On this page are some interesting shots and my review. In subsequent pages you will find detailed pictures of the inside, outside, under the hood and underneath.

Interesting Shots

Side view at Doc's house.

Side view at Mikes house.

Shows the Pearlescence.

Night view of cockpit.

The model I have is a Touring 6 speed manual transmission with ALL options. The wheels and tires are the same size front and rear.

My sports car knowledge is limited to the two 280ZX's that I have owned. My experience with my two 280ZX's, a friends 280ZX whose engine I rebuilt for him, and another friends 260 is why I wanted the 350Z. Basically I wanted a new 280ZX and had the choice of rebuilding one from ground up or buying the 350Z. Therefore, the only review I have been interested in is my own and the only comparison I have been interested in is between the 280ZX and the 350Z.

With that in mind, the 350Z has exceeded my expectations. I am glad I chose to buy a brand new 350Z in lieu of rebuilding one of my 280ZX's. The 350Z has so much more potential due entirely to it's design, including interior comfort, driveability, and power.

I did not want a fast car. Everyone is enamored with how fast this car is. I am not. I drive the speed limit. I don't care that this car can go 154mph (ECU limited). No radar/ladar detector or jammer on earth will save you from every situation with a police officer and a radar/ladar gun or dangerous road/traffic conditions. I want to enjoy my drive, worrying every second about getting a ticket or being in a crash is not enjoyable to me.

What I was looking for was a Z, not the fastest car on earth. I wanted a car whose fit, finish, design, and construction quality equaled or exceeded the 280ZX. I wanted a Z that had the reliability built in to go the distance, just like the 280ZX. I wanted a Z that felt like it was driving on rails, nimble, agile, and confident that could eat corners like they didn't even exist, just like the 280ZX. I wanted a Z that was quick enough to pass and accelerate me out of trouble on the highway, just like the 280ZX. I wanted a Z that gave you that ultimate feeling of being one with the road, responsiveness and feedback just like the 280ZX. I also wanted more creature comforts and technology, like GPS aided navigation.

In every single category and reason of why I wanted a Z, the 350Z has far exceeded my desires. And there are pleasant surprises like the braking, ride, aesthetics and interior room. My biggest fear with the low profile tires was that it would ride hard like a log wagon. It is surprisingly smooth, even smoother than the 280ZX but it gives better feedback and cornering. Don't get me wrong, it has a very stiff suspension with excellent feedback and cornering, but the ride over bumps is not harsh. The brakes are very responsive and the car brakes quickly. The brakes give excellent feedback and brake harder with more pressure but do not increase with even pressure.

The car is difficult to photograph. Even the professional pictures on the Nissan site don't do it justice, it just looks awesome. And I have more leg room and elbow room than in the 280ZX. The interior is beautifully done as well.

For those complaints in the reviews about the plastic and the Nav door, all I can say is, tell me what car you are comparing it to. Every car I have been in recently is plastic, most only have a single strip of leather on the seats, the rest is nagahyde. I get the impression that these people really think the wood looking and metal looking plastic in other more expensive automobiles is real. Get a clue, it isn't, your paying for name only. And I have no problems with the Nav door. Most importantly to me, the interior looks like it is excellent quality, we will not have split dashes like the 280ZX. There is more metal and leather in the 350 than the 280ZX. The air-conditioning and climate control is fantastic. The gauges are even better than the 280ZX. I'm sort of in awe and it is very difficult to explain. It is something you just have to experience.

Cudo's to the Nissan engineers, they really have captured Z DNA and improved on it.