Cruz_msl

I'm debating on getting a slightly used one- they are within my pricepoint (under 25K) and look like good performers. My question is why are they so cheap and why are there so many used ones on the market?

Teh Jatt

ah so you're alive eh.... so where are the pics you promised for photochoppin'?

Cruz_msl

oh shit you called me on it

gimmie a few, I'll post them on the other thread. Damn and I was going to go to sleep too, but this will be fun

n3ok318

iTrader: (1)

I'd go with s2k.. 350z is fine but something about s2k is more appealing..

bkknight369

is this going to be a primary or second car?

350z vs. s2k: 350z has a better trunk (hatchback), and is more comfortable on a day-to-day basis

if its your second car, then you'll have the typical 350z/rx8/s2k debate...s2k edges it out on the twists...but realistically unless you live ON a track, you wont push the car to the edge enough to tell the difference...and when you DO push a 350z to its edge, it would never let you down

I've had it for 6 months, and driven it to san fran and back...nothing but smiles

SeCsTaC

S2k Ftw

Cruz_msl

primary

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

The ride is SO HARSH. The earlier models had the tire wear issues that could never be fixed until changes were made mid-2004 or early 2005 to correct the issue at the factory. Cars already on the road couldn't be fixed. Great performers, good looks, but around here they are a dime a dozen which adds to the used car volume.

Cruz_msl

I haven't test driven one yet but I heard the same. I also heard about the alignment issue as well but I didn't know it ran that long. Good thing to look out for

Cruz_msl

DONE

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...35#post4568535

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

It's a big thing to look out for. Guys are replacing tires every ~7,000 miles no matter how easy they drive the car. And there is no fix to get it aligned properly to avoid the pre-mature wear.

bkknight369

it was (for the most part) fixed for 2004.5+ models. For 2003 and some 2004 models they got extended warranties

but yes the ride is harsh...at times jarring

Hobo

you should try the ride in my 93 300zx everyroad is like cobblestones

cusdaddy

Incorrect. My 350z has been through 2 sets of front tires, but Bridgestone created a new set of tires with a unique thread pattern to correct the front tire wear. Nissan issued a service bulletin and a letter for all 2003 and early 2004 Z owners to bring their cars in to get the new set of tires. I've had mine on for quite some time with no hint of tire wear any longer. The issue is basically resolved.

I don't think the ride is that harsh. It's not a luxury car, but my friend's Evo is worse. It's a sports car - harsh ride, noisy, cramped but fun as hell to drive. It didn't put me to sleep like my old CLS did.

cusdaddy

In regards to the original question, I like my Z a lot. I leased it in 2003 and it goes back to the dealer in 4 months or so.

While the car is far from perfect, it looks great (even to this day I love the styling), the performance is excellent, it handles very well (I do very well at AutoX), and while the interior materials could use some work, I love the cockpit.

The downsides are that it doesn't have a lot of trunk space and my 350 has been fairly unreliable. All was covered under warranty, but I got an early first model year so problems are par for the course. I'd recommend a 2004.5+ model if you are looking for one.

In regards to the S2000, my good friend has one as well and I'd never get it over my Z. It is painful to drive every day with little to no torque, up here in CT I'd never get to use the convertible feature so you would have to deal with a lot of noise from the soft top, it is very noisy and reevs very high on the highway, and the interior is tiny. I feel very claustrophobic inside. It handles very nicely but not significantly better than the Z. In AutoX for example switching cars, both my friend and I are faster in the 350Z.

kurt_bradley

I've driven the 350Z heavily through a few hook-ups I have. I'm not exactly impressed. It is a decent car for fun, but the ride sucks. One second, it's excessively stiff, and the next (mainly while cornering) it doesn't have enough feel to make you feel connected to the road. The trunk isn't exactly a trunk. It's a little area where your stuff will fly around when you take turns. If you want to store anything (that is smaller than a Boston Terrier I wasn't driving around with her in there, I was just curious as to how she would fit hypothetically. I couldn't be that abusive to dogs...cats maybe.) in a secure spot, you have to stick it in this little compartment that is accessed by folding the passenger seat forward (how convenient). Besides, when you're looking into a car of this nature, are you really that concerned about storage? I thought one would be in it for the fun-to-drive factor.

Also, I am a little biased...I'm on my second S2K.

zeroday

So what about people like me that bought aftermarket tires/rims? when my pole positions started cupping Nissan washed their hands of me because I had replaced the tires/rims.

I liked my Z alot but these kinds of problems left a bad taste in my mouth. I'd go with the s2k.

BoostedM3

I'm using mine as a daily right now and it's fine. The stock ride is a bit harsh due to the struts in the rear...the rebound is way to strong. Since, I've got Konis and Eibachs + 19" VR TE37s w/ Toyo T1Rs the ride is better than stock (IMHO, Zeal coilovers feel even better). You can definitely feel more of road with the lower profile tires, but the S03s were so much louder than the Toyos. The trunk is definitely small. The tire wear problem can be resolved as cusdaddy mentioned....I've had no problems after lowering & alignment.

I'm a little bias as well....

95gt

So you can barely afford to buy a 30 dollar tree but you are looking into getting a sports car





not a fan of the styling on the z

zeroday

^^ i was fixing rattles constantly on my 2003; do you have that problem? seems like the people with aftermarket 19's experience this more frequently.

BoostedM3

Yea, i have a few rattles but most of them have been resolved. I have to admit, that is a big annoyance.

kurt_bradley

It also has to be said that we S2K owners are blessed with a number of great features when it comes to driving performance: Smooth, managable handling, easy brakes, the slickest 'box with great gears and the easiest shifting, steering that is so communicative, comfortable seats for a sports car, good looks, and of course Honda reliability and a simple aspect of ownership costs.

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

So you're stuck buying one type of tires for the life of the car?

FastAcura

I test drove one a few months ago and left very unimpressed.

r10apple

Why not a used G35c? It's a little bit bigger, a tick slower, but has more luxury, a longer warranty,m better service department and a bigger back seat and trunk...There are two used ones in the suburb I live in a parking lot, and both are asking under $25k. Both have less than 30k miles...

cusdaddy

While I'm not huge fan of my 350Z and I return it in a few months, I felt almost the exact opposite about the S2000:

Snap oversteer (you should see how many spin out in the S2000 at an AutoX event), noisy, tiny, very claustrophobic, boring styling, and no torque.

The gearbox and steering feel are very nice, but I was not impressed by the car at all. This is why car manufacturers offer options as no single car will appeal to all.

fedor corolla

here is the reason......impractical

terrible traction in winter
no trunk
2 seater

extremely over priced from the begining

fedor corolla

im begining to see a trend here.......

everyone who needs advice on buying a car......get an s2000

zeroday

considering the 350z has been a resounding sales success for Nissan, i'd love to hear why you think it's over priced. they sure fooled a HELL of alot of people if that's true.

cusdaddy

Terrible Traction in winter: I get around fine in Northern CT every winter with my 350Z and a set of Blizzak's. It has a LSD and a great weight distribution. The only issue is that the stock tires are summer tires. Not meant for winter driving. Get a proper set of tires and it's fine.

No trunk: Looking at the back of my car, I see a trunk. Is it large? No, but it is competitively sized in it's class. It's significantly larger than an S2000's trunk

2 Seater: And your point is? It's a sports car.

Overpriced: I got my 350Z with all of the necessary options new for $28,500. That's far from overpriced IMO. Yes, if you want the Track model, you pay for it, but the car is competitively priced compared to it's compeition. It's sales figures speak for themselves.

03TL-S

For you people complaining about ride quality and traction and such, what do you expect? Its not a luxury car! Its not meant to have a soft cushion-like ride. Its a sports car. The suspension is stiff because it helps make it handle better. Drive any sports car, for example, porsche, an M3....the ride is car from comfy. The S2000 also rides hard. They softened the suspension a bit since its release, but it also rides rough. And about traction....what do you expect? Its a RWD car with almost 300 horses. RWD cars arent meant to be driven in the snow.

Also, in what way is the 350z overpriced. The base Z is like 27k. People who choose to get the track edition want to pay for its expensive price so no it is nowhere near overpriced.

04teinTL

The 350z is cheap because of the G35... when Nissian lease the 350z everybody ran out and bought one, and a year later they release the G35 and most people with the 350z went to go trade in their 350z for a G35, it basically have the same motor. But most people just prefer the G35 look. You can't go wrong with a used 350z, G35 or even a S2k

zeroday

2 diff cars. z is a no nonsense sports car the g is a 4 seater and weighs 300 lbs more. the base z is cheaper because that was the draw of the first z's; performance and affordability. has ZERO to do with the g.

also, the g and the z were released at about the same time. most people that bought the z didnt trade for the g...not sure where you got that idea but having lurked on 350z boards since 2002 i'd know if there was some mass exodus.

get your facts straight before spouting off this bullshit.

1killercls

I dont like cars that are a dime a dozen. So the Z and the G35 would never cut it for me.

zeroday

^^ so whats next after the CLS then; pontiac Aztec?

You're gonna have to find either

a) something no one else wants (like the CLS)

or

b)You're gonna have to pay over 60k.

I'm thinking you'll be driving an Aztec

r10apple

Pretty funny...

cusdaddy

Yeah, I'm sure all 350Z drivers sold their cars and got a G35c the day it came out, just like myself. Oh wait, I didn't becuase the cars are very different.

It would be like saying all Accord drivers sold their Accords when the TL came out.

cusdaddy

Unless you buy a very expensive car, most cars that are a so-called "dime a dozen" are so because they are excellent cars. Excellent cars usually sell very well. Cars that aren't so good usually don't sell as well.

If you aren't willing to pay close to six figures for your car, you will most often be relegated to most often cars that are crap like the Aztec if this is your mindset.

1killercls

I was thinking more along the lines of a GTO or something similar.

zeroday

an 04 GTO? the 05's are selling like hotcakes. it'll be a dime a dozen car in no time.