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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2003 350Z Base Model Brickyard Red - 2003 Nissan 350Z
By Robert Dadd - December 1 - 10:00 amThis car is a real fun car to drive on long trips. I have achieved on one tank of gas an average mileage of 31mpg (565 miles on one tank of gas). In addition the oil changes are very simple to perform on this car. The car is so much fun to drive and has plenty of power.
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You cant get this car for the prices quo - 2003 Nissan 350Z
By tweety - December 1 - 10:00 amLove, love, love the car, except for a few minor things. They put a cheap sleazy plastic gas cover on this car! The back window is limited to see out of.........like when cops are coming up on you. It has no inside button to open back hatch, the cup holders are a joke........other wise it is great. I have the leather seats, wish the sides of doors looked better than whatever material they used.
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Itz More then a Car - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By Tripp - December 1 - 10:00 amGreat car, Noce design.. its aget a 10/10 in my book
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best buy - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By donald jones - December 1 - 10:00 amnothing touches it for the money invested
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Great! - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By LuisPimp - December 1 - 10:00 amits a great car!
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one sweet ride - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By ZchrisZ - November 19 - 2:00 amThis car looks so good, its a real head- turner. This is my first Z car, before I have always had mustangs,I thought GT mustangs handled good, but its no comparison. Other cars considered,Honda S2000(no low-end torque)Subie wrx sti (looks like a riced-up kids car)Mazda rx8(weird styling,not sure about rotary reliability).The 350Z won for me...
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One of the worse experiences of my life - 2005 Nissan 350Z
By thebent - November 14 - 7:53 amI have had the center dash in my 2005 Nissan 350Z replaced nine times. The radio has been replaced three times and Im waiting to replace it a fourth time. The windshield wipers have never worked correctly and the brakes have made funny noises since Ive had the car. The worst part of all of this is the customer service from Nissan. They have been very rude and very hard to work with. When the car worked properly it was fun to drive. But that was just for a short time. I will never in my life buy an Nissan product.
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More Fun than an Adult Should be Allowed - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By pab0830 - November 13 - 2:00 amI ordered this car to specs last August and received it in January. I have had more fun with this car then any I have owned to date. The clutch is pretty tight and it can turn on a dime. Very responsive and on the open road you feel every bit of the 287 hp. While the word "minimalist" comes to mind for the interior, some of the features make up for it. The DVD navigation system is terrific. There are many different compartments to help make up for the lack of space. The stereo is perfect. There is not enough good I can say about this car. It is more fun than an adult should be allowed to have!
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Great - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By Gatorduke - November 13 - 2:00 amGreat Car!!
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Touring Roadster - 2004 Nissan 350Z
By CCRNCCM - November 7 - 10:00 amI have been extremely pleased with this vehicle since buying it. It has a lot of the comforts & feels that I had experienced with a larger luxury car for less price. The car handles extremely well & holds to the road even in downpours of rain. The heated seats are a huge plus & for anyone that has never had them, one misses them when a vehicle does not have them. Its a shame that the trunk area is so small. But, it wasnt that big of a deal for me not to purchase this car. The pick up that the engine has is excellent.
