The overall build quality is very good. Mechanically, the car is excellent. I have owned many new cars including several sports cars. I compare to the other cars. The shifter is awsome. Although the VQ engine is just a couple years old, many people rave about the quality.

No, build quality is not quite as good as BMW or Porche. But, hey, it's close. And, at a much lower price!

Eric

 

I am generally impressed with what Nissan has done in terms of build quality. When comparing the fit and finnsih of this car to my GS400, the lexus has it beat. You just have to understand that the base price of this car is 26,000 dollars. Not 50+K like a Lexus or Audi.


dan

 

I'm very impressed with the build quality...sure there's lots of plastics....but it's solid...uniquely textured, easy to clean and theres lots of aluminum...the interior door handles are solid aluminum for instance. I couldn't be happier.

-Andrew

 

Overall, excellent, especially in accent detail and control feel. Even the light and wiper stalks have a sensuous firmness that I wasn't expecting. Fit and finish are far more than adequate for a sports car, and the overall interior realization is one of spartan integrity.

It may be, in some ways, less refined than some up-scale alternatives, but the Z wears its engineering close to the surface, and one is left with the distinct and pleasing impression that Nissan put the money where it would actually make a difference.

 

by the way, the door handles do feel solid (the entire door really), but they are made of plastic, not aluminum

 

better duck, this is a hot topic. LOL

 

icepig do you have a Z? Trust me they are aluminum.... Plastic does not conduct heat like metal. these are metal. they are metal. they are metal. The dang Z is out and we are still talking about this stupid topic.

THEY ARE METAL

 

Sorry. The exterior door handles are not aluminum. Nissan says it it aluminum-like material.

 

Of course the exterior door handles arn't aluminium.

I'm talking interior handles...i thought it was clear from my first post that i was talking about the inside of the car.

-Andrew

 

In fact I said "interior door handles" in my first post.

 

Andrew, I hope you don't try to conduct heat and end up melting anything.

 

The air conditioning/heating vents are right next to them.

 

Slightly disappointed with the interior material as it scratches very easily. Everything else is top notch.

 

bwahahahha...I told a bunch of guys a looong time ago that the EXTERIOR handles were plastic. then came the



then I ducked and put the

down

and they still said it was metal.

to those who doubted:
the EXT handles are plastic, plastic, plastic. Just pull the handle out, look undeneath, and witness the plastic mold divets.

The int., yes, are metal.

(I am sorry, I am venting from a posts from a LONG time ago. I am going go to take some pills now! )

 

man, i would love to have been the plastic supplier for the EXT. The whole exterior is plastic cladding.

 

Yea what he said!!

-Shoots

 

This is my 5th Datsun(1 240Z)Nissan; 3 Maximas; and the 350Z. All have been high quality, for the time, and extremely reliable. Two sports cars and three sports sedans(SE Models), powerful and comfortable w/5yr, 60,000 mile warranty( on the powertrains).

I've never had a major problem with any of them and my wife and I drive fast, not dangerously, and the cars seem to eat it up and are ready for more.

Boomer
P.S.dvlad, the hood is aluminum.

 

I'm not worried about the build quality. Just because cars are expensive does not mean that they will last longer, or will less problems. The old Jaguar, before Ford came along, is an excellent example. Their cars were nice, but they spent all their time in the shop. Honda, classically, is the opposite example. A fairly cheap car, but very well built, and lasts for a long time. Hondas getting over 200,000 miles are not uncommon at all.

Just because a car may cost twice the price of a Z does not mean that it will have twice as good build quality or reliability.

 

I don't mean to raise this topic back from the ashes, but I'm pretty sure the exterior door handles are aluminum or some other type of metal.

For the 100th time, I have shocked myself on the exterior door handle. Hell, I'm 100-0 for shocking myself on the exterior door handle whenever I get out. It's really annoying me. Methinks I'm losing brain cells.

Michael.