I work for Toyota of Napervillle. I am the internet sales manager. I also run the Scion dealership.

When I try to close a customer on a vehicle, and they're looking at nissan I usually whip out my consumer reports magazine. It shows how Toyota is awesome. honda is between Awesome and Great, and how Nissan is between Great and Average.


Look like I should've taken my own advice. I am very dissapointed in the atitude in the forum.

"it's the first model year"
"it's a standard problem"
"yeah, no big deal the dealer helped me under warranty"

I don't know about you but my expectations are higher than that.
Ford= Crap
GM = Crap
Nissan= should be better than average

I am totally shocked at all the problems that exist. My Roadster is on order and I'm already wondering if I made the right decision.

is the 350z reliable?

 

Do you frequent toyota forums? What's the attitude on those? Can you judge the overall quality based on what you read?

I've never frequented a Mr2 Spyder or Celica forum, but maybe you see more posts from those with problems on those forums as well.

My Z has been pretty good, other than the first year issues (grease on window, drivers seat play, some rattles that come and go). I have 32,000 miles and several AutoX's and Track Days, and so far have not had huge problems with feathering (a little, maybe, but I'm got 16,000 miles on my first set of tires and my second set still has quite a bit of life after another 16,000) or with the tranny. Most of the problems have fixes available from he dealer, so hopefully your roadster will have things well sorted since it was manufactured after those problems were known. Obviously I would prefer that my car was perfect from the start, but overall I love the car (a passion which Toyota does not inspire very frequently, unfortunately).

However, I'd still get ready for rattles given the stiffness of the suspension, unless your roadster gets the improved euro version.

-D'oh!

 

I have a 2003 and I have had no problems so far. I did notice the grease on the window but only because i was looking for it and that seems to have stopped on it's own. I love this car it seems to get better and better.

 

Two main problems with the 350z. Tire feathering (all) and Transmission Issue (2nd & 3rd gear very knochy and grind sometimes. Its Hit & Miss on they tranny).

I still love the car. (READ MY SIG)

 

You are shocked that a new model car has problems? What kind of cars are you used to driving? Camry? Its a SPORTS CAR! The tires are supposed to be noisy, the transmission is supposed to be finicky, the ride is supposed to suck. That's why I bought the car!!! I love the bounce.

NOBODY can answer your question. Because nobody knows if the 350Z is reliable. It hasn't been out long enough. I think the highest milage Z is ~60,000. Don't take a chance if you aren't willing to risk it. Change your attitude about wanting the Z to be reliable and you will enjoy it regardless of the problems.

Buying a Z is an adventure not a Sunday drive in a Camry.

 

I have to disagree with the statement that ford = crap. My nissan has been in the shop more than ANY of the fords that I've owned combined.

I traded a Ford Mustang to get the Z, and wish I could go back to the day I sold it and just drive on home. My wife currently drives a Explorer (Our 2nd) and wouldnt give it up for any other vehicle. Next car I get (after I trade in the turd Z) will probably be another Ford.

I've never owned a GM product, but IMO Nissan = Crap.

 

You know I think alot of it has to do with the dealers them selves.
And from the looks of things including my own experience the service you get at most Nissan dealers in the states is terrible.
You take a great car at a great value then add crummy service and it averages out as an average car.

I love my Z but I'll never buy another Nissan product!

 

King,
If you work for a Toyota dealership, why are you buying a nissan? It seems that you can get a pretty good deal on a Lexus or Toyota. I have owned several nissans and toyota's. They were all great cars.

 

To answer your questions:

I never owned a Toyota. However, I here a lot of great thing from Customers about how toyota is the best car in the world on a weekly basis. I have had 5-6 people say that baout Nissan in the time I worked their.

Toyota has no "a" plan like Ford. Or GM's greensheet. Toyota does not offer an employee discount . the dealership can wouldn't sell me a hot car like a Sienna or a Solara convertible or an mr2 at invoice.

I guess, I think tire feathering and transmission problems are too much to worry about in a first year.

Toyotas aren't perfect, but Nissan is in my mind the mid point between a Toyota/honda and a Ford/Chevy.

By the way, I got my Roadster below invoice $31,845.00 , I couldn't score a deal like that at my own dealership on a Toyota. Demand is too strong on Solara and mr2 in my area. People love toyota.

I'm 25 years old. I close on my first house this month.

Believe me, if they're was a Supra released in the U.S i would've bought it even if it was $50,000

Toyota build quality, 350z looks, and WRX STI type performance? That is my dream car.

All I am saying is that I expected a better first year for the 350z. I know Gerald nissan in Naperville sux for customer service, so I am fearful of my experience with this car already. The whole reason I got ride of my Trans Am was the reliablity issue.

Driving a Highlander limted with Navi gets boring!

 

Oh i didn't buy a Toyota because, we had none that I liked enough. mr2 was too slow 140hp. Even if I would get it for under invoice. Convertible is a must have feature for me. And the solara ( 242 torque) is nice but only avail on v6 with a 5 speed automatic.

I wanted 6 speed manul and RWD convertible. I bought that @ Nissan. I just hope I wont regret it.

and I am starting to think that I might.

The idea of viewing a mr2 forum is a good idea. Perhaps it is this same.

 

Got to give it to you King, you gotta a lot moxie to post your dealership and your position. I wouldn't want to have to explain to my boss that I said in a forum that I do not like the boring cars I sell. It's too bad that Toyota does not have a VIP plan. But it sounds like that you got good deal on your Z. I had a 91 MR2 at one time. It did not have a whole lot of head snapping acceleration but it was fun in twistys. Good luck with your purchase and I will say a prayer to the antifeathering gods for you.

 

Supra was never that reliable of a car. The block may have handled mad HP...but the car had a lot of little niggling problems. Quality control was certainly NOT the equal of other toyota products...which one expects b/c it was a sports car.

NzZ

 

If you want to talk about reliability, Celicas are known for being able to mis-shift pretty easily. There's been lots of Celica owners who have blown their engines just because they put it in the wrong gear when they were going too fast. Also, some of the time the Toyota dealerships were giving those victims a hard time, trying to place the blame on them racing. There's also been complaints about it's VVTL-i technology, which is similar to Honda's VTEC in a way. People were complaining about their lift bolts breaking. So you see, even Toyota's sportiest cars have problems.
Almost at the 5,000 mile mark on my 2003 Z, and not a single problem. I think it runs even better than the day I bought it.
I think another reason you question the Z's reliability is because one case of bad news sticks out like a sore thumb out of the hundreds of good things.

 

I had a 5 speed 89 Turbo Supra and I will never buy or own another Toyota again. In the span of 4 years there were 3 head gaskets, 2 complete rebuilds, and one new engine. Corporate toyota's response to my problems was to do nothing each time. Were it not for a good friend working in the service dept. who helped me out more times than I could count that car would have been the end of me. Nothing the 350z could do on its worst day could even come close to my old supra's unreliability.

 

toyota makes boring girl cars. Lexus is a little better but still are girl cars that are slowwww.

celica- ricey girls car, that looks fast.
camery- need i say more.
solara- ewe, one nasty looking car.
mr2- nice car, but way underpowered.
is300- very nice, but very slow.
gs300- nice, but slow and only auto.
sc430- one of the ***i-est looking cars on the road, nice interior tho.

Toyota doesnt have the ***** to bring back the supra, but if they did it still wouldnt be as good as the old supra.

 

Perhaps you guys are right. Sports car are less reliable than the average product.

 

had my car about one year and 3 mos. i've had no problems other than a rattle that i fixed and window grease. the people that have problems are very vocal about it here; i think it's making the problem appear bigger than it really is. my buddy has an early 04' z and he's had no problems whatsoever.

 

Disappointed in our attitude? I'm confused? Where the hell do you get the right to be dissappointed in us? Your whole premise is embarrassing. You work in the industry, researched the cars you considered, couldn't even find something worthwhile among all the crap you sell, but continue to tell people about how great Toyota is, then buy another maker's car and tell it's owners you are disappointed in their attitude? Who the hell do you think you are? You're a 25 year old kid with a lack of common sense. If you're unhappy, cancel the damn order, but don't come on here and chastise us for being happy with our purchase.

 

you want a reliable appliance that will get you from point a to point b?

get a camry.

Look at Ferrari's and Lambo's. They are no where near as reliable as a camry. But thats the price you pay

 

Awesome ride, Could you post some more pics, or post thread to your baby. Fellow Z owner, FLZ, Dave