The Nissan 350Z, a two-door, two-seat sports car, began Nissan Z-Car manufacturing in 2002 and put an end to the country’s six-year production pause.
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What kind of sports car is the 350Z?
The 350Z is a vehicle that checks off a lot of boxes: it’s inexpensive, fashionable, potent, roomy, and well-made. The 350Z is one of the best sports cars from its era, and its attraction is due to its current used price range and the fact that it appears in so many of our favorite movies and video games.
What does a 350Z represent?
The Nissan 350Z, the fifth iteration in Nissan’s Z-car line, is a two-door, two-seater sports car that was produced by Nissan Motor Corporation from 2002 until 2009. In Japan, it is known as the Nissan Fairlady Z (Z33). The 350Z started being produced in 2002 and began being sold and promoted as a 2003 model in August of the same year. Since the roadster did not make its debut until the following year, there was only a coupe the initial year. The Roadster was initially only available in Enthusiast and Touring trim levels, whereas the coupe was first offered in Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring, and Track models. The Track trim had Brembo brakes and lightweight wheels, but all other coupes’ suspension settings applied. For the 2009 model year, the Nissan 370Z took the place of the 350Z.
Nissan 350Z: Is it quick?
The Nissan 350Z is a swift vehicle, yes. There is no denying that the 350Z is still a speedy car, even if the speed/power benchmark for performance vehicles has changed significantly since the 350Z was introduced in the early 2000s.
The 350Z is no slouch at all, being capable of completing a 0-60 mph run in under five seconds (depending on the precise model and transmission option).
The idea of what makes a fast car has been somewhat distorted by the reality that many modern cars—even pretty unassuming family vehicles—are hitting performance numbers that would make sports cars from the past blush, as we highlighted in our piece regarding whether or not the 300ZX is fast.
You won’t be dissatisfied with a 350Z, though, unless you’re used to driving the latest generation of performance vehicles, which can accelerate to 60 mph in just under four seconds.
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that you may significantly modify the 350Z to make it even faster if you have a genuine desire for speed. For further details, see our history and buyer’s guide for the Nissan 350Z.
Do you classify a Nissan Z as a sports car?
It’s the ideal time for Nissan to rebuild its dated Z coupe because sports cars are currently in demand (just look at the flashy mid-engine Corvette and the revitalized Toyota Supra, both of which made their debuts last year). Perfect also since it’s obvious that it’s out of date. Nissan’s sports car has always gone by an alphanumeric moniker, such the current 370Z model or the original 240Z from 1969, but this generation will just be known as Z. The 2023 Z is propelled by a 400-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that sends its power to the rear wheels via either a nine-speed automated or a six-speed manual transmission. We were thrilled to discover that the Z is overall more refined than the vehicle it replaces. We are happy with the Z’s lively handling and snappy acceleration. Thankfully, the Z gets a technology upgrade as well, getting a new touchscreen infotainment system, a re-configurable digital gauge display, and a ton of new driver-assistance technologies. The next-generation 370Z moves slightly up-market to target the Supra, while the previous version competed with more cost-effective sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Toyota 86.
How long is the 350Z’s lifespan?
With enjoyable handling and smooth performance from the torquey V6, the 350Z evokes its forebears. Since they are generally dependable, some may have neglected maintenance, therefore having a history file is advantageous. Regular oil changes will allow engines to run for 300,000 miles trouble-free, but beware of excessive oil thirst, especially on 296bhp units. On HRs, look for low oil pressure caused by an internal gasket failure; a replacement takes nine hours of labor.
Modifications and enhancements, whether official Nismo or aftermarket, are frequent; stay away from vehicles that have been beaten up on tracks. Engine ticking that gets louder as the engine is ramped up indicates a worn fuel dampener. Each is around 200 new or 30 used, irritating rather than incapacitating. Due to drivers who are not acclimated to rear-wheel drive, spare parts are frequently listed on eBay.
The flywheel may need to be replaced if the clutch has been allowed to slip, which would raise the cost to over $1000 plus labor. The clutch lasts for roughly 40,000 miles and is not overly expensive in and of itself. Failure of the slave cylinder is frequent, particularly on late HR automobiles, necessitating the replacement of the transmission. A new master cylinder or fluid change may be all that is required for a spongy pedal (brake or clutch).
If tires other than the factory-installed Bridgestone S02s are used, the automobiles may lose control while accelerating to the maximum and potentially confuse the traction control and ABS systems.
Examine the hood function of Roadsters, the struts on the Coup’s tailgate, and the door hinges. The manual states that it cannot operate below 8°C, therefore warm the car completely before attempting. Additionally, check the boot releases and gasoline filler.
350Z or 370Z, which is faster?
The maximum speed of a VQ-powered Nissan 350Z is 155 mph (249 kph). There is little difference between the two if top speed is what you’re looking, even though the 370Z may have more horsepower under the hood. Of course, you might anticipate that the 370Z will arrive a little bit sooner.
Is a 350Z a reliable first vehicle?
If driven carefully, the Nissan 350Z can make a respectable first vehicle. Traction control, airbags, and a superb design are all features of the 350Z that make it a good first automobile. It is less ideal due to additional concerns like limited sight, a lack of passenger space, and the tendency to drive quickly.
Better still, 350Z or 370Z?
7 The 370Z is little quicker. The 3.5-liter V6 VQ35DE engine in the 350Z garnered a lot of attention. However, the 370Z has a bigger engine, produces 32 more horsepower and 10 more lb-ft of torque, accelerates to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds as opposed to 0.6 seconds, has better brakes, and needs just one second less to complete a quarter-mile.
The 350z is a sports car, right?
The Nissan 350Z is a vintage muscle automobile designed for adults. This is one nasty coupe, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. From standing still to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, your top speed is 155 mph. The engine has impressive low-end acceleration and mid-range torque, and it sounds much bigger than it actually is.
Although the 350Z has a lot of grip, it isn’t quite as agile as many competitors over a series of rapid turns. The ride is strong yet compliant, and as the speed rises, the steering weights up beautifully, giving the driver plenty of sensation.
A 350z is it a safe car?
The Nissan 350Z, which was produced from model years 2005 to 2008, is among the deadliest vehicles on American roads. The Nissan 350Z had 143 fatalities per million registrations according to the IIHS, with single-vehicle crashes accounting for 90 of those fatalities.
Chevrolet and Nissan produced the vehicles with the highest percentage of driver fatalities and serious injury cases over a four-year period.
Fun to drive 350z?
The Nissan 350z is extremely entertaining to drive, particularly if you can locate one with a manual transmission, which are almost equally as prevalent as the automatic models. The 350z is a popular platform for those who enjoy driving, and it has just enough power to be enjoyable for less experienced drivers. The two VQ motors that are now available can be confidently boosted by the addition of aftermarket turbochargers, a common and simple modification.
What existed prior to the 350Z?
The Datsun 240Z and Fairlady Z from Japan in 1969 set the course for the exhilarating history of the Z-Car, which continued through the 1980s with the 300ZX, the 2000s with the 350Z, the 2010s with the 370Z, and into the future with the all-new Nissan Z.
Is the Toyota Supra superior to the 370Z?
The tables on this page contrast a number of important features and performance data between the 2020 Toyota Supra and the 2020 Nissan 370Z. Compared to the 2020 Nissan 370Z and its conventional V6 engine, the 2020 Supra is more expensive but has a turbocharged V6 engine and significantly better fuel economy ratings, as shown in the table above. The table below shows that the 2020 Toyota Supra has very favorable performance specifications as well.
Z
The 2020 Toyota Supra outperforms the 2020 Nissan 370Z in terms of horsepower, torque, and 0–60 mph quickness. The maximum speed of both variants is 155 mph.
Contact our team at Toyota Palo Alto right away if you’re interested in finding out more about some of the additional advantages the 2020 Toyota Supra has over the 2020 Nissan 370Z!
How much does a 400Z cost?
The Z Proto concept car, which previews the 2022 Z, has been confirmed by Nissan to employ a twin-turbo V6 engine. This suggests that the twin-turbo V6 from the Infiniti Q60 coupe will be used. Both of those models, a 400-hp Red Sport model and a 300-hp base model, would be appropriate for the new Z vehicle, as evidenced by the new Supra.
A recent leak from Project Cars 3 showing the Nissan 400z’s alleged specifications gives us reason to be thrilled because many racing video games strive to be as authentic as possible. The sports car was described in the video game as having 444 horsepower and weighing 3,252 pounds at the curb, making it both lighter and more potent than the Toyota Supra.
Although it is anticipated that the Nissan Z Proto concept car (shown in this gallery) and the production 400Z will be nearly identical, recent spy images shared on The Hoonigans Instagram account seem to indicate that the concept car’s massive grille will be divided in half by some body paneling on the production vehicle, thereby shrinking the maw. For what it’s worth, we believe that was a wise decision.
Based on these allegedly production-vehicle-looking leaked photos, it appears that we were correct when we predicted that Nissan’s upcoming sports car will resemble the Z Proto concept an awful lot.
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