15 Years Later — Nissan 350z Review
Can one of the most anticipated sports cars in history become your teenage steed?
A tough ask at a tough time
It was 2002, and expectations were sky-high for the next addition to Nissan’s iconic “Z” line of affordable sports cars first introduced 30 years prior. After a shaky concept car debut in 1999, enthusiasts were itching to see something worthy of the Z name be unveiled. When the Nissan 350z finally rolled onto showroom floors, fans breathed a sigh of relief. The Z had lived up to its name and heritage, but not without its fair share of critique.
The Nissan 350z was always going to be contentious — it was a torchbearer for the beating heart of Nissan which spanned an entire generation of car enthusiasts. By the time it launched, you had baby-boomers hoping to see the rebirth of the 240z alongside young professionals wanting the next high-tech evolution of the 300ZX; and neither of them were willing to part with big bucks for it. From a ‘Z’ brand perspective, Nissan had their work cut out for them. From a business perspective, Nissan were playing with fire as the market for 2-seater sports cars was drying up.
Thankfully, Nissan pulled it off. In fact, considering the context of their consumer base and the market conditions — they nailed it. The 350z launched to critical acclaim receiving high praise for its beautiful lines, punchy power, and highly competitive price.
Now, 15 years later, how does the Z hold up against cars of its era and newer?
Timeless design is all about style
The Californian-based design demanded attention from day 1 — it was elegantly curvaceous but accentuated with sharp lines that gave it a hint of aggression. The designers had started with a fastback-style base and they worked carefully to pay clear tributes to the long hood of the 240z and rear hatch of the 300zx. There was enough DNA in the design to identify the family’s similarities, balanced with a good dose of new design language that set the car apart.
From tip to toe, the 350z’s profile resembled a continuous, sweeping line that was irresistibly pleasant to the eye. The rear tail lamps tapered down towards the dual exhaust pipes, almost pointing at them to reveal its sporting intentions. The wheel arches were generously flared, giving the car a 3-dimensional look that played wonderfully in the right light, and looking unmistakably ‘race car’ when glanced in the rear-view mirror. There was no doubt, the 350z was a looker — but at the time it wasn’t to everyone's’ taste.
Commonly criticized were its vertical door handles, which stuck out like a sore thumb against the silky smooth lines of the bodywork. The front lamps softened the car’s stance, often compared to a smiling face rather than a sports car looking to throw its weight around. Some commented on the rear tail lamps being too narrow against the width of the rear end, which was already fattened up by the flared arches.
Today, the 350z’s design has held up remarkably well. Some of the common criticisms have become cherished characteristics — a nod to a time before crossovers and SUVs took over the market; although the front lamps remain a bland birthmark against an otherwise beautiful machine. A set of modern wheels go a long way today, especially for the early models that had 17” 5-spokes that haven’t aged well — but then again, there’s something innocent and pure about the factory look that tickles the right spot.
A driver-focused, functional interior. Right?
“It’s a 2-seater sports car, what do you expect?” is what every owner will tell you about the lack of interior space. They wouldn’t be wrong — you don’t buy the 350z for carrying cumbersome golf clubs or loading up the family for a long drive. It has everything you need to drive alone or with one other person, and that’s it. The RPM gauge is front-and-center, the 3 auxiliary gauges are angled exclusively toward the driver, and the few physical dials needed to climatize the vehicle are within easy grasp. The seats are bolstered to the extreme, and the plastics are black, silver, and basic. It’s not a stunning interior, it’s just functional.
Except, it’s really not. There isn’t even a standard glovebox — instead, there are two narrow storage lockers behind the driver, alongside an awkwardly placed power/lighter unit which you can’t reach without doing a full cartwheel. The trunk is even worse. Rammed through the middle of the already lacking storage space is a rear strut-brace, which is stylized to look intentional but is clearly there for structural rigidity. The same strut exists on the 350z’s sister G35 coupe, however it is cleverly hidden under the rear parcel tray where it stays out of trouble. If having a 2-seater ever feels limiting, the 350z takes it a step further and makes it downright offensive.
Aside from the sore-subject of space, the 350z’s interior is still a pleasurable place to be — provided all you are doing is driving, breathing, and not much else.
The double-edged sword of NA performance
Perhaps the biggest mixed bag of praise and criticism resided under the hood. The 350’z V6, naturally aspirated 3.5L motor was both award-winning and a letdown (to fans). The VQ35DE engine was already shared with a myriad of other Nissans, alongside the FM (front midship) platform it was designed on. Already, the 350z was losing marks for originality - not to mention the elephant in the room: no turbos where the 300ZX before it had two. Two!
The high-strung V6 put out 287HP and about 265 ft-lb of torque, which was abundantly available across the entire rev-range. Putting your foot down results in an instant surge of torque, followed by the linear push that’s typical of naturally aspirated motors. Stamping the pedal from a dead stop would get you to 60mph in 5.5 seconds. Rowing through the short-shift 6 speed manual is frighteningly fast, if a little notchy. The clutch is akin to a leg press, performing heavy-duty operations so long as you have the stamina. The exhaust note is throaty, undoubtedly sporty, and absolutely fantastic no matter what some may say.
But, it was still missing two turbos. It was slower than its predecessor which arrived a whole 10 years earlier. Additionally, the VQ35DE was by no means smooth — it was gravelly and course, especially in the high RPM range. Fans couldn’t help but wish the motor was something more, even though objectively it was a brilliant motor.
Today, the VQ35DE is still an excellent motor. It wins bonus points for being extremely reliable at the expense of a little oil. It has enough grunt to surpass most cars on the road, and it’s a breeze to take care of. The only trick for being happy with it, is to not wish it was something more.
An analogue experience for the crossover age
Competing with the 350z was Honda’s almost perfect S2000, and the refined Audi TT. Compared closely to the Audi, and compared to any modern car, the 350z is a pure analogue experience.
Thanks to the rack and pinion steering, the Z feels balanced and weighted; with just the right amount of resistance to say “push me a little harder”. The aluminium suspension components weighed approximately 25% less than the 300ZX, employing a highly customized mutilink setup at the front that kept the patent office busy. Combined with factory traction control and a nicely proportioned 53/47 weight bias, the Z would move swiftly and confidently through corners — however it would refuse to kick out the rear if you wanted it to.
Unfortunately, the Z just felt a tad overweight, surprising the scales at over 3,300lbs. Without the turbos to power through it, weight took its toll on the driving experience — a slightly dull edge on an otherwise compelling sports car feel.
Today, the Z feels largely the same but 15 years longer in the tooth. Suspension, brakes, bushings and more will be feeling tired — exasperating the minor flaws and feeling like an old horse. Still quick, but a little stiff around the edges.
Should you buy one?
When the Z was launched, it retailed for under $30k. It was an absolute bargain of a sports car, beating almost anything in its class for value and forgiving its use of shared components. Today, you can find a perfectly good example for under $10k, which sounds about right given that 15 years have passed. This also means that its popular among youth who turned this piece of automotive history into the next 240sx beater.
That said, spend your time looking for a stock model, and you’ll still have one of the best performing, best looking analogue sports cars for the price bracket.
