Planning to get my 350Z. Please advice

[henre75]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I am planning to get a 350Z and that's why I joined this forum so I can get more information about the car.I am planning to get a used 350Z, and I found some in the Seattle and Portland area.

1. What are the things I should focus or consider if I am getting a 350Z that is from the year around 2003 and 2004? 2. Is there any common problems that I should check before I get the car? 3. Is CARFAX Report a good resource when it comes to getting a used 350Z?4. What is the reasonable price range for a 2003 or 2004 350Z? Just want to get some idea so I won't be attracted by unreasonable low prices.

It will be great if I can get advices from all the 350Z experts on this forum because it will determine if I am getting my 350Z or not. Thank you very much for your time and help.
Modified by henre75 at 11:42 PM 3/22/2008

[sluggoZ]

IMHO....1. Carfax is great info.2. I would stay clear from buying a '03, too many problems being the first year production of the 5th generation also known as Z33. I'm convinced most are lemons!3. Biggest problems were tire feathering, transmission's being replaced, front end suspension, window grease & a host of other problems.4. I would look for a '04.5 which is a big difference from the '04.As early problems arised, they were then corrected & passed down to assembly line during the production year.The '04.5 model has the corrected front end alignment & toe correction.Also had the window grease solved, condensation in front headlights, rear axle noise, plus many other solved TSB issues. Interior changes were front knee pads & larger size sun visors.These are the starting VIN #'s for the 04.5 modelProduction Oppama Plant (T) [All Z's were than discontinued at the end of April 2004]For Coupe models:JN1AZ34D*4T160001JN1AZ34E*4T060001For Roadster models:JN1AZ36D*4T11001JN1AZ36A*4T010001

Tochigi Plant Production (M)For Coupe models:JN1AZ34D*4M100001JN1AZ34E*4M150001For Roadster models:JN1AZ36D*4M200001JN1AZ36A*4M250001

Also Z roadster's have had top replacement issues, '04, '05, & '06.

I have a '04.5 roadster, so I have had my top replaced & AC condensor but they were under warranty at the time.

If & when you buy a Z, the very first thing I would do is to have the front end aligned ASAP with either a zero degree toe-in 0r -0.80Also when changing oil....you will need to use a new crush washer each time.Good Luck!

[BlackSmoke]

1. Carfax is not always accurate and i know this from experience. If an accident occured on a vehicle and the wreck was not reported to insurance or DMV and was fixed privately by someone at a body shop, and was strictly paid for out of pocket, then the resale of that car will be somewhat lower when it is resold and or bought. Dealerships and people buy wrecked vehicles unreported and fix them by buddies at shops and turn them over for prifit. Take the vehicle your interested in to a trustworthy body shop and have them look at all panels to see if they were repainted.

2. Sluggo 3. Slugoo4. Sluggo

[bmike818]

^

Sluggo thats some good info

[rmezz13]

Agree with SLUGGO, infact i went out and checked my Vin and i also have an 04.5'... thought so but wanted to make sure, but i've had alignment done right after purchased the car anyway (plus bought new tires then).

Definitely pass on the 03' model all together, they are noisier (from the engine compartment) and as SLUGGO said, they had a lot of problems.

As far as price you could be able to pick one up with under 45k in the $17-$19,000 range, but you gotta look.

Always always always use carfax. If you want e-mail me the VIN and i can check it for you, i already bought the unlimited access history reports.

If you think the car has been wrecked but your not sure, then a little trick for the quarter panels and fenders is to get a magnet and a thin piece of cloth to run over the metal areas, if you find a spot that the magnet doesn't stick, there is bondo under the paint (be sure to use the cloth between the magnet and the car, you don't want to scratch it). Also open the door's so you can see inside the fenders to look for them to be buckled in, make sure body pieces line up, check door jams and fender/hood/hatch/trunk lines, if the frame is bent or twisted it could throw these lines off, basically look at the gaps, are they even?... And lastly If the bumper, front or back, is overlapping another piece of the body, or F'd up, walk away unless its housing a gargantuan intercooler.

Other than that, save up about 300 bones, and buy a plenum, or plenum spacer ASAP so you can blow by the 05'+ with ease.

[Roadzilla]

Sluggo, what specifically was the problem with the Roadster tops?

[sluggoZ]

Sluggo, what specifically was the problem with the Roadster tops?

1. stitching separating at the seams & not because of excessive wear.2. pinholes coming through the fabric.3. faulty top motors (4 total).4. Tops not closing properly & Tonneau covers.5. My top problem was the plastic re-enforcement, near the seams, was coming through the fabric just 6 month's before my warranty ran out.

New installed top only has a one year warranty.

Extended warranties do not cover tops and to me they are a waste of money to get whether it's a coupe or roadster. IMHO.

[cflanagan]

So yeah go with the carfax and all, it;s there to be your friend but if i could give some advice stick with 03 to 05. the horse power is much less but its made up through torque, fun time