indy88 Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Hi guys, You have probably seen hundreds of these types of threads before. I have done some searching and research before hand. My current situation is im looking to purchase a 350z. My budget is about 5k I understand with that price im in import/03 model territory I also know to lookout for windows, cd skipping on bose, clutch has been changed or not and clicking on the rear axel and paintwork etc I am most worried about a big service or clutch replacement as I am looking to get the 350z as a weekend car for about 1-2years so am worried I will have a costly time at the garage if i get a lemon I have seen a couple one im considering is, 1) Is an import priced in the 4k region and 02 model about 67k but has no paperwork in importation, however there is invoice on purchase from dealer and some service history does the lack of import certificate signal a big no no? Any advice or examples you would recommend to purchase would be appreicated also: 1) how would you tell the clutch is on its way out 2) the clicking noise from the rear, is that an expensive fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 1) drive it the bite is very high anyway but you basically want it to engage smoothly and pull away. 2) not really but then it depends what you mean by expensive - if your only paying 4k for a car then a few hundred quid is expensive. You don't seem like one of the usual clowns who is expecting show room condition for your money but still I'll give you the same lecture the rest get. 4k is the absolute DREG end of the market - you may, I repeat MAY break lucky and just get one thats ok but buddy you really will be scraping the barrel. Even at 5-6k you've got to be very careful. Personally if your spending that little I'd get a garage to throughly inspect it for you prior to purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy88 Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 Thanks for the honest advice mate. I pretty much know im scraping the barrel at the 5-6k price range. Im more leaning towards the 4-5k range purely because most of the time i cant really see the value thats added at 5-6k most zed's at that range have a FSH but high mileage and at the 4-5k range its low mileage (I know imports mileage does need to be scrutinised more) with limited service history. Also quick question - I am assuming a full service history is regarded as stamped in a book from a nissan or other authorised dealer? Some 350z's I have seen claim FSH but its just a load of invoices and MOT certs Also how does this one look: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p its on the upper end of my price range with FSH but! its got 99k on the clock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Personally i wouldnt be touching a Zed thats between 4-5k. A clutch/flywheel change could cost you a quarter of the purchase price at that value. If i was in the market for a 2 seater sports car and had between 4-5k i would get an S2000. Probably not what you want to hear but i dont want you buying a lemon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Personally i wouldnt be touching a Zed thats between 4-5k. A clutch/flywheel change could cost you a quarter of the purchase price at that value. If i was in the market for a 2 seater sports car and had between 4-5k i would get an S2000. Once again the somewhat elitist view this forum has of the car rears its head ........... First things first - its a fairly unstressed 3.5 litre N/A Nissan, not a turbocharged Maserati - theres absolutely no reason to be scared of 03/04 imports because they are 18 months older than an 06, likewise mileage over 100K shouldnt really put you off. Just do the usual checks and make sure theres nothing obvious thats wrong. The clutch is probably more likely to have been changed on a 100K car than a 50K one, if it hasnt the best way to see if its slipping is to put the car in 6th at lowish revs while moving (up a hill is ideal) and then floor it, if the revs rise out of sync with acceleration the clutch is slipping. An S2K is a better car for 100% maximum attack driving, but in pretty much every other respects its inferior and in some its a totally different prospect, tbh thats pretty rubbish advice IMO, if you want a 350 then buy a 350. Funnily enough a clutch replacement is fairly similar in cost on an S2K too, imagine that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmac Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I must agree really. Yes there will be a fair amount of bad cars out there but with the way the market is there will also be some for this price that will have been looked after. We know the cars are pretty bulletproof so as long as you check it out well you should be fine. There was a local guy selling an 03 import recently and I think he was struggling to sell it at 4.5k The car was fine but he bought it in haste and it scared him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Thanks for the honest advice mate. I pretty much know im scraping the barrel at the 5-6k price range. Im more leaning towards the 4-5k range purely because most of the time i cant really see the value thats added at 5-6k most zed's at that range have a FSH but high mileage and at the 4-5k range its low mileage (I know imports mileage does need to be scrutinised more) with limited service history. Also quick question - I am assuming a full service history is regarded as stamped in a book from a nissan or other authorised dealer? Some 350z's I have seen claim FSH but its just a load of invoices and MOT certs Also how does this one look: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p its on the upper end of my price range with FSH but! its got 99k on the clock Personally my view is an invoice is worth FAR more than a stamp (some fibbing little dealers have their own little stamps). That one looks alright to me mate - get it checked out and see what you think. Don't be scared off imports - bit more to insure but not worth putting you off. As said the V6 is pretty bullet proof but if the clutch is coming up for renewal you will be taking a spanking so make sure that at the very least is tight. Re the click axle - please someone correct me - but apart from being a bit noisy on reverse it doesn't actually cause any issues does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Find £250 quid and have a bit more peace of mind - least this one has a comprehensive advert so your not being messed around viewtopic.php?f=56&t=62389 ***EDIT - Sorry misread advert.........I thought the clutch had been changed*** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaydnH Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 If you buy from a trader at least you'll have the warranty period to save up to replace anything that does go wrong in the future. Just make sure you actually put some aside and don't let Zeditis take all your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Personally i wouldnt be touching a Zed thats between 4-5k. A clutch/flywheel change could cost you a quarter of the purchase price at that value. If i was in the market for a 2 seater sports car and had between 4-5k i would get an S2000. Once again the somewhat elitist view this forum has of the car rears its head ........... First things first - its a fairly unstressed 3.5 litre N/A Nissan, not a turbocharged Maserati - theres absolutely no reason to be scared of 03/04 imports because they are 18 months older than an 06, likewise mileage over 100K shouldnt really put you off. Just do the usual checks and make sure theres nothing obvious thats wrong. The clutch is probably more likely to have been changed on a 100K car than a 50K one, if it hasnt the best way to see if its slipping is to put the car in 6th at lowish revs while moving (up a hill is ideal) and then floor it, if the revs rise out of sync with acceleration the clutch is slipping. An S2K is a better car for 100% maximum attack driving, but in pretty much every other respects its inferior and in some its a totally different prospect, tbh thats pretty rubbish advice IMO, if you want a 350 then buy a 350. Funnily enough a clutch replacement is fairly similar in cost on an S2K too, imagine that Do you believe buying a car right at the bottom end of the market is a good idea no matter what the car is? To give this some perspective, Cat C (Still damaged) 350z's sell for around the 4k mark so there has to be something odd going on if a "perfectly working" one sells for near that. The S2K comment was just my opinion of what i would be buying for that budget. As it would give you enough to be a bit more picky with which one you buy. Yes the S2k is an inferior car but its right in the middle of his budget and the chance of getting a lemon is a lot lower. Good luck to the OP with what ever he chooses to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 But its not "the bottom end of the market", its just the older cars or imports ........ an 06 in 18 months is going to be as old as an 04 now, does that mean you will only be recommending 08 cars at the time?? No-one is suggesting buying a car with accident damage, extremely high miles or horrific modifications, thats the bottom of the market IMO, not potentialoly well maintained cars that were just built a year or two earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 But its not "the bottom end of the market", its just the older cars or imports ........ an 06 in 18 months is going to be as old as an 04 now, does that mean you will only be recommending 08 cars at the time?? No-one is suggesting buying a car with accident damage, extremely high miles or horrific modifications, thats the bottom of the market IMO, not potentialoly well maintained cars that were just built a year or two earlier I think what he means is the 'bottom end' or 'dreg end' as I put it not because of age but because of price. The cheapest are cheapest usually for a reason - undesireable (clearly not), unrealiable (potentially), seller needs cash (potentially), niche (modded). I'd take a well looked after 2003 over a thrashed 2006 any day of the week but you may find a 2006 cheap and thing WOW! Thats buying a 2006 at the 'dreg end' of the market because its cheapest and therefore more likely to have something wrong with it. That said you could buy one with full service history thats spent its life being stroked with a diaper for good money.......it can still break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy88 Posted June 27, 2012 Author Share Posted June 27, 2012 didn't realise my post would cause such a heated debate! I am set on a 350z, nothing else really appeals to me. I have seen a couple of 350z's now, still looking, will update you guys on any new updates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spud Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-350z-G ... 4604e3a892 2 hours left, give it a go. They need the cash may go cheap. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy88 Posted June 27, 2012 Author Share Posted June 27, 2012 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-350z-G ... 4604e3a892 2 hours left, give it a go. They need the cash may go cheap. Good luck. already spoken to the guy before, no clutch change has ever been done on it and no importation documentation so the integrity of the miles is brought into question too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veilside z Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 sold... cheap car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy88 Posted June 28, 2012 Author Share Posted June 28, 2012 had a look at this one http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201225476280423/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/7000/model/350_z/make/nissan/radius/60/postcode/sl37nt/page/1?logcode=p very clean, no marks cosmetically. will be taking it for a test drive in the next day or two with a mate who is a mechanic called up service garages in logbook and they can confirm servicing done, no info on clutch change (but unlikely anyone would get nissan main dealer to do clutch change) - will confirm how clutch feels on test drive bit worried about oil consumption issue on some of the 06 engines, I know Nissan replaced the engines on ones which had the issue under warranty i believe, wouldnt fancy doing that outside of warranty! Is there any way to identify if this car has an engine with those issues as i believe only certain manufacture dates were effected? looks pretty tidy for an early 06 model, any views? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleR Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 That cars all about the engine, it's very cheap coming from a dealer, even with 100k. Check the disks and pads on it as that would cost you a good £500 to replace if they're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy88 Posted June 30, 2012 Author Share Posted June 30, 2012 That cars all about the engine, it's very cheap coming from a dealer, even with 100k. Check the disks and pads on it as that would cost you a good £500 to replace if they're done. I'm thinking the same mate, got a mate checking it out tmrw who is a volkswagen/audi specialist, he will most likely have a look at the obvious things, anything else I should point to his attention to look at specifically for 350z's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy88 Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 Friend of mine thoroughly checked the car inside and out took a look at all aspects of the car - his opinion very clean and tidy throughout! put down a deposit on the car and picking it up soon as the dealer has agreed to replace some of the belts as they were cracking and do fluid change etc. will need to get it down for a service - any recommendations near slough? also its got an aftermarket exhaust, curious to know what one it is, will get some pics up soon so hopefully someone can ID it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy88 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 have had the 350z for a week now and everything is great! love the car reckon I will be getting it in for a L2/L3 service soon at wlmg slough or horsham just to give it a clean bill of health! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cragus Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Nice one mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Just bear in mind generally things on a 350z cost a lot more than your weekly runaround - I know it sounds obvious but for instance if you have to change the tyres you are looking at £500-£600 for some mid range ones. Keeping a Zed costs a lot of money, why are you only looking to spend £5k? Do you have about £1k back up for anything that might go wrong? Nothing worse than finding your Zed then not being able to run it because you can't afford the repair price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilscorp Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Also check the imports hav brembos! my 03 import hasnt had a clutch change and is sitting close to 59k, feels like it should last quite a bit more but its a guessing game! as for import docs i have very little just some showroom pics and spec from japan and the importers name,but i think its more important the person your buying from has looked after it! insurance aint much higher. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.