About to Buy a Z: Test Drive Questions
#1
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About to Buy a Z: Test Drive Questions
Hey all,
Hope this is the best forum for this.
I'm looking to buy a 350Z, and I've looked at quite a few. Most were ragged and I didn't bother driving them, but today I drove a very clean looking Z that seemed to have been pretty well maintained. It's a 2003 Base with ~80k miles, that has already had the transmission replaced for the synchro issue. That was done by Nissan over 5 years ago, and the owner states that there haven't been any problems since. It shifted well on the test drive, but I only really ever upshifted. My questions are:
1) When Nissan replaces these transmissions themselves, do they replace an '03 transmission with another '03 transmission (that may very well fail again later), or do they use an upgraded (CD009) model?
2) The car felt a bit sluggish. It wasn't slow, but it certainly didn't feel like you'd expect a nearly 300hp car to. I've read even on this forum that some owners noted their cars felt sluggish/diffferent after the transmission replacement. Is this a likely culprit?
I'm hoping the car just needs a bit of basic maintenance/modding (say plugs, air filter, maybe a couple simple mods and a tune) to be woken up, but I'm curious to hear the thoughts of a couple people more familiar with these cars than me.
Thanks a lot!
Hope this is the best forum for this.
I'm looking to buy a 350Z, and I've looked at quite a few. Most were ragged and I didn't bother driving them, but today I drove a very clean looking Z that seemed to have been pretty well maintained. It's a 2003 Base with ~80k miles, that has already had the transmission replaced for the synchro issue. That was done by Nissan over 5 years ago, and the owner states that there haven't been any problems since. It shifted well on the test drive, but I only really ever upshifted. My questions are:
1) When Nissan replaces these transmissions themselves, do they replace an '03 transmission with another '03 transmission (that may very well fail again later), or do they use an upgraded (CD009) model?
2) The car felt a bit sluggish. It wasn't slow, but it certainly didn't feel like you'd expect a nearly 300hp car to. I've read even on this forum that some owners noted their cars felt sluggish/diffferent after the transmission replacement. Is this a likely culprit?
I'm hoping the car just needs a bit of basic maintenance/modding (say plugs, air filter, maybe a couple simple mods and a tune) to be woken up, but I'm curious to hear the thoughts of a couple people more familiar with these cars than me.
Thanks a lot!
#2
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I'd recommend trying to find a higher trim Z. You won't have LSD if that would be something important that you would like.
1. Check all doors to make sure vins match. As well as hood and deck lid.
2. Ask what type of oil they use, how frequent they changed it.
3. SERVICE RECORDS.
4. Make sure all lights/lens are the same dis-coloration. Dont want 1 new and 3 nasty.
5. Make sure all tires match (Brand, Size).
6. Possibly check under-carriage.
7. Mainly check for everything to be original such as gas cap, radiator cap, oil cap.
8. When you cold/warm start the vehicle, check to see how fast the oil pressure rises on the oil pressure gauge (Middle Gauge center dash).
9. Operating temp (Middle or a little below mid.)
10. Make sure the electric fans are working when sitting in traffic, should kick in at 75*f plus to keep engine cool in traffic.
11. Condition of wiper blades.
12. Shift **** Condition.
Little things but could possibly raise an eyebrow
There's more questions to ask just those are what came up for this time being.
1. Check all doors to make sure vins match. As well as hood and deck lid.
2. Ask what type of oil they use, how frequent they changed it.
3. SERVICE RECORDS.
4. Make sure all lights/lens are the same dis-coloration. Dont want 1 new and 3 nasty.
5. Make sure all tires match (Brand, Size).
6. Possibly check under-carriage.
7. Mainly check for everything to be original such as gas cap, radiator cap, oil cap.
8. When you cold/warm start the vehicle, check to see how fast the oil pressure rises on the oil pressure gauge (Middle Gauge center dash).
9. Operating temp (Middle or a little below mid.)
10. Make sure the electric fans are working when sitting in traffic, should kick in at 75*f plus to keep engine cool in traffic.
11. Condition of wiper blades.
12. Shift **** Condition.
Little things but could possibly raise an eyebrow
There's more questions to ask just those are what came up for this time being.
#3
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Location: East Coast
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I'd recommend trying to find a higher trim Z. You won't have LSD if that would be something important that you would like.
1. Check all doors to make sure vins match. As well as hood and deck lid.
2. Ask what type of oil they use, how frequent they changed it.
3. SERVICE RECORDS.
4. Make sure all lights/lens are the same dis-coloration. Dont want 1 new and 3 nasty.
5. Make sure all tires match (Brand, Size).
6. Possibly check under-carriage.
7. Mainly check for everything to be original such as gas cap, radiator cap, oil cap.
8. When you cold/warm start the vehicle, check to see how fast the oil pressure rises on the oil pressure gauge (Middle Gauge center dash).
9. Operating temp (Middle or a little below mid.)
10. Make sure the electric fans are working when sitting in traffic, should kick in at 75*f plus to keep engine cool in traffic.
11. Condition of wiper blades.
12. Shift **** Condition.
Little things but could possibly raise an eyebrow
There's more questions to ask just those are what came up for this time being.
1. Check all doors to make sure vins match. As well as hood and deck lid.
2. Ask what type of oil they use, how frequent they changed it.
3. SERVICE RECORDS.
4. Make sure all lights/lens are the same dis-coloration. Dont want 1 new and 3 nasty.
5. Make sure all tires match (Brand, Size).
6. Possibly check under-carriage.
7. Mainly check for everything to be original such as gas cap, radiator cap, oil cap.
8. When you cold/warm start the vehicle, check to see how fast the oil pressure rises on the oil pressure gauge (Middle Gauge center dash).
9. Operating temp (Middle or a little below mid.)
10. Make sure the electric fans are working when sitting in traffic, should kick in at 75*f plus to keep engine cool in traffic.
11. Condition of wiper blades.
12. Shift **** Condition.
Little things but could possibly raise an eyebrow
There's more questions to ask just those are what came up for this time being.
However, my concern is more with the repair of the more serious issue, which was the transmission. Hopefully Nissan fixed it properly and I won't be doing having to deal with it myself, but I'm not sure.
Additionally, I didn't see much in the way of the basic simple tune up stuff (spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, etc...). I'm wondering if it's likely that's most of the sluggishness I felt today, or if the transmission replacement was the cause like some other members here suspected. Don't want to just speculate if somebody has an answer.
#4
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MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
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My trans was replaced 6 years ago, the latest was installed. Yes the cars do feel sluggish IMO, depending on what you drove before. Torque is deceiving, the car feels slowish, but is actually moving out well.
#6
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Any other experiences that corroborate mine, or any bang-for-buck mods/maintenance that could liven the car up a bit?
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#9
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Clutch felt good as it was replaced with the trans, so it doesn't have even close to 80k on it. Suspension felt good. I didn't see any signs the car was ever FI. I did look around the engine bay and it was normal. Car is bone stock and I saw no signs anything on the car was ever not factory.
Last edited by EverySingleDay; 06-24-2013 at 05:59 AM.
#11
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I just picked up a Z about a month ago. 03 base. Yeah It doesn't have LSD or brembo brakes, but I think I got it for a steal. It does seem a little sluggish in the cab from what i was expecting as well but then you look at your speedo and are going a lot faster than it feels. From what people have told me its normal. Mine had a 105 on it and I'm in love with it I'm sure you will too.
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