- coupe 104,003
- Hayward, CA
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- autoshopper.com
2004 nissan 350z review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. High-performance top-down motoring. introductionthe nissan 350z recaptures elements of the original datsun 240z. It's fast, it's fun, it's pure sports car. And, like the original z, it's affordable, or at least attainable. a convertible called the z roadster has joined the lineup for 2004, adding the joy of open-air motoring to the mix. The roadster's chassis gives up almost none of the solidness that characterizes the coupe. The roadster feels as rigid as a prototype racer's and tighter, in fact, than some higher priced soft tops. With the top up, the look is traditional coupe, in profile giving no hint of its transitory nature. Top down, there's a hint of the porsche speedster's high-waisted, bustle back end. The z roadster looks even more like a mid-engine sports car than the hatchback. the coupe, introduced as an all-new model for 2003, continues without changes. Coupe or roadster, the 350z is as responsive as a hungry cheetah, with racecar handling, rear-wheel drive, and thrilling acceleration performance. The suspension keeps the tires glued to the road through fast chicanes. Bounce over the curbs like michael schumacher and the z will hold its line. Styling details like the controversial industrial-design door handles ensure this car will never be called bland. all 350zs get the same sports suspension and nissan's superb v6 engine, which punches out 287 horsepower and strong torque. It comes standard with racy hardware: a six-speed manual gearbox, carbon-fiber driveshaft, drive-by-wire throttle, anti-lock discs vented front and rear with electronic brake-force distribution. Add the convenience features that come standard, such as automatic temperature control and a premium stereo, and the price of the nissan 350z is quite compelling. nissan says the 350z was designed to be a sports car an enthusiast can live with every day. While its firm ride, abrupt throttle response, and awkward cup holders don't make it a great place to drink coffee, eat doughnuts, and make phone calls on the way to work, it is a comfortable car with usable cargo space, and getting in and out isn't impossibly awkward. It more than delivers on the promise of its stellar looks. It's a real sports car with serious gt performance. Different size wheels and tires, however, give the models distinct personalities. The exception is the track model, which features higher spring rates and shock damping along with bigger brakes. All models get the carbon-fiber driveshaft, drive-by-wire throttle, and dual outlet exhaust with dumps big enough to hold a budweiser can. the base nissan 350z 26,269) comes standard with 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, vented front and rear disc brakes with abs, electronic brake-force distribution, dual stage air bags, seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, automatic temperature control, 160-watt am/fm/cd with six speakers, power windows (with auto-up/auto-down on both sides), power door locks, power mirrors, remote keyless entry, vehicle security system, a leather steering wheel and shifter boot, and comfortable cloth seats. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission. enthusiast 28,249) is the most popular model. It adds xenon headlamps, homelink universal transceiver, cruise control, traction control, viscous limited-slip rear differential, aluminum pedals, day/night rearview mirror, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors. The enthusiast model is also available with a five-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode 29,219). The roadster enthusiast 33,850) reverts to the 160-watt stereo and fabric seats but keeps the 4-way power driver's seat and two-way power passenger's seat. But it does not come with vehicle dynamic control or the aluminum pedals, and it's fitted with the 17-inch wheels. Nissan says high-performance parts will be available from nismo, the company's racing division that competes at le mans and other sports car venues. Look for engine, suspension, and body bits. walkaroundwith its bulging front fenders and fast back, the z suggests a porsche 911, while the roadster's aero-look in the rear reminds us of a porsche speedster. The engine is in fact in front of the driver, but it's behind the front axle. That's why nissan calls it a front mid-ship placement (somewhat similar to the mazda rx-8 design). The z shares its underbody architecture with the infiniti g35 coupe and sedan. Moving the engine rearward evens out weight distribution, which improves handling balance. The new z roadster adds more than 200 pounds to the hatchback's 3,200 pounds, but the weight front/rear weight split remains at 53/47 percent. It's balanced well for accelerating out of corners. an extremely short front overhang and a short rear overhang make for agile handling. Bulging fender flares make the z look like it's ready for the racetrack, which it is. the hatchback's shape, besides looking really cool, allows it to slice through the air with a minimum of drag (0. 29 on the track model). All this math adds up to relatively low levels of wind noise, even in the roadster with the top up, and a stable sports car at high speeds. with the top down, conversation in the roadster required only slightly raised voice levels; the stereo did, however, have to be cranked up a bit. interiorthe interior of the nissan 350z is a cockpit designed for driving, helping the driver quickly become one with the car. The carbon-fiber colored cloth seats are form-fitting, supportive and comfortable, made of a soft material that grips the body in the corners. The driver's seat bottom features a mound in the center at the front to restrain the driver from sliding forward under deceleration. Aggressive side bolsters grip the waist to hold the driver in place. Either cloth or leather is a good choice in this case. It's worth noting, however, that this feeling went away the moment the key was turned in the ignition. The roadster boasts an inch more headroom than the hatchback, thanks to the articulation of the top's various mechanicals. tilt the steering column and the main pod of gauges moves with it, ensuring a clear view of the instruments for drivers of all sizes. The instruments consist of a big tachometer and flanking speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges. Reminiscent of the original z, nestled in three pods on top of the dash are a voltmeter, an oil pressure gauge and a digital trip computer. They look retro-cool, but reading them requires more than a glance. two toggles to the right of the steering wheel operate the trip computer, used to check outside air temperature, distance to empty, speed, average mileage, and average speed. It has a stopwatch function (to check out those 0-60 times), and a tire-pressure monitor for 18-inch wheels. With the trip computer, the driver can program a shift light to come on at a certain rpm.
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