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Loughborough member - on the hunt for a 350Z


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Hi there,

 

I have just joined the forum as I have started looking for a Nissan 350Z as a replacement for my current car, a 3 litre Porsche 944 S2. I have had the Porsche for over a year but, because most of my time is spent running my business, I don't have the free time available to spend tinkering with it at the weekend when things need fixing (which they often do on a 22 year old car!). So I have decided to sell the Porsche and buy something newer (and faster) instead.

 

I have been looking at options around the £6k mark and I have looked at lot of potential cars such as the Honda S2000, BMW M3, TVR Chimera and the Porsche Boxster. All great cars for different reasons, but none of them ticked as many boxes for me as the 350Z.

 

I got to drive a 350Z a couple of months back and I was really impressed. The gear box felt excellent, the handling was great and felt very similar to the Porsche 944 (with the gearbox at the rear and engine up front) and it can shift as well! :)

 

After looking at what is about, my ideal spec would be as follows:

 

2004ish Nissan 350Z

GT package

Black exterior

Black/Grey interior

approx 50,000 miles

FSH

 

This one almost fitted the bill:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3808139.htm

 

I love the design of the alloys but they are too big (18 inch was a pretty firm ride and I was informed that 20 inch would be too hard and spoil the setup/ride of the car). I was also put off by some of the modifications (tinted windows, smoked lights, etc). Nothing wrong with those sort of modifications, just not my personal taste.

 

Just out of interest does anyone know what type of alloys those are and do they do the same style in 18s?

 

Also looking on eBay I have found several 350Z GT Nismo cars which have a more aggresive styling, but still look pretty nice in my opinion and is definitely a look I would consider having for my own 350Z. Here are a couple I have found below:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-NISSAN-NISMO-350-Z-CHILL-RED-/200760036799?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2ebe3b0dbf

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-350z-Nismo-GT-UK-64k-IMMACULATE-2004-not-Audi-TT-Z4-Skyline-370z-/251052356081?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a73e2f1f1

 

I looked on wikipedia and it said:

 

"Nissan's performance tuning division, NISMO, began producing modified versions of the 350Z shortly after its introduction, although in the UK these were only available one year after the car was launched.

 

NISMO R-Tune (2004)

The R-Tune was introduced into the NISMO line-up with modifications including headers, cams, pulleys. The R-Tune voids the Nissan factory warranty, but gains significant horsepower, intended for track racers."

 

I take it the cars listed above are not the Nismo R-Tunes (although they look the same as the R-Tune based on some images I found on Google)? I have seen cars with Nismo exhausts, Nismo body kits, etc. Are these all aftermarket add-ons or did Nissan actually release a Nismo package for the 350Z that came with all of these extras included? Also are most of the cars advertised as Nismos likely to have the original Nismo body kits, or replicas such as these?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-350Z-Side-Skirts-Z33-Nismo-1-Style-Bodykit?item=170841399850

 

Cheers,

 

Dave.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

 

Glad to say I have got myself a 350z! :)

 

Gun Metal 2004 GT Spec (decided against black as I would be forever cleaning it!) with black leather interior. New clutch recently fitted and the car has been well serviced and looked after.

 

Went to view some "interesting" examples, but this one was head and heels above the others condition wise and I got it at a very good price, so have a bit of money spare to get it exactly how I want it.

 

Car is currently in Devon with family, but won't be picking it up for at least 2-3 weeks though as I have two cars I need to sell first, which is a good insentive to get them shifted!

 

As soon as I have it back in Loughborough and given it a good clean I will post up some pics.

 

What year/colour 350z are you driving Aaron? I'll keep an eye out for you. Saw a really nice black one parked up in Loughborough at the underground Tesco carpark the other day, can't remember the year though.

 

Cheers,

 

Dave.

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:welcome: I'm not too far away, in Derbyshire :-)

 

You're not a Rolls Royce employee are you? :)

 

My girlfriend works at RR in Derby and says there are a few 350zs in her work car park.

 

Dave.

 

Noo work at Volkswagen in Burton

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Welcome :wave:

 

 

Nissan's performance tuning division, NISMO, began producing modified versions of the 350Z shortly after its introduction, although in the UK these were only available one year after the car was launched.

 

NISMO R-Tune (2004)

The R-Tune was introduced into the NISMO line-up with modifications including headers, cams, pulleys. The R-Tune voids the Nissan factory warranty, but gains significant horsepower, intended for track racers."

 

I take it the cars listed above are not the Nismo R-Tunes (although they look the same as the R-Tune based on some images I found on Google)?

 

Yes, the R-Tune was announced and tested by the U.K motoring rags but none were sold here. I think the outrageous price tag, in the region of £50k may have had something to do with it, in any case Nissan pulled the plug before sales commenced.

 

 

Pete

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