I've been eyeing the 350Z since conception. The car is absolutely beautiful, and I envy you guys that own one of these prestine machines.

I currently drive a 2002 Acura CL Type-S, but with the recent reports of more and more auto trannies taking a violent cr@p on their owners (some w/ less than 7,500 miles) I'm seriously considering a switch to a Z. My reasoning is more for safety than practicality. (Obviously getting out of a car 12 months after initial purchase is going to produce some substantial money burdens). I've read one too many horror stories of CL trannies shifting to second gear w/o warning on highway speeds.

I would like to know if it is even remotely possible to install rear seats on a Z, whether a custom job or borrowed from the G35C. I really like having the two extra seats in my car. I could even live with a two+two. Thanks for reading...

PS: I really can't afford a G35C at this point, but I am capable of financing a Perfomance model.

 

You can do it, but you'll be getting rid of all the storage space. The rear speakers, and if your thinking of NAV you wouldnt have a place to put it either. It'd also be a somewhat expensive mod if you wanted it to look atleast half decent. Im not even sure how safe it would be, I dont know the difference between the Infinity and the 350Z in its body structure. I'd feel sorry for anyone trying to ride in the back of a Z. In my personal opinion I dont see how useful it is to have a "sports car" if you need more then 2 seats, specially if you have kids.

 

I say, "No way!"

 

so there is enough room back there for a bench type seat. I'm no so concerned with the storage nor the audio/nav equipment (from what I've heard the stereo is horrible anyway), those items can be relocated.

What about anchor points for seatbelts in the back. Has anyone pulled up the carpet to check this? From what I understand the Z and the G35s share the same platform. I would imagine as a cost cutting item they would just put the anchor points down for all three cars.

 

I seriously doubt it can be done while maintaining the car's structural integrity. If safety is what you're after, definitley don't do it. Anything CAN be done if you throw enough money at the situation, but considering you're already on a budget constraint, it seems the Z is not in your future.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I hope everything works out for the best. Maybe if you save up a little scratch you can get the G35C. Good luck!

 

I cannot image getting a backseat in a z.

 

Couldn't imagine it either. It's totally not worth it since you have the G35C as an option.

 

NFW. I had put a child's car seat in the back of my 300zx by taking out the luggage straps and putting in a seat belt for the car seat, but there is no chance of putting any kind of seat in the back of the 350Z. BTW, the G35 coupe can be had for the same price as a Performance, I suggest you look further into the G.

 

Structural integrity doesnt seem like an issue since that little console in the back isnt structural. But what is worriesome is fliping the car over and crushing the person in the back. You can put anchorpoints anywhere thats no problem. But again its going to cost more then a buying a G and will probably look alot crappier. Oh and another thing the seats arent made for someone to get in the back the doors are too short. You could add hindged seats but that adds to the cost and the costs will keep mounting. Its just not worth destroying the car over.

 

The money it would take to put a back seat there would be better spent getting the G35.

 

The seats would have to be like the grunt seats like in some pickups where you have to sit sideways.

I guess you could always fit someone under the strut bar.

The mod would be costly.

Get a RX-8.

 

Although it'd be interesting to be seen done.

 

thanks for the reply guys...

I guess it really isn't worth it.

I'm pretty new to the Nissan scene. Do you guys know or have heard of any plans for Nissan to make a 2+2 like they did for the prezious Z?

I really like the styling ques of the 350Z over the G35C. The front and rear bumpers, the tailights...all look so much better. I know if I got a G I would regret it later...

 

Have you looked at the G35C in real life (ie not just pics)? I just saw one the other day and it looks pretty sharp. It certainly is not the Z, but it is not intended to be. The Z is a sprorts car and the G is not.

If you cannot get the Z, it is the next best thing!

- don't ask why, the icons are just funny

 

Not a chance, the Z's wheelbase is 8"s less than the G35C and it only has very small jump seats. I don't see any way and you would spend a fortune trying if anyone were dishonest enough to say they would make it work. They would take your money and ruin a Z.

Also, the G35C is not more expensive than a Performance model, is it? Have you gone to each website and priced them? Road and Track's test of the G35C wasn't much more expensive than a Z, if any at all.

If I were you, I would buy the G35C, whenever you can afford it. The designers of the 350Z were adamant about the Z being a 2 seater, like the original 240. No stretched models were ever considered. The G35C would fill the role of sports tourer and not any model of the Z, which would be and is a true sports car.

 

hmm, seems it would be safer and cheaper to make a 350Z body kit for the G35, that was you wouldn't damage the structure of the car. I imagine that you are not worried about performance, since they are so close, that doing the mods that you are talking about would probable put the Z behind the G. The G35c isn't that much more than the performance (the base model G is less than the Z, but the 6MT model is ~1500 more before options, which there are more of with the G).

 

The G35c is going for about $28000-$28500 plus $545 destination charge.

 

Indeed, you can get a G35C for cheaper then a Performance Model 350Z if you so desired.

 

I think the g35c's styling more resembles the CL's than the 350z's does. Therefore, if you are happy with everything your CL offers (minus the tranny problem) the g35c would be a better replacement in your case. That's just my opinion though.

 

this is obvious, but adding those 2 back seats would run you atleast 5 grand in custom parts and labor, probably WAY more than that. you could afford a damn M3 by the time you managed to put back seats in the Z.