Intro: 0:00
The History of The 350Z 1:02
Should You Buy A 350Z 3:10
Common 350Z Issues 4:34
How To Modify A 350Z 6:46
Wheel Specs for 350Z 8:12
Performance Parts For Your 350Z 9:09
The nissan 350z is an entry into nissan’s long line of Z cars, starting in the 1970s with the 240z, and really, not much has changed since then. The z has always been a front engine, rear wheel drive, 6 cylinder, two seater, okay mostly two seater, sports car - and the 350z wasn’t looking to break the mold there. Nissan’s first attempt at the 350z was the 240z concept unveiled in 1999 which drew a ton of parallels back to the original 240z from the 1970s. Fitted up with the KA24DE from its contemporary - the 240sx, the new-but old-but new 240z received a lukewarm reception, and so back to the drawing board nissan went.
The boys at nissan put their collective heads together and came up with a revolutionary design for the 350z - a front engine, rear wheel drive, manual or automatic, 6 cylinder sports car. Wildly different from the rest of the Z line right?
Anyway - this new Z debuted in 2002, in 5 trim levels - the base, enthusiast, performance, touring, and track - and was a pretty instant hit. Coming in at 26 grand for the base all the way up to 34 grand for the track model, the Z wasn’t cheap - yes kids, pre-inflation money existed - but packed a lot of punch per dollar. Every trim level came with the VQ35DE engine putting out 287 horsepower, which was a LOT back then. For comparison purposes, a 2001 mustang gt made 260 horsepower with 1.1 litres more displacement and two more cylinders.
The Z was available in a manual or automatic transmission. The base was, well, it was pretty base and was kinda retired-dad sports car spec, no LSD, no traction control, 17 inch wheels, perfect for outfitting with an automatic transmission, convertible top, and driving to cars and coffee on saturday. Meanwhile the higher trim models starting with enthusiast and going up from there came with a VLSD, 18 inch wheels, VDC which is just like fancy traction control, and all the way up to the Track model with Brembo brakes and everything the lower trims included. Any way you sliced it, the US sports car market at this time was in the midst of a knife fight, and nissan brought a rocket launcher.
As time went on nissan revised the Z, mostly cosmetic stuff, but with two engine changes over the years. First the rev-up engine in 2005 which made 300 horsepower and consumed more oil than the entirety of europe does on an annual basis, there was a recall, kinda don’t buy one of these still - and then in 2007 the VQ35DE became the VQ35HR which nissan claims stands for “high revolution” and introduced the dual throttle body plenum, making 306 horsepower and around 268 ft lbs of torque. These also got a pretty cool hood bulge to fit the new plenum, and are one of the most desirable years of the 350Zs.
Before I tell you how to modify one of these things there are some issues on these cars, but they’re so so minor that you shouldn’t let them deter you from buying one.
The door handles like to fail for some reason, they’re cheap, replace them.
The window motors/regulators/whatever something in the window assembly likes to fail. Same concept. Replace them
The 04.5, and 05 cars burn a ton of oil. There was a recall/TSB for this. It may or may not have been done on your specific car. Keep a quart of oil in the car. They all kinda burn oil but these ones are pretty bad about it
The convertibles - why am I tell you about this, you’re not buying a convertible, don’t buy a convertible, save those for retired dads who want to hit cars and coffee.
Cam and crank sensors - these cars eat them for one reason or another, when they fail your car just ceases to run. They’re cheap to replace but a pain to access
Throttle body reset is a pain on this car and if done improperly it’ll run like garbage. Find someone to reset it properly if you’re concerned about this
Clutch and throwout bearing - the throwout bearings are super noisy on Zs for some reason. I would ignore it, you may not want to.
Hatch struts fail sometimes, you won’t care
Anyway, these are all minor, ignore them, fix them, or don’t. Doesn’t matter. Motors are like 600 bucks if they blow and you’re not going to break a cd009 transmission so just kinda drive the thing.