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Nissan 350Z Reliability and Maintenance Costs

53 messages,  Last post on Feb 26, 2009 at 10:00 PM

You are in the Nissan 350Z/370Z Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan 350Z, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 2 of 6

#4 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [biancar] by ron_m

Jul 22, 2006 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: biancar (Jul 22, 2006 1:13 pm)
Where are you? If you're in a major metropolitan area, you'll probably find a lot of any type of car for sale, just by power of numbers.
  
I've had my Z roadster since April of this year. So far, I love it. There was one problem where it didn't fill with gasoline properly, and in fact the gas nozzle kicked back and sprayed me with gasoline. I'm not postive whether this was a problem with the car or with the service station pump.
  
Other than that, which only occurred once, no problems at all and this is for sure the most fun car I've ever owned. Wouldn't miss it and am so glad I bought it.
  
That said - if I were buying a used Z, I'd probably stay away from '03's, unless there was proof that the known problems had been fixed (tire alignment mostly, also the fuel shutter valve, couple other things).
  
Also remember that most Z's are probably second cars. It's not unusual that second cars, especially sports cars that maybe only get driven on the weekends, end up getting sold a few years later with very low mileage. You can't compare it to a family sedan or daily commuter that's going to pile up the miles pretty quickly.
 
We're living in the Piedmont Triad area of N.C.(Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point)--which is not a major metropolitan area of the country. I too would be using the Z as a second car and not as a daily driver. A couple of my existing cars will suffice for those purposes.
 
Thanks for the feedback on this inquiry! I appreciate your time.
 
Regards,
 
Ron M.

#5 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [ron_m] by biancar

Jul 22, 2006 (8:28 pm)

Replying to: ron_m (Jul 22, 2006 7:07 pm)
Piedmont Triad area of N.C.(Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point)
 
Nice area. I'm typing from the heart of Nags Head right now.

#6 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [ron_m] by qbrozen

Jul 23, 2006 (4:56 am)

Replying to: ron_m (Jul 22, 2006 7:07 pm)
yup. when you are dealing with a specialty kind of car like this, I believe you will always find lots of used ones for sale. I can think of many reasons, but biancar probably hit on the main one.
 
Another theory I have is that you get more people getting in over their heads financially with cars that inspire more passion. In other words, you'll find way fewer people that just HAVE TO HAVE a Camry than you will who HAVE TO HAVE a Z and, consequently, get in too deep and wind up having to sell it or get it repo'd.
 
And yet another theory, and one that applies to me, is someone who bought a little 2-door, 2-seat sportscar and then found out a short later that they will soon have the need to have room for an infant carseat. As a matter of fact, when I bought my Z, I was told the man before me traded it in (with only 9K miles) for this same reason. After it happened to me (now with 15k miles), we dubbed this Z "cursed."

#7 of 53 lots of 350zs for sale by friedflounder

Jul 24, 2006 (7:39 pm)

Replying to: ron_m (Jul 22, 2006 8:02 am)
hi,i am new to forum but have been reading for some time.i recently got 2006z in may,and have 8500+miles so far.it is a great car,rides and handles well.i was initially hesitant after reading things on internet,but glad i did it.i had 2 previous s2000s,both great cars,but due to arthritis chasnged to auto z.each car has tere own special nuance.personally and surprising myself i have enjyed the z more due to the torquier feel thruout the power band.hopefully problems fixed for 06.so far all works well,and interior is tight and rattle free......at some dealres here in nj i have also noted more used than new ones,recently.

#8 of 53 Re: lots of 350zs for sale [friedflounder] by biancar

Jul 25, 2006 (2:30 pm)

Replying to: friedflounder (Jul 24, 2006 7:39 pm)
i have also noted more used than new ones,recently.
 
That's to be expected, getting close to the end of the model year. Dealers probably aren't getting as many new ones as they did earlier in the year, and/or they're making deals good enough to move 'em on out to prepare for the arrival of the '07's.

#9 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [qbrozen] by zztop3

Jul 26, 2006 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: qbrozen (Jul 23, 2006 4:56 am)
Some of this is a generalization so please don't offense BUT:
 
If you go over to my350z.com, you will notice that there seems to be 2 basic age groups that own this car.
The first is the under 25 crowd and the other is the 40+ crowd.
 
I have been astounded when I read the myriad of posts about the under 25 year old's who work many long hours just to make the $600/month car payment and the insurance since they had to have this car but put nearly nothing down.
 
I was not at all surprised then to see these start to show up on used car lots (there are 3 in my neighborhood alone in the front yard for sale).
 
I believe that many find that trying to pay for this car after the initial 'rush' is just too much and they get rid of it.
 
I am of the 40+ crowd and I paid cash for my 2005 350Z and have had it since July 2005 so my recurring expenses on this car are very low (premium gas and insurance)
 
Something else to think about:
As other poster's have stated, this is not my daily commuter car.
If it were, I would never have even considered such a car.
 
It has a rough ride,no room in the trunk,only holds 2 people and on long trips, it is downright tiring.
I am convinced that a lot of people buy cars like this without thinking long term.
 
This car is a blast to drive but it is NOT a car to own if it is the only car you have.
 
Granted, a college student who put a good downpayment on the car does not fit the above. They have a small monthly payment and don't have a 5 day a week commute to a job like the 'oldies' do.
 
There are plenty of exceptions like in the previous paragraph, but if one is going to own only ONE car,it should not be a car like this.
This is not unique to the Z. it goes the same for TT's/Boxster's/RX8's/Vettes,etc.
 
That I think is dawning on many people and is why they are getting rid of it for something more practical.
 
Just my .02

#10 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [zztop3] by biancar

Jul 26, 2006 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: zztop3 (Jul 26, 2006 2:49 pm)
Yeah, I agree. I'm of the 40 + generation too, could have paid cash but got such a low interest rate it was better to pay half in cash and finance the rest. And it's a second car for me, too. We're in very different financial place than the guys who have to really struggle to pay their monthly bills.
 
I read on my350z a lot, post under a different name than here. The younger guys are nuts! Fun to read them - makes me really, really glad I'm not 24 anymore!

#11 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [zztop3] by ron_m

Jul 26, 2006 (9:12 pm)

Replying to: zztop3 (Jul 26, 2006 2:49 pm)
It really is a necessity to own at least one "practical" second car when you're a sports car owner. While owning my '90 300ZX I've always kept one or two other vehicles around. Usually a couple of 4-door, mid-size sedans that burn regular unleaded fuel and don't require expensive, low-profile performance tires. Or one mid-size sedan and one SUV for beach/mountain trips with the family. Currently though, one of my sedans is a 2002 IS300 and it also requires premium unleaded fuel and tires that wear out faster than those used on non-sporty, family-oriented sedans. I may just unload the 2002 IS300 and then pick up a 350Z for spirited, weekend driving. I've got the fever for another 2-door sports coupe--preferably a 350Z. About the only other sports car that would interest me at the moment would be a pristine 300ZX Twin Turbo if I could find one. It would have to be in superb mechanical condition and nearly immaculate from a cosmetic standpoint before I would break down and buy it. Most likely it would be pretty hard to find a Z32 TT as described above. At least I think so anyway.
 
Ron M.

#12 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [zztop3] by qbrozen

Jul 27, 2006 (6:41 am)

Replying to: zztop3 (Jul 26, 2006 2:49 pm)
if that really was a reply to me, I'm not offended in the least. Its not much different from what I stated (ie, 2 main reasons there are alot of used ones: those who got in over their heads and those that needed something more practical).
 
In my particular case, I fit neither age brackets. I was 31 when I bought mine. I could have kept it when the baby was on his way because I did have 2 other cars we could cart him around in, but I traded mine for practical AND financial reasons. I had equity in the car that I decided could go towards the nursery instead. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

#13 of 53 Re: Lots of 350Zs for sale [qbrozen] by biancar

Jul 27, 2006 (1:33 pm)

Replying to: qbrozen (Jul 27, 2006 6:41 am)
What, supplying your baby's needs instead of your own??? What kind of man ARE you???
-
-
-
 
A good one, I'm guessing....

Messages Page 2 of 6

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