Top news video

The Bottom Line

What do the About.com Rating stars mean?

I’ve always had a liberal spot for the Nissan Z-car. My favorite uncle was a Z-man until the age 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 fancy? Read on.

Larger photos: Front – rear – middle – all photos

Pros

• Gobs of power
• Sharp, friendly handling
• Makes a superlative daily driver — for short people, at least

Cons

• Cramped cabin
• Side/side-curtain airbags aren’t standard
• Electronic stability control only available in more costly models

Description

• Nissan’s legendary sports car; a new version is expected for the 2010 model year
• Price align (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 husbandry: 18.9 MPG

Guide Review – 2008 Nissan 350Z

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 check, and a few other gadgets. The only options are side- and side-curtain airbags ($620), ineluctable transmission (no name), and red go on a bender ($500 — really, Nissan??). Notably gone: Electronic stability control, which is only offered on pricier Zs.

I’m not a big dude — 5′6" — so I was surprised at how cramped the Z’s two-seat cabin felt. Things got better once I implore 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, notably knowing that I didn’t play a joke on 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 metamorphose into. (You could probably give it a bigger flick with the traction control off; I didn’t in requital respecting fear of my little flick turning into a big spin and a humiliating phone right 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 despicable (and the feel put down side mirrors don’t help), but the journey and din 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 revamped Z coming in 2010, presumably with the bigger (3.7 liter) engine from the Infiniti G37. If Nissan also ups the Z’s commitment to shelter (standard side airbags and ESC would be a shapely start), the Z’s champion prominence will be safe and sound.