Nissan 350Z

THE RISING SUN DOES 350

The term ‘future classic’ is often bandied about in the automotive sphere. It’s a label you’ll sometimes find attached to obvious shoo-ins like the Honda NSX or questionable calls such as the Fiat Coupé, or it might simply be the result of a seller truly reaching for the stars when penning an advertisement for his 2001 Kia Carnival. But what actually constitutes a future classic? As always, there’s never a simple answer — more a cloudy concoction of many factors. Rarity, heritage, driving prowess, popularity, and many more variables all get a look into this particular brew’s recipe.

A NEW CONTENDER

Nissan’s 350Z (Z33), while certainly not rare thanks to its impressive sales performance throughout the 2000s, certainly makes a good case for itself as a potential future classic. Sure, no one’s saying it’s going to be the next 250 GTO or DB4 Zagato, but as the next stage of any popular sports car’s life cycle begins for the 350Z — a decade after its production ceased — more and more of these brilliant everyday sports cars are suffering at the hands of overzealous modifiers, getting run into a sorry state by uncaring owners, or being launched into a totara tree at high velocity. There’s a good chance that once natural selection has waved its cruel, bony hand over the 350Z and the herd has been suitably thinned, a tidy, unmolested example of this brilliantly capable all-rounder will be highly coveted. For the past 16 years, Stuart Horne, an airline pilot based on Auckland’s North Shore, has owned exactly that.

“The 350Z is based around a simple, triedand-true formula: six cylinders of high-revving unassisted motivation backed up by a simple transmission and a diff in the rear”

GOT IT

Aside from being in incredible condition with only 43,000km on the clock, Stuart’s 2003 Nissan 350Z Touring has its own special provenance, being the first-ever Z33 sold in New Zealand. His journey towards owning this pristine Daytona Blue example is a slightly complicated one that spans decades.

“My parents bought the first 240Z sold in Japan, back in 1971, and I’ve followed the Z-range since then,” Stuart, who still owns that exact same 240Z, explains. “Then in 2002 I saw the new 350Z in the States and thought it looked beautiful. I was able to convince the wife that we needed one when it was released in New Zealand! I received a phone call from a close friend who worked for Nissan and had seen a 350Z at the Wiri base in Auckland. Initial enquiries with Nissan gave nothing away and even its existence there was denied. Through my contact, I got the manager’s [number] and made a call. Once I had introduced myself and revealed the fact that I knew the car was there and that I had a 240Z, my wife and I were invited to Nissan headquarters to see the car and were given a drive.”

Soon after, Stuart was able to put a deposit down on a vehicle, while his 240Z was then borrowed by Nissan for its showroom and subsequently displayed during the new model launch at the Chateau on Mount Ruapehu.

WELL DONE TOO

The 350Z was the perfect car for its time, coming as a welcome breath of fresh air after a six-year absence following the discontinuation of the very ’90s, very bloated, and very complicated 300ZX (Z32). Years of ever-increasing waistlines, luxury bloat, and dilutions of the marque’s heritage had tarnished the Z-name and appeal for most. But now, here we were with a completely fresh machine. Like its original forefather, this was a simple, fun, and dependable car that did what it said on the tin, nothing more and nothing less.

“The 240Z was what everyone saw as a beautiful shape with great performance both in a straight line and with advanced suspension — for the day — giving wonderful handling,” says Stuart. “However, with age and emission regulations, the Z became ‘fat’. It lost its mojo. While there have been several attempts at new variants, [they’ve] not been able to bring back the same enthusiasm for the marque. The 350Z was an attempt to show what Nissan could produce and I think they did a reasonable job with this car. Most of all, it’s about the practicality and ease of use while offering excellent performance at a reasonable price.”

For the first time in a long time, Nissan had shifted its focus back to what made the original Z so damned good. Easy on the eye, easy to live with, easy to drive fast, and easy to trust: the 350Z was a return to simplistic, pure driving enjoyment, updated for the new millennium.

Aesthetically, the coupé has held up well, with its wheels, tucked under swollen fenders, pushed out to the

“Once I had introduced myself and revealed the fact that I knew the car was there and that I had a 240Z, my wife and I were invited to Nissan headquarters to see the car and were given a drive”

corners as far as possible, resulting in very little overhang front and rear. The simple silhouette doesn’t scream exotic, nor is it particularly divisive; it’s simply a clean, effective shape that has reached its adolescent years remarkably gracefully.

“This car is now 16 years old now, and it still looks good. It’s a bit like the 240Z in that the shape has not aged as quickly as some cars,” Stuart says.

BACK TO BASICS

Let’s be honest, though: looks are only a small part of why people continue to buy these cars — at the end of the day, the 350Z is bought to be driven, which is something it does remarkably well.

Like the 240Z, the 350Z is based around a simple, tried-and-true formula: six cylinders of high-revving unassisted motivation backed up by a simple transmission pushing power out to a differential in the rear. A twinspinner is not guaranteed however, as only the higher spec models, such as Stuart’s Touring, came with a viscous limited-slip differential (VLSD), along with vehicle dynamic control, leather seats, and more.

About the driving experience, Stuart says, “The 350 is relatively heavy — all the stereo speakers alone must slow it down — but it accelerates well from stationary, and the V6 really lights up once the car is moving. The 3.5-litre VQ35DE engine won several awards for its design at the time. It’s a free-revving unit that really pulls hard as the revs increase — it’s overtaking ability is impressive while offering excellent handling.”

“The 3.5-litre VQ35DE engine won several awards for its design at the time. It’s a free-revving unit that really pulls hard as the revs increase — it’s overtaking ability is impressive while offering excellent handling”

WHERE TO FROM HERE

Like us, Stuart thinks the Z33 is currently a solid buy for the discerning enthusiast.

“The used 350Z prices are showing ever-depreciating values,” he says. You can pick up a Z for stupid prices. Since it’s such great value, I recommend it to anyone who wants a comfortable twoseater everyday-use car with stacks of performance and great looks.”

So, does the 350Z qualify for ‘future classic’ status? While it might currently be the realm of hardcore modifiers and late-night burnout kings thanks to its sporting prowess and bang-for-buck value, so were RX-3S, XU-1 Toranas, and RS Escorts not so long ago — and look what you’ll pay for a good one of those now. After spending some time with Stuart and his 350Z, we’re beginning to wonder if it actually matters one iota whether these playful Nissans are destined for bona fide classic car status and a big jump in value in the coming years. As long as a car can be enjoyed as Stuart enjoys his 350Z, does it even matter?

All that said — you should probably get one before they go up.