350z BRMMMMMMMM!

[nath]

Howdy,

My crappy Mondeo is starting to have a bit of a nervous breakdown with respect to the electrics. Lots of niggles that are making me ponder whether its worth repairing and I've found myself eyeing up a 350z - I've always wanted one.

Wanted to know what peoples (particularly Gaffs) opinion on them are? I've seen 2003 models for £8k, ~40k miles and all mod cons. Is this sort of thing going to be feking expensive to run? I'll check out insurance myself, but general upkeep, what am I looking at here? I'd probably want to service it properly at a nissan dealer I assume that's a packet. Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

TIA!

 

[old.user4556]

My opinion in one word.

No.

(elboration available on request)

 

[nath]

Amazingly enough I'm going to ask you to elaborate..

 

[throdgrain]

Thats the Nissan right? FWIW I used to have a Nissan ZX300 which was a 3.0l twin turbo.

It was mad fast and very thirsty. If the 350 is anything similar, I'm amazed you would want one Nath.

 

[Edmond]

I've seen 2003 models for £8k, ~40k miles and all mod cons.

Wow, they dont hold thier value very well do they? Thats very cheap, is it not?

I thought they were about £25k new?

 

[nath]

No doubt because you've ideas about my liberal lefty-ism that aren't entirely accurate - I've absolutely no desire to own a Prius . In fact there was a point where I really wanted one of the new Ford Mustangs, they look lovely.

I've no doubt the 350z thirsty but at the moment I think I can afford that, and it looks like a hoot.



edit: Ed, 8k is basically the cheapest I've seen and I've no idea what the condition of it is. Low mileage though and the GT pack. Seems too good to be true.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...model=350+Z&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=60000

 

[old.user4556]

Is this sort of thing going to be feking expensive to run? I'll check out insurance myself, but general upkeep, what am I looking at here? I'd probably want to service it properly at a nissan dealer I assume that's a packet. Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

Based on those questions Nath; it will be under 30 mpg on daily use, for the size of the engine you'll be lucky to see 20 mpg if you drive it like it's meant to be driven. Bear in mind that the tax hike (when it comes in) you'll see £440 a year tax as well.

Those that own them rave about them Nath, you only live once so if you can afford the heavy gas, insurance and tax on it then I say go for it while you can - it's an absolute buyers market so negotiate hard!

Personally, I think they're horrible inside and out so I don't care how it drives although i've never driven one (plus i'm biased, I love only Bavaria's finest as i'm sure you know).

 

[old.user4556]

Wow, they dont hold thier value very well do they? Thats very cheap, is it not?

I thought they were about £25k new?

For that price that nath pointed out, it'll most definitely be a Jap import.

Edit: yes , that one you've pointed out Nath is an import.

Edit part2: some reading here http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=196056&f=71&h=0

 

[nath]

I was amazed, I did an insurance check on confused and esure offered me a quote (fully comp) at £630. Not bad at all. I do about 1-2k miles a year so petrol shouldn't be an issue. The road tax could pinch a bit but yeah, I've never owned a fun car and I've always had a soft spot for the 350z - seems like a good time to get one.

edit: There do seem to be non-imports for less than £9k so I'm not sure that'll be a prob.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...model=350+Z&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=60000 - not a GT but otherwise decent looking. Anyway, only had the idea tonight when my mondeo driverside window stopped working . Plenty of research to do. An s2000 is an idea too, I hear that's a laugh.

 

[old.user4556]

There's always a 1980's rear engined masterpiece from Stuttgart for that money....

 

[Tom]

Do it nath. Fuck it, you only live once. My Tiv cost a tidy sum to run for a year but I want another one it was that fucking good.

People will laugh at you, but they're usually in a Vectra or some other shite. Its your money, do what you want and have some fun.

 

[old.user4556]

TVR.

Now, that's something to wet your pants about (if you have a good cash supply).

YouTube - TVR Acceleration - MOST Amazing Sound

 

[nath]

Thing is, I'll happily admit I'm anything but a pistonhead so I'm not really after a car that requires knowledge or much upkeep. Just want something fun and *relatively* easy going. Still interested to hear what Gaff has to say as if I recall he did have one for some time.

 

[DaGaffer]

Go for it, but get a UK one. Japanese spec cars have shonky interiors (and the interiors of the UK spec cars aren't that great), but more importantly, duff suspension setups for UK roads. Plus UK supply was always kept tight so they tended to be bought and cherished and are only now heading for the Impreza-Max Power mob.

I adored mine, one of the most fun cars I've owned (my current S3 is about as quick but nowhere near as much fun).

 

[Edmond]

You had to keep the A3 then Gaff, how did you get round the lease problems in the move, or did you have to buy it?

 

[DaGaffer]

You had to keep the A3 then Gaff, how did you get round the lease problems in the move, or did you have to buy it?

Er, we'll draw a veil over that shall we? I'm currently planning to bring it back to the UK (e.g. Newry) every sixty days. It fulfils the letter of the agreement, but I'm not sure the Irish authorities will see it that way so I'm keeping my head down . Not that I have much choice other than paying 400-odd quid a month for it to sit outside my brother's house.

 

[Edmond]

Ahh, i see, bit of a bugger then

 

[nath]

Hmm, verrrrry tempted. I've been reading Parkers (the article seems pretty out of date with respect to buying second hand) but are there any other things I should know/sites I should be checking for info? I'm a total car noob*.











*Using this word has made me die a little inside.

 

[DaGaffer]

Get any car you like AA checked and ID checked for any dodgy history. After that you should be golden.

 

[throdgrain]

No doubt because you've ideas about my liberal lefty-ism that aren't entirely accurate - I've absolutely no desire to own a Prius . In fact there was a point where I really wanted one of the new Ford Mustangs, they look lovely.

I've no doubt the 350z thirsty but at the moment I think I can afford that, and it looks like a hoot.



edit: Ed, 8k is basically the cheapest I've seen and I've no idea what the condition of it is. Low mileage though and the GT pack. Seems too good to be true.

Auto Trader UK - NISSAN 350 Z 3.5 V6 GT 3dr Coupe

These are the mistakes and assumptions we make about each other every day of our lives.

 

[JingleBells]

I'd love a car like that, but I do at least 15,000 a year business miles, and the fuel economy just doesn't seem worth it

 

[nath]

These are the mistakes and assumptions we make about each other every day of our lives.

No doubt, don't think for a second I wasn't aware I make similar mistaken assumptions about you .

 

[throdgrain]

Looking at that car on Auto trader I'd say it was a fucking BARGAIN so go buy it now.

For eight grand it dont matter how much money you loose quite frankly.

oH, btw, that is the newer version of the car I had briefly. It was a company car, all black, black leather etc and HUGE exhausts It was a fucking madman

 

[old.user4556]

Nath, when you spark it up and drive it, you'll know what the right thing to do is

 

[Scouse]

Just want something fun and *relatively* easy going.

Just to suggest an alternative - get yourself an old Civic Type-R. They're an absolute hoot to drive, the engines are bullet-proof in terms of reliability, they're practical if you want them to be (loads of space) and if you're going through a skint patch you just drive them like a normal person and they'll do reasonable mpg. (Although if you drive them how they're supposed to be driven then you can kiss bye-bye to yer petrol)

 

[Tom]

Also nath do yourself a favour and take some extra tuition if you're not used to fast cars.

 

[old.user4556]

get yourself an old Civic Type-R

Front wheel drive .

 

[old.user4556]

Also nath do yourself a favour and take some extra tuition if you're not used to fast cars.

On the contrary to the Type R above, especially get some if you're not used to rear wheel drive. I nearly died so many times in my venture into rear wheel drive.

 

[nath]

That's a very good idea, I've never driven a rear wheel drive and doing some advanced training sounds like just the ticket.

Also, I really wanted to rent a 350z for a weekend to give it a go, not sure a 5minute test drive would be enough to fully decide. Anyone know any rental place that does them?

 

[Edmond]

A mate of mine went down to the local Nissan garage and had one for 48 hours, i think he was limited on the mileage but apart from that, it was quite straight forward

He didnt buy it either, got a X5 instead, cost him a fortune in fuel, and just shelled out close to £900 for 4 tyres too