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Review 3 of 61
Price Paid:
$26000.00
from Superior Nissan La P Year / Model Reviewed:
2005 350Z base coupe Summary:
The first time I saw a 350Z I wanted one. I wasn't ready to get it but I had my eye on it for 2 years when I jumped into the market for one.
The first one I drove was a used 350Z coupe (not the base model) and I loved it. It was 2 years old and had only 4,000 miles on it. It had great acceleration, was comfortable and exciting but the suspension seemed to be lacking something.
So I went to the Nissan dealer and drove a new 2005 base coupe. It was a great improvement over the 2003 model. I had not done my research on the car, stupidly, but I did after I bought the car and began to have buyer’s remorse. I heard the horror stories about tire and clutch problems.
Well two and a half years later I’m still driving the same Z, same clutch, one new set of tires at 30k (I wore out the rears first from peeling out), and have pushed the car fairly hard. I put 9” wide rims on the back with 7” rims on front of course and it has greatly improved handling the car in the mountains. It has been a treat to embarrass so many BMW’s in the mountains with that fat a$$. So far I have had the car at 145 mph racing another exact Z (looked like anyway) and it handled like a dream. It had no quit in it at 145 but I let up for reasons of sanity. I’m sure that car will hit the top of that speedometer. No clutch or tire feathering problems. I do recommend getting custom rims and be sure to stagger them. Also replace the cloth seats with leather (had that done as part of the package when purchased). Raced a faster Ford Mustang GT whose weight pretty much distributed evenly on all four tires. The Mustang was faster until we had hit the turn at the 210 to 118 in So Cal going west. The Ford could not accelerate through the turn as the Z did and passed him. The Z is very sweet on regular roads but the true test of its ability is in the mountains. I love it and the only time I regret it on the road is like right now as I hear my wife taking the little one to a party.
Strengths:
Great looks, short stroke in the gear box, nice handling, great high end torque, good gas mileage when driven at the speed limit, nice throaty dual exhaust sound, effortless increase of speed well on freeways. Weaknesses:
Front end is very easy to damage when parking, sound system needs improved, interior quality needs improved, huge blind spot over driver's right shoulder, on long trips it can get a bit uncomfortable. Similar Products Used:
Rebuilt 58' Jag 2 door sedan, 65 and 67 Mustangs (both sweet cars), 240 SX Nissan
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