Nissan 350Z Reviews

But special badges won't be part of the 350Z birthday party.The limited run 35th Anniversary model joins the Nissan 350Z stable for a year, offering more revs and a significant increase in power.Based on the Track version, the sportscar's 3.5-litre V6 has been boosted to 221kW (up from 206kW in the standard 350Z Track) and is manual-only with a revised close-ratio six-speed gearbox.Marking the launch of the original Nissan 240Z in 1970, there's also a collector's edition three-layered colour called Ultra Yellow, as well as black and gunmetal.Apart from the yellow there won't, however, be any way to pick the special from a standard 350Z Track."The bottom line is when you have a package like this you don't need to badge it over and above the car," says Nissan Australia manager of product marketing Michael Hayes. "The car stands on its own merits."Nissan's target is to sell 50 of the limited cars a month, and supply shouldn't be an issue.According to Hayes the 35th Anniversary edition makes the 350Z easily the most powerful two-seater coupe on sale in Australia in its price range. The "two-seater" qualification, however, deliberately excludes the Monaro."Nothing really comes close (to the 35th Anniversary model)," he says. "The Chrysler Crossfire has 160kW, the BMW Z4 is at 170, Honda S2000 at 176kW, Audi Quattro TT at 184kW, so the 350Z Touring, Track and Roadster already lead the pack. At 221kW nothing touches this car."Monaro is a V8, locally-built and a four-seater. We don't see it as a direct competitor, as good a car as it is."The 35th Anniversary comes with black leather seats only and has the usual Track goodies such as spoilers, diffusers and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).The rest of the 350Z range has also received its first full upgrade.Heated leather seats are standard. The five-speed automatic gearbox now has Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) for quicker smoother gear changesThe Roadster and Track haveBrembo performance brakes and the Roadster picks up VDC.THE 35th Anniversary model adds extra spice to a car that's already as good as anything in its class.Yet it's almost impossible to pick the difference between the regular 206kW 350Z engine and the more powerful 221kW engine in the 35th Anniversary at road legal speeds.For owners who intend to race their 350Zs or time them at track days, the redline of 7000 revs (up from 6600 revs) might come into play.There is actually marginally less torque, down 10Nm.None of this is bad news. When you get into mountain roads that have heaps of bends, the 350Z remains as much fun as ever.Cornering grip and balance are excellent and launch out of the corners exhilarating. The engine is a gem at the top end of the rev range.Though the 350Z and the 35th Anniversary model are stunningly good, they're not subtle. If you're looking for a purpose-built sportscar, great. But in day-to-day mode it is compromised.The suspension is friendly enough but becomes harsh on bumps.The interior is functional and efficient. For Zed fans though, that's irrelevant, the spartan ambience only adds to the true sportscar feel.Outside there's nothing to pick the Anniversary from the less powerful Track except for the beefy five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels.It adds up to slightly better 350Z experience, making the $67,990 price worth it.But collectability is all about having something that marks a car as different and special. That's why the Yellow should be most buyers' pick.

Any marketing man worth his salt will have the relevant company milestones etched indelibly in his memory and be clamouring to bring out a special edition to celebrate.In fact, you'd have to imagine that from a marketing point of view any excuse is a good excuse however slim to chalk up a few extra sales?In the case of Nissan Australia, it happens to have a pretty good excuse, as it is 35 years since the famous 'Z' sports car which debuted with 240Z in 1970.To mark the occasion it has put together a 35th anniversary 350Z sports coupe, one with more power, at least one unique colour and a beautiful set of alloy wheels.The only thing Nissan has neglected to do is provide some badging for the car, either inside or outside, to stamp it as something special – to make it collectable.For example, who could forget the badge on the 25th anniversary Commodore that Holden released a couple of years back?Be that as it may, the special Z is indeed something worth crowing about, with 221kW or seven per cent more power than the standard 206kW car.The extra oomph has been achieved largely by the introduction of revised cam and pistons and the addition of electromagnetic exhaust valve timing control.In the process, the 3.5-litre 24 valve DOHC V6 has shed some 10Nm of torque (down from 363Nm to 353Nm at 4800rpm), but you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.What it means, on paper at least, is that the Zed could be fractionally slower off the mark, but the extra top end has given it a bit of room to breathe, allowing better use of gears.We have never been great fans of the 350Z but we're here to tell you that the 35th anniversary model rocks.We found the previous model (all models have in fact been upgraded) coarse and difficult to manage, especially in stop-start city traffic.We loved the look but the heavy clutch quickly became tiresome and the manual box was notchy and difficult to use compared with other transmissions.In fact, the whole thing was just a bit rough for our liking.Whatever Nissan has done in the interim has transformed the car, which is much smoother and user friendly than before.The 35th anniversary model comes in coupe form with manual transmission only and a choice of three colours: black, silver or a bright yellow which is unique to this model.The yellow is applied using a special paint process and in doing so the car gets an extra coat.The coupe is the only model to get the more powerful engine and improvements to the six-speed transmission have greatly improved the shift quality.Standard features include composite carbon-fibre drive shaft, traction control system, viscous limited-slip rear differential, electronic drive-by-wire throttle, dual outlet exhaust and an improved close-ratio six-speed manual transmission.High performance Brembo brakes are fitted, with four-piston calipers and 324x30mm ventilated front and two-piston calipers with 322x22mm ventilated rear discs.Electronic stability control or Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) as Nissan calls it is also standard.Purists might poo poo the concept of VDC but we were pleasantly surprised to find how restrained the system is on challenging mountain roads on which we tested the car.For a traditional rear wheel drive configuration it is surprisingly well behaved, exhibiting no tendency to oversteer, even when driven extremely hard.The car is well balanced and exhibit high levels of grip, although the high performance tyres 45 and 50 series 18 inch tyres tend to generate quite a bit of noise on coarse road surfaces.This noise is in turn amplified by the empty rear section of the cabin which acts like the inside of a speaker box.Fuel consumption using premium unleaded was excellent for this type of car, returning an average of 10.75L/100km during out test.The 350Z anniversary model is priced from $67,990 before on road costs, $2000 more than the Track model on which it is based.

One thing the original Zed failed to deliver was a rag top, drop top or whatever you want to call it top – although it came close with a glass, targa-style roof in the 80s.Enter stage right the gorgeous 350Z Roadster which carries a $10,000 premium over the coupe, but is easily the pick of the pair.It's a steal compared to some of the high-priced Euros and gives little away in terms of style or performance.There's only one model. priced from $69,990, and if you want an auto it is going to cost another $2800.Nissan is renowned for the 3.5-litre V6 that resides in the Zed. It's the same power plant as in Maxima, albeit in a very different state of tune. It delivers 206kW of power at 6200rpm and 363Nm of torque at 3800rpm.It's not the smoothest or quietest of engine around but we don't think anyone is going to find this a major problem. Drop back a gear, drop the top and listen to the note from the twin exhausts.We were particularly surprised by the good economy that we got out of the roadster. It returned more than 600km from a single 76-litre tank of fuel, although we should point out it drinks premium. That's better than 12.6L/100km.When you cut the top off a car you need to compensate for the loss of structural rigidity by reinforcing the underbody to stop the chassis twisting. They've made a good fist of this with the Zed because there is little or no scuttle shake, at least on the roads we travelled.The roof is a snap to release. Push the release button, pull down the central handle and then hold down the under dash button until the cloth roof is fully retracted, stowed neatly under the twin bubbles of the hard cover.Our test vehicle was the six-speed manual and while it was a little stiff at first the changes were reasonable smooth by the time we got the hang of it. There's plenty of torque so the car will happily dawdle around in top gear.Acceleration is strong across the range but the car is hard to get off the line cleanly and we'd like to see a bit of work done in this area.Handling is excellent with a traction control system that can be turned off. But we wouldn't recommend this unless you're an experienced driver.The roadster is not the easiest of cars to get in and out of. It's a long way down with huge doors that open wide and this can be a problem in narrow spaces.Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, heated seats and a kick butt 240 watt Bose sound system.

Young turks pump the ¿hang loose¿ sign with their fists, their girlfriends call out complimentary exple-tives, dads drool and mums swoon – well almost.It's a good looker that's for sure.This is the soft-top version of the 350Z coupe and is exactly the same mechanically as the coupe sharing a 3.5-litre, 206kW, V6 engine and a six-speed manual transmission or optional five-speed auto.It also has the coupe's interior and the same equipment.Chassis reinforcments provide more stiffness – necessary because of the soft top. Weight is only slightly up compared with the coupe at 1548kg for the manual roadster.Only one version is offered while there are two coupes.Roof operation is electric and takes about 30 seconds either way. It's stowed in a special compartment behind the two seats under a slick looking lid with twin head pods.A single, centre mounted roof lock is manually operated.Included in the equipment is a superb Bose Audiopilot sound system that ranks as one of the best around. It automatically adjusts volume according to ambient noise.The 350Z roadster has European developed suspen-sion dampers to retain the car's sporty feel and enhance ride quality despite the chassis changes and increased weight. For top down driving, a neat perspex wind buffer sits between the seats so your hair isn't ruffled.The 350Z roadster is impressive dynamically offering superb grip through 18in wheels and low profile rubber.The steering is direct and responsive while the suspension gives a relatively comfortable ride. Com-bined that with multi piston brakes and the roadster is in the upper echelon of handling for a road car.Hi-tech components include a carbon fibre com-posite drive shaft and a viscous limited slip differential. The throttle is electronic and a twin outlet exhaust is fitted.On road performance and feel is sporty with superb acceleration available from the big V6. Gear changes are quick and slick and the pedals are well placed for easy control. The engine isn't the smoothest around, growling and bellowing at times but that probably adds to the sporty allure of the car.I found the cabin cramped with not enough seat movement provided. Access can at times be challeng-ing.Boot room is surprisingly large and there are plenty of practical storage areas inside the cabnin to make up for the lack of a glovebox.It's up against some classy competition but at $69,990, the 350Z roadster is right on the money in just about every area.

It dropped the top to create a 350Z Roadster that's become a summer hit in Australia and one of our favourite new cars of 2003.There was no convertible in the '70s original, even though the Zed grew glass panels for a targa top in the '80s.Now there's a foldaway roof for a roadster that drives like a real sports car, yet has the refinement to compete with classy convertibles such as the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK.For Nissan, the open-air body also gives it a crucial selling advantage in the battle with the other born-again sports car of 2003, the Mazda RX-8. It counters the rotary car's four-door, four-seat layout with a fun factor that's tough to toss.The basics of the Roadster are just the same as the regular 350Z coupe, from its body and suspension design to the 206kW V6 engine. The suspension is a little softer, but that's no disappointment considering Nissan Australia has asked for a re-tune of the rock-hard ride in the Track version of the coupe.The roof itself is fully electric, with a one-touch operation once you have turned the twist-to-lock latch near the rear-view mirror. It is fully lined, with an electric rear window, and folds away under a steel panel.There's a clever perspex wind-blocker between the seats to cut backdrafts, and the boot space is barely less than the coupe.Nissan Australia decided to go for a one-model hit with the Roadster, though there is a choice of six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearboxes, both with a viscous limited-slip differential and traction control on the rear-wheel drive.Prices are $69,990 for the manual and $72,790 for the automatic, which seems like a fair $10,000 premium over the basic 350Z Coupe at $59,990, and well below the $81,100 starting price for a BMW Z4 or $86,174 for a Benz SLK with only a 2.0-litre engine.The car comes well equipped with power steering and 18-inch alloy wheels, a Bose sound system, electric leather seats, automatic airconditioning, electric windows and cruise control. There is also a useful trip computer, which can be set to give a digital speedo readout...a great idea with so many speed cameras on the road.Nissan Australia has been overwhelmed with the response to the born-again Zed and is expecting delivery delays on the Roadster.It predicted sales of only 800 cars during the first year in Australia, but hit 1154 in the first seven months after the arrival of the coupe. By the end of October that was up to 1432. We liked the 350Z a lot when we drove it. Our time was mostly in the Track model, which rode a bit stiffly, and we weren't too impressed with the cabin plastics.But those were just minor quibbles in a car which was striking on the road, sensational in corners and all-round quick at any time.The new Zed proved Nissan knows what it's doing with its product developments, retaining the heart of the original 240Z but blasting it into the 21st century.The Roadster looked good when we first saw it, with a clever droptop that promised to open its appeal without downgrading its sports car credentials. It only took a handful of kilometres in the car to confirm that Nissan had delivered a winner.The Roadster drives really, really tight. Like a grown-up Mazda MX-5, but with more space in the cabin, more go and a bigger boot.You'd expect the practical stuff with a $70,000 price line, but the driving angle is a surprise. Earlier open-air Zeds were floppy flyers that were all about slow-speed posing.The 350Z is a car that's happiest when it's cracking along, and best with the top out of the way.The roof is quick and easy to use, there is very little bluster or wind at any legal speed in Australia, and the Bose sound system stays easily ahead of the extra noise.We loved flipping the roof away, tickling the lusty V6, and picking a low gear for some corner work. The Roadster even felt a bit more enjoyable than the Track coupe, with more feel back through the softer suspension. It turned just as easily, but was more responsive and easier to hustle along.The engine has more than enough go for most people, the six-speed shift is light and direct, and jobs like overtaking and stop-light sprints are quick and easy.The brakes weren't as powerful as the Track Zed, but we were happy to do without the black brake dust which built up on the coupe's wheels after little more than 150km.The Roadster wasn't quite as good with the top up, but not by much. It felt a little cramped, but that was about it – apart from the inevitable parking problems with only a small rear window.We liked the fine details in the equipment, particularly the grippy buckets and the digital speedo, and were pleased to see that Nissan has kept the sound system buttons off the steering wheel.Looking at the 350Z earlier this year we were forced to line it up against the Mazda RX-8, and it lost a points decision to the more practical rotary rocket. The Zed is fine for two, and great if you really want a sports car, but not so good if you just want to cruise and collect the looks and kudos.The Roadster is just as convincing as a sports car, but even more enjoyable with the fresh-air roof.It also avoids any comparison with the RX-8 and does better than expected against the costlier and slower BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK. They are good, but the Nissan is better and costs less...provided you don't need a German bragging badge.If we were looking to buy a Zed, we wouldn't bother with the coupe. We'd go straight for the Roadster and really have fun.

The born-again Nissan sports car isn't perfect, as you discover the first time you try a tight parking space, but it comes close.The 350Z looks good, drives like a serious sports car, and returns the sort of value-for-money enjoyment that makes a starting price of $59,990 into a genuine bargain.It's no surprise the first shipment is a sellout, or that Nissan dealers are holding Zed-car orders that will create a waiting list until the second half of the year.Things will get interesting when the all-new Mazda RX-8 arrives in June, and final judgment on the 350Z will have to wait until it goes toe-to-toe with its only real showroom rival, but our test drive with the Nissan has made us believers.The 21st-century Zed provides an alternative for people who want Subaru WRX-level performance with a bit more style, or who need somewhere to go now the Nissan 200SX coupe has been dropped from the company's line-up.The original Datsun 240Z re-wrote the rules for Japanese carmakers in the early 1970s, proving they could build cars with passion.The Zed car has been on the comeback trail almost since the day the fat-old-fart 300ZX was chopped because people had had enough of the bloated 2+2 in the 1980s.It took the latest Renault-led management team to finally push the "go" button for a new hero car. It's the car Carlos Ghosn knew was needed to create some real excitement, and a sense of purpose, at Nissan.The car that's just arrived in local showrooms isn't true to the 240Z concept, but it's close enough. The styling is 21st-century corporate sports car, not a revival of the long-nose Zed design. But the rest of the car is hard edged and just as impressive as the original.That means a V6 tucked behind the front wheels, a two-seater cabin with grippy bucket seats and no frills, and a performance package built around big brakes and sports-car suspension.There are two choices in the 350Z family, the Touring and the Track, with prices from $59,990 up to $65,990. The extra cash for the Track pack buys bigger wheels and Brembo brakes, and it comes with only the six-speed manual gearbox.The V6 engine is a beauty and has been seriously upgraded from the version used in the Maxima. It includes everything from a growling exhaust note to howling induction roar, with a top end of 206kW – the maximum power output for Japanese cars – and a 363Nm wall of torque.But the new Zed isn't just about going fast: It also has a thumping Bose sound system, airbags for front-side-head protection, leather seats, airconditioning, alloy wheels, and remote central locking with alarm.THE 350Z is a great drive. Any time, any speed, any road.You only have to tickle the accelerator to get an instant response, it lights up when you leave the lights, and when you're ready for fun on a tough road the Zed will quickly move you along. It's the best news from Nissan since we cannot remember.Let's get the negatives out of the way first, so we can concentrate on the brilliance.It is tough to park, because the body drops away in all directions and the windows aren't big; the boot is cramped, and divided into two sections by the brace for the rear suspension; the headlamps aren't great, and neither is the horn; and the plastics in the cabin are cheap, more $19,990 Pulsar than Zed-car special.But that's because Nissan has spent its money on the stuff that counts. Take a look under the body at the beautiful suspension and brake bits and you will understand.Or, even better, push on the accelerator in second and third gears and be absorbed by the action. The V6 engine roars and goes, howling through the torque band from 3000 revs and on to the redline at 6200 – the gearbox has a clack-clack directness that's close to the Mazda MX-5, and the feel is tight and quick.The engine response, in any gear at almost any speed, is what gives the Zed its advantage over the push-and-wait turbo cars.The steering is firm and direct, the brakes – especially in the Brembo-equipped Track test car – are fantastic, the suspension rides all but the worst bumps, and the electronic traction control has been tuned to allow the driver – not the computer – to control the action.Best of all, Nissan's engineers have developed a car that's a complete package. There are no weaknesses, all the elements are at the same high standard.Sometimes it's great just to rattle up through the gears on a light throttle, feeling the mechanical action of the driveline, and other times it's rewarding to wait until late to brake to feel the firmness and response from the stoppers.That's what a sports car should be about, and it's what the Zed delivers.And the cornering power is fantas tic. It sometimes seems to defy gravity, turning into corners at silly speeds with no drama, and the cornering attitude can always be adjusted with the wheel or the accelerator.It's also helped by a great-looking body, fantastic seats and a dashboard that has just enough hints of 240Z – the three dials in the centre of the dash, including volts – to remind you the 350Z is drawing on a deep, rich vein of history.Finding rivals for the Zed is tough, because it's so good and so complete.Only one question mark hangs over the 350Z: how will it compare to the Mazda RX-8? That's why our comparison box this week is missing a star rating for the RX-8, which won't be available for testing until June.But the rating for the RX-8 really doesn't matter, and it won't really affect the success of the Zed.Plus – Sprint speed; cornering gripMinus – Tough to park; cheap cabin plastics