Nissan 350Z

[JeepMonkey]

Has anyone owned or road around in a Nissan 350Z?  I am thinking about buying one and they seem like awesome fun cars.

I would really like to get a new 370Z, but I am not spending $35k on a car.

[wp34]

A friend of mine has the Infinity and it is a real nice car.  Very fun to drive.

I've had a few 240's over the years and have been wanting a 350 myself since they came out.

[Vanguard]

I have an G35 and love it.   A friend of mine has a 370.  It feels like it has about the same acceleration as my G35.  The suspension is a little stiffer though.   

[Samstag]

I have a G35 too.  I don't know if it's still the case but you used to be able to pick up slightly used 350Z suspension kits for $100-150 that fit the G35 and give you a stiffer suspension and slightly lower ride.  A lot of Z owners were upgrading to an aftermarket suspension.

The only person I know who owned a Z traded it in for an RX-8 after a few months but I never heard what specifically he disliked about it.

[Vanguard]

I actually prefer my suspension to the Z.   It's a nice balance between sports suspension and not a lot harsh road noise.

[drventure]

My brother had one for about a year. It was a blast to run around in but there's absolutely no space inside. You can get a couple bags of groceries, and that's about it. He's young and single and didn't want 2 cars, sooo....

He sold it and got a 4runner.

[DrumAnBass]

Yah I had a G35 sport coupe as well; great car. Essentially the same as a 350z but with better seats, better sound system and usable rear seats as well, for those times when you have to haul around 3 buddies.

The one drawback on both cars is the gas mileage... I was getting probably around 14mpg in the G35, probably because I drove it with a lead foot. Also the tires are expensive, well over $1k when it is time for a new set of shoes... Keep that in mind if you are buying a used one.

I now drive a Nissan Altima sedan and often yearn for the power & handling of the G35 again. Shouldn't have listened to the practical side of my brain...!

[shmokes]

My brother had one for about a year. It was a blast to run around in but there's absolutely no space inside. You can get a couple bags of groceries, and that's about it. He's young and single and didn't want 2 cars, sooo....

He sold it and got a 4runner.

What the ---fudgesicle---?  He's young and single?  That is your stated reason for him trading a sports car for a familymobile???  What kind of effed up logic is that?

[JeepMonkey]

Good info.  I am a little surprised at the lopsided amount of Infinity vs Nissan experience.  Your replys are very similar to what I have heard others say.  The advantage to the Infinity is more room, more seating, and not as rough / loud.

I have a Jeep Wrangler 4x4, and I have no plan to sell it to get a sportscar.  I will keep it because it is paid off, great winter vehicle, and it is fun.  Plus I can still use it to haul groceries, people, luggage, etc.

My Wrangler has four wheel drive and power steering, that is about it for options.  I am used to a rough riding, loud vehicle.  Either car will ride like a Cadillac to me.

[drventure]

What the ---fudgesicle---?  He's young and single?  That is your stated reason for him trading a sports car for a familymobile???  What kind of effed up logic is that?

 

No, he runs with a bunch of people and was tired of not being able to go anywhere with more than just one person. The young and single just meant he didn't want to have to mess with 2 cars. Also, to be fair, it's tough to hang a bike off the back of a 350z and head up into the mountains for a weekend. He did it... once 

[Vanguard]

I actually prefer my suspension to the Z.   It's a nice balance between sports suspension and not a lot harsh road noise.

Dad?  Jeez, that's almost word for word what he said.   

No, not dad.  If you were my son, I would have dumped you in the woods to be raised by wolves before you imprinted on me.

[Hoopz]

If you were my son, I would have dumped you in the woods to be raised by wolves before you imprinted on me.

Now you sound like my wife!   

[testicle187]

Isn't the G35 All-Wheel Drive?  That's a major difference between the 350 and G35. 

[DrumAnBass]

Nope, G35 coupe & 350z are both RWD... The G35 sedan was available as AWD with the G35x, but the standard configuration was RWD.

[AcidArmitage]

My brother had one for about a year. It was a blast to run around in but there's absolutely no space inside. You can get a couple bags of groceries, and that's about it. He's young and single and didn't want 2 cars, sooo....

He sold it and got a 4runner.

What the ---fudgesicle---?  He's young and single?  That is your stated reason for him trading a sports car for a familymobile???  What kind of effed up logic is that?

family mobile? the 4 runner has its own sexy rugged look... grizzly beard style

[shmokes]

No it doesn't.  It's just a cross between a minivan and a station wagon.  The next time you try to convince yourself that an SUV is rugged or grizzly beard (whatever that means) take a look at the statistics on who's driving them.  You might just find a few more soccer moms than you're comfortable with.   

[HaRuMaN]

grizzly beard (whatever that means)

Grizzly Adams?

[TOK]

No it doesn't.  It's just a cross between a minivan and a station wagon.  The next time you try to convince yourself that an SUV is rugged or grizzly beard (whatever that means) take a look at the statistics on who's driving them.  You might just find a few more soccer moms than you're comfortable with.   

I always considered the 4Runner a truck. It was always based on the Tacoma, rear wheel drive when not in 4wd mode, with body-on-frame (truck) construction.

The Highlander and RAV-4 are unibody (car) based and front wheel drive when not in 4wd mode.

Who drives it really doesn't change what it is.

[shmokes]

But it's not a truck.  It's an SUV.  And maybe it's a better SUV than some of the other SUVs, but it's still an SUV just like a Dodge Magnum is still a station wagon.

[gavkiwi]

I have a 350Z, a 2005 model, its been a good car, got it when it had 26k on the odometer, now at 65k miles. 4 years ago this summer!

The depreciation is a real b1tch on this car, but as with any thing, they have come down in price.
I use to do a lot of grocery shopping in it, I could drop $200 - $300 worth of groceries and fill up the trunk quite nicely fitting everything in.

I've taken it away for a few weekend road trips out of town, and you can only really put 2 small travel suitcases in it, but it serves its purpose with a little room for some shopping.

As I am older (34) I dont have the lead foot I once had, probably bc I got a stupid speeding ticket last summer doing 10 over the limit. But I guess flooring it away from every stop sign or stop light doesnt do it for me anymore, So I usually drive slower (speed limit) to conserve gas. I typically can avg 350 Miles on a tank of gas....mostly city and some highway miles. When i consistently did highway miles I got around 440miles on a tank of gas.

BTW, since this is a performance car, you must fill it up with premium, other wise the engine will knock on a lower grade gasoline.

Check out www.my350z.com/forums

its a good website, been around since the three fity first came out in '02

damn its been that long, no wonder they are soo cheap

Obviously, insurance is a b1tch as well, and even more so if you are younger. Another thing to consider is costly maintanence, the 30k and 60k services run about $500 each from Nissan.

Overall, its a good car, not the same build quality of my Z32 (300ZX), its very plasticy inside, a little cramped, but great handling, 0-60 is pretty good  , a good, reliable little car

Gav.