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.
In This Article...
Is a JDM a 350Z?
The 350Z is known as the Fairlady Z in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM). Basically, vehicles were badged as the 350Z when sold outside of Japan, while Fairlady Z when sold domestically in Japan.
The Fairlady Z and the 350Z differ from one another in addition to the badging, albeit the specific variances depend on the trim level you choose to purchase.
For instance:
- By the end of production, the reported HP ratings were closer to those of American cars since Japanese manufacturers had begun to give up the pretense of that HP limit. Earlier JDM models adhere to Japan’s self-imposed 276hp limit (on paper).
- Every Fairlady Z is a right-hand drive vehicle.
- If you encounter an LHD Fairlady Z, it is a 350Z that has been rebadged.
- There are some differences in the trims and add-ons that are offered, for instance, Fairladys were offered with leather seats and Brembo brakes (which, it appears, weren’t available on 350Zs sold in the US; Track edition models only had cloth seats, though it was difficult to confirm this information).
- There may also be some minor variations, such as choices for interior lighting, headlamp washers, etc.
If you are familiar with the Japanese domestic market, you are aware that it is not unusual for automobiles to be sold in Japan under one name and exported under a different name. The badge is sometimes the only obvious distinction between a JDM and export version of a particular car, as it is with the 350Z, although other times you can see significant platform changes, like with the Lexus IS350 and Toyota Crown Athlete.
The 350Z is it quick?
10 Power and Engine All of this indicates that the 350Z is strong and capable enough to function as the GT vehicle that Nissan first marketed it as. It also indicates that the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
How quick is the DK 350Z?
The 350Z of the Drift King is difficult to launch; the revs must be maintained for the turbos, and the rear tires will clatter. Nevertheless, it sped to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and blasted through the quarter mile at 114.8 mph in 13.2 seconds.
Which vehicle did DK own?
Even though it didn’t include well-known actors like Paul Walker or Vin Diesel, Tokyo Drift is nevertheless a favorite among loyal Fast & Furious fans. The JDM drift scene and the automobiles involved set it apart from other popular movies. D.K.’s Nissan 350Z, one of the nicest vehicles in the film, has an incredible backstory.
In his most recent video, Craig Lieberman, who served as Universal Studios’ technical adviser for the first three Fast movies, explains everything. He argues that the dark-themed Z’s frightening presence made it the ideal vehicle for Brian Tee’s role as the evil guy in Drift King. The star vehicle had an APS twin-turbo engine producing 430 horsepower, a Veilside wide-body package, a carbon fiber hood, and RSR lowering springs. In a 2006 test, Edmunds was able to accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds, and from there, he ran the quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds at 114.8 mph.
According to Lieberman, the film crew required at least 11 350Zs in all, including the star vehicle, to shoot all of the scenes involving D.K’s vehicle. That makes sense given the high-stakes, close-quarters drifting that took place throughout the movie. Of course, Tee wasn’t actually doing the drifting—professional racers and stunt drivers like Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust provided those sideways images.
This material was downloaded from YouTube. At their website, you might be able to discover the same material in a different format or more details.
Eight of the 11 Zs, according to Lieberman, were Japan-market automobiles, which is remarkable given that 95% of the movie, including the scene in the garage mentioned above, was filmed in southern California. The most of the stunt cars’ whereabouts are unknown, but the crucial star car is still around as of 2017, when we saw it turning up for sale in the U.K. for $133,000 instead.
A 370Z or 350Z is faster.
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.
Do 350Zs have four seats?
Rear seats were never an option for the 350Z, and given how small the interior is, we don’t think they could be added later.
The Skyline Coupe is a sports automobile with four seats that is relatively comparable to the 350Z if you’re searching for one.
Even though it isn’t quite as exciting to drive, we promise you’ll have more fun driving one of them than trying to add seats to a 350Z.
If you’re considering purchasing a Nissan 350Z, check out our buyer’s guide for more details on how to find a fantastic example of this well-liked sports car.
A 350Z has a turbo, right?
There isn’t much to worry about if you only intend to use your 350z as a weekend toy. However, things change if it’s going to be your lone car and your everyday driver.
Although 400 horsepower might seem excessive for a daily driving, it only takes some getting accustomed to.
We’ll go over some of the most typical annoyances you’ll encounter with your 350z supercharged below.
Power & Drivability
You’re going to have extremely limited access to all that power due to severe speed limits and heavy traffic, which can be irritating and difficult at times.
Things will become much simpler once you overcome the initial learning curve and understand precisely when the boost begins to work.
The most well-known drawback of installing a turbo kit is turbo lag. Your 350z’s turbos generate power using the exhaust gas pressure. Because of this, the turbine must fully spool up before it can provide the boost.
Stiffer Clutch
If the 350z is your first sports car, you probably find it a little more challenging to drive than other vehicles. Driving a sports car requires effort because of this. It goes and stops quickly, the gear lever is hefty, the pedals are stiff, and so on.
Once you install a turbo kit, these things will stand out even more. The clutch pedal and starting your car from a stop will feel different if you’re changing to an aftermarket one as part of the installation (and you should).
If you reside in an area with heavy traffic, a setup like this is not recommended. However, it will all be worthwhile if you get the chance to sometimes track your Z33 or go on some canyon runs so you can experience what it is capable of.
Increased Maintenance
You must be aware that every 350z with a turbo requires additional maintenance. It’s true, but there’s more to it than that.
Your entire car will need the additional maintenance; not just the turbo package. This is primarily because it will be working far harder than it was intended to.
Everything you typically do to maintain your Z is included here, with the exception that after enhancing it, the frequency will rise.
You’ll need to keep a closer eye on your vehicle. This is unimportant; all you need to do is be alert for things like oil leaks, potential overheating, and rattling.
The best thing you can do for your 350z with a turbocharger is to change the engine’s oil more frequently.
How quick is a 400 horsepower 350Z?
Nissan on Tuesday unveiled the seventh-generation Z-Car, which features a more condensed model lineup of just two options and the brand Nissan Z. The car will have a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine, a six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic transmission, with an estimated zero-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. It will go on sale in the spring of 2022 as a 2023 model, with the Toyota Supra serving as its main rival.
Because annual sales haven’t reached 10,000 units in ten years—a far cry from the last century, when in the greatest years they frequently approached the 100,000 unit mark—Nissan is keeping its lineup and options list basic. The Z Sport is the base model for 2023, while the Z Performance is the upgrade model. The Nissan Z Proto Spec, a one-time launch edition run of 240 cars (240Z, the original Datsun Z-Car from 1970), will also be available.
In essence, the choices are between the two trim lines, the paint colors, and an automatic or manual transmission.