USED Nissan 350Z Coupe (03 - 09)

My car

Waayheeeeey!!! Is probably the only exclamative which can do this car justice. I picked up this little chap for a weekend testdrive with a view to having it as the next company car.

The car was coloured in a nice "sunset orange", which was nicely matched by the colour of the brakes and interior. The styling is distinctive and really isn't apparent on the photo.

I had a great time blasting it down the M27 on the way to work on Friday, and an even better time once I had mastered the fact it had six gears on the way back home.

0-60 is a shocking affair, with lots of growls, howls and manly grunts emanating from the bonnet. The engine noise is a rare treat and has the effect of making you feel like you are six years old with your favourite toy. It's also pretty useful for hurrying along dallying pedestrians out of your path, as I inadvertantly found out in Portsmouth.

The sound system is great, very handy little six-CD changer, with nice controls on the steering wheel. The sound level can be whacked up to match the engine noise, but then why would you do that.

The downside is that, as a company car for me its a no-goer, what with the extreme amount of tax and the rather thirsty 3.5-litre engine.

Shame... as I totally loved the car!

My car

The exterior of the 350Z looks good, but has lost some of the visual impact of the original Z Concept car as it has made the transition to production. The interior of the 350Z is very driver focused with the deep body hugging sports seats providing excellent support. The dashboard is dominated by a large rev counter which adjusts with the steering wheel.

The lack of rear seats does impact the practicality of this coupe, but no where near as much as the suspension brace between the two rear shock absorber mounting points. This brace divides the boot in two and means that it is now impossible to get a suitcase into the boot.

Starting the engine and pressing the accelerator for the first time leaves you in no doubt that this car means business. The V6 engine produces a powerful growl from its twin exhaust pipes. Looking at the performance figures the 350Z is a very quick car. However from the driving seat the performance fails to live up to my expectations. This may be due to the power delivery characteristics of the engine. The steering is weighty and precise with lots of fell. The brakes are powerful with a firm peddle. The gearbox was has a short throw and is easy to use in combination with the reasonably light clutch. The car feels heavy and solid yet there is little body roll and the car rides uneven road surfaces well.