I'm a car guy plain and simple, right now I have a couple of pony cars and a Hyundai as a daily driver. My fiancee also has a Hyundai as a daily driver. She/we are looking for a nice weekend car thats fun to drive, sporty, handles/brakes well, reliable etc. Its just the two of us, I'm 27 she is 24, no kids so we don't need a ton of space however I would like to be able to take a trip in this car etc. This car will see more time as a cruiser then a racer.

Whatever we buy will be an auto. She can't drive a stick and two of my cars are sticks already so I want an automatic. This car will not be a daily driver but we would like to be able to drive it a distance comfortably if we can. I know the autos are a bit slower, but thats fine with me. This car won't be seeing the local drag strips.

I'm leaning towards a 350 'base.' I do not want 18" wheels or a stiff ride, hence the track is out. Additionally I'm sure even the base 350Z is going to be a nice handling, fun to drive car. The 'base' is cheaper as well. What sort of improvement does the 'touring' have over the base? Are sunroofs/moonroofs available on these cars?

Have these cars been reliable? One of the major positives for the Nissan is, well, its a Nissan. What sort of things should I look for if we decide to buy a low mileage used one? If we go new, how much am I looking at spending for a nicely equipped base or touring model?

Also, I'm in Toms River NJ. If anyone is in the area and could show us their 350Z in person, that would be great!

Thanks guys!

BTW, for anyone who cares, here are some pics of my two domestics....
http://www.bbbracing.com/kennyh/kenny.html

 

If you want sunroof/moonroof and a cruiser.. the G35 is probably a better bet for you.

The ride in the Z is hard, but not unbearable. I've taken long trips in it without issue. The G will probably have more usable trunk space as well. (the strut brace really prevents putting large bags in there).

In the Z... I'd definatly go with a touring if you weren't going to be replaceing the wheels with aftermarket. The seats are GREAT, the 18" wheels look so much nicer the then 17"s.. you get a 6 disc changer, heated mirrors, heated seats, etc.

If an auto, you will not get the 18" wheels, even in touring though. I wouldn't go for the base because it doesn't have the VDC system.. which is an extra safety net that shouldn't be over looked. Just read about how many 'experienced' drivers here have lost the car unexpectedly.. and bewm.. bye bye Z. VDC isn't going to save the world.. but it will help.

 

I would say step up to the touring, and add the leather/power/heated seats/heated mirrors. THe ride will be the same for all of the trim levels, meaning track is just as stiff as base. I believe the Auto Touring comes with 17" inch rims. Goto www.nissanmotors.com and custom build your car. I think the touring is more of what you're looking for and also it has the xenon headlights and a LSD for spirited driving. And the homelink mirror for programing your garage doors, and the metal pedals. Comes down to how much you want to spend. Good luck which ever way you go. Hope this helps. Also, consider the G35. Similar style, but more comfort than sport.

 

from what you said, as flynnibus said. automatic touring. 17" rims and no VDC, but you do get the leather, heated seats, heated mirrors, and bose.

many here are less than satisfied with it, and no its not as good as an aftermarket system. but depending what kind of audiophile you are, it satisfied me. of course ignorance is bliss. if your used to something better, Id get the enthusiast.

your biggest problem on the base is going to be no cruise control. might factor in on long trips. also no HID, they are just cool. beyond that enthusiast gets homelink and for performance, an LSD. and for the safety, TCS. its alot for your money, and most widely accepted as the best value of the group.

 

If you're looking for an automatic tranny, then you've effectively ruled out the base model - it only comes in manual transmission.

Your next option would have to be the Enthusiast.

 

Great info guys! Cruise is a MUST! I'm thinking we want a touring, not a base. I do like the G35s, she does as well. But the Z seems to be a little better value, maybe I am wrong. Will I be able to find a slightly used G35 coupe for $27k? I do like the 18" wheels much better but I'm also a bit uneasy about driving around with 18" wheels in New Jersey. We have our share of potholes and crappy roads in general. Is the G35 noticeably quieter then the 350Z? Keep in mind what is too 'loud' for your guys would still probably be very quiet to me. I don't drive my Firebird or Mustang too much but when I do I can deal with it. The Hyundai isn't all that quiet at speed either. Its refined for what it is, but its still a $12k cheap econocar thats a great daily driver/ commuter but has its share of tire/road/wind noice.

An auto G35 would seem to be ALOT slower then a 350Z auto, correct? While straight line acceleration isn't my primary concern, an auto G35 would have 27 less hp then an auto 350Z and weigh about 200 lbs more. Thats going to be quite a difference I think.

 

I haven't ridden in a G35s, but I would assume it will be significantly quieter than a Z, given that the target demographic for that car is totally different from that of the Z.

A LOT slower? I wouldn't say so. The G35 will still accelerate from 0-60 fairly quickly, and unless you're planning to track the car or take it to the dragstrip, you probably won't even notice the 27hp less power. Keep in mind, this is a sedan you're talking about. When you compare it to a true sports car like the Z, you're talking apples and oranges here.

You might also consider the new G35s with AWD, which is getting fairly good reviews.

 

I have seen the AWD G35s, but I think thats pushing the price above what we can spend. Plus, this car won't see any bad weather so its not like I'll need to drive it to work during a snow storm. I plan on keeping my Hyundai and my fiancee will be keeping hers as well for the grinds of the daily commute. I could never take a nice car like a Z or G350 out in that crappy weather anyways....

 

Ah OK, that makes sense. I had forgotten that you had mentioned that this new car would be more of a tourer for weekends.

The thing is, you need to decide what you want to use the car for. I don't think you can beat a nice sedan with enough room for 5 people and lots of trunk space for long-distance trips. On the other hand, if it's performance you're after, then a Z is a better choice.

The Z and the G35 are both excellent cars. What you need to do is to go test drive them both, and decide what your priorities are.

 

Get the Z sounds like your car!

 

I have a Touring 350, MY g/f has a G35 coupe w/18'
Mine is a 6 spd, her's is an auto

Speed wise the G is very quick, and, exhaust wise I think the G is a little throatier

I am not a race car kinda guy, but I think the G is very capable of keeping up w/the Z.

I don't drive my Z much, but the G is my g/f everyday driver, and she loves it. The Z has a much harsher ride the the G as well.

Hope this helps ya.

 

Your use of the car sounds identical to mine; i.e. a cruiser rather than junior racer.

From reading your posts, get the Enthusiast; hands down, the Enthsiast will meet your needs.

As for luggage capacity, there is a fair amount in the Z....IF you use smaller soft sided luggage. My son & I went for a four camping/driving trip in the Z. We packed: tent, camping stove, grill, two calasepable (SP?) chairs, & one large & two medium size duffels w/o any problem.

Go to the Nissan site & look-upwhat you get with the Enthusiast. It is about 2 Gs more than base but you get a lot of pop for the 2 Gs. MSRP is a little under 30 grand.

As for Z vs G35, its whichever floats your boat.

 

Sounds like the Z's for you, just remember that even though you're saying it's not going to be a daily driver for you, the tires it comes with are horrible in the snow so you'll want to change those if all of a sudden this does becomes a daily driver for you in the winter.

If you haven't made a decison by April 25th, go to ATCO Race Track that day as there will be over 100 350Z's and G35's there and you can see every combination imaginable there plus you'll be able to get opinions from owners of both cars. There's a thread in the northeast region about this huge meet or click on "350Z CONNECT" in my signature.

 

It definately won't be a daily driver. We both have Hyundais to drive, we also commute together 3 times a week as we work within 5 miles of each other, albeit 60 miles from home. I'd never subject a car like that to the elements.

The 25th sounds like a plan. I'm an hour from Atco, the Firebird and Mustang have made a few visits there :-)

 

But you can't VDC on any auto Z. So all autos are ruled out.

 

The Z is a fantastic car - a great balance b/w torque and handling that is hard to find. There are other cars with better numbers for the price, but I challenge you to find one that you enjoy driving more. The seating position, the shifter, the steering, the handling, and the motor all add up to one hell of a car.

You'll see a lot of quibbling here about tire wear, rattles, etc...but no more than I have seen on BMW or Honda forums. Consumer Reports rated the Z as above avg in reliability...so make what you want of that.

The Auto Z is still a lot of fun (doesn't have those sweet short throws). To get an auto you'll have to go enthusiast or touring...sounds like you are leaning towards the enthusiast end of the spectrum. If want to shell out the bucks, the touring is a great mix of luxury and sport.

You can definitely take a trip in the Z, I think people grossly understimate its storage capacity. If you use soft luggage (b/c of the strut tower bar) you'll be AMAZED what you can fit in the car.

If you're really in the market for a cruiser though, the G35 may suit your needs better. The Z is a real sports car...the g35 more of a sporty cruiser. The Z is hardcore, and for those of us that love driving fast that is a beautiful thing...but for comfort-seekers and old-farts looking to rekindle their youth, the Z is the wrong choice - it's why you see so many used Zs for sale.