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I've always had a soft spot for the Nissan Z-car. My favorite uncle was a Z-man until the day he died, and the Z was the subject of the first About.com review written by Jason Fogelson, who has since become our SUVs guide and a close friend. As a result, I've tried to avoid reviewing the Z myself; I've learned that if you want your heroes to remain heroes, you shouldn't look at them too closely. But fate contrived to plant a 350Z in my driveway, so I found myself having to look a bit closer than I wanted. How'd it go? Read on.
Larger photos: Front - rear - interior - all photos
- Gobs of power
- Sharp, friendly handling
- Makes a great daily driver -- for short people, at least
- Cramped cabin
- Side/side-curtain airbags aren't standard
- Electronic stability control only available in more expensive models
- Nissan's legendary sports car; a new version is coming in 2009
- Price range (including destination and options): $29,170 - $46,985
- Price as tested: $31,520
- EPA fuel economy ratings: 18 MPG city/25 MPG highway/20 MPG combined
- Observed fuel economy: 18.9 MPG
I drove the 350Z "Enthusiast" model -- the purist's Z -- which gets all of the base model's equipment (power windows/mirrors/locks, cloth seats, climate control) plus a limited-slip differential, traction control, and a few other gadgets. The only options are side- and side-curtain airbags ($620), automatic transmission (no charge), and red paint ($500 -- really, Nissan??). Notably absent: Electronic stability control, which is only offered on pricier Zs.
I'm not a big guy -- 5'6" -- so I was surprised at how cramped the Z's two-seat cabin felt. Things got better once I hit the About.com Top Secret Curvy Test Road. I was a bit intimidated by all that power (306 hp, 268 lb-ft) going to the rear wheels, especially knowing that I didn't have electronic stability control as a safety net. I was relieved to find the handling benign and predictable. The Z grips well, gives plenty of notice before letting go, and you can even give the tail a little flick if you goose the gas while coming out of a turn. (You could probably give it a bigger flick with the traction control off; I didn't for fear of my little flick turning into a big spin and a humiliating phone call to Nissan explaining why I tossed their car off a cliff). All in all I had a lot of fun abusing the 350Z.
For day-to-day driving, the Z is pretty decent. Rear visibility is lousy (and the small side mirrors don't help), but the ride and noise levels are tolerable. I averaged 18.9 MPG, not bad considering all the hot-rodding I did.
All in all, I enjoyed my time with the Z, even if a closer look did reveal some flaws. Nissan has a new Z coming in 2009; it will be called the 370Z and will use the bigger (3.7 liter) V6 from the Infiniti G37. If Nissan also ups the commitment to safety (standard side airbags and ESC would be a good start), the Z's hero status will be safe and sound. -- Aaron Gold
