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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I LOVE MY 350Z - 2003 Nissan 350Z
By JBROM06 - November 14 - 10:00 amSINCE I PURCASED MY 350Z TOURING THERE IS A LOT MORE FISH IN THE WATER AND MY BOAT IS DRY ROTTING.OH WELL!
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The Car of My life - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By J. Edward McCormick - November 14 - 10:00 amI have been waiting for Nissan to build another Sport car and BUILD ONE they did! This is the best one of all the Z cars I have ever owned including my Alfa and two Datsun 2000s. It drives like a true competion car. It accelerates like none I have ever driven. The Tiptronic Xmission is out of this world, the brakes, handling all that make up a true Sport car Is there!!
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Obsessed - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By Andi - November 14 - 10:00 amI just picked up my Z Raodster yesterday and I am in love with this car. It looks, feels and sounds like a true sports car should. It took my breath away!
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My 350z. - 2006 Nissan 350Z
By mid - November 13 - 5:50 pmThis is the best car for $26,000. I dont regret my choice, and overall, the 350z is a great car.
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FUN! FUN! FUN! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By woodlander - November 1 - 2:00 amI did not think driving could be so much fun. When I drive the Z, my heart starts pounding and my adrenaline gets pumping at stop lights in anticipation of the quick and smooth acceleration. I get that same rush on winding roads. I would recommend this car to anyone who appreciates style and performance at a reasonable price.
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A true sports car - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By szyp - November 1 - 2:00 amThis is a true sports car in the classic sense of the word(s). Fast, fun, and handles like a dream. The most impressive feature, of many, for me was the shifter location-darn near perfect, and I have driven and owned many manual shift cars in my days.
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Most Bang For the Buck - 2006 Nissan 350Z
By DamonH - October 29 - 4:40 amThis is my 2nd Z. My first was an 03 Enthusiast with the 5A. I couldnt stand the car. I had it only 6 months and sold it. I bought my 06 last August. Its the base model with the 6 speed manual. This is the most fun car Ive ever owned. Its a complete 180 from the 03. The exhaust note is amazing, gas mileage is awesome for a 300 hp car, and the reliability cant be beat. This is my weekend car, while my 07 Audi A4 is the daily driver. The Z gets a little bone-jarring after a while, but I always have a blast driving.
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Great fun - 2008 Nissan 350Z
By figgsy4ever - October 22 - 1:26 amGreat performance car with lots of torque and passing power. The seats are a little stiff but with time should soften up a bit. Audio controls are easy to operate and climate controls are the very best Ive seen, I love the auto climate feature with seemingly endless supply of fan speeds. Build quality is excellent and rattles are few. A bit like watching a widescreen movie when looking out the rear window. Gas mileage should improve as the engine breaks in (20 mpg city/highway average now). Nissan left very little room for improvement with this newest version of the "Z".
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Excellent car, great engine update - 2007 Nissan 350Z
By ribeirod - October 7 - 12:20 amMotor a lot faster then my 2003, fun to drive, seat quality is a little poor but still a lot of fun on the twisties... great on the track and everyday driving.
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DJ Cyber Queen in the Fast Lane - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By EstersZ - October 2 - 10:00 amI love the responsiveness of my Z. I can trust it to manuver around traffic with very little pitch and roll. It will stop on a dime and give you nine cent change. And the styling is second to none. Heads turn when they see me coming down the road. I even have red leather seats in mine, so she is a one of a kind.
