Where have the 350z's gone?!
Discussion
We've been looking a few months now.
Looking to replace a Honda Civic Type R (EP3 2004) sold recently.
The car we want is a black 350z, manual, not a convertible and no newer than 2005 (for lower tax band).
Miliege isn't an issue as long as been looked after and ideally around the £5k mark, however not a hard number.
Willing to travel for the right one.
Any direction appreciated.
Looking to replace a Honda Civic Type R (EP3 2004) sold recently.
The car we want is a black 350z, manual, not a convertible and no newer than 2005 (for lower tax band).
Miliege isn't an issue as long as been looked after and ideally around the £5k mark, however not a hard number.
Willing to travel for the right one.
Any direction appreciated.
Haha! I'm not on fb 
However my brother is and we're both looking constantly.
I check ebay, PH, Auto trader and Gumtree. He does all the above and fb.
No such luck.
Was one we had planned for today. We planned to go to Oxford (from Newcastle) days off arranged we told the fella in advance we'd be buying as long as vehicle was as described. Seller said fine yours if you want it. Come Thursday / Friday he wouldn't respond, no comms, no confirmation, no address. Wasted day of leave and planning. Good job didn't fill up tank. Nonetheless not happy.
Rant over!
But back to square one.
However my brother is and we're both looking constantly.
I check ebay, PH, Auto trader and Gumtree. He does all the above and fb.
No such luck.
Was one we had planned for today. We planned to go to Oxford (from Newcastle) days off arranged we told the fella in advance we'd be buying as long as vehicle was as described. Seller said fine yours if you want it. Come Thursday / Friday he wouldn't respond, no comms, no confirmation, no address. Wasted day of leave and planning. Good job didn't fill up tank. Nonetheless not happy.
Rant over!
But back to square one.
trickywoo said:
They didn’t sell well in the first place so not many for sale now.
I think you’ll need to compromise on colour at least.
I agree, to me I think any colour as long as its not orange is pretty nice (just my preference, nothing wrong with orange). I think you’ll need to compromise on colour at least.
However my brother, who's paying, is a little more picky....
Hmm, there were about 150 of them for sale on AT in September when I was looking, now there are 42. They aren't that rare.
I strongly suspect that this just reflects a general reluctance to put cars up for sale at present, given (a) a fear that prices may be lower due to the impact of Coronavirus and (b) sellers uncertainty about how their personal situation will develop over the next six months, so not selling to buy something else.
A couple of things that may help:
1) Cars registered before 23rd March 2006 get the lower road tax, so worth checking the registration date of '06' plate cars you see in your search too. (The MOT checker also shows the exact date of first registration).
2) Go on www.350z-uk.com and post that you're looking, it may draw some of the reluctant sellers out of the woodwork if there's someone interested.
- EVO Cars Wiltshire have had this black low-tax GT4 up for sale at 'PoA' for several months, won't be £5k but might be worth asking them, if your budget is flexible you'll likely save some money on maintenance and at resale https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
- There's a black import up on AT for £7495, imports pay the lower tax rate anyway, worth considering if you can stretch the budget a bit.
- Sadly the Londonderry black car on PH is a 56-plate so post the tax threshold.
Otherwise, I think it's just a bad time to be looking. If you can wait, I strongly suspect that there will be a lot more cars for sale again by November, and likely £5k should be a good budget. If you want a Z now, I would suggest compromising on the colour and finding the best example you can that's available, and maybe get it wrapped later or something.
samoht said:
Hmm, there were about 150 of them for sale on AT in September when I was looking, now there are 42. They aren't that rare.
I strongly suspect that this just reflects a general reluctance to put cars up for sale at present, given (a) a fear that prices may be lower due to the impact of Coronavirus and (b) sellers uncertainty about how their personal situation will develop over the next six months, so not selling to buy something else.
A couple of things that may help:
1) Cars registered before 23rd March 2006 get the lower road tax, so worth checking the registration date of '06' plate cars you see in your search too. (The MOT checker also shows the exact date of first registration).
2) Go on www.350z-uk.com and post that you're looking, it may draw some of the reluctant sellers out of the woodwork if there's someone interested.
- EVO Cars Wiltshire have had this black low-tax GT4 up for sale at 'PoA' for several months, won't be £5k but might be worth asking them, if your budget is flexible you'll likely save some money on maintenance and at resale https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
- There's a black import up on AT for £7495, imports pay the lower tax rate anyway, worth considering if you can stretch the budget a bit.
- Sadly the Londonderry black car on PH is a 56-plate so post the tax threshold.
Otherwise, I think it's just a bad time to be looking. If you can wait, I strongly suspect that there will be a lot more cars for sale again by November, and likely £5k should be a good budget. If you want a Z now, I would suggest compromising on the colour and finding the best example you can that's available, and maybe get it wrapped later or something.
Thanks Samoht - great post. I strongly suspect that this just reflects a general reluctance to put cars up for sale at present, given (a) a fear that prices may be lower due to the impact of Coronavirus and (b) sellers uncertainty about how their personal situation will develop over the next six months, so not selling to buy something else.
A couple of things that may help:
1) Cars registered before 23rd March 2006 get the lower road tax, so worth checking the registration date of '06' plate cars you see in your search too. (The MOT checker also shows the exact date of first registration).
2) Go on www.350z-uk.com and post that you're looking, it may draw some of the reluctant sellers out of the woodwork if there's someone interested.
- EVO Cars Wiltshire have had this black low-tax GT4 up for sale at 'PoA' for several months, won't be £5k but might be worth asking them, if your budget is flexible you'll likely save some money on maintenance and at resale https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
- There's a black import up on AT for £7495, imports pay the lower tax rate anyway, worth considering if you can stretch the budget a bit.
- Sadly the Londonderry black car on PH is a 56-plate so post the tax threshold.
Otherwise, I think it's just a bad time to be looking. If you can wait, I strongly suspect that there will be a lot more cars for sale again by November, and likely £5k should be a good budget. If you want a Z now, I would suggest compromising on the colour and finding the best example you can that's available, and maybe get it wrapped later or something.
I think you're absolutely right with timing and make sense.
That one with Evo is beautiful! But with only 11k miles it's practically new so I suspect won't be less than £10k.
Thanks for the tips RE 06 plates and 350z forum. Will include those within our searches.
You're right however, good things come to those who wait!
Just got to keep patient for the right one.
Much appreciated!
I think the COVID situation has hit numbers up for sale as usually there are 100+. However, having said that, their numbers are dwindling. Rust, poor maintenance and the fact that the 350Z is the new E36 in the drift world means that many are going to the great scrap yard in the sky. Be careful when looking for these cars, particularly the earlier ones, as they don't tend to be looked after too well. Barely a week goes by on the 350Z FB groups that someone isn't crying because their engine has spun a bearing or something - bearing in mind that these engines are famously bullet proof. Cheap to buy, not cheap to maintain (if you do it properly).
And for the sake of £300 extra a year, look at the post-'06 cars too. You're unnecessarily limiting your pool of potential cars (and the May '07-onwards HR variant are by fat the best, no matter what people who own DE engined cars say).
And for the sake of £300 extra a year, look at the post-'06 cars too. You're unnecessarily limiting your pool of potential cars (and the May '07-onwards HR variant are by fat the best, no matter what people who own DE engined cars say).
My parents will be selling their 54 plate GT spec Azure Blue 350Z shortly.
They've owned the car for around 15 years and are the 2nd register keepers. They've garaged it since they've owned it and it has done very limited miles. I think its only done 34k.
I'll be putting an Ad for it on here on their behalf in the next week or so once they have MOTd it.
They'll want a bit more than 5k for it though.
Edited to add picture of it along with mine
They've owned the car for around 15 years and are the 2nd register keepers. They've garaged it since they've owned it and it has done very limited miles. I think its only done 34k.
I'll be putting an Ad for it on here on their behalf in the next week or so once they have MOTd it.
They'll want a bit more than 5k for it though.
Edited to add picture of it along with mine
Edited by Terzo123 on Wednesday 8th July 22:08
Edited by Terzo123 on Wednesday 8th July 22:13
Terzo123 said:
My parents will be selling their 54 plate GT spec Azure Blue 350Z shortly.
They've owned the car for around 15 years and are the 2nd register keepers. They've garaged it since they've owned it and it has done very limited miles. I think its only done 34k.
I'll be putting an Ad for it on here on their behalf in the next week or so once they have MOTd it.
They'll want a bit more than 5k for it though.
Edited to add picture of it along with mine
You have mail. They've owned the car for around 15 years and are the 2nd register keepers. They've garaged it since they've owned it and it has done very limited miles. I think its only done 34k.
I'll be putting an Ad for it on here on their behalf in the next week or so once they have MOTd it.
They'll want a bit more than 5k for it though.
Edited to add picture of it along with mine
Edited by Terzo123 on Wednesday 8th July 22:08
Edited by Terzo123 on Wednesday 8th July 22:13
Thanks
ahas said:
Terzo123 said:
My parents will be selling their 54 plate GT spec Azure Blue 350Z shortly.
They've owned the car for around 15 years and are the 2nd register keepers. They've garaged it since they've owned it and it has done very limited miles. I think its only done 34k.
I'll be putting an Ad for it on here on their behalf in the next week or so once they have MOTd it.
They'll want a bit more than 5k for it though.
Edited to add picture of it along with mine
You have mail. They've owned the car for around 15 years and are the 2nd register keepers. They've garaged it since they've owned it and it has done very limited miles. I think its only done 34k.
I'll be putting an Ad for it on here on their behalf in the next week or so once they have MOTd it.
They'll want a bit more than 5k for it though.
Edited to add picture of it along with mine
Edited by Terzo123 on Wednesday 8th July 22:08
Edited by Terzo123 on Wednesday 8th July 22:13
Thanks
Hi all,
Thanks firstly for all those who replied and those who kindly dropped a PM with an example they were selling.
Some cracking 350z out there.
But we managed to get one! 2004, Within budget and in black.
Not yet managed to get any pics yet but here's one from the ad (apologies for plagiarising).
Drove the car back from Ayr to Newcastle last night and honestly what a drive! A76 and A69 were on the routes and what fantastic driving roads, not many cars on the road, open roads and late evening so was probably perfect. I'd say probably the best drive I've done.
350z was nothing short of faultless. I didn't push the car as it was still new to me and I wasn't familiar with the roads. But the sound! The way it pics up pace from low revs and the handling is nice and tight, 4x new Dunlop SportMaxx were confidence inducing.
Car is not perfect however, very small hint of burning oil, valve cover gasket probably the culprit and usual 350z issues with cars of 16 yrs of age. RUST!! Both rear arches need sorting sooner rather than later and the underbody is due a wire brushing and treatment.
With there being only 75k on the clock and full service history. Once we get rust etc sorted it'll probably be a decent investment.
I'll try and keep the post updated as we progress.
Thanks firstly for all those who replied and those who kindly dropped a PM with an example they were selling.
Some cracking 350z out there.
But we managed to get one! 2004, Within budget and in black.
Not yet managed to get any pics yet but here's one from the ad (apologies for plagiarising).
Drove the car back from Ayr to Newcastle last night and honestly what a drive! A76 and A69 were on the routes and what fantastic driving roads, not many cars on the road, open roads and late evening so was probably perfect. I'd say probably the best drive I've done.
350z was nothing short of faultless. I didn't push the car as it was still new to me and I wasn't familiar with the roads. But the sound! The way it pics up pace from low revs and the handling is nice and tight, 4x new Dunlop SportMaxx were confidence inducing.
Car is not perfect however, very small hint of burning oil, valve cover gasket probably the culprit and usual 350z issues with cars of 16 yrs of age. RUST!! Both rear arches need sorting sooner rather than later and the underbody is due a wire brushing and treatment.
With there being only 75k on the clock and full service history. Once we get rust etc sorted it'll probably be a decent investment.
I'll try and keep the post updated as we progress.
Well done finding one in budget, looks great 
Good luck sorting the arches and the oil. I know what you mean, the engine has really strong delivery throughout the range and the handling is very taut - Nissan Technical Centre in Cranfield re-worked the chassis for the European market, so it's been honed on UK roads by people who know what they're doing about driving.
Have fun!
Good luck sorting the arches and the oil. I know what you mean, the engine has really strong delivery throughout the range and the handling is very taut - Nissan Technical Centre in Cranfield re-worked the chassis for the European market, so it's been honed on UK roads by people who know what they're doing about driving.
Have fun!
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