I have a 2003 350Z Silverstone Touring fully loaded except NAV. It has 28500 miles and I owe $27400. The dealer is willing to pay it off if I buy a 2005 Z. I was thinking of trading it in for a SB Base 350Z. Am I an idiot? or should i get a perfromance for $30k? Or just keep the Z I have which has the tire feathering with no sign of it going away or actually being fixed after 2 sets of tires and 2 alignments. What would you do?

 

I'm in the same boat. I have an 03 Performance with the feathering issue and I'm thinking of trading up. I love the car, I'm just worried about ongoing headaches with these 03's. It does say a lot for our cars that even with the problems we've had that we would still buy another one...

 

We'll guys we still don't know if they've fixed the feathering for the 05's yet. They said they fixed it on the 04.5's but it seems some people still have it with those cars. Besides is the loss your gonna take on the new car going to be worth the feathering?

 

I intend to hang on to my early '04 with feathering until I see whether or not Nissan intends to truly solve the feathering issue at its root cause -- the suspension.

If they fix it, great. I'll keep the car for life.

If not, then I'm going to sell the car ASAP. I'll buy a used S2000 or Z06 -- proven vehicles with no flaws.

 

I will only be taking a 2500$ loss over what I paid for it since I bought it used 8 months and 12000 miles ago..which is ok with me. If I had paid $36k for it new then I wouldn't even be considering only taking 27k for it as a trade. I will save $2500 in tires alone if I trade up and don't get the feathering in the 2005, plus i will have zero miles and a fresh warranty if the feathering does show up again. I think i'm going to do it.

 

explor.....,

Sounds like a trade makes sense for you. I'd go with an Enthusiast or Performance, though.

 

It would suck to lose all of the amenities on your touring. I'd at least go for an enthusiast. Although to be honest, I think the best option is to get a different car altogether. I love the Z, but nissan has hung us all out to dry. They certainly aren't going to take care of you any better if you have problems with your 05.

NzZ

 

There isn't another car out there for 30K that I would want, I am sticking with the Z. I dono't mind the problems as long as I am under warranty and it doesn't involve feathered tires. Right now I only have 7k left till my warranty is done.

 

I'm with you on this one.

 

I would say no to trading for an '05 base. The base model is fine if its a new buy but I think going from a touring to a base would really be a loss for you. Like these guys said if you were going to trade I would at least get the enth '05

 

I recently upgraded from an 03 DB Touring model to a 04.5 SB enthusiast roadster. Would I trade for an 05, the issues with tire feathering has not be resolved, Nissan would has to redesign the suspension to stop the feathering. I'm sure it will be on the 05. If you upgrade, I would wait until they redesigned the body. Still the same VQ3.5 engine and exterior design. I would look at the G35 since they upgraded the HP by 10-20. Just IMO.

 

If there's feathering on the car, how long is it before I should notice? I've got 5400 miles on my '03 Track and haven't noticed anything yet...

 

Minor feathering popped up for me at 10000 miles. Dealer adjusted alignment.

Just got car back from service; no additional feathering at 15000 miles.

 

Boy those tires must be made of gold. I just priced Pilot A/S's for $236 a piece. Even with mounting and such that should only be around $1,000 for the set. That's for 17's though. Just wondered where the $2500 came from.

 

I was figuring it would cost me an extra $500 a year for the next 5 years to have to replace the front two tires every 10,000 miles as opposed to every 20,000 miles. Hence the $2500 in tires. Make sense? cause if i buy a new set of tires, the feathering is still there..it;s a long term indefinete prolonged problem that will cost me money not just now but in the future.

I don' think they make tires out of gold though but you might want to do a search and see for yourself. I would never buy them.

 

Yes you are a idiot! Just keep the car you have now just deal with it you jackass.

 

What deal are they offering on the 05?, you have only mentioned half of the financial equation.

 

touring to a base to hopefully get rid of feathering. Id sooner buy a used Z with 6-10,000miles so you can see if it has feathering or not.

personally I have vin number 1600 of 03, and no feathering whatsoever. horrible horrible horrible horrible tread life, of about 10,000miles, but no FEATHERING. I consider the 10,000mile a result of the softer tire compounds I use(T1S and RA1's)

 

Sell the car privately. Don't trade..you'll loose a good $2k