350Z buying

[tintinmt]

Hi, 'Considering a 350Z. Without getting too detailed, what would be the best or most desirable year/spec etc to look for? Will be looking for something in excellent condition and trying to avoid depreciation.

Auto/manual? Soft top?

[mattdavies]

There are small number that have the newer engine specification but are Pre-tax hike, I believe they are early 2006 models. I would of thought these are a desirable model

[tintinmt]

That makes sense. It's hard to ignore the tax consideration.

[Hitbox Junkie]

350z with a 1jz or a 2jz

 

manual as its personal preference.

[Tarmac]

Manual, coupe

 

The VQ35DE (earlier models ) are fine just make sure you get one with average miles and good service history, quite a few high milers have started to go bang now but a lot of that is down to poor maintenance

 

VQ35HR came in at 2006, higher tax and a few nicer upgrades, engine being one, front and rear lights, twin intake, around 15-20 bhp more

 

Had a number of zeds in my time and they are a great car

[mplavery]

Manual, coupe

 

The VQ35DE (earlier models ) are fine just make sure you get one with average miles and good service history, quite a few high milers have started to go bang now but a lot of that is down to poor maintenance

 

VQ35HR came in at 2006, higher tax and a few nicer upgrades, engine being one, front and rear lights, twin intake, around 15-20 bhp more

 

Had a number of zeds in my time and they are a great car

 

Don't the later models burn oil ?

 

I would get the early model up to 2005 as its cheaper tax, maybe a GT4 as they were limited edition

[tintinmt]

Manual, coupe

 

The VQ35DE (earlier models ) are fine just make sure you get one with average miles and good service history, quite a few high milers have started to go bang now but a lot of that is down to poor maintenance

 

VQ35HR came in at 2006, higher tax and a few nicer upgrades, engine being one, front and rear lights, twin intake, around 15-20 bhp more

 

Had a number of zeds in my time and they are a great car

 

Thank you. Sounds good.

[formatzero]

Would recommend you go on to to the 350z owners club,usualy a selection of 350's on there for sale.I had a 57 296 model which was a great car.Also like here a great club to ask questions on:)I never worry about road tax, at a tenner a week lots of people smoke or drink that in a day:D

[philw99]

Defo worth a look on the 350z forum.

I've just sold my 2005 DE on the forum, they are mint cars enjoyed every minute of it.

[tintinmt]

I never worry about road tax, at a tenner a week lots of people smoke or drink that in a day:D

 

That's a good way of looking at it I guess.

I still find it irritating, whereas I don't really worry about fuel cost for some reason.

[P_Bazz]

Don't the later models burn oil ?

 

I would get the early model up to 2005 as its cheaper tax, maybe a GT4 as they were limited edition

 

The earlier models do this as well. They collect a lot of oil in the lower part of the intake runners due to poor PCV design.

 

As said above the '06+ models are more desirable because of the HR ("revup") engines, better gearbox, different lights etc. Do check the wheelbearings before buying as they tend to go bad. The fronts are a complete assembly and often get stuck in the hub because of corrosion. Swapping them out is sometimes a 30 minute job other times a couple of hours if you need to remove the whole hub from the car. The older/higher mileage models suffer from severe corrosion on the stiffening brackets underneath the front and rear subframes. They are overall not as tough as a Supra.

[Tricky-Ricky]

Just to clarify some of the RevUp VQ350DE models burn oil, down to the type of rings Nissan/Renault fitted to them, but not all, the std PCV system is not a problem, some prefer to fit a catch can to the low load side as they do tend to breath a lot of vapor at idle and low load, but this does not lead to burning a lot of oil unlike the revup engine, the DE engine is pretty reliable until you add a turbo or supercharger then the rods can let them down if the power is pushed,

The later HR models are pretty good but do suffer with oil gallery gasket problems which will show up as low oil pressure, so keep an eye out for this and avoid anything with low oil pressure as its an expensive fix,

Like all older cars the suspension components will show wear especially the front drop links, and the rear CV joints are prone to premature wear, the UK 350Z club is a wealth of knowledge and has a lot of helpful people.

[tintinmt]

Thanks again chaps.

[ozz]

I had a jdm 350z 2005, great car, then I had a 57 plate hi rev version (bonnet bulge model), much better car. Interior was better quality, gear changes a lot better, performance a lot better. I wish I'd never sold it (part ex'd it for a 370 at the time). They are quite sought after models so tend to command a higher price/lower depreciation.