bit. But If I do it slowly, it does not. Not a big issue, never use 6th on track and just touch 5th .

80ish thousand miles on it.

 

Mine is 04 with almost 170k miles and no issue with the tranny. But the Z34 sounds a good deal.

 

Vortech SC'd 2003 (oem brembo) here with ~105k here. Previous owner was an adult and easy on the car.

No problems before or after M/T fluid flush and fill.
Love the 6-spd slush box.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm not going to consider 03' models because I really don't want to rebuild a transmission. Hopefully I can find a good deal on an HR but it's good to hear that 04 and up done have significant issues with the transmissions and I can consider them now.

If anybody knows of or sees a good deal around please PM me and let me know.

You guys have all been very helpful

 

Nissan went through 9 transmission designs in the 350Z from it's introduction through 2005. They were named: CD001, CD002, CD003, CD004, CD005, CD006, CD007, CD008, and finally . . . . CD009.
.
My 2004 came with the CD003. Because it would not shift without grinding, UNDER WARRANTY, I had Nissan install the CD004. Then after that failed, I had them install the CD005. Then after that failed, I had them install the CD006 . . . then the CD007 . . . then the CD008 . . .and finally, the CD009.
.
Yes I had them ALL.
.
The CE009 solved the problem, and I have been trouble free.
.
If I were going to purchase a 350Z, guess which transmission I would make sure is installed in the car ?
.
.

 

So which cars have the CD009 transmission? Only the 2008s?

 

The CD009 would apply to 2003-2005 models.

2006+ have different transmissions.

 

CD009 was only offered on '05 -06 models as original equipment but can be backdated into the earlier ones by switching out the clutch pivot. New replacement CD009 fits all years '03 to '06

'07+ used a new trans called JK40 and JK41B with new case identifier CD05 and come with concentric slave (internal) design, the common failure point in the '07+ (including the EA transmissions in the Z34)

 

The CD00A transmission is the latest version (and replacing the CD009).

As JCat correctly mentions, the CD009 (and thus it's replacement, the CD00A) applies to the 2003 to 2005 models.

 

So 05-06 models have the bulletproof CD009 transmissions and 07-08 have a totally different transmission?

 

Holy hell.....

 

That is probably about right. By the end of the 2004 run, Nissan was installing CD009 transmissions. That same transmission was used through the 2006 model. If you buy a new transmission for an older 350z, you get the CD00A (that replaces the CD009).