freetownmike

Got a 2003 350 Z about 10 days ago, 1 previous owner, silver, stock, 6M/T, enthusiast model with 42,000 miles. With the exception of some stone chips on the hood and minor fraying on the driver's seat side bolster, it is pretty much as new or as close as you can get. Got it at CarMax after looking around a bit, and made the opted for their 3 year /36,0000 mile warranty for peace of mind. I am a first time sport car driver and am loving it. Once I get some pics I will post them.

Dark8lue

iTrader: (9)

congrats mike on the purchase..welcome to the forums

p.s. what did you pay if you dont mind us knowing?

Z_rican

iTrader: (1)

Welcome and congrats.

beezee

iTrader: (19)

Congrats.

DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

Congrats and welcome.

Make sure you click on the link in my sig to the Top 100 Questions thread.

halfass872

iTrader: (35)

Being that it's a 2003, i hope that carmax warranty covers a new transmission!!! lol

Cappola

I don't get it?

halfass872

iTrader: (35)

A good amount of the first couple years of Zs and Gs (probably a third) with 6 speeds had bad transimissions from the factory.

Do a search, there's plenty on here about it. I personally had mine replaced twice, under warranty thank god, before they finally put in the lastest revision, and have had 20,000 trouble free FI miles so far.

SYmtopns include, btu not limited to, grinding while shifting quickly (esp into 5th and 6th) and transmission whine. (Mine sounded like a jet engine by time i got it replaced).

If you drive your car like a grandma, you may never realize you have issues untill it's really bad. But try "speed shifting" and that's when the synchros fail you.

blktrack350

iTrader: (8)

they do but they try as hard as they can not to warranty anything. the only reason i got anything fixed on my car by carmax is because a fellow z owner works in the service department.

halfass872

iTrader: (35)

I hear ya. I've never bought from there, but i've know people that have. And from what i've heard their service department isn't "make specific" obviously. So for major repairs they outsource the car to other dealerships. (Like send your car to a nearby Nissan Dealer to get fixed). That being said, if your tranny does die, and since you are out of factory warranty. they (the Nissan dealer) will send it back to Carmax and say it needs a new tranny (because thery don't just open it and replace the bad part, Nissan puts in a new tranny, and sends the old one back to be rebuild completely). At that point Carmax is gonna try to blame you for it breaking it because they are more then likely not aware of and/or won't acknowledge this issue. Your only saving grace being you know a Z owner in the service department that may have enough pull to convience them.

Just keeping it real. You may be one of the few that don't have an issue. But i'd drive it like you stole it for a bit and see if the transmission responds well, or resists.

JEKL

iTrader: (24)

Congrats on the new Z. You say you have never owned a sports car before, so you might not be used to that much power the the rear. Just be careful with it and if you feel the need to learn its limits, find a local track and go crazy there.

TheFarmer

iTrader: (19)

Congratulations!

BRONZEE

Welcome to the forum. Good mileage for a 2003.