Any 350z owners around?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm looking at changing my car out fairly soon and i've got an itch to get back into RWD.
I currently run a Clio 197 F1 as a fun weekend and occasional track car.
Just wondering if any owners can give me their impressions and anything to look out for?
I'll be looking to get an earlier model year coupe manual in my budget (Up to around 5k), i'd like the GT pack with the Rays wheels. Fuel costs don't really matter, (the clio averages around 24mpg) and i will do any servicing and basic spannering myself.
The car will be used for running around at the weekends, the occasional road trip and a few track/drift days.
Thanks
Alex
I'm looking at changing my car out fairly soon and i've got an itch to get back into RWD.
I currently run a Clio 197 F1 as a fun weekend and occasional track car.
Just wondering if any owners can give me their impressions and anything to look out for?
I'll be looking to get an earlier model year coupe manual in my budget (Up to around 5k), i'd like the GT pack with the Rays wheels. Fuel costs don't really matter, (the clio averages around 24mpg) and i will do any servicing and basic spannering myself.
The car will be used for running around at the weekends, the occasional road trip and a few track/drift days.
Thanks
Alex
Having owned an early JDM 350z, then a 57 plate 350z (and later a 370z) I'd say if you can up your budget then the 57/58plate is the one to go for. They change the model significantly - different engine (you can tell by the bulges on bonnet instead of lines). It was a few years ago, but I recall the handling was much better, gearbox much smoother, interior slightly better. The earlier models are still great value and bullet proof engine but the 57 era change was a big step up in quality and performance.
With an after market air filter (those were the days!) they sound amazing.
The 370 was obviously a step up again, much more refined car but not in your budget - try and find a 57/58 plate 350, there was one on ebay for 6k ish.
With an after market air filter (those were the days!) they sound amazing.
The 370 was obviously a step up again, much more refined car but not in your budget - try and find a 57/58 plate 350, there was one on ebay for 6k ish.
Oldandslow said:
Have you driven one? If not I suggest you do. They're a bit marmite. The controls are heavy and the gearbox isn't slick, more of a cruiser than something you can chuck around.
They're certainly marmite. I found mine to be heavy, thirsty and uninvolving and the whole experience was just a little dull. And that was one with the posh brakes and wheels. One tiny bit of fun I did have in it was when the TC was turned off around a roundabout and getting the back end out. 99.9% of the rest or the time it was meh
A Z4 can be had at that price (of thereabouts) and that would be where my money went. At least you can get the roof down when it's sunny.
p4cks said:
They're certainly marmite. I found mine to be heavy, thirsty and uninvolving and the whole experience was just a little dull. And that was one with the posh brakes and wheels.
One tiny bit of fun I did have in it was when the TC was turned off around a roundabout and getting the back end out. 99.9% of the rest or the time it was meh
A Z4 can be had at that price (of thereabouts) and that would be where my money went. At least you can get the roof down when it's sunny.
350Z is far more of a drivers car than a Z4. The 350Z handles 100 times better, has proper brakes and an LSD. I've driven my mates 350Z hard on track and other than a bit of a notchy gearbox it makes for a fantastic, cheap track car / weekend warrior! One tiny bit of fun I did have in it was when the TC was turned off around a roundabout and getting the back end out. 99.9% of the rest or the time it was meh
A Z4 can be had at that price (of thereabouts) and that would be where my money went. At least you can get the roof down when it's sunny.
The Z4 has a terrible ride / numb steering and turns in to a wobbly mess on track. Only saving grace is a lovely smooth engine and the drop top (if the motor isn't buggered!)
Jez m said:
p4cks said:
They're certainly marmite. I found mine to be heavy, thirsty and uninvolving and the whole experience was just a little dull. And that was one with the posh brakes and wheels.
One tiny bit of fun I did have in it was when the TC was turned off around a roundabout and getting the back end out. 99.9% of the rest or the time it was meh
A Z4 can be had at that price (of thereabouts) and that would be where my money went. At least you can get the roof down when it's sunny.
350Z is far more of a drivers car than a Z4. The 350Z handles 100 times better, has proper brakes and an LSD. I've driven my mates 350Z hard on track and other than a bit of a notchy gearbox it makes for a fantastic, cheap track car / weekend warrior! One tiny bit of fun I did have in it was when the TC was turned off around a roundabout and getting the back end out. 99.9% of the rest or the time it was meh
A Z4 can be had at that price (of thereabouts) and that would be where my money went. At least you can get the roof down when it's sunny.
The Z4 has a terrible ride / numb steering and turns in to a wobbly mess on track. Only saving grace is a lovely smooth engine and the drop top (if the motor isn't buggered!)
I've had my 07 350z GT for 5 years now, and it's a cracking car
Bought with 9K on the clock (@ 7yrs old!) it's now on 42K
Used every day, nothing has ever gone wrong, it averages 25 MPG
It's true the steering is heavy and the gearbox isn't the slickest, but I'm not fussed; my last car didn't have power steering
VED at £555 is a pain, but it really costs peanuts to run compared to some sporty cars
Bought with 9K on the clock (@ 7yrs old!) it's now on 42K
Used every day, nothing has ever gone wrong, it averages 25 MPG
It's true the steering is heavy and the gearbox isn't the slickest, but I'm not fussed; my last car didn't have power steering
VED at £555 is a pain, but it really costs peanuts to run compared to some sporty cars
I bought one of the last, '09 plate, 350z convertibles with the 313hp twin plenum engine. I was lucky as it was at a giveaway price when they were clearing stock to male way for the 370z.
I have fond memories of it, but it was more of cruiser than an out and out sports car although the coupe should be a different story as it was a fair bit lighter with a stiffer chassis.
With some mild upgrades by Abbey Motorsport, 2 x K&N panel filters, a freer flowing cat and down pipes and remap, it was much better particularly in the mid range. The remap also removed the full throttle block on the lower gears which made a big difference on its own. Never knew why that was there in the first place.
Anyhow I do miss it and if any spare cash comes my way I'd have another for sure.
I have fond memories of it, but it was more of cruiser than an out and out sports car although the coupe should be a different story as it was a fair bit lighter with a stiffer chassis.
With some mild upgrades by Abbey Motorsport, 2 x K&N panel filters, a freer flowing cat and down pipes and remap, it was much better particularly in the mid range. The remap also removed the full throttle block on the lower gears which made a big difference on its own. Never knew why that was there in the first place.
Anyhow I do miss it and if any spare cash comes my way I'd have another for sure.
I like the way they look but I dated a girl once that had just bought a brand new 350Z convertible (probably 2005) with a 6 speed. I had a v8 Mercedes E class at the time and thought it was a much more exciting car to drive. I suspect that they'll be good daily hacks but they're not exciting.
Earlier cars (think 55 and down) benefit from cheaper road tax I think.
The 350 is great, sounds amazing with a wonderful induction noise and great pull as standard. The engine on the 350 was hand assembled as well IIRC. You should plump for the GT model as with that you get the better brakes and the Rays alloys. A friend had one and they're very capable on track if a little heavy; will eat through tyres and pads. If I didn't have the VX, I think one would be on the cards.
The 350 is great, sounds amazing with a wonderful induction noise and great pull as standard. The engine on the 350 was hand assembled as well IIRC. You should plump for the GT model as with that you get the better brakes and the Rays alloys. A friend had one and they're very capable on track if a little heavy; will eat through tyres and pads. If I didn't have the VX, I think one would be on the cards.
Just note that a few things are not quite accurate...
GT Pack does not guarantee Rays, the GT Pack is just the BOSE, Cruise Control etc. they came with both the touring wheels and Rays which were an option. The touring wheels (the six spoke tubular ones) are heavy as f
k so do try and avoid them.
Also look out for imports, in the UK there were two specs GT and non-GT but a dozen or so in Japan which varied the brakes, interior, wheels etc. You need to properly look over imports and check the spec.
You effectively have the DE first gen car, the Revup then the HR (as mentioned generally has a bulged bonnet but don't go by that as many DE/Revup owners have changed the bonnets to bulged ones - open the bonnet and an HR will have two air intakes not one). The revup had more power but less torque in the right places than the DE, to be honest theres nothing noticeable between them performance wise.
If you can get a DE car that has had a few mods such as exhaust, sports cats, plenum spacer and a remap done (usually uprev or ecutek) its well worth it as it does smooth out a lot of the flat spots and the drive is much better - dont get hung up on peak power numbers they are virtually useless and not worth worrying about, look at the dyno graph and check for smoothness and increases across the range.
These cars also burn oil, as long as its no more than 1L per 1000 miles you are fine.
Keep an eye on rust on the 5k cars, rear arches are starting to wear. You will also when looking under the car see a brace in the shape of a W which always rusts and looks terrible, these can be swapped out for an aftermarket part no problem.
GT Pack does not guarantee Rays, the GT Pack is just the BOSE, Cruise Control etc. they came with both the touring wheels and Rays which were an option. The touring wheels (the six spoke tubular ones) are heavy as f
k so do try and avoid them. Also look out for imports, in the UK there were two specs GT and non-GT but a dozen or so in Japan which varied the brakes, interior, wheels etc. You need to properly look over imports and check the spec.
You effectively have the DE first gen car, the Revup then the HR (as mentioned generally has a bulged bonnet but don't go by that as many DE/Revup owners have changed the bonnets to bulged ones - open the bonnet and an HR will have two air intakes not one). The revup had more power but less torque in the right places than the DE, to be honest theres nothing noticeable between them performance wise.
If you can get a DE car that has had a few mods such as exhaust, sports cats, plenum spacer and a remap done (usually uprev or ecutek) its well worth it as it does smooth out a lot of the flat spots and the drive is much better - dont get hung up on peak power numbers they are virtually useless and not worth worrying about, look at the dyno graph and check for smoothness and increases across the range.
These cars also burn oil, as long as its no more than 1L per 1000 miles you are fine.
Keep an eye on rust on the 5k cars, rear arches are starting to wear. You will also when looking under the car see a brace in the shape of a W which always rusts and looks terrible, these can be swapped out for an aftermarket part no problem.
coldel said:
...and just to add, these are not point and squirt B road rally cars, they are and were designed to be, GT cruisers. A lot of people slate them because they can't throw them around the track or that the power delivery is lazy, but thats how they were designed to be a GT car.
Agree with this as well and I occasionally find my 370Z a little aloof, but it isn't the type of car that you will enjoy throwing around. It definitely suits open roads and long sweeping bends more for sure. At first I hated the power delivery(being used to turbo engines) but I do appreciate that the engine has a nice depth to it and I really like its character.
The 350Z/370Z are massive marmite cars(more than I actually realised) but if you like the old school way of doing things you can't help but be taken by them I think.
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