I've owned my Z for 3.5 years and its been a joy.
Have always been a car enthusiast and it was time to buy my first interesting car. I wanted a RWD, manual with a characterful engine. I was also at a life stage where backseats were optional. The 350Z fit the bill and is very affordable 2nd hand. For this reason it can be hard to find unmolested and well looked after examples. I was lucky to find one that's done mostly country miles.
Styling wise I love the classic coupe shape, bonnet bulge, big wheel arches, low stance, it looks like a cat ready to pounce. Best angle is the side profile. A flowing design that ages very well. Inside is very spacious for 2 (only 2). The seats are comfortable leather with well bolstered sides. Although there's no shortage of plastic surfaces inside, Nissan have made sure everything you touch regularly is made of premium materials. Leather steering wheel, leather shift knob, metallic pedals. There's even leather padding for your left leg. The only exception is the door handle and cubby hole which are notorious for scratched paint.
Technology wise, very basic by today's standards. No infotainment, no connectivity, it even has a tape deck! Remember this car was introduced in 2003. But in the interest of uninterrupted driving pleasure this was not so bad. It became my happy place, momentarily I was free from the cares of this world. What little creature comforts it did have were premium quality I must say. 6 CD stacker, Bose speakers with sub woofer, electric seats, seat warmer and that's about it.
Perhaps that tells you where the design focus lay, driving pleasure. The steering is sharp and progressively weighty in proportion to speed. Wonderfully intuitive. Lots of mechanical grip but don't turn off that traction control unless you're on a track. The engine is a gem, instantaneous torque at any rev. Pulls strong up to redline and reliable as a Camry. The transmission is where the chinks start appearing in the armour. Under the right conditions and driven precisely it is wonderfully direct, mechanical and satisfying. But when the oil is not warmed up its hard to shift. The clutch has solid feel but needs finesse to get it right. The dual mass flywheel is noisy with many owners wondering if something is broken and rattling around. Clutch slave cylinders are known to fail after 100,000 kms or if abused. Mine was neither but I heard many stories. A great drivers car at 8/10ths, but pushing beyond that you start to feel weight becomes an issue. This car does not flatter your abilities or stroke your ego. Make a mistake and it shows, which makes getting it right that much more satisfying. It's simply direct, linear, 1:1, analogue, raw. Every driver input results in a response. Which can be quite demanding but so satisfying if you value driving pleasure over comfort.
Reliability has not missed a beat. With regular maintenance and no hooning I've had no major issues. Not even the dreaded clutch slave. The paint is very thin so even if you're ultra careful not to scratch it, you'll still get stone chips from regular driving. The rear hatch is heavy and the strut won't hold it up after a while. An aftermarket heavy duty strut is an easy fix. You don't buy a car like this for practicality but you still have to live with it. So here's what you have to live with. The boot is shallow and there's a massive strut brace in the way. I removed the boot floor covering and considered removing the spare wheel to get more depth. The long door also means you have to open it quite wide to get out comfortably. This is an issue in small carparks. Low ground clearance and a stiff chassis makes for great handling. But steep driveways can be a problem. Scraps, three wheeling, and loss of traction have all happened depending on the angle of attack! The Z is great for one purpose, but not every journey is a mountain drive. You have to wear the right shoes, plan ahead, warm up the car etc. When doing a quick milk run and I have the option of taking my wife's SUV, I usually do.
Lastly I will mention how I lost the car. Someone ran through a roundabout and T-boned us. Spinning us around 180 degrees and deploying the side & curtain airbags. We escaped without a scratch and the Z was written off. So perhaps its most important feature is its solid build and safety. Despite all its faults I don't think I would have ever sold the Z. I grew to know exactly how it responds in every situation, what she liked and didn't like. I can understand why many enthusiasts talk about having a relationship with your car. I do miss the Z and whenever I see one drive past it still brings a smile to my face. Remembering all the adventures, conversations (with people) and moments we shared. That's what the car community is really about. Funny how a metal box on wheels gets under our skin and burrows its way into our lives. And we are richer for it.