Nissan 350Z Review

2008 Nissan 350Z Grand Touring Convertible Shown

A proper sports car for the everyman. If we had just one sentence to describe the Nissan 350Z, that'd be it. While there are plenty of unobtainable sports cars out there to drool over, the 350Z's relatively compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive, two seats, muscular engine and sharp handling come at a price that real people can actually afford.

The Nissan 350Z represents the fifth generation of "Z" sports cars from this Japanese manufacturer. At its debut, the 350Z represented a key component of Nissan's rebirth in the North American market. For much of the late '90s and early new millennium, Nissan's lineup was full of lackluster cars. The Z brought back the company's spirit of fun and performance that had been missing ever since the discontinuation of the previous 300ZX.

For the 350Z's final year, only the roadster is available -- the coupe has been replaced by the new 370Z coupe. The roadster version of the latest-generation Z is expected soon. As such, most people interested in a 350Z will be looking at a used model. The 350Z's a fine choice for a used sports car, though keen shoppers will want to pay close attention to the car's changes and updates through the years.

Current Nissan 350Z

The current 350Z is sold as a convertible roadster only. The roadster is available in Enthusiast, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels. The Enthusiast trim level comes standard with a power soft top, xenon headlights, automatic climate control and power seats. The Touring adds upscale items like leather seating and an optional navigation system. The Grand Touring features luxury items from the Touring trim along with front and rear spoilers, upgraded brakes and stability control.

The sole available engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that cranks out 306 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. For this type of car, the V6 is just about perfect. It revs easily, if a bit coarsely at higher engine speeds, and develops plenty of power while managing to be reasonably fuel-efficient. Power is sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.

In reviews, we've found the Nissan 350Z to be an engaging sports car to drive hard. The V6 pulls strongly when revved past 3,000 rpm and generates one of the most distinctive engine and exhaust-note soundtracks available. The 350Z's ability to provide serious grip through corners has made it a favorite of our enthusiast editors. At the limit, the car's handling can be a bit tricky, and steady hands are required.

When employed on a daily basis, the Nissan 350Z doesn't make for such a compelling companion. Road and tire noise are considerable, and the car's stiff suspension transmits plenty of shock to its occupants when it's driven on rough pavement. Inside, the Z's cabin is functional but decidedly stark. Some of the interior trim is of low quality, and the luggage capacity of the roadster is compromised, even for this class of car.

Past Nissan 350Z Models

The 350Z sports car bowed in 2003 as an all-new model. The first year there was only a coupe, as the roadster did not become available until 2004. Initially, the coupe came in base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track versions, while the roadster was limited to Enthusiast and Touring trim levels. The Track trim came with lightweight wheels and Brembo brakes, but its suspension tuning was the same as all other coupes.

In these early years, the V6 produced 287 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. Transmissions choices were either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The Track model had the manual only. Changes were minimal in the first few years, though Nissan did release a 350Z 35th-anniversary edition in 2005. This manual-transmission model produced 300 hp (but less torque) and came in three exclusive colors.

For 2006, Nissan included the Anniversary Edition's 300-hp V6 for all manual-equipped cars. There were a host of other changes as well, including mildly updated styling, speed-sensitive steering, larger brakes for non-Brembo-equipped models, a higher-quality interior, more standard features and a newly available navigation system. The Performance trim level was dropped. This was also the first year for the Grand Touring trim level, which was similar to the Touring but had the Track's Brembo brakes and wheels.

For 2007, Nissan fully updated the V6 for all 350Zs to its latest, 306-hp incarnation. The Track trim level was dropped, but in its place came the coupe-only Nismo 350Z model. The Nismo model dropped many luxuries in favor of performance-enhancing upgrades, such as a stiffened, seam-welded chassis, firmer springs and shock absorbers, special wheels and various aerodynamic upgrades. Inside, each Nismo 350Z had red and black cloth seats, a gray-faced tachometer and a number plaque indicating its build order in the production run. Nismo models were also produced for the coupe's last year in 2008.

Considering the 350Z's gradual improvements to feature content and hardware, consumers interested in a used Nissan 350Z should generally try to purchase the newest year possible. Notable options to look for would be side airbags (they were optional on the coupe and not always standard on the roadster) and stability control (which came on Touring coupes as well as Grand Touring and Track trim levels).

SELECT A SPECIFIC NISSAN 350Z MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.