- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 14 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
3.5 stars
"Goes quickly...just not as fast or as luxuriously as the 300zx it replaced"
Pros: Eye-catching styling, solid V6, good handling
Cons: Cheap plastics all over interior, no luggage space
Summary: Overall, it's an eye-catching design (even if it was copied from the Lexus SC430 with body proportions from and Audi TT) with a strong performing 3.5L V6 - the same engine that shows up throughout Nissan's lineup from the lowly Altima, Maxima, Quest minivan, etc. through the 350Z. Don't get me wrong, it's a strong engine with good low-end and mid-range power but it runs out of steam at higher RPM. It also doesn't provide quite the same punch as the 3.0L V6 that was in the last-generation 300ZX in Twin Turbo form. It provides reasonable performance for the money with solid handling, styling and interior fit and finish. Sports coupe - absolutely. Sports car - not quite.
On the down side, the paint is afflicted with orange peel (all too common in today's cars), high doors with small windows compromise exterior vision and interior materials look and feel like they were lifted from the Sentra (sorry Nissan!). I'd expect more from a car that can cost upwards of $30K - compare it to its sibling, the Infiniti G35 coupe which has more interior room (back seat) and seemingly much higher quality interior parts for roughly the same price as the Z.
As much as Nissan wanted to return the spirit of the Z to the company, this car gets them about 2/3 of the way there. Compared to the prior generation Z (the 1990 - 1996 300zx in the US) this car doesn't make the same technological leap like 4-wheel steering, twin turbos, twin intercoolers, adjustable suspension and one of the first installations of 4 wheel ABS with vented disc brakes. That said, it still provides reasonable value for customers who are looking for a sport coupe. Perhaps another 50-75HP under the hood (supercharger?) would get this car competitive with today's leading sports cars even if Nissan chooses to shun added technology for cost / complexity reasons. Given that my '92 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo is still running strong (32k miles) I'd expect a new 350Z to provide its owner with plenty of fun driving miles in the years to come.
Where to buy
2005 Nissan 350Z Roadster:
$39,880.00
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Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price From Edmunds.com
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