Hey all.

I am thinking about getting a Z, looking at a pre-owned one, 2004 or 2005, maybe an 03 if the mileage and everything is right. Looking for an Enthusiast or a Performance.

Is there anything I ought to be aware of, maintenance wise? Significant problems between the years?

Also, were there any major changes between those years?

Thanks in advance.

 

try searching a bit and you will find a ton of info on this questions but:

03/04 i believe have tire feathering issues (but i believe there was a tsb to fix this)

not sure about any issues with the 05

06 have the "oil consumption" problem. i own an 06 and dont have this issue but it has been a problem for other owners.

oh, and the oil dipstick is the worst design ever.

not sure what the changes were between the 03/04 and 05 models.

good luck with the search

 

You would be well advised to spend some quality time on "search" here. Your questions pop up often & the natives here get cranky.

Your bound to get your monkey slapped!

 

Thanks for the info. I tried searching, but it came with hundreds of threads, so I figured a couple direct questions were a better option.

 

i have 04.5 very nice, upgrades from 03 to 04 i believe are small, mostly interior upgrades or changes. 05 i believe 6mt has the revup motor, but 5mt did not change. probably more, and of course the 07 has a whole new design

good luck with purchase

 

tank of gas: you will need at least 50 bucks of premium gas for every fill-up

 

Eh, I already pay $40 now. Gas is only about $2.85 here in Texas.

 

I guess i wait til its really near the "E" b/c everytime I fill up is about $40-$50 bucks....also in Texas and gas is about $2.80-$2.99/gal

 

don't let anyone work on it unless you have 100 percent confidence they wont scratch it. otherwise, everytime you take it in to get the oil change, EXPECT another new set of F$%$%King scratches on it.

 

 

Welcome. Happy shopping, the guys have already said it. They're a great car to drive, but like all cars they have their quirks.

 

Damn, it's tough to find a decent deal on one. Seems like everybody wants high money for them, but they can't sell them. The equation doesn't really balance out.

 

Yes, but also bear in mind, that even the oldest Z's are 2002 & they are still sort after. Take a few for a test drive, and you'll soon know if you feel a Z is worth the money to you.

 

Davedv's summary from consumer reports is pretty good. Looks wise, the cars from all the years are so similar you can sometimes decipher the trim line(model) but not the year until 2006 with the change in the lights. 2007 have hood humps.

Personally, I'd favor the 2004.5 years onward, as I think that is where they made some adjustments to some of the complaints on the originals. But, I think that the majority of early owners had only minor problems. Realize they are sports cars and are more likely to attract those truly heavy-handed drivers.

Here is a link to year and model descriptions. Start with the 2003 year and progress through.
http://www.nissanhelp.com/Models/200...escription.htm

I know the search function doesn't allow you to define your search very well, but I always learn something when I wander down its path.