Hello everyone,
I have a few questions on the 350Z. First off, I was planning to get one, I perfer the Performance model with 6 speed. I want a performance car, don't care for leather or the Bose stereo. I plan on installed wheels, springs and shocks, intake and muffler to get a little more out of it. I've been working on cars for over 14 years, mostly Toyotas.
Any help is appreciated. Here are my questions:
1) Is there a model you guys recommend more? Track, etc...
2) How is the reliablity and finish quality of the car? Seems like I read that the trans goes bad easily, creaks in the strut bar, window and mirror problems. This discourages me, but I want to know if these are just isolated or are they on going issues.
thanks,
dchan8

 

1. if you are going to be doing modifications, and you live in an area where weather is not bad(which you do) get a base so you have more money for mods.

2. All of those are just isolated. One of the on going issues, and probably the most common is tire feathering?

 

I really recommend the search function to answer your questions, but I bought a Track because like you, I didn't care for the 'luxury' amenities like leather and (cough) premium sound system. Even though I'm replacing the aero-effects, and probably at some point, the wheels, I still think the track was a good choice. Big Brake Kits are so expensive for all four corners that the Track was worth it for that feature alone, in my opinion.

The parts I'm removing (like the Ray's 18" wheels) will fetch a better resale price than the stock wheels, so I can recover some of the upfront cost of the Track model later when I sell the leftovers.

There are some things on the higher trim levels that you can't buy down the road, like VDC and TPS. I wanted those too, and the track has 'em.

Exhaust, engine, suspension (minus TCS/VDC) is the same on all cars, so that's not an factor.


Issues? Well, I love the car, and Ferrari's have issues too, so I'll take the bad with the good.

 

I'd get the best you can afford, it always sucks to buy a car and then wish you should've got the higher model.

 

Performance is a good choice given your criteria.

If your replacing wheels anyway you might consider the Enthusiast. But if you go with the latter you will also lose VDC & tire pressure guages.

 

If I were you, I'd go for the enthusiast. You still get the cool items like HIDs and a LSD, but you arent paying extra for the parts you are replacing anyway like the wheels. Plus, in the bay area, you really dont need VDC as it doesnt even rain that often.

 

Oh, and get a full cat-back exhaust system. Mufflers will only change the sound and won't enhance performance noticeably.

 

lol. a different answer from everyone. i'm gonna say touring just to stay with the completely unhelpful theme. but do a search. this question has been asked over and over and over....

 

my original Z order was for a Performance model. The plan was to replace the front brakes with Stoptech's 332x32 kit and eventually buy different street wheels. I ordered the car with the aero kit, no mud flaps, and the aluminum door sills.

While I waited for my Performance, a Track model came available, so I drove it and ended up buying it. It was exactly as I had ordered my Performance.

I am happy I have the Track model... the Brembos look cool and work very well on a race track. The Rays wheels look great on the car... I like them enough to not be concerned with replacing them. I may have them painted a more shiny silver color, but that is about all I'd do. So, the money I would have spent on Stoptechs and street wheels has gone into other mods on the car.

The issues you mention have been mostly isolated. I do have the dreaded third-gear-grind, but it never seems to happen when the service guy is in the car. I had the grease streaks on the windows, but that was fixed. I have a few rattles in the dash, but nothing I can't live with. The paint is thin and chips easily, so I highly recommend clearbra on the front bumper at the very least, and on the hood if you can afford it. I've never had the feathering issue... but then I wore out the OEM tires in less than 6000 miles (lots of track miles!).... and I've had a race shop align the car once I installed the Koni/Eibach suspension.

So... you will likely be happy with any of the models.... just depends on what you are willing to spend.

PeteH

 

thanks for all the input everyone, my only 2 choices i was considering was the track or the performance(i was planning to get stoptechs, springs, struts, and wheels anyways).

everyone seems to say that the problems that occured are isolated, but why is the list so long for people with te trans replacements and why doesn't it get resolved after the 1st repalcement? seems like everyone has it replaced 2x at around 12k miles? this seems like a very big issue with many people stating that they want to get rid of their car.

 

I have an '03 with 24k miles on it and no trans problems. I would say go with the performance, thats what I did. I had many of the same criteria. The brembos are nice but I couldnt justify the extra money for the track. I'm happy with my performance :-)

 

I agree with "GiveMe1Z", get a Base. That is what I got. The LSD on the Enthusiast is not the greatest, aftermarket HID's are better than stock, I don't like cruise control, and as for BOSE.... (Better Off w/ Something Else). It sounds like you will be customizing the Z and like tinkering with aftermarket options.

 

i love to tinker with my cars to get a little more out of them. suspension, intake, muffler(exhaust system)and wheels is what i want first, and i love the brembos, but not a necessity. so i can't justify a few grand more for a track. i rather get other rays/volk wheels. i can always (if for some reason i think i need it) upgrade to ap racing or stoptech. i don't use cruise control ever, but i like factory hid's as there can be problems with aftermarket hids.

btw - who makes exhaust systems for the z that provide the best performace?