2007 Nissan 350Z Roadster: reviews

Introduction Nissan’s GT sports car lineage has a long history dating back almost four decades. In 1970 Nissan was known as Datsun and the first 240Z was introduced to the world. During the 80’s, the designers lost sight of the true “Z” sports car heritage. The 280Z series became slow and fat while trying to appeal to a sports car luxury market. Strict California emission requirements didn’t help the car’s performance, either. The next generation “Z” came in the form of the 300ZX (produced between 1990 and 1996). That particular generation has a loyal following and is coveted by many enthusiasts. After a six year hiatus Nissan introduced the 350Z and rocked the world again in 2003. The new design captured much of the youthful enthusiasm of the early generations and it became fun to drive a “Z” again. Does the Roadster version, with 306 HP, retain the same aggressive “chops” as the coupe model? Read on and we shall see.

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Specifications

Base Price	$ 37,165 (Enthusiast trim model)
Price As Tested	$ 40,840
Engine Type	3.5-Liter, V6, 24-Valve, DOHC, SEFI Engine; Front/Longitudinal Mounted With Horsepower Of 306@6800, Torque Of 268@5200, Alloy Block and Alloy Cylinder Heads
Engine Size	3.5L
Horsepower	306 @ 6800 RPM
Torque@RPM (lb-ft)	268 @ 5200 RPM
Transmission	5-speed automatic overdrive
Wheelbase / Length	104.3 in. / 169.8 in.
Turning Radius	35.4 ft.
Curb Weight	3578 lbs.
Gross Weight	4133 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower	11.7
Fuel Capacity	20.0 gallons
Fuel Requirement	91-octane unleaded premium gasoline for best performance
Tires	FR: 225/45-18 , RR: 245/45-18
Brakes front/rear	front power 320-mm vented disc and rear power 307-mm vented disc brakes, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes
Ground Clearance	8.1 inches (adjustable to 9.4 with air suspension)
Drivetrain	front engine, rear-wheel drive

Performance

EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed

19 / 25 / 14.8 mpg

Options and Charges

Carpeted floor mats	$ 90
Alloy Kick Plate	$ 110
Carpeted Trunk Mat	$ 70
5-Speed Automatic Transmission	$1000
18” Chrome Wheels	$1660
Painted Splash Guards	$ 140
Destination charge	$ 605

Pros and Cons

• Aggressive shape captures the eye and makes you want to follow its curves
• Plenty of headroom for tall people even with the convertible top up
• Steering wheel and center gauge display move together when raising and lowering
• Tachometer is large, easy to read and located in the CENTER of the driver’s line of sight Excellent Japanese build quality
• Nice accents with the silver and aluminum trim pieces in the cockpit

• 5-speed automatic transmission is slow to respond – even in manual mode
  
• High waistline and low seats limits visibility.
  
• Side view mirrors don’t offer much view area; driver must always be aware of the blind spots
  
• Requires two hands to lock convertible top

Driving Impressions

Once I got beyond the thrill of driving an open top sports car, I began to settle into the car and learn the behavior of the 350Z on the open road. I spent four hours with Roadster in various driving conditions (slow traffic, fast commuter traffic on the freeway, surface street driving and a twisty/curvy route that included California’s scenic Highway 1 drive along the coastline.

When I was driving with the top up I noticed that the cabin can be on the noisy side. Lots of wind noise is apparent in the cabin while cruising at 50 MPH or faster. Thank goodness for the 7-speaker Bose audio system with subwoofer. Drowning out the wind noise was easy just by cranking up the tunes. Visibility around the car is alright with the top up. Although, the side view mirrors don’t offer much viewing area due to their small size. The side mirrors are very nicely sculpted, but check those blind spots carefully before changing lanes.

With the convertible top down I noticed the cabin picks up a lot of turbulence at 35 MPH or higher. The windshield behind the front seats could probably be a little taller if its purpose is to defeat the swirling winds inside the cabin. Hats are required unless you prefer the Oklahoma twister look.

Interior Comfort and Ergonomics

Good attention to detail everywhere with lots of “Z” emblems in around the cabin. I like how the gauge pod and steering wheel column move as a single unit when adjusting the steering wheel height and reach. Dashboard material, leather seats and anything you touch all have a good quality feel beneath the fingers. Silver and aluminum trim pieces accentuate the cockpit nicely. All the pieces fit together nicely (no gaps or rattles) with predictable Japanese quality.

Close inspection of the panel alignment and interior trim pieces displayed a high level of quality – something Japanese automakers have worked hard to improve upon and raise the bar the past few decades. Everything fitted nicely, had a solid sound when closed and there were no rattles to speak of.

The gauge cluster was easy to read and had the tachometer positioned large and live in the center – right where it should be.

The fun exercise is playing with the convertible top. One foot must be on the brake pedal when operating the roof. Opening or closing the soft-top takes less than 20 seconds – which is pretty darn quick. My sole complaint is that it I had to use two hands to lock down the top after extending it to the closed position. One hand was needed to pull the roof about half an inch into its final locking position and the second hand was used to engage the locking hatch mechanism.

Trunk space may be limited due to the space accommodation for the retracted rooftop, but diehard golfers need not worry about fitting their golf bag into the boot. I grabbed a friend’s set of golf clubs and tested the fit. Tip the top of the golf bag into the left corner first and the bottom the bag drops neatly into place on the right side. You can probably fit your golf shoes and a jacket into what’s left of the available space in the trunk, but not much else.

Performance / Handling

Power can easily make a man drunk. And the 350Z has lots of power on tap. For those people who drive with a heavy right foot and attract local law enforcement like paparazzi chasing Britney Spears and Paris Hilton from club to club in Las Vegas, I advise something more demure. At idle the engine and exhaust have a pleasant burble that suggests the rich power tucked underneath the hood. Once the engine gets into its power range, the “Z” accelerates like a kid who just stole an Everlasting Gobstopper out of a candy store.

Not only can the 350Z accelerate fast enough to suck the oxygen out of your head, the Roadster does well on the roads that require a lot of left and right turning. The binders do a great job of slowing the silver beast upon approaching the apex. I never felt that I would overcook a turn and come in too hot. Turn-in response is very good. Not quite razor sharp, but then again I wasn’t trying for the fastest time on an autocross course.

I tried a few emergency and hard braking scenarios. Actuation of the brakes and tires were smooth and did not upset the car’s balance. Some vehicles and get a little “squirrelly” with aggressive braking, but the Nissan held its composure well on dry roads. Sorry, there weren’t any wet or slippery roads available on the day of the test drive.

My biggest gripe with the performance of the “Z” is with the automatic transmission. It seems that the engine or transmission (maybe both) need a little time to think before getting things in motion. That little delay between the time you stomp your foot on the pedal, wait for the engine revs to get into the 5k range, and the excitement begins, mars the otherwise fine performance of the “Z”. Manual up-shifting of the gears has a delay and abrupt engagement. Going backwards isn’t any better. I tried a full stop, shifted into reverse, pressed the accelerator smoothly and waited a second or two before the transmission engaged roughly and the car began moving. Has anyone else had similar experiences with Nissan transmissions or their 350Z?

Styling

Undeniably the 350Z has a definitive shape that is easily recognized. Looking at the body shape from any angle grabs your attention and draws your eyes along the curves. The lines are nicely sculpted and the Roadster looks sexy with the soft-top stowed away. The bold front grill and new hood design has an aggressive look that bespeaks of power.

Tire size is staggered front to rear on a set of nicely shaped 5-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. The front was shod with 225/45-18 and the rear set of tires were a little beefier with 245/45-18’s. The 18-inch alloys filled the wheel wells and left very little wheel gap between the tire and fender.

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Value

From an economic viewpoint, convertibles aren’t much of a value. They are limited on space, noisy, and valuables are never safe inside the car. Throw the practical aspects out the window and you are left with the raw feeling of a sports car that passionately connects you with the driving environment. The 350Z Roadster gives you all of the above and more. The more part is left to each individual’s experience because this car speaks on so many different levels.

Conclusion

After spending the better part of a day with the 350Z, I could “Z” pretty far. Generally speaking, driving the car was a fun experience and I only found a couple of things to criticize. On the plus side there was lots of power to call upon, it gets you around town without a fuss, and looks good doing it. If you know how to drive a manual transmission, then stay away from the automatic transmission. The transmission engagement was the biggest weakness I found. Maybe other 350Z owners can comment on the performance of the 5-speed automatic transmission because the one I had wasn’t very good in my opinion.

Overall I gave the Nissan 350Z Roadster a 4.2 rating. Above average performance and styling are the car’s strong points. The value rating was average because of the car’s limited functionality. With a convertible you just have to learn to travel light.

	Interior	Performance	Handling	Styling	Value	Overall
Rating	4.5	4.5	4	5	3	4.2