ste300

After a few years enjoying my now fairly modified classic im considering a slightly more relaxed, newer toy, more creature comforts and most likely rear wheel drive. Looking at a 350z, anyone have any experience of these or any other ideas? cheers steve

Mikkel

My previous car was a 2004 350z GT (silver/black leather), make sure you get the GT with rays alloys. It's an absolutely amazing car to drive. It will challenge you more than the scoob as the back likes to step out. Performance wise it feels quick and generally is faster than most cars in it's class for under £30k. It is not faster than a scoob on the road.

Build quality is far better than a scoob IMO. Interior is of a very high spec given the cost of the car. Parts and servicing is expensive and expect to remorgage if you ever need to change the tyres

Considering it is a 2 seater coupe it is a good daily car to live with but is not a saloon and going from one you will notice the difference. Plenty of room in the cabin but that's about it. Back is a waste of time with the rear strut, rear view is not great and you feel every lump and bump on the road.

thesyn

I test drove an 06 (300bhp) model. It felt no faster than my standard 2000 classic. Space wise carrying stuff and people could be an issue. Depends how many miles you do but may be able to get away with one service per year, according to the salesman! Loved the build and cabin of the GT.
All in all really liked it and may take the plunge.
Also drove E46 M3 which was great but the potential problems and associated costs rather scared me.

Black-Hawk

iTrader: (4)

had one for the wk end a while back and loved it but got a scoob instead, drove one the other day and felt gutles after the scoob.

shanea

Midland Scoobies - nissan 350Z!!!!!!

check this out

bluenosewrx

iTrader: (2)

I have just traded mine in for a Spec C, the car was very good and better inside than the Subaru, All the pish about rays etc as they are purely cosmetic, you can get the equivelent JDM GT spec for about 3-4 Grand cheaper.
as said before the room inside is poor and that is the main reason i went back to subaru and the rear wheel drive sometimes does make you work.

As for servicing, i had mine done at main dealer and was never over 250 for full service and tyres were no more expensive than scooby ones.

would recommend the Tiptronic model as well, if you can live with the two seats i would advise getting one and they still turn heads and you dont get ********* trying to race the *** of you.lol.

Photo of my old one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...x/P1010878.jpg

Mac

Mikkel

I should also mention I only lost £2k on it in 2 years and 15000 miles. I was the second owner and bought it 1 year old at 3000 miles. I have lost more than that on my scoob in about 4 months lol

ste300

Thanks alot, the main thing im looking for is i guess a car that feels more solid and i suppose is bit more of a challenge in the handling stakes. Plus ive saved up enough cash to buy one, and/or continue with the scoob and knowing me i would spend all of it on the scoob which sadly would be lost if and when i came to sell whereas as above a 350 would retain more of my hard earned cash. Im only 22 so hopefully being a 2 seater wouldnt become an issue for some time yet. Right so anyone want a '95 wrx with £1700 spent on it in last 2 weeks (i wish i was joking, i havent even got her back yet!)
Steve

Mr Leigh

I went from a classic MY00 to a 350Z. I bought the base model from new and added Rays. I wanted the car as light as possible. I've now done 35000 miles in her and it just gets faster The car gets constant admiration from people and looks superb.

Ownership wise. Servicing is cheap from Nissan main dealers. I have never paid more than £250. Buy parts like discs, pads, wiper blades from specialists. 50% cheaper. I have never had reliability issues with the car.

Fuel cost can be high with 3.5 litres and 300bhp. I can get 28mpg on steady dual carriage way. As low as 12mpg when driving hard.

The 255/40/18 Pirelli rear tires are not cheap and only last me 9000miles. You can get longer lasting brands like Bridgestone.

Interior is nice and the general quality is to a good level, if not quite Audi std.

Two seats, the perfect number the boot capacity is large although the rear brace makes very large items hard to fit in. Huge girls suitcases for example are a not going in. Tell them to pack less

A-B the Suburu will be faster on most roads other than dual carriage way or sweeping A roads. But Subaru AWD tends to give better exit speed on tighter corners.

Straight line the Z is faster than new shape Sti's. I have sat with 163mph on the clock a few times. Cars are ltd to 155mph. EVO mag puts the 350Z above the M3CSL on lap times at the Bedford Autodrome. But drive with a level head in the wet.

I could never compare my MY00 Subaru to the Z, very different cars and I love them both. But I have to say even the option to own an RS4 has not been enough to make me sell up! Need I say more? Ok, Buy one.

mrdeli

I like the 350's as well. JUst bought an RS4 - Ohhh mannnnnnnnnnn!!!!!

Manybe an M3? They're good buys just now

carnivorous

They're all VERY different cars to a scooby. The M3 is great fun, FEELS bloody fast and will kill a scoob on anything but a tight and twisty road...VERY expensive to run though. My mate has one and it eats consumables and annoys him every time he gets a service bill. The RS4 (new one) is insanely good, I'd say better than the M3 by a mile. But, like the M3, it's a car that FEELS big and heavy compared to the scooby. It's a bit nose-heavy and understeery and vague on tight twisty roads but on an open playing field OMG! For your reference, Tim Schrick, probably the best road tester out there at the moment, took the RS4 and the 07 STI back-to-back on an AWD supersaloon test. Verdict: for outright speed and motorways the Audi kills the scoob, on twisties the STI actually outpaced the RS4. Where fun is concerned, I quote "maybe someone should give the Audi designers an STI for the weekend so they know how to build a car that's fun to have a play with and drive on the limit." Very true IMO but then the RS4 isn't that sort of car. My dad has an RS6 and I love driving the thing. POWER!!!!!!!
Back on topic....the 350Z is an amazing car. If fun is what your after you can forget the scooby and the RS4, the 350Z has em both trumped with it's RWD chassis. I'd put it in almost the same bracket as an M3 for fun and it's SOOO much cheaper to run. If I didn't spend 3 months driving around in the snow every year, I might have considered one myself. On the other hand, if you want RWD, aren't concerned about space or running costs, and simply want the best sportscar out there at the moment for reasonable money, there really is nothing better than a Cayman S. I drove one the other week and MY GOD it's a seriosu bit of kit. Makes every car we've talked about so far feel like a lardy bit of poop, and trumps them all on build quality as well!
You makes your choice, you pays your money. I'm sticking with my scoob.

P.S. I'm a motoring journo, so I don't just make this stuff up according to my personal tastes, I actually have some very reliable and experienced sources. If the money's there, go test drive a Cayman S. It will blow your mind! Anyone else driven one and agree with me (or disagree)?

woody2846

I can vouch that the Cayman S is one of the best cars I have driven. Top of my pile though has to be the Ferrari F430 my god.........

carnivorous

woody! how goes it fella? you a regular now, eh?

we're getting a bit out of the 350Z bracket now, aren't we?

i haven't driven an F430 as of yet. drove a 360 and didn't like it. too twitchy and nervous. just felt hard to drive and highly strung to me. dad's mate had one...personally i'd resent paying that much for a car with such insanely crap reliability and build quality. his got delivered brand new on a truck to his house...missing a passenger side wiper with a leaky driver's side window seal and a rev counter that didn't work! on top of that, when he took it to the dealer and complained, they acted like they did HIM a bloody favour selling him the car.

on the supercar theme, the new GT3 is amazing but has that quirky 911 handling you have to get used to. a bit cheaper, the Lotus Exige is MENTAL and has a jap engine - will kill most things on a tight track. i heard that someone in Germany has done a Cayman with a GT3 lump and the ceramic brakes...i bet that is nothing short of unreal!

also, the new GT2 has just been launched. it's on the website. can't wait to have a go in that i bet i'll sh*t my trousers with gleeful fear!!!!

woody2846

Yeah-thought I had better mix with the Scooby crowd hehe. Yeah 360 is really not the best of drives-430 is much improved dont think I would spend that much money on one though-its nice to drive if its not yours.
I used to work for Nissan and I can say the Z is one heck of a car----did a track day with the RX8, Porsche Boxster and a Z4- we all came to the conclusion the Z was a much better car. There is a slighty newer model coming out that is more powerful which may make the plader ones slightly cheaper.

carnivorous

Z4? YUK!!! LOL. I actually really like the RX-8, i think it handles better and feels much lighter than the 350, shame about that engine...can't stand it and it sounds bloody awful. Plus the mpg figures are a pisstake and the dash is so unbelieveably girlie hairdresser.

I must have a go in an F430, although I don't think I'd ever be able to afford one on a photographer's income anyway! I don't really like the idea of everyone staring at me either, it's bad enough in the scooby.

Slightly back on topic, I have yet to drive a car that I prefer over the Subarus for the money. I suppose it all depends what you want from a car though....

carnivorous

Ooops scratch that, just remembered, the old Z3 series M Coupe is CRAZY! Been a while since I drove that...easiest car EVER to get sideways and hold it there. Also, if you don't mind ragging the engine like crazy, the S2000 is a bargain and cheap now. They're GREAT cars.

woody2846

HMMM Mix an Rx8 with Z and you have a very very good Coupe, I really do love the Zeds, even when you open up the boot hatch it has a little diagram telling you how to fit two sets of golf clubs in (quirky I know). I think a WRX with a prodrive is a very wholesome car practical performance as I like to call it know.

woody2846

Phil....I think I may look a little strange in an S2000 haha

carnivorous

right you are...i am loving the GB270 wagon. should have waited - LOL. oh well dog can go on the back seat in my saloon anyway.......

i think ANYONE with a ***** would look a bit odd in an S2000...cracking car though....

woody2846

Ive just ordered 2 Saloons for stock but the Wagons are sold order only.

carnivorous

the saloons are nice but I'm not sure about that rear wing / front splitter and the silver grille is just plain hideous. then again you can't argue about taste. i must say also that I drove an identical WRX to mine on 18's (also BT-050a) the other day and the car feels WAY better on 17s. again, it's all subjective, i'm a bit odd, i prefer the WRX PPP to the STi...so what the hell do I know anyway? LOL!

ste300

Once again thanks alot great advice and yeah i have driven a cayman s, unvbelievable machine but my 15k ish budget wont quite go that far. As far as comparisons go what about BMW E46 330 clubsport? Ive always had a soft spot for bm's since i dropped a 2.5 into a 316 for my first car. Id love an M3 but the running cost terrify me. However something keeps pulling me back to scoobs, a P1 specifically.

carnivorous

BMW's are nice, but they're not built like they were. Most people I know have had VERY high running costs and bad dealer support. My mate's M3 is delaminating itself on all the interior trim after less than 2 years...and the dealer's reply was "don't park it in the sun"! He's also blown a rear diff and gone through 2 clutches and 2 sets of brake discs in under 60k - and he doesn't really drice it that hard.

Yeah P1's and 22b's are pure sex, but you said you wanted a civilized RWD car???

ste300

Yeah i do.. i do.. its just well as we all know scoobs are addictive and i tend to get attached to my cars. I just love the look of the classic 3 door, but its sensible time (its all relative) so a 350 it will be i think.

CRAIGFIN

Oops

CRAIGFIN

My last four cars have been two scoobys and two 350Z's. I currently own a Gun Metal 350Z. No disrespect to the scooby but the 350Z is in a different league. It is far better looking, its classier and its a far better drive. It may not have the straight line speed of your more mental scoobys but Ive owned a lightweight Type R and a PPP STI and the Zed is far more fun.

Go for a Zed!!

My Zed

skoobidude

Had my 350Z since January. It's a GT spec in kuro black with black leather.
Took me ages to find the right car as I wanted black/black (some have orange leather :sick

Great Bose system, bluetooth handsfree, cruise, climate, heated electric seats..

Services are every 12 months or 9000 miles. Purchased with 14k on the clock. Now on 19.5k, hence no service yet so can't comment on bills.

Fuel costs just over £60 to fill tank. On a long run you will see 30mpg / easily over 400 miles/tankfull.
Running locally as I do most days I get around 23mpg on average.

It's a great car to drive if a little heavy on the controls. Once on an empty B-road it comes alive and handles great.

Importantly it looks good and is classy too plus attracts positive comments unlike my old scooby.




Nick

carnivorous

Boy did you guys pick the wrong forum!!!! (joke)

Better looking is taste, but I think a 350Z is hardly classy. LOL. It's a bit Audi TT designer car for my liking. Those door handles - YEURGH!

The Zed is definitely more fun - it's RWD for christ's sake. And it's faster on long A-roads and in a straight line. Give me a country lane and after 3 corners the Zed won't see me anymore...add some rain and it's 1 corner and I'm gone.

I'll stick with my scooby thanks. I don't like coupe's much. All those 350Z, RX8, Audi TT look like they're trying to be Ferraris / Porsches on a budget and without the performance or the engineering.

On the other hand, if you like RWD sports coupes and are on a budget, you could do alot worse than a Z. It is likely a better car than the scoob, just not for me!

CRAIGFIN

I agree with you on looks being to taste, however if you were to ask 100 random people which was the better looking car then my mortgage would be on the Zed coming out on top. I have lived with both cars for many years and my Imprezas got nothing but derogitory comments whereas my Zeds got extremely favourable comments. My Zeds were the only cars I've owned where people have gone out of the way to come over and ask about the car. My Impreza'a just got slagged off for being chavvy.

As for your comments about corners, I've lost count of the photos online that feature mangled scoobys. They aren't that good in the corners.

Can you comment from a position of owning both cars over many years / miles. I know I can . I'm not slagging the scooby off as I love them but I think the image is not favourable to the car any more and the new designs are horsew@nk.

carnivorous

Too right mate...spot on.

Impreza's are chavvy. Ask 100 people and my guess is NOT ONE would go for the scooby. That's kind of what I like about them....LOL.

I do think scoobys corner very well though. Maybe not with great feel or finesse...

I haven't had years of ownership of a 350Z this is true, but have driven quite a few in anger. I feel you can drive the scooby more aggressively without getting into trouble, especially on corner exits. I reckon there's so many crashed scoobs because people get over-confident and plough into corners too fast. Then again, you crash ANY of today's performance cars and it's probably your fault not the car's. There's alot of scoobys in the hedge because with scoobys you can get a REALLY fast car for under 4 grand. Thus, 17 year olds with no experience drive them and crash crash crash. Wait till the 350Z is out there for £3.5k and see them go flying off the road all around Britain.

Personally, I think a scooby is a rallye rep and the 350Z is a wannabe Porsche/Ferrari. The scooby is more honest...it's not trying to be something it's not.

But hey, if we all liked the same things you'd be trying to **** my bird and I'd be well annoyed! LOL