Learn me- why 350z/g35's are so cheap?!?

Ok I might be buying one. So I have a couple of questions. Why are these so cheap? Even nada guides puts them at around 8.8k with low miles! I've noticed some trends, at least in my area. Nearly ALL of them on Craig's is a salvage title, some people lower the price due to this, some don't. Is a salvage title not a big deal anymore? Another aspect- nearly all are autortragics.

I can't understand why these are so inexpensive compared to say, an s2000, or a Miata of the same year. Is there something I'm missing? Is it the low MPG? I only know of the 2005/2006 "rev up" model to have the oil consumption issue. I couldn't find anything distressing about these except the tire feathering issue.

Is it not as good of a sports car as it sounds on paper?

I test drove a 2005 G35 Sedan yesterday with 104,000 miles. That thing is peppy!

In reply to NoleFan:

Good to know. I know the z is about 3200lbs and @280hp so a little under the 10:1 ratio. But gearing always makes up for that.

My experience is that they are one of those cars where there is a pretty big difference in price between a truly nice well-maintained one and a neglected example. Like a $5k spread or more. Around here a $7k example is a real beater while a $11k one is quite nice.

Generally though IIRC a decent chunk of them have experienced issues with the manual transmission, and I've heard that the non-RevUp motors can drink oil too if poorly maintained.

Because they turned out to be pretty underwhelming on a daily basis.

I bought a 2006 Grand Touring in March of 2010, minty only 18k miles or so.

I sold traded it in June of 2010 on a new Speed 3.

z31maniac wrote: Because they turned out to be pretty underwhelming on a daily basis. I bought a 2006 Grand Touring in March of 2010, minty only 18k miles or so. I sold traded it in June of 2010 on a new Speed 3.

This^ Their styling is also kinda "meh" to many people and compared to a Mustang or a Camaro from the same time period you get something that is a bit more "fun" (note: not better, just more "Fun") and perhaps a bit more practical.

They've not figured out why the 240Z was such a success and this is why they've not had the success they wanted with the new Z cars.

For reference: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/5600828764.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/5562199059.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/5581169882.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/5579191633.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/5602407726.html The only 350z I found that's a manual, not trashed, not salvaged, and not over priced.

I will keep my S2000 but I am looking for a DD and was considering a 2007 or 2008 350z. I bought a G35 coupe 6MT new in 06 and enjoyed it until I had to sell it for financial reasons. The only complaint was the clutch and shifter was not as smooth as the Hondas. I hear the 350z is a rattle trap....that is a deal breaker for me. I also here the clutch slave can be a problem and requires the trans to be removed. The interiors seem to get beat up quickly.

Thanks. I don't mind the rattles. I don't mind a little maintenance. What I do mind is absurd consumables (rock auto shows its not bad) and a car that's been trashed by negligent owner.

In reply to Trackmouse:

I've read here that the absurd consumables are rear tires.

In reply to petegossett:

That I can live with. It would be a mostly weekend car. Probably little action in the winter. But I will drive it like a bandit.

I have a 2006 Track model with 91k miles that spent its whole life autoxing. The interior still looks good with minimal wear, everything still works, no rattles going down the road.

I think most of the reputation is because the price has historically been a bit above the performance. It's only been in the last few years that there was a significant price delta between a 350z and a early C5 which for enthusiast are what they realistically are cross shopped for. They are a bit more GT car than true sports car. I also think the steering assist has a lot to do with it. Driving straight the steering is very stable and borderline heavy feeling. It can make the cars response to subtle inputs feel muted and gives the impression the car isn't responsive. Increase the pace and the steering lightens and you start to really feel the chassis which is very responsive.

They also love to drive sideways if that's a thing you like.

z31maniac wrote: Because they turned out to be pretty underwhelming on a daily basis.

I agree with this. As somebody mentioned, they are more GT than sports car. Handles well, no drama, but no real excitement either. They don't have much in the way of storage/cargo space. The rear strut bar makes the area under the hatch very small. We get around 28-30 mpg when taking trips on the interstate, but it doesn't have enough room to go anywhere for more than a weekend.

One cup holder that is in the dash and is spindly, hard to open or reach from the drivers seat, and won't hold anything bigger than a 12 oz water bottle and they flip over and fall out if you corner at any normal rate.

They also have some maintenance quirks like the feathering of the front tires, and the different wheel widths make rotating tires to manage the wear impractical. Also, the differential bushing at the rear of the diff is filled with a viscous material and tends to tear and leak out the fluid at 30k-50k intervals. Of course Nissan does not sell the bushing. Instead they want to sell you the entire aluminum cross-member with the bushing for something like $1600 for the part and $1200 for labor.

We've had a 2004 for almost 6.5 years. I bought it and really liked it the first month, kinda liked it the second month, and was pretty much "Meh" by the third month. After 6 months it became SWMBO's daily and has been doing that duty for the last 6 years. I drive it about twice a year now.

It's too bad really. Nice aluminum wishbones, solid drivetrain, unique styling. I think Nissan just missed the boat on a few aspects that really impact people's love for the car. Interior meh, limited rear storage despite being a not tiny car, a bit heavy in feel and actuality. Also NA just before turbos became more common, greatly limiting power potential. As mentioned above, the domestics really stepped their game up after these came out. In 2004 the 350Z, Evo, and STI were pretty fast for the dollar and Sport Compact Car was tearing it up with neat projects based on such cars. Time marched on and the cars really didn't.

Paging kanaric & Jsquared

I've had my 03 G35 coupe for a bit over a year. Buy in price was stupid low. It's not cosmetically perfect but the interior is very good. It's very obviously been neglected but not likely abused by PO's. I fixed a few little things and caught up on some overdue maintenance. I've driven the nuts off it for the last year. It's my summer DD. AC is rediculously cold. My daily commute is 50/50 city/highway. It's perfect. Comfy on the highway, and pretty fun for a GT car in the city. Decent MPG's but not stellar by a long shot. Nothing has broken, all the electronics work, mine uses zero oil and I haven't had any trans/clutch issues. I've taken it on a couple longer weekend trips. It's a nice place to be on the highway. It really eats up the miles.

I can't really figure out the low values either. The $/performance when new is likely a contributor as mentioned.

On the plus side, the aftermarket is huge, they sound great (IMO anyway), and in my experience they can take some punishment. They're a really good do-it-all car. The G coupe has a decently useable back seat for my kids and doesn't have the stupid bar across the back like the Z. Oh, and like mentioned above, they do like going sideways...

I liked the 350 I drove on track. It felt very nice if a bit large.

Really want a G35 as a nice daily.

I have no idea why G35/37 are so cheap. But thanks for putting them back on my radar. I like the way they drive, in a commuting schmoozmobil sort of way. And they are thoroughly, utterly boring in how they have no real pattern failures for anything, they are real gas/tires/oil machines with the usual brakes and bushings at regular intervals.

Plus, if you get AWD you can sort of convince yourself that you're driving the American equivalent of a Skyline GT-R.

Yeah Knurled, My G37 is exactly that which is the reason it's in the driveway. It's got good power handles decent but it's not going to cause my heart to skip a beat in excitement. It's more exciting than your typical Camcord but not a boxster by any means. The good thing is the utter lack of repair costs is freeing up budget for a nice sports car.

I felt the same thing when I drive the 350/370. Good car but it never set the heart on fire.

I think that values are falling because of the age, especially the first gen Z/G35 cars. I drove both a G35 and a 350Z, and I think that the G35 is a little better, mostly because of a nicer interior and a rear seat that young kids can fit in easily.

I think the real bargain is in the G35 sedans. I never much cared for them til I drove a customers. Really clean early sedan with a manual. It handled well, drove great, had aged well, and was surprisingly fun with the 6 speed. I thought it would make about the best cheap DD.

Found 2 for under 3500, if i didnt require a truck Id be DDing one now.