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Ever since the introduction of the 240Z in 1970, Nissan - and formerly Datsun - 'Zed Cars' have been the company's sports coupe staple. There have been great cars, like the 240Z, very good cars like the 260Z and the 300ZX and some howlers such as the 280ZX and 300Z. The 350Z deserves pride of place alongside the original 240Z. A focused sports coupe rather than a bloated boulevardier, the 350Z is a car for the keen driver who will appreciate a muscular look and feel. Used examples are now appearing in reasonable numbers and a well looked after 350Z makes a great buy.
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What you get
Rarely has a new sports car launch caused quite such a stir as that of the 350Z. Nissan invited a bunch of UK journalists to Los Angeles to sample the car and the press office was receiving increasingly desperate requests for weeks in advance from journalists hell-bent on being amongst the first to get behind the wheel. Part of the reason is because industry experts had twigged that the 350Z could be a hugely significant car - the first coupe since the Audi TT to really capture the public's imagination.
Much of that is due to three key factors - styling, pricing and provenance. The lines, penned by Brit Ajay Panchal, have that taut, wheel-at-each-corner rightness that looks good from any angle. The chunky upright door handles, the slash of the tail lights and the muscular wheelarches catch the eye, but these styling features are just highlights in what is something of a neat feat of penmanship from the youthful Panchal.
The 350Z is fitted with electronic climate control, an integrated hands free phone system, a trip computer, a 160W radio and 6-shot CD changer, plus an alarm and electrically heated and folding door mirrors. Stump up the extra £2,500 for the GT Pack and you'll also get black leather sports seats that are heated and electrically adjustable, cruise control, and a 240W Bose stereo system powerful enough to act as a defibrillator.
The 350Z is fitted with electronic climate control, an integrated hands free phone system, a trip computer, a 160W radio and 6-shot CD changer, plus an alarm and electrically heated and folding door mirrors. Stump up the extra £2,500 for the GT Pack and you'll also get black leather sports seats that are heated and electrically adjustable, cruise control, and a 240W Bose stereo system powerful enough to act as a defibrillator.
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What to look for
There's really not too much that goes wrong with the 350Z. Look for tyre wear and signs of accident damage and also watch out for overly modified cars as these can be tricky to sell on. The Alezan Orange leather interior twinned with Sunset bronze paint finish is the most desirable colour, although both Azure Blue and Silver are also in demand. Steer clear of blacks, reds and yellows. The Rays alloy wheels are worth having but are very susceptible to kerbing damage. Don't pay over the odds for cars with the optional Nismo styling kit. Check the roof of the Roadster for rips or discolouration.
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Replacement parts
(Estimated prices, based on a 2004 350Z Coupe) Indulge in too many traffic light Grands Prix in your 350Z and you'll be looking at £225 for a replacement clutch kit. Front brake pads are around £70 a pair with rears retailing at around £55. A new radiator is around £250 with a starter motor also costing about the same.
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On the road
Although it never approaches the almost sickening accelerative punch of a Skyline, the 350Z's engine nevertheless has the ability to punt that pretty profile up the road with considerable verve. Think rest to sixty in 5.4 seconds and 150mph. That's quick thinking. In reality, the 350Z rarely feels that fast, the broad spread of torque, the impressive refinement and the supple ride making indecent figures on the speedometer feel remarkably easy. UK cars benefit from a few modifications especially for the domestic market such as a larger fuel tank and a bigger radiator, largely due to the fact that we drive further and faster than our transatlantic cousins. We also get Brembo brakes, xenon headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels and standard Electronic Stability Programme, presumably because our faster driving occasionally results in unintended off road excursions. ESP does a great job at keeping the 350Z on the straight and narrow should you get a little overenthusiastic with the loud pedal, but should you really excel yourself, you'll be reassured that there are not only twin, front and side airbags but curtain bags as well. Impressive stuff.
Despite its too-cool-for-school modern exterior, the Z is, at heart, an old-school fun car. The steering, gearchange and pedals are all possessed of a meaty weightiness that encourages strong-arm tactics. Muscle the car into a corner and feel the way the steering loads up briefly before going deliciously neutral as you apply throttle. The accelerator is one of the modern drive-by-wire systems although Nissan have spent thousands making it feel as intuitive as a £7.99 throttle cable. So you get the feel of a traditional gas pedal backed up by all the electronic control systems. The ride is, as you'd expect, firm and with the engine mounted behind the line of the front axle, Nissan have worked hard at achieving near perfect weight distribution. For those who appreciate a bit of mischief behind the wheel, the traction control system can be disabled at the touch of a button.
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Overall
If you're looking for a nearly new sports coupe and can afford a 350Z, buy one. It's as simple as that. Take your time to choose the right example but don't hesitate when you chance upon it. The 350Z is a car that will one day convince your grandchildren that you weren't always a boring old fart. Recommended.
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