Overview & Reviews
A proper sports car for the everyman. If we had just one sentence to describe the Nissan 350Z, that'd be it. While there have always been plenty of unobtainable sports cars out there to drool over, the 350Z's relatively compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive, two seats, muscular engine and sharp handling came at a price that real people could actually afford.
The Nissan 350Z represented the fifth generation of "Z" sports cars from this Japanese manufacturer. At its debut in 2003, the 350Z represented a key component of Nissan's rebirth in the North American market. For much of the late '90s and early new millennium, Nissan's lineup was full of lackluster cars. The Z brought back the company's spirit of fun and performance that had been missing ever since the discontinuation of the previous 300ZX.
The 350Z coupe was replaced by the 370Z coupe for 2009, while the 350Z roadster lived on before following suit the following year. In coupe or drop-top form, the 350Z was quite popular so finding a nice example on the used car market should be relatively easy. That said, keen shoppers will want to pay close attention to the car's changes and updates that were made through the years.
Most Recent Nissan 350Z
The 350Z sports car bowed in 2003 as an all-new model and was produced until 2008 (coupe) and 2009 (roadster). The first year there was only a coupe, as the roadster did not debut until the following year. Initially, the coupe came in base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track versions, while the roadster was limited to Enthusiast and Touring trim levels. The Track trim came with lightweight wheels and Brembo brakes, but its suspension tuning was the same as all other coupes.
In these early years, the V6 produced 287 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The Track model had the manual only. Changes were minimal in the first few years, though Nissan did release a 350Z 35th-anniversary edition in '05. This manual-transmission model produced 300 hp (but less torque) and came in three exclusive colors.
For '06, Nissan included the Anniversary Edition's 300-hp V6 for all manual-equipped cars. There were a host of other changes as well, including mildly updated styling, speed-sensitive steering, larger brakes for non-Brembo-equipped models, a higher-quality interior, more standard features and a newly available navigation system. The Performance trim level was dropped. This was also the first year for the Grand Touring trim level, which was similar to the Touring but had the Track's Brembo brakes and wheels.
For '07, Nissan fully updated the V6 for all 350Zs and it made a potent 306 hp. The Track trim level was dropped, but in its place came the coupe-only Nismo 350Z model. The Nismo model dropped many luxuries in favor of performance-enhancing upgrades, such as a stiffened, seam-welded chassis, firmer springs and shock absorbers, special wheels and various aerodynamic upgrades. Inside, each Nismo 350Z had red and black cloth seats, a gray-faced tachometer and a number plaque indicating its build order in the production run. Nismo models were also produced for the coupe's last year in 2008; the following year brought the all-new 370Z coupe. For '09, the roadster carried the 350Z flag; the following year it was replaced by the all-new 370Z roadster.
In reviews, we found the Nissan 350Z to be an engaging sports car to drive hard. The V6 pulled strongly when revved past 3,000 rpm and generated one of the most distinctive engine and exhaust-note soundtracks available (something its successor lacks). The 350Z's ability to provide serious grip through corners made it a favorite of our enthusiast editors. At the limit, the car's handling could be a bit tricky, so steady hands were required.
When employed on a daily basis, the Nissan 350Z didn't make for such a compelling companion. Road and tire noise were considerable, and the car's stiff suspension transmitted plenty of shock to its occupants when driven on rough pavement. Inside, the Z's cabin was functional but decidedly stark. Some of the interior trim was of low quality, and the luggage capacity of the roadster was compromised, even for this class of car.
Considering the 350Z's gradual improvements in features and hardware over the years, consumers interested in a used Nissan 350Z should generally try to purchase the newest year possible. Notable options to look for would be side airbags (they were optional on the coupe and not always standard on the roadster) and stability control (which came on Touring coupes as well as Grand Touring and Track trim levels).
User Reviews:
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AWESOME - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By ndgaikowski - July 28 - 2:00 amI love this car! Fun to drive, excellent braking, suspension, steering. The short shifter is in a perfect spot, along with all the other gauges
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Excellent Coolness-to-Dollar Ratio! - 2006 Nissan 350Z
By RickS - July 18 - 11:40 pmI hadnt wanted just ANY flashy car; only the 305Z had truly turned my head. I got the silver six-speed, 306 HP. Great move! Its basically all engine, so the handling and acceleration are top-notch. The six gears will keep your hands busy. For a small car, it also has a nice, "heavy", solid feel to it as well, very welcome on the highway or in inclement weather. I routinely get stopped by strangers and complimented on my car! The only negatives I can mention are the lack of trunk space (but who buys this car for trips to the grocery store?), the extreme lowness to the ground (this required a new front end 6 months after purchase), and finicky tire pressure gauges. I love this car!
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Affordable SportsCar ruined by Dealer - 2003 Nissan 350Z
By frans - July 17 - 10:00 amBesides the little problems, (Tire Noise, Bad window motor, bad, CV joint, all fixed under warrantry)This is a very good Sports car, If you are looking for a Luxury Sports car, go to BMW. I bought a Touring Z with the Nismo Exhaust and the sound this car makes is unbelieveable. Just watch out for the bad Dealers, I had to switch to different Dealers because my orginal dealer was charging me for things under warranrty (LEGEND NISSAN (LONG ISLAND)HAS THE WORST SERVICE DEPARTMENT)
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Go for it !!!!!! - 2006 Nissan 350Z
By barkpr - July 14 - 4:13 pmI love this car and so will you. It is definitely the class of its class,as well as much more expensive cars. I feel good looking at its incredible styling,and I feel good driving it. No car has ever stirred like this one,and I am 57.
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350-z - 2007 Nissan 350Z
By wwwwooooooowwwwww - July 13 - 10:26 amThis car blows me away. Ive had it up to 160 twice and havent got the guts to shift into 6th yet. The acceleration is awesome. The cornering is impressive. Drove it from Shreveport LA. to Miami FL. on vacation. I am 55 yrs old and bad back but the ride was superior. No aches or pains from driving. Had a 1969 Chevelle SS 369 stock 325 hp and it would have been no match for the Z. Best car Ive ever owned! Running through those six speeds will take your breath away! On the highway it grabs onto the road as it glides effortlessly through the air. The quality of the ride is not reflected in the price. The only thing that would impress me more would be more horse power.
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awesome to drive - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By Miffer3 - July 8 - 9:26 amThe Z is an eye catcher. I have had other drivers follow me to my driveway to ask about the car. They want one too.I have driven the car for 8 hours at a time with stops only for necessities and did feel a little muscle sore in spots but still had a smile on my face. It is a sports car not a road yacht after all. Changing after the first oil change to synthetic oil did give me two more miles per gallon,giving me on the open road 25 and 26 mpg. One very big complaint, I took delivery of the car from the dealer with the front end out of alignment wearing out the new tires in less then 5000 miles. They have not replaced these tires after waiting 2 months already. This is a factory defect.
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Conv Z Review - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By Stevez - June 28 - 10:00 amPlain and simple, its worth every penny. You will have to pay a little more than MSRP, but again its still will be less than anything comparable.
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My Favorite car - 2006 Nissan 350Z
By B - June 28 - 8:53 amThis is the perfect sports car! Its really fun to drive! Ford cant even reach half of the reliability of this car!
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Z35th Review - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By Scott - June 24 - 12:06 pmLove this car! Excellent experience. Must have! So much fun to drive and the style is sweet.
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I love it - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By zone01 - June 22 - 10:00 amIt is the most fun I have had driving... it is fast handles well and is amazing for the money
