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 Z - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By Z GUY - March 3 - 5:43 pm

  This is my 6th car and its every thing I want it to be. Its sexy, fast, and handles like a dream. It is not very practical but I will never trade it in. It has never been to the shop and drives just has good as it dayi the first day I got it.

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  Best car Ive ever owned. - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By Spilner - February 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car with 86k on it and have not regretted it a single time! I was amazed at the gas mileage (22-25 city, 27-30 hwy) and the power and torque is great. I can run even with modded mustangs and newer turbo bmws and can smoke most other cars. Ive beat pretty hard on the car for about 12k miles now and its held up to everything without complaint! The only problem I had was with the stock Bose subamp cutting out but theres an easy DIY fix for that which takes about 15 mins. Nissan built this car to last 200k and its very obvious the quality they put into this car. Just make sure to have a set of snow tires on hand =P

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  Good Car - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By alan - February 19 - 5:20 pm

  Had my Z for almost a week and so far i am very impressed with the car. Two things that anybody who is looking into this car should keep in mind is 1) this is a heavy car for being a 2 seater, somewhat reminds me of a mustang i used to own 2) with a car capable of such high performance being driven on the street, it takes a lot of restraint to not get into a lot of trouble with the law enforcers. You should test drive this car if you think you can live without any substantial trunk space. If you are looking for a primary vehicle and you know that you will not be able to cary enough in the divided back of this car, dont drive it. Driving this car leads to buying this car.

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  Nissan 350z Rocks Period. - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By Nick Harrington - February 18 - 10:00 am

  Nissan 350z is highly recommened by me, if you find one, go for it or youll be sorry that you didnt get it.

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  Nissan does not care....AT ALL - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By duckboy29 - February 17 - 2:00 am

  I have had the Z now for a little under a year now,my car has tirehop,intermittent powerloss at 4-5k rpm from engine sensor,the drivetrain is making noise and the car needs its 2nd alignment(tire hop issue), There is a smell of mold coming out of the A/C vents,dash + interior rattles and I had to call nissans consumer affair division because there service centers do not seem to want to take ANY responsibilty. Service reps have the audacity to tell you these problems are NORMAL on a car less than 1 year old, Shame on Nissan. I am so fed up with my car that i am going to get rid of it.

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  My best car ever- - 2004 Nissan 350Z
  By marie pappas - February 17 - 2:00 am

  This car is the most fun to drive than any sport car that i have owned in the past. Starting with one of the first MGTCs in 1946 through Jag 120s, Mercedes Sls, Porsches. This manualgear box is the smoothest, pickup the quickest and cornering the most road hugging. I drive it in preference to my Mercedes SL.

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  Great Car - 2006 Nissan 350Z
  By TMC - February 16 - 10:30 pm

  Surprising that this kind of performance could be so affordable. This car will keep up with almost anything. The seats get a little uncomfortable on long rides, but who buys this car to "cruise" in it? Aggressive sounding from ignition all the way to 130+ and will turn on a dime, I would recommend anyone looking to grab a true performance vehicle at a reasonable sticker price. Word to the wise however...dont buy this car to save $$$ on insurance and it would be almost criminal to put anything less than 93 octane gas in the tank.

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  Fun to Drive - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By DANIEL - February 7 - 1:53 am

  Just got back on a trip of 5,150 miles and enjoyed the driving experience in my 2004 Nissan 350Z. I was supprised at the amount of luggage was able to get in the car. I was gone 16 days and had clothes left. Im 61 years old and have driven Cadillacs most of the time, but this one was more fun to drive on the road on long trips. I have heard that a there have been complaints about the visibility in the mirrors, but I didnt have a problem with them.

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  Sexy Car - 2005 Nissan 350Z
  By Ken Swanson - January 29 - 6:46 am

  Very nice winding out the gears after hitting 2nd gear. Hugs road nicely on turns. I disagree with the "take" that it is so hard to see out back, on the hard tops anyway. Shifts very quickly. Jumps from 65 to 120mph.

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  Bring on weekends - 2003 Nissan 350Z
  By DPeck - January 24 - 10:00 am

  My wife has watched this car through its development and we have not been dissapointed with any detail. The kids are grown so we could buy a car without restraints of meeting are families needs. Its affordable, the nice thing about this car is you can get the performance, styling, handling, of much more expensive sports cars that wont meet your budget until youre old enough to have your license revoked. Bring on weekends, it can make driving the freeways fun, but give it a chance to run free on mountain roads and it will take you back to your youth.