Car Review of the 2003 Nissan 350 Z

Base MSRP Range: $26,269 to 34,079

Base Invoice Range: $24,158 to 30,627
Price Quote

MSRP As Tested: Not Available

Versions: None

Vehicle Category: Compact Sports Coupe

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels: Rear-Wheel Drive Rear-Wheel Drive

Engine As Tested: 3.5-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves, V-6 cylinder, 287-horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 274 lb-ft torque at 4,800 rpm

Transmission As Tested: Standard 6-Speed Manual or optional 5-speed Automatic with manual shift mode.

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): Automatic Transmission 19/ 26, Manual Transmission 20/26

Standard Safety Features: Driver and front passenger, front and side airbags, roof-mounted curtain side-impcat airbags, 4-wheel ventilated power-assisted disc brakes, "> Antilock Braking System, Traction Control, Vehicle Dynamic Control (standard in manual transmission) In-Trunk Emergency Trunk Release, Remote Keyless Entry.

Competition: Audi TT, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Honda S2000, Infiniti G 35 Coupe

BARONA, Calif. -- Okay, let's get this right: With left paw clutching a plump steering wheel, the right wrist flicks a stubby stick down to the bottom rung of six gears as one foot slips off a perforated aluminum clutch pedal while the other one plies the narrow throttle.

That action sends a wake-up call to so many ponies in our two-seat test car, a slinky two-door coupe with hatchback styling and sport-tuned hardware set for serious pavement performance.

It carries the engine up front with all power directed to big back wheels in classic pose with distribution of the weight on front and rear wheels.

And it looks so lean and mean, the exaggerated prow fixed with huge projector-type headlamps, fenders bulging to cover the oversized rubber rollers, a broad windshield cocked back at an extreme angle and the low roofline tapering past a hatchback window to the curt tail scored by lamps drawn forward on corners in twin triangular streaks of red.

Then we're off, scooting down the narrow strip of blacktop on Wildcat Canyon Road, which slithers through the Barona Indian Reservation in foothills of the El Cajon mountains west of San Diego.

In no time we've shifted through gears and run the speedo needle to the point of legal constraint.

Yet this thing begs for more.

It demands more pedal prodding, more horses romping, and more notches passing on the speedometer.

Too bad the car doesn't come with access to a private race track so we could send our speed-addicted selves into triple-digit nirvana.

It seems that's the only thing missing when steering the new incarnation of Nissan's powerful Z-car.

Yes, the fabled Z-car of Nissan is back.

The iconic sports hatchback coupe from Nissan -- tracking back in a line from the original Datsun 240Z of 1970 to the last issue in 1996 as a twin-turbo 300ZX -- returns in familiar format with the 350Z of 2003.

Like the original 240Z, this new 350Z conforms to hatchback styling with the front-mounted powerplant, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) orientation and a powerful engine that puts six pistons to work.

It's a genuine GT sports coupe, muscular in shape but lethal in monochromatic treatment, with two doors on the flanks of a snug two-seat cockpit.

350Z comes in seven different flavors although each stocks the same engine and suspension system, along with a driveshaft composed of strong carbon-fiber material, an electronically-controlled drive-by-wire throttle and an exhaust with twin pipes at the tail. And this contemporary Z-car carries MSRP stickers pitched from $26,269 for a base edition with the six-speed manual gearbox to the ultimate Track model fitted with Brembo brakes plus sophisticated electronic Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS) for $34,079.

The V6, with dual cams on top and four valves in every cylinder, displaces 3.5 liters and produces 287 hp at 6200 rpm, with the torque pumping up to 274 lb-ft at 4800 rpm. Z's engine connects to a smooth automatic five-speed transmission with convenient manual shift mode or -- in performance issues -- the six-speed close-ratio manual. A sophisticated multi-link suspension at all four wheels employs aluminum-alloy components to trim the unsprung weight.

Special shocks set up responsive control yet also deliver a stiff and sporty ride quality. The standard 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels come with Bridgestone Summer tires -- 225/50R17 94W in front and 235/50R17 96W in back.

Performance and Track models roll on 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels (super light alloys in six-spoke design for Track) capped with Bridgestone Potenza Summer Tires -- 225/45R18 91W up front and 245/45R18 96W in the rear.

For keen stopping power, the standard brake package consists of ventilated discs on all wheels with computer linkage to an anti-lock brake system (ABS), brake assist (BA) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).

The cockpit has only two seats in a cozy space divided by the center console, which houses the transmission lever.

Sills on the side doors rise high so you feel like you're sitting in a bathtub, while contoured seats mold against your backside as firm bolsters on each side keep you pinned to the bucket during hard-wrought corner maneuvers.

The face of the console flows into the dashboard looking like chiseled aluminum. Three round analog gauges stand at the top of the console and mimic the shape of the three larger gauges in the instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel.

At the tail, the hatchback lid accesses a generous storage compartment, with a lockable box in the floor that's large enough to house a briefcase or laptop computer.

So many variations in trim mean custom selections.

The base edition -- 350Z 6MT -- for $26,269 contains the six-speed manual transmission and 17-inch wheels with power controls for windows and door locks and mirrors, a remote keyless entry device and vehicle security system, plus automatic climate controls and a 160-watt audio kit.

Enthusiast 6MT at $28,249 adds xenon headlamps, aluminum foot pedals and cruise control, a viscous limited-slip rear differential plus TCS. The five-speed automatic transmission makes it the Enthusiast 5AT at $29,219.

A 350Z Performance 6MT model for $30,429 with manual gearbox moves up to 18-inch wheels and tires with a tire-pressure monitor and VDC anti-skid equipment.

Z's Touring 5AT for $31,589 with automatic shifter has luxury gear like leather upholstery and power seats with heat elements plus a 240-watt Bose stereo and six-disc CD deck.

Touring 6MT at $33,179 with the six-speed manual goes further with aluminum pedals, VDC and 18-inch rollers.

Ultimate 350Z Track 6MT at $34,079 gets the light-weight alloy wheels and a tire-pressure monitor, vented Brembo brakes, xenon headlamps, spoilers front and rear, aluminum pedals in the cockpit and the VDC.

Optional for all Z-car editions are additional air bags (side and curtain) at $569 and a navigation system with DVD database for $1,999.

Editors' Ratings

Pros: Overall design. One of the most fun cars on the market. Incredible ride and handling. Starting price is very reasonab;e.

Cons: After adding on feature packages, price skyrockets.

Ratings (1-10)

• Style: 8
• Performance: 8
• Price: 9
• Handling: 8
• Ride: 8
• Comfort: 8
• Quality: 8
• Overall: 8.14

More Data

Where Built: Not Available

Major Options: Enthusiast Package, Performance Package, Touring Package, Track Package.

Seating: 2

Number of Rows: 1

Crash Test Ratings:

• NHTSA Frontal Impact/Driver Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Frontal Impact/Passenger Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Side Impact/Front Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Side Impact/Rear Seat Crash Test Rating: Not Yet Tested
• NHTSA Rollover Resistance Rating: Not Yet Tested


• IIHS Frontal Offset Crash Test: Not Yet Tested

Length in Inches: XXX.0

Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, X years/unlimited miles corrosion, 5 years/60,000 mile powertrain.

Weight in Pounds: Manual Transmission 3,188, Automatic Transmission 3,210

Cargo Capacity in Pounds: 57.3

Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: 3815

Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not Applicable

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: Not Available

Destination Charge: $540