I crashed my S2000 and need another vert! I really love my 04 350Z Coupe but I'm only going to have one car now so it has to be a convertible.

I want a 2007+ M6 Roadster for the HR motor, and those in my price range tend to have 50k - 70k miles.

My question is this: What should I expect from the power top mechanism being used a LOT from 70K miles to maybe 110K miles? I've read here about the "5th bow" issues and the multiple electric motors and worry about the top being too complicated. I've had several (less complex) convertibles over the years, I put the top up and down a LOT, usually up/down 3x a day every day.

I test drove 2 different (06 and 07) 350Z Roadsters last weekend; one top hesitated noticeably and the other maybe a tiny bit, maybe my imagination. I understand the cloth part wears out, but I can't spend 3K on complex motors and sensors and crap like that.

I want another Z but is an 07 Roadster realistic? Many thanks!

 

Just save a month or two and you can afford one in the 30-50k miles range.

 

I hear you, but the weather in GA is NICE right now. Even if I score a 07 Roadster with 40K miles, how long could the top gizmos survive the 3x up/down per day action?

 

Has to be a vert? Interesting, I thought people only purchased those because the dealership made them a sweet offer...

 

i would never buy a vert 350z, i would just buy another s2k if you have to have a vert

 

i have a coupe so im biased, but i think z verts look like complete a$$.

 

Hi Ez, my 350Z roadster has been my daily driver for 81/2 years now, and I’ve had zero problems with my top. The top and its mechanism only differ from the S2000 in that it retracts completely into a hatch under a powered hatch cover. This does add some additional complexity, however the top operates step-by-step right before your eyes and in slow motion at that. A competent convertible service tech can easily spot any component that may need adjustment.

The 5th bow motor (folds the top panel with the rear window) is a little motor with soft carbon commutator brushes. If the brushes wear down to their limits the motor will run erratically and will soon stop operating. This motor is located behind a plastic cover and can be accessed from inside the passenger compartment. There is an excellent DIY guide on this site for replacing these brushes, or any auto electric shop or power tool service center can replace them for you. A relatively painless fix all in all. The other motors for the top and the hatch cover are stronger paired motors and are pretty reliable. Every few years you should service the top by lubricating all the components and checking that all the linkage on the top, hatch and latches operate smoothly.

The aerodynamics of the Z passenger cab is excellent. When I ride in an S2000 the wind turbulence turns my hair into a rat’s nest. By comparison life in the Z with the top open is calm and peaceful. Your wife or girlfriend (or both) will appreciate this to on end.

 

Many thanks for the great info Jennifer, that's exactly what I was looking for. I was just nervous about the extra motors and naturally when you start researching anything you see 100 posts about everything that goes wrong.

I can live with the DIY/cheap rebuild situation you described, no problem, just didn't want to buy one and find out that everybody but me knows they are troublesome and to expect to spend big money all the time if you drop the top a lot.

And heck yeah, my girlfriend and I noticed the super smooth/quiet airflow thing when we test drove 2 recently, really nice! We both think the Z is smoother top-down than any vert we've owned. The S2K definitely blasts wind right in the back of your head, and her Miata is fun but not even close to calm. Whoot I need a vert!