Hello everybody!

As the title says I will soon be adding a 350Z to the list of Nissans I have owned in my life (B13, S13, B15 Spec V). I've been looking at em for a while now, and have narrowed it down to one of these two vehicles most likely . . .

2005 350Z 35th Anniversary Edition
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...1237/overview/

2008 350Z (Base Model?)
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...6654/overview/

I'm leaning towards the 05 Z given it's features, but from what I've read they are the most prone to oil consumption issues, which gives me pause. I'd rather not deal with another oil burner like my current Spec V. I'm hesitant about the 08 because of the aftermarket wheels and the fact that it's only a base model.

I'll be going to take a look at both of them tomorrow, which will hopefully help me decide, but any thoughts or opinions on either or both cars would be appreciated.

 

Mileage looks basically the same. Disregarding any price difference, I would immediately choose the 2005 in this case.

First reason, it looks to be in much better condition simple based off of their exterior.

Second, a base model is an immediate no for me. I wouldn't want to deal with a base model and I don't think it would be worth buying a base and converting it to a higher model.

Just my $0.02

 

hr hands down. better headlights, trans, interior... who cares about the base, it really depends on what you are using
the car for

the hr brakes are good, pretty close to the brembos. the only "special" thing of the 35th is the badging

 

I agree 08 would be my pick, upgrade the diff and your good to go. 05 is way over priced imo... Factory wheels are over rated, and readily available if you decide you want them...

 

If the headlights in the 05 are HID then it should be and easy swap to the 06+ correct? Just need assemblies and 06+ bulbs and swap the wiring over? Also, since the 35th manuals came with the Uprev motors, doesn't that mean they came with the newer tranmission, or is the trans for the HR completely different? I thought they just had different bell housings for the motor?

I agree it is more than I want to pay. I'm hoping I can talk them down. I'll have to look into what's involved in upgrading the diff. Also I would prefer a vehicle with factory wheels so I only have to spend money on the aftermarket wheels of my choice as opposed to that AND a set of stocks.

 

05 do not have hid, halogen projectors

 

On the lighting upgrade, no, it's not quite as simple as straight swap because the '06+ are Bi-Xenon. But it's a trivial thing to re-wire up so in that sense, it's pretty straight forward.

On the transmissions, the UpRev is still a DE engine and therefore the transmission used is specific to DE and "could be" a CD008, "could be" a CD009.

S'far as the HR is concerned, guts and casing of the HR-specific CD009 are same as previous 009 but the bell housing/bolt pattern is different. it IS a completely different bolt pattern, different clutch, and most notably, different clutch actuation system - the HR using the internal concentric slave cylinder.



Wait, what?

Trav, Trav, Trav... all models of Z above Base model since '03 had HID!

 

Go for the 08

 

The '05 isn't an Anniversary car, as the trim code is "G". Anniversary cars had trim code "AE", but the doucheb@g dealers often designate any '05 as Anniversary cars to jack up the price.

In any case, the '08 is a better car.

 

Was my understanding, but I have been wrong before

 

Most people know how much better the 06+ bi xenon lights are, and charge a premium. I see them sell used for $5-800.00 . Also, the tails in 06+ are led, and there are many stories about Ebay led tail lights causing engine codes, so research before you change those.

 

 

So the general consensus seems to be that despite the difference in trim levels the 08 is still most likely the better car. Wow, I'm surprised. I thought the 05 being a 35th would give it the edge, lol.

I'm about to go look at both of em, and hopefully make a purchase. Thank you everyone for you input!

 

Takes a big man to admit he was wrong. Even though this wasn't much of an admission, I'm taking it. Hahahahahahahaha! All good, Trav!

I keed! I keed!

 

i know alot, but dont know it all.

 

I already stated the '05 car is not an Anniversary Edition Z. If it were, the trim code would be "AE", not "G".

 

The 03-05 enthusiast model + have the "reflector" housing... meaning low beam is HID, hi beam is halogen. The base model doesn't have HID lighting... I'm the living proof bc when I went to go buy my DE back in 2005, the base model head light wasn't blue... even though it was cheaper, I opt for the enthusiast model bc of it.

06 + model have the "projector" housing... meaning the high and low beam are HID's. In 2006, all base model came with HID lights... therefore when I purchased my HR... I bought the base model.

Continue gents and GL OP...

 

so i was halfway right in a weird way, thanks for that info

 

OK, fine, technically then, I was half wrong.










Nah.

But ya, thanks Stogey, key detail points

 

According to the vin decoder its an anniversary edition.