Used 2003 Nissan 350Z Coupe Consumer Reviews
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Best car I've ever owned.
I bought this car with 86k on it and have not regretted it a single time! I was amazed at the gas mileage (22-25 city, 27-30 hwy) and the power and torque is great. I can run even with modded mustangs and newer turbo bmw's and can smoke most other cars. I've beat pretty hard on the car for about 12k miles now and it's held up to everything without complaint! The only problem I had was with the stock Bose subamp cutting out but there's an easy DIY fix for that which takes about 15 mins. Nissan built this car to last 200k and it's very obvious the quality they put into this car. Just make sure to have a set of snow tires on hand =P
What a sports car is all about
I've owned my car for over 6 years and purchased it new. It is a true driver's car with emphasis on going fast and doing it well. Practicality and comfort are afterthoughts. The trunk will take a reasonable amount of stuff, as long as you "pour" it around the strut brace. Its handling is very confidence inspiring and the car always eggs me on. It's like it's always taunting me: "You know, you could've taken that turn faster!" I recently replaced the OEM tires with BF Goodrich KDW's. Gas mileage plummeted, but grip is outrageous. The new tires turned my Z from a nice car to a race car. Engine is fantastic: incredibly reliable, predictable, smooth
3rd owner of well maintained 2003 350z
I bought my 350Z about 8 months ago with 86,000 miles. I was the 3rd owner of this vehicle and prior owners had maintained and garaged this 350Z all of its life. I looked at about 4 other 350Zs but didn't buy them because I could tell that the vehicles had been driven hard and not maintained well. Finally I found my 350Z and I have loved driving it ever since. I did some preventative maintenance (Transmission service, new tires, flush and change of fluids) and it runs like a champ. I have taken four to eight hour trips to neighboring states and this vehicle is a dream to drive on the open road. For having so much power this vehicle gets good gas mileage. I look for reasons to go shopping or the store just so I pull this little sports car out and drive it. For being 13 years old this car gets lots of looks.
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Fun, but bumpy
This is a very nice sport car don't get me wrong. It looks fast, it is fast, it takes off so quick I almost get whiplash everytime. It is a head turner too. But I have never had anything that is this bumpy and the rattles drive me insane. I've had an S2000 and it wasn't this bad, and that thing had a super tight suspension. My Z rattles like it is falling apart, all along the dash, the center console, and if I am talking while driving it sounds like someone is thumping my chest. I have crammed things into seams and cracks to stop them, but it's no use. But man is it fast.
Home Run Z
Nissan did an amazing job in nearly every aspect of this design. Started from the ground up and built a beautiful car. The 2003 350Z design has not aged and in fact, actually looks better than the newer 370Z. The car was purchased new and garaged day and night. Washed and waxed very frequently. Extremely dependable. Zero problems in thirteen years of ownership. Simply an amazing car. Prior to purchase, I tested the Porsche 911 four times before buying. The Z was nearly equal in performance for less than half the price. Unbelievable!
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350z enthusiast 5spd auto
I bought my orange 350s with 107k miles on it, now it has 114k and still running with no problems. A few minor things such as flex pipes for the exhaust and a door seal which the tab broke off need to be fixed. Other than that its a great car, quick, responsive, it corners tight and comfortably, and takes a lot of concentration to keep your foot out of the throttle, its clear this car was built to run on a track.
Sleazy Dealer
I preordered a Daytona Blue Touring Model. The dealer promised MSRP only...No Premiums. The car arrived yesterday and they tacked on a $2000 add-on called "Paint and Fabric Protection Plan." After finalizing the price with the salesman months before I was shocked that all of the sudden its $2000 more than we agreed. The sleazy manager said, "take it or leave it, I have other people who want it." So we left it. The manager then replied, "Good, I didn't want to sell it to you anyway." AVOID SUPERIOR NISSAN OF CITY OF INDUSTRY AT ALL COSTS.
Fun, Affordable, Excellent quality
Ive had my 2003 350z since february 2014. I got it at 149,000 miles. i am now at 177,000 miles as of march 2017 with only a few maint. work done. In 2015 my radiator needed to be replaced. In 2016 i needed a sensor because the cylnider was misfiring. Other than those two things this car runs great, I just do my oil changes every 5,500-6k miles with full synthetic oil by myself. Its fast, gets decent MPG but who cares about MPG in this car? if i wanted to save gas i would have bought a Prius. The rear hatch space sucks but the front is good. The quality inside is decent if you have the Touring model like I do. This car has brought me nice comments from people. I remember this car in NFS Underground and wanting to own it in person after playing the game in middle school. Im glad its affordable now between $3,500-$5,500 where i live used.
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I don't want to complain, BUT.........
Car is great fun to drive, but there have been LOTS of minor issues that negate that - audio system sounds great, but repaired twice (not under warranty); crappy placement of 12V outlet and cup holders (can't use radar detector!!); driver side auto-close window doesn't work, tires replaced twice, thumping passenger-side seatbelt, etc. Anyone owning the 350 certainly recognizes these problems BUT.....to drive this car is to forget these admittedly trivial issues (they're not that trivial, but I get very forgiving once behind the wheel)........
Zagnificent 350
This is one tight car. From shifting to cornering the 350Z has a dynamic racing feel. Your wish is it's command. This is a true sports cars sports car. Highway cruising speeds do not do this car justice. It is extremely smooth and deceiving on the open road and equally capable on curved surfaces. The always illuminated gauges are there to inform you about tire pressure, mpg, temp, speed, rpm max, dte, and more. The practicality of the 350Z is not so much. After all this is a true sports car. It has moderate storage compartments behind the seats and the stabilizing bar in the rear hatch area really reduces your cargo space so pack lite. Bottom line:This is a drivers car that won't dissapoint!
Love the Car But....
Love the Car's Performance, its a blast to drive, and it gets lots of looks... BUT...the door sills are high which makes it difficult to use drive through banking services, it is somewhat difficult to get in and out of the car, and replacement tires for this model are very expensive. FYI...You do not rotate the tires front to rear on the touring model...the tires are directional tires and the front and back tires are different sizes. The dealers do not inform you of this...I just happened to ask while I was closing the deal. However, these factors did not prevent me from purchasing the Z.
Excellent Sport Car
I love how the handles around corners and high speed. The 3.5L engine is smooth and powerful. I drove the car from San Jose, Ca to Riverside, Ca using the Interstate 5. Over the steep Tejon Pass, the car moves effortless in sixth gear. Overall gas mileage for my 398 miles trip is 28.9 miles per gallon. It is also one great looking sport car. Great job by the Nissan designers.
Best car I've ever owned!
It's not a family car, but a true sports car! Very reliable car haven't had any problems with the 350. I been driving it for nine year and it's something very special to own.
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Enthusiast Silver 2003 edition
This is my second Nissan, Overall, it is a great sports car, gets a lot of attention driving and performs well. Had the OEM battery replaced already after 1 year since it had a bad cell and would not start. The interior plastic feels kind of hollow in center console. It is very hard to see rear objects for sure while backing up. It is rather easy to update Audio\Video components in this car!
1 Owner; Driven 4500/year for 13 years
Hello, over the 13 years I've owned this car I would give this car an A. Through regular maintenance, including exterior/interior detailing every 1-2 years, this car has surpassed my expectations. I've added a cold-air K/N intake system and a "cat-back" Borla exhaust system (sounds not too aggressive, but nice) performance-wise. Also, I have Nismo body-kit parts added, i.e., rear spoiler and side skirts. Also, I've installed an after-market hood (Varona) which has stylish vents and a louvre as well as a VIS-racing front-bumper cover. All of the exterior additions add a nice sporty look to the car. Oh, I also have had the emblems and the wheels painted matte-gold which goes very well with the dark maroon color of the car. I'm hesitant to sell the car, but feel I've had enough time with it. On the negative side, there are a few scratches on the exterior paint; the cup holder is plastic and is difficult to push-in (which is why I usually just leave it out); and the map lights need replacement.
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Looks Great but too many problems
I love the look of the car but with the problems experienced with tire feathering, faulty front cup holder and rattling sounds when idle I'd NEVER purchase the car again. No glove compartment and limited trunk space. This was my first Nissan and my last.
It's not all good
Bought it new. Have 20k miles. Still happy with performance but not real happy with anything else. I'm glad it's my wife's daily driver, not mine. Alignment was off from inception and it wore the tires prematurely on the inside tread. Dealer realigned the car but nissan refused to replace the worn tires at 14,000 mi. Ever since then there is an extremely offensive howl from the front end. All guest passengers comment on the noises and finish with "well, i wouldn't buy one". I'm going to have to replace the tires when they appear to be only 50 % worn due to the how.L. It's been back to the dealer several times due to the problem. No guarantees that $500 new tires will fix the noise.
Over-RATED!!!
Well honestly I was expecting more out of all this propaganda. I was expecting te performance of this vehicle to be very close to the American V8s, but it's another over-rated V6 "wanna-be" sport car. . The driving of the car is no different than the Altima. But this of course is only my opinion about my 350Z.
2003 350z
I love this car. I want to mention that the only thing that real upsets me about my car is the tire issue. I have been back to the dealer twice now to fix the Tire growl and feathering issue. Quite frankly it's still not fixed. I have read alot of articles and they all seem to bring this issue up. Nissan really needs to step up and address this issue. The alignment and tire rotation that they recommend does not work. After it was applied to my car it seemed ok for about 1500 miles then the growl started to come back. I plan on bring the car back a third time.
My second 350Z
You get the true sports car feeling when driving. I love the highway gas mileage! My second 350Z.
350Z Performance
I own the Performance model. Nissan did it right! It is obvious the Nissan has been putting out excellant product over the last 2 years and the Z is their best. It is simply a beautiful car that is fun to drive. If I had to find a complaint it would be no door protective molding (dings)and the location of the power outlet for my cell phone.
The Return of the Z, the Death of Nissan
If you are really dying to get one of these new Z cars, wait! The delivery dates for the preorder versus walking customer is one week. There is enormous backlash against the dealers raping the consumer, which has gotten Corporate Nissan scared out of their collective minds. Current thinking is that this backlash will make the initial ones that have problems more visible. Nissan is really wishing that they had not done the preorder method with this car.
The Great Expectations
The 350Z was introduced to the US market as a true sports car - 3.5 V6, 287HP, handling, performance, etc. What I like: I like the design and that's about it. What I dont like: Performance - dont be fooled this is not a performance car! Go test drive fo instance a 5 years old Supra and you'll feel the difference between the 350Z and a performance car. Comfort - ergonomic but your visibility is sacrificed. Fuel Economy - not important. Fun to Drive - handles good, wont say it is fun though. The car has lost the original sports spirit of the 300zx. I f you are looking for a sports car spend your $30000+ somewhere else.
don't buy a nissan
Nothing but problems with the z. Front end problems that nissan didn't repair because they couldn't get the tires to fix the problem.( P.S. dealership sells tires) Air conditioning problems that they temporary fix by recharging the system not stopping the leak. ( they get $90 from me to recharge the system ..nothing if they fix it) Squeaks and flex noises that will drive you insane. And now a fuel hose recall that will need the whole rear end to come off for a fix! Would you take it up to 100 after nissans mechanics got done with it?
Great car with minor issues
Like other reviewers, I have suffered the same "tire roar" and front end noise that has plagued 350Z owners since the cars inception. After taking the car to Firestone to get my tires replaced recently, the helpful technician, a Vette owner, suggested that I take the car in every 3 months to have this toe-in problem fixed. You can purchase a lifetime alignment from Firestone for a very reasonable price and taking the car in every 3 months or so insures that the wear on the tires will be a bit more normal. Tire wear aside, the car has been a dream and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. As I am getting a bit older now so the utility of a 2-seater is beginning to reach its end for me.
Difficult to keep
Bought it on Edmunds rec and loved to drive it until the tire issues came into play. I had so many tire issues. The pressure calibration needed fixing every 65 miles after 20000. Chewed up tires- horrible road noise. Terrible in bad weather- traded it for a vw passat stationwagon in 2004. Relatively pleased with the passat.
some quility/dealer problems
Great looks, nice handling(have the track model), crappy build quality. I had this thing in for minor things....it just gets annoying. The dealer refused to fix my faulty window regulator under warrentey becuase I had after market speakers installed. Even though it's a known problem. It took 5 trips to Devon Nissan to fix it. After my first trip it got stuck in the down position on a 300 mile trip. Huge after market....I have $10,000 invested in the suspension/brakes/dvd/stereo. It is a sweet set up and grabs attention everywhere. I buy a new car every 12 months so this one is being replaced. Honestly it will probably be my last Nissan due to the build quility and horrible dealer ex
You cant get this car for the prices quo
Love, love, love the car, except for a few minor things. They put a cheap sleazy plastic gas cover on this car! The back window is limited to see out of.........like when cops are coming up on you. It has no inside button to open back hatch, the cup holders are a joke........other wise it is great. I have the leather seats, wish the sides of doors looked better than whatever material they used.
I Love this Car
This is the sweetest car ever. Emperor of Japanese Imports right now. Even its immitation, the Inifiniti G35, doesn't come close.
Great Car for the Money
Overall the car is great. I don't think too many people mind paying MSRP for the first year production of the new Z. The people on the street rubber neck like crazy since there aren't too many out there yet. The overall performance is good although it doesn't have quite the raw horsepower "feel" that I thought it would. Still, I feel that this car is extremely well made and reliable.
no better cars with this little money
if you have driven this car, you wouldnt believe it only cost you 30k, it's performance just like a 100k sports car. superior handling, 290hp engine rocks!!
The Beast Is Back
I must say this car is amazing, the gears are well placed, shifting is short. Car handles well at high speeds. Lots of power. Interior is tasteful. VSC is a real nice feature. RWD makes the car fun to drive.
Love my Z
The Z is great. It has an extremely tight and solid feel like the 80 grand 911. I am more pleased than I thought I would be.
A fast, reliable, loud beast!
I bought this car at 28,000 miles. It's sitting currently at 91,000, with no problems or major issues yet and upon my full inspection, nothing building. This car is extremely fast, with the new exhaust I put on it, amongst other engine modifications I've done, is louder than any other Z I've been around. It definitely turns heads! Even though I'm getting ready to sell my Z for a older muscle car, I'll get another one here soon. These cars are reliable as anything and are what they're supposed to be, a raw, fast, no bar's held performance vehicle.
MOST EXCELLENT
GREAT SPORTS CAR, REAR WHEEL DRIVE! SLICK SHIFTING TRANNY.
Worth the Wait
I placed my order in March. The only concern that I has, since there was no model to sit in, was headroom and leg room. A number of years ago, I was going to buy a Porche 944. I bought a 300ZX instead mainly due to lack of room in the Porche. I was delighted with the room in the 350. It fits like a glove. All the hype was true. I am back at home again in my Z. The performance surpasses the hype. The attention the car gets is beyond belief. I wish everyone could experience the feel of a 350Z. This is what driving
350Z
I have 920 miles on this car and it is by far the most fun to drive car I have ever owned. If you're looking for a car that has the general public stunned and aren't afraid of answering constant questions about it, then this car is for you. After driving this car, I wouldn't even think about paying 2-3 times the Z's cost to own a Porsche. The Z has everything you could want and then some. To experience the magnificent engine properly, you need lots of open highway cause it loves to run. Trust me this car is tight!
ZZZZ!!
This car is awesome! I have had it for 3 days and I'm already in love with it! The car is more than what I was expecting from Nissan.
More options please!!!
I wonder why Nissan can't offer VDC on a rear driver for all models. BMW and Audi, you can't get a car without the stability control system. OTherwise, it is a bargain and a gorgeous car except the droopy butt.
Cant wait
I have a dealer, Childre Nissan, here in GA, who is charging me MSRP- period. In fact they wrote a 1200.00 market adjustment into my contract and then called me to tell me they rewrote the buyers order excluding it and to come sign it. I am also not liable for my deposit if I don't like it. Come on Nissan- make my Lemans Sunset tourer now!!
awesome overall
other than the rear end, it is an awesome car. been waiting for a long time for this one.
hello to one Z and good bye to another
After reviewing several new sports cars, I finally settled in on the 350Z. I was waiting for a new BMW Z4 to arrive for a test drive, when I decided to research the new 350Z. This car is amazing, I brought the car at MSRP, other dealers in my area were asking for offers 5000 dollars over MSRP. The test drive was incredable. I can't wait to get this car, I'm picking it up on 10/25/02, I'll send an update after 30 days.
Some improvements, but overall not bad
Nice performance and ride with great looks. Car picks up real fast around 3800rpm. Interior is acceptable for a car not known for interior in the past. Wheels and rims are nice. Great way to cruise!!
Great buy - Great Value - Great POWER
Unbelievable car. Price, Performance, Quality, Attention to Detail! Out classes anything at that price point.
I SICK Z
THE 350Z IS THE BEST CAR ON THE ROAD FOR THE MONEY.BLACK PR SILVER ONLY IS THE RICHEST LOOK. THIS A A GREAT DECISION. "PURE ENERGY"
What a Really AMAZING car I had dreamed!
oh kids. This car is just perfect. No MB, No Honda, No BMW, No Lexus Any More at all!!!! If you want a pure sports, This is It. If you know what a real driving is, This car is definitely just for you man. I heard this car is made by highest technologies that Nissan currently has which is the world leading. Driving feeling is a little bit harsh, but it's completely OK cause I'm a sports driver, not a passenger somewhat. Take this! if you are a serious speed nut especially at the corner. This car rocks. My brother got this, I rode it, and finally fell fever love with it.
ZYAL8R
My Daytona Blue Z is the hottest car in the city/state/country... I get more comments on it than if I were a celebrity pulling up and getting out of a Limo- Feels more like 300Hp and the handling is amazing. Turn the VDC off and tear the wheels up at a stoplight, man no feeling can beat this. The stock stereo was worthless but has since been upgraded to a new Alpine 7894 and Infinity Kappas all around. Now the car is perfect! Easily reaches 155mph- ZYAL8R!
WOW!!!
The first Nissan I've owned and it is hot! Looks great, handles great, strong powertrain! Very driveable around town but still freights the mail when needed (or just for the fun of it). Get one!
dame
this car is so sweet its not even funny..i can now die a happy man having owned this car.i went for the automatic and it loses do juice..
The best out there!!!
This is the best sports car on the market. More standard features than anything else out there.