Just been out in a 350Z, wasnt too sure on them until I saw one in the flesh, and they look amazing!!
They do show their weight when driving, but its nothing too serious, just dont feel as immediate as a lighter car.
Felt like a quality car alround, one of the best ive driven (and ive driven lots!!), and just altogether classier than the RX8 (IMO).

I went straight from Nissan dealer over to Mazda, and had a good look at an 8, but it doesnt have the visual presence of the 350, nor did it feel as well put together.
Salesman wasnt too keen on test drives, even though they had a demo there, I must look dodgy or something, must have that "Mom" tattoo removed from my neck

Probelm is, the 350Z is more expensive to insure and buy, thou they have a car available immediately, in the blue, fully kitted, for £27500, and a fully kitted RX is around £24/25k, so its not a huge diffference (from am monthly perspective, as id need finance, ugh).

How do people feel each car will hold their value? and would a 350Z actually represent better value in the sense they will be rarer than the RX, and also possibly hold their value better?

I am half way to going for a 350, they have a serious presence, but when getting close to 30k on a car, I start to question my sanity, specially as I bought a new car 7 months ago!!

Was also considering an S2k, but again, they dont have the presence of the 350, and not as many toys, and I couldnt even get the salesman to talk to me at Honda, I guess I shouldve changed out of my hobo begging clothes before going there, but a guys got to make a living

Views? opinions? owners?
Cheers

 

Cant you just stop wasting everybodys time and just buy that Audi TT convertable that you have been looking at.

 

Im not buying your TT, sorry, I just cant pull that whole "gay but cool" thing you have going on, something to do with being straight, now if you could just manage to stay on topic, as*wipe.

 

I went for a scheduled test drive 2 weeks ago in the 350 Z.

Appointment was set up at 11 am I got there 10 mins before, introduced myself at the reception desk and went and sat down while flicking through various Nissan brochures.....

Sat there for a whole hour...... nobody turns up!

Ask at reception, and they didn't even know were the guy who was supposed to be taking me out was!

12:00 pm Garage closed for rest of day (Saturday) Kindly asked to leave garage and make another appointment.....Yeah right!

If this is customer service before you buy a car heaven help after sales!

Put me right off the car..... shame.

Plums.

P.S. If they sell them with this attitude, then they will indeed be a very rare car!

 

Its same as any looking at any car really, attitudes differ dealer to dealer.
I hadnt even booked a test etc, just walked in, and the salesman offered to take me out for a test drive after showing me around the car, seemed friendly and helpful.

He also let me choose my own test route after finding out I know the area, so I was able to get a good comparison on roads I knew.

Try another dealer, as the car is pretty amazing.

 

I have a horrible feeling that once the novalty of this car wears off it will turn into yet another Nissan Depreciation disaster. My friend bought a 200SX on a W plate brand new for £22500 (had a brand new BMW 320 Cab on order and cancelled for this car....) and the car is probably worth around £6000 now.

Doesn't matter how good a car it is if it doesn't have the right badge on the front. When you are spending this sort of money people expect the car to have a Porsche, Mercedes, Audi or BMW badge on the front.

 

The amount of Jap imports will pull prices down, I agree, go German, it is a dangerous game to buy this type of car with no track record on residuals.

I thought about one but ended up with a BMW 330 Clubsport, I know which one will fare better in years to come and it 'aint Japanese.

 

SideshowBob,

I gather from the Evo website that you had a Mazda RX7 which you lost a shedload on, and you will no doubt lose a chunk of money when you trade in the Clio Cup.

My advice would be to keep the Clio Cup and if you really want to spend £27,500 on a car go and buy a secondhand Porsche Boxster. People will always think the Boxster cost more than the Nissan and it will depreciate a lot slower than the Nissan.

 

Go german !!!!!!! yawn....zzzzz

Suggest you check out http://www.350zuk.com/forums .. loads of knowledge on there. Had a 350Z for the weekend 2 weeks ago and it was an absolute hoot. I have tested it against the RX8 (not as lively and needed a good boot up the **** to perform) and the crossfire, which was basically very tacky (Wife even gave permission to order a ZED). You can get a zed on the road for 24K, do you need the cruise control, BOSE upgrade and leather, because its the GT Pack that takes it up to the 26.5 K mark, plus another 1K for alloys and 400 squids for metallic.

The ZED was as much fun as the scoob, and will be a worthy replacement..and cheaper to insure (40% less than the STI i have been quoted)

Cheers

Jim

 

Well, really do like the car, but plumetting values would be a major concern, specially as id be getting pcp to buy it, would like to have something I can sell for a decent amount at the end of three years.
I didnt realise the 200SX divebombed so badly!! Its a real pity, as they're good cars.

Ive seen quite a few jap imports on autotrader, going for around £22k, but was hoping a genuine UK car would hold its value due to rarity.
Bloody badges!! I do want one, but my head is telling me Porsche Boxster too, Im going to go try one this week.

I did have that RX7, last jap import ill ever buy, well, from Newera anyway, I lost about £5k in three months, was a major loss, but quite a car.

May just be sensible and keep Clio till end of the year, and then get a nice Boxster, or be stupid, chop in the Clio, and get a 350Z.

 

I got a test drive this weekend. Been looking forward to it for ages. This car has SO much road presence! It looks a million dollars, far better than BMW, Porsche or Subaru.

Its screams muscle and power, for me it was a decision between Sti8 or 350z. The girls that I've shown it too have gone, oh my god your getting that!!! They love it Just hope it drives with as much fun as the Subaru.

 

Guten Tag Herr Leigh (Sie must buy Deutsche ), sure you will enjoy the ZED, and worth checking out with your insurance the difference between the ZED and the STI in terms of policy cost. I was astounded at the difference..To be honest, if i like the car and its got a good reputation, i do not hang on to flags of origin (otherwise i would not have bought 2 scoobs would i

Cheers

Jim

 

I completely disagree, It has no road presence whatsoever it's hardly squat and purposefully I have seen quite a few on the road now and I have been very disaponted visually with it, and whats with the exterior door handles ruins the look of the car, that will change during a MY change they are horrific. RWD and 250hp has to be applauded but for a complete new car IMO Nissan have messed up where the styling is concerned. The interior packaging is pretty poor too...if only the RX8 had a decent engine I'd take that over the 350Z

 

Hang on, dont you drive a Mini? lol
I was dubious about the looks and presence until I saw one in the flesh, and I was blown away with the looks.

Loads of street presence, and even standing still look they look hardcore, cant fault them on that, and I went from there to an RX8 and was very dissapointed in the RX after seeing a 350Z.

and have you seen the interior? I thought it was easily as nice as anything Germany are putting out.

 

Middlehursts in St Helens are supplying these with superchargers fitted and their own 12 month warranty. They have got a blue one in at the moment with a c/f bonnet bulge it was reviewed in EVO recently.

 

Exactly and it's a personal point of view I have mistaken them a couple of times for a TT, hardcore LOL come on don't make me laugh there is nothing butch about it. Aimed at the TT market IMO not the hardcore driver. The MINI has always been marketed as a cute sort of car, never a hardcore driving machine so cannot quite see what the point was that you made.

I wasn't on about the build quality I was on about the packaging which seems as poor as the MINI in many respects

 

I agree with Mr Alternutts,the 350z looks like a tub of lard in the flesh,the RX8 kill it every time........imho

 

I likened it to a shortened Ford Cougar, do a search it's uncanny.......

What do you want to get out of the car Side Show Bob ???

 

Want something that has up to date modern styling, with good performance, rarity, and a decent resale value.
A nice interior with all available toys is also on the list, and something that gets attention from enthusiasts (good and bad). Must also be visually exciting, and just generally be a cool car to own.

Also need something that doesnt run into RX7 costs to run, so needs to be economical for the sort of car it is.

There does seem to be a lot of negativity towards the Z, which is a pity, it felt solid as anything ive driven, and went well, looked good, but somehow doesnt appeal to many people. This could be a problem, as ive seen a few examples of cars where values just plummet, as a car misses its market in some way.

Im going to have another look at it tomorrow, try and get a better idea of whether its for me.

 

Opinions vary... I love the look of the car and the interior. (And pretty much everything else. The door handles are a bit of OTT design, but I don't find them that bad.)
Drives very well too. Being NA, it doesn't have that turbo surge that I'm used to with the Impreza, but so what?

My one arrives at the end of May..

Rich

 

but Rich,being NA,you wont be able to impress people with silly words like "boost" and "knock" and "my maf fell off"

how will you pull now?

 

Suggest you need glasses then.. because when you look at it in the flesh, it looks nothing like a TT. suggest a trip to the optician might be in order ..
the curves and lines are not the same

My concern when i saw the photographs was hmm, looking similiar, look at for real, totally different..

 

Ok I was mistaken, sorry I meant a Ford Cougar Pic here

http://autopilot.kommersant.ru/images/1999/12/819.jpg

350z Pic Here http://www.texasdar.com/images/350-z-blur.jpg

 

Just sold my 350Z. As for holding their values, I think they will do OK. I sold mine too cheap and my phone has been red hot since selling it. If you can get a brand new one for immediate delivery, take it.

I think they are great cars, very quick, good interior etc. However I'm not really missing mine that much. I'm a *****. Found myself paranoid about scraping the £500+ alloy wheels. Crap rear vision and I'm bad at parking. I also found you felt its weight. The car reminded me a lot of my old E46 M3.
They are a fantastic car for certain people. My kids loved it, but we kept having fights over who was coming out with Dad. My wife wouldnt drive it and infact never sat in it If you see snow, leave it at home.

I also ordered an RX-8. Then I drove one. Cancelled it straight afterwards. Nice car, crap engine.

Just got myself a Clio 182, which apart from the driving position is great fun. Enjoying hurtling down B roads, rather than treading with caution. I'm to old to drive one and dont have a puffa jacket, but its brought a smile to my face and I'm looking for B roads rather than avoiding them.

Jonathan

 

Add a 1 before that and you're getting close

As for the residuals, they should hold up as Nissan are (at the moment) planning to restrict supply of UK Zeds. In fact the 2004 allocation is just about sold out so you're looking at Q1 2005 for delivery if you order now.

 

I own a 350z and have done for a whole week now.

It is everything I hoped it would be after nearly 1000 miles, fast, quality built etc. I am getting 28 mpg ish also which is also higher than I thought I would get. Gets loads of admiring glances as well.

It is a real driving experience and in the wet it is great fun (albeit that I's still frightened a bit of it).

I don't think with the planned production numbers it will depreciate any faster than a TT - mine is black and standard and it weighed in at 24350 so in my opinion was the best for the money.

Strongly recommend it.

 

I think running costs do affect residuals quite a bit. What insurance group is the Z compared to the RX8? The RX8 fuel consumption is pretty abismal by all accounts so if the insurance is high this would point to the 8 not holding value as well as the Z.

Andy

 

The salesman told me group 17, and my quote came in at around £250 more than I currently pay for my Clio Cup, so not too bad really.

 

in the short term i think both cars will hold their value quite well. If you are looking at 3 years of ownership, then it is a different matter, I would strongly advise not keeping the 8 for 3 years. The majority of car owners have concerns of the wankel engine, and selling the 8 with the warrnty about to expire will put off a lot of buyers.

There is another problem keep the z for 3 years is that the gt-r version will be out and I have a feeling that will hamper the current 350z prices.

I have driven an 8 but had not had the oppurtunity to drive a z, I was not impressed with the 8 the engine just didnt float my boat lacking torque IMHO.

My advice is to get the Z and keep an eye out for new models coming along and get rid before any big hit happens.

As for 200sx losing a wedge, yes its truethe initial depreciation on thoose cars was huge but now the prices have settled espicially if the condition is good. compare the amount lost to a 3 series cab and i bet there isnt that much difference in actual loss as opposed to percentage.

But yes the smart money would go on a boxster.

 

He wants to pull birds with it

Mr L, I cannot believe you are seriously considering spending £27k on a Zed (as nice as they are) or any car for that matter. Anyway, I thought you wanted something you could take the roof off of?

Get a boxster or S2000, or failing that a TT roadster.