Nissan 350Z Coupe – The Time is Now

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Chris Pollitt

When Nissan unleased the sporty Z car upon the world in the 1960s, it couldn’t possibly have known just how significant it would be. The car was a global success, but out of all the markets in which it was made available, it was America where it made the biggest waves. A nation once only interested in the V8, it soon found itself coming around to the idea of Japanese offerings. And why not? They were better made, they were faster, they were cheaper to run, they were incredibly reliable and they were an absolute riot to drive. Japanese cars were no longer curious oddities. They were mainstream brands within America. Needless to say, they sold in big numbers. 

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The thing to remember is that Nissan wasn’t just having a go at making a sports car. It had form, having been building all manner of sporty little numbers over the years. So while the Z car was a new product, it was the result of years of research and development. That’s why it was so good. It just couldn’t be faulted. And this was the case the world over. Of course, it did well in its home market of Japan. But in Europe it was a hit, and that includes here in the UK. Okay, so the rubbish UK weather meant they all turned to rust with three weeks, but what a brilliant three weeks up until that point. 

It took other manufacturers decades to catch up, largely because Nissan was updating the Z cars as the years went on. Some critics would argue that the Z lost its edge as the years went on, and perhaps went a bit too American, but let’s not forget that America made most of the sales. So, it made sense. That said, it was getting a bit… floppy by the late ’80s. Plus, attitudes towards sports cars were changing. People wanted a bit more practicality, and a bit more usability. As such, coupes were taking sales. Nissan responded with the SX models, which were great. But they also further pushed the once great Z back. The last Z – the 300ZX was a return to form, as it was sharper, more agile and utterly stunning to look at. But it was too late. People had moved on, and so the 300ZX was the final Z car… until 2002.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NISSAN 350Z

By the early 2000s, the sporty two-seater coupe was regaining in popularity, and Nissan wanted a slice of the action. Rightly so, too, given the lineage it had behind it. And it was lineage that would continue, as Nissan announced that its new coupe would indeed be a Z car, namely the 350Z. So named because it would be fitted with a 3.5 litre V6 engine. Though it wasn’t plain sailing. The original rebirth of the Z was planned around the 1999 240Z concept based on a design by Manny Baker of Nissan’s California design arm. The car pulled too heavily on the past, and it just didn’t work. It only had a four-cylinder engine, not a six, which caused further upset amongst the motoring press. But, despite being a bit of flop, the underlying tone of ‘we want one, but not this’ was enough to convince Nissan to go back to the drawing board. So did, and in 2000 the company pulled the cover off the 350Z. 

It had a long, long nose (despite being a compact V6, not a straight-six), short cabin, it was low, it was muscular and under the skin it was rear-wheel drive – it was a proper Z car. And it wasn’t all looks and stats. When it hit production in 2002 as a 2003 model, the motoring press was quick to applaud Nissan on what it had achieved. The car was powerful, it had a chassis to die for, it had a slick six-speed manual ‘box and as such, it was a true return to Z car form. It wasn’t a cash in on a past name, it was a true continuation of it. Nissan got it right. Very, very right indeed. 

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WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR? 

When the 350Z was new, importing them from Japan was big business. As such, there are a lot of grey imports out there. And while they’re fine as cars, there is the possibility that the specification will be ever so slightly different to that of the UK cars. Plus, they could be a bit more difficult to insure depending on who you’re with? The Z has been around for a long time now, so there is no reason to not buy a UK-specification model. There are plenty out there. 

The Z was a well appointed car, with 18-inch alloys, climate control, Xenon headlights and remote central locking as standard kit. It was only available with one engine – the 300bhp 3.6V6 – and one transmission in the form of the six-speed manual. The GT pack brought electrically adjustable leather seats and sat-nav to the party. While many dealers would fit all manner of Nismo bits should the original buyer wish, and a lot of that stuff was quite nice and suited the car well. 

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The 350Z is a proper car that was built to be driven, and it’s aggressive evidence of this you want to look for. You want a car on matching, decent quality rubber. The brakes need to be in good condition and not juddering or overly worn. The 350Z is not an expensive car to service in the grand scheme of things, so anything less than full history – walk away. The same goes for anything with poor panel gaps or dubious paint. It’s a powerful rear-drive coupe, so if it looks like it might have kissed some street furniture, walk away. 

Finally, there is the Fast and Furious effect. The 350Z was and still is a hugely popular car within the modifying fraternity. There is of course nothing wrong with this, as big names like Greddy, Nismo, Veilside and HKS have made big business by offering upgrades and modifications. However, there is also a world of horrid stick-on tat that may well have been glued to many a 350Z. Proper mods, if they have the paperwork to back them up, are great. But cars that look like they’ve been driven into Amazon’s car accessory isle should be avoided. They will have been ridden hard and put away wet. 

WHAT ARE PRICES LIKE? 

They start at around five grand, but that’s the riskier end of the market. If you want a UK car, with good history and without starship mileage, you need to be looking at around £7,500. It’s also worth mentioning that you can get the roadster version for the same kind of money. It’s nice to have the wind in your hair, but to use the parlance of motoring journalists, the lack of roof means the car is a bit less dynamic to drive. Still good, of course. Just not as tight or sharp as the coupe. 

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WHY SHOULD I BUY ONE? 

The Nissan 350Z is a great-looking, well-made, fast, exciting, deeply fun car to drive. It’s one of those cars that you can push hard, but without being scared of it. The sort of machine that can make the most mundane of journeys more exciting than it has any right to be. You need to experience one, especially if you’re a proper petrol head! Buy one that has been looked after, that has full service history and that hasn’t been modified (dealer stuff notwithstanding) and you’ll not regret it. Plus, prices are on the climb, so look after it and you won’t lose any money. But only if you buy one now because, after all, the time is now. 

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