ssk0771

iTrader: (5)

What are your thoughts on this article?

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2003 Nissan 350Z Touring

"And the Z has been just about trouble-free." It appears we jinxed our Z in the last update (Nov 2003), as Nissan's sports car has shown some serious new-car teething problems since. We had feared the transmission would be the weak link in the Z, and we were right. At 26,500 miles we took the car into the dealer to address a bad 5th-gear synchro and excessive gear whine. The verdict was an internal failure in the transmission, replaced by Nissan under warranty. While the transmission was out the dealer also noticed that the clutch was worn and had hot spots. This necessitated its replacement along with the pressure plate, throw-out bearing and flywheel. The dealer considers these as "wear items," and felt they had undergone abuse. While we do drive the Z with vigor, we disagree we ever abused it. Nonetheless, we were out $1183.

At the same time, we replaced the front and rear brake pads, along with a resurfacing of the rotors ($486). On a high note, the dealer installed an udated Bose amplifier for the stereo (via a recall campaign) that drastically improved the sound quality, one of the items we complained about previously. They also solved the grease streak that had plagued the driver's door window from Day 1, installing updated window stoppers in both doors.

Despite the problems, our passion for the Z has miminished only slightly. And whenever editors get back into it after a period spent in other cars, they almost alwayssay,"Now I remember why I like this car so much."

Delived price $34,288
Total miles/miles since last reported 33,517mi/11,975mi
Maintenance costs to date $1954
Repair cost to date $2273
Average MPG to date 20.7 gallon.
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I guess Road & Track got a new tranny too

I'm surprised they did not mention any tire feathering update other than what they mentioned "teething problems"

350Z Definitly has Tranny Issue.

jcr847

iTrader: (1)

Despite the problems, our passion for the Z has miminished only slightly. And whenever editors get back into it after a period spent in other cars, they almost alwayssay,"Now I remember why I like this car so much."

Completely sums how I feel every time I get in the car, especially when it's been a while.

350ZOWNZ

not if you buy an auto

jk...

ares

iTrader: (2)

if you were nissan. and the friggin editors of road and track brought their Z in, why in the hell would you tell them the clutch was abused?

do they not know its R&T?

ssk0771

iTrader: (5)

Thats because Lot of Nissan Dealers are bunch of idiots.

cwerdna

Since I don't receive R&T, it's not clear if the which parts (or all) of the $1183 + $486 counted as repair vs. maintenance. Was the $2273 in repair cost (or the remaining fraction) from user error, accident (like rock hitting windshield) or some failure not covered?

If it's the last case, it's a little disconcerting to have to spend $2K in repairs on a car that's under 2 years old and still under "warranty".

I've taken my 02 Maxima in for warranty/recall work a # of times and paid $0 for it, as it should be.

Hmm, at least I don't have a manual transmission.

Jason Bourne

The dealers typically don't know that they're dealing with a long-termer from a magazine. It's not like Peter Egan takes the car in for service. They get some gopher-intern to do that stuff.

D@ActiveTuning

iTrader: (17)

I'm going to assume they didn't know it was R&T....that's the only fair way.

z053ym

I think it shows how much of babies people are on this site who complain about thier nissan expecting amazing service and 0 flaws. They went through every typical problem and call it "trouble-free"

People on this site give the Z a bad name with their bitching and rediculous unrealistic expectations.

rattycat

ssk0771 wrote: "...dealer installed an udated Bose amplifier for the stereo (via a recall campaign)..." - (Road&Track)

Is this 2003 models only or does it also include current 2004 models as well?

Anyone know?

ssk0771

iTrader: (5)

Only 2003 Touring Model. NOT 2004. We already have the updated system.

D'oh

They called it "trouble free" in a previous update. They said that maybe they jinxed the car since it started having problems after they said it was trouble free. I doubt they's call it trouble free anymore.

My only questions revolve around the brake rotor turning and the clutch. Did R&T feel that the rotors were going bad and that the clutch was slipping, or did they just go along with what the dealer said. Many times, shops will just make stuff up so they can do more work, even if items don't really need replacing.

I wouldn't let a dealer replace anything I didn't already notice, unless they did the work for free or unless I got a second opinion from a shop that didn't have anything to gain by making stuff up.

-D'oh!

ml2316

at least they didn't have feathering.

jedoublery

Peter Egan lives in the middle of no-where part of Wisconsin and only ride his POS old Ducatis and funny looking Miatas.

Great writer though