So you were thinking of buying that Camry, Accord, Altima or Maxima. The
wife wants a practical 4 door sedan with some nice features and has set a
budget of $25k. So one day, you go over to your Nissan dealer to check out
the Altima or Maxima. Sitting in the center of the showroom is Nissan's
new 350Z in silver. You say to yourself, its a sports car...probably $40k easily.
Just to affirm your fears, you walk over to the sticker. What the hell
!#*? This must be a typo! Twenty seven thousand? You don't even have to
test drive it. You just sit inside and know you are home. They run the
credit check, you pop out your near limitless American Express to put down
a deposit. You fill out the paperwork. The grin on your face is wide as
the car, as you unleash the blistering engine on the freeway home. You
pull into the driveway and your wife comes out to hear where that loud
sports car-like noise is emanating from. She looks at the car and signs
divorce papers the next day. But heck you now have a Z.
Okay, okay, we're not encouraging spouses to go wild with reckless fiscal
abandon or that some spouses would be more understanding. Perhaps the
situation may not be that realistic if Nissan dealers decide to put
premium mark ups on the cars. One thing we're sure is that Nissan's $26,269
MSRP base pricing will get a lot of attention and drive up sales across
the board.
Enough of our speeches...Let's cut to the chase - prices and what you get:
Standard
features:
3.5L DOHC 24-valve V-6 with variable valve timing, multi-link front
and rear independent suspension, dual outlet exhaust, drive-by-wire throttle, carbon-fiber driveshaft, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, vented front and rear disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution, Nissan Direct Ignition System (NDIS), automatic temperature control, 160-watt AM/FM/CD with 6 speakers, power windows/door locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry, vehicle security system, leather steering wheel and shifter boot
$26,269
Enthusiast Model 6MT
Standard features plus:
Xenon headlamps, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, cruise control,
Traction Control System (TCS), viscous limited-slip differential,
aluminum pedals, day/night auto rearview mirror, dual illuminated
visor vanity mirrors
$28,249
Enthusiast Model 5AT (w/manual mode)
Standard features plus: Xenon headlamps, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, cruise control, Traction Control System (TCS), viscous limited-slip differential, aluminum pedals, day/night auto rearview mirror, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors
$29,219
Performance Model 6MT
Standard features plus: Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), tire air pressure monitor, 18-inch aluminum wheels and tires, Xenon headlamps, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, cruise control, Traction Control System (TCS), viscous limited-slip differential, aluminum pedals, day/night auto rearview mirror, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors
$30,429
Touring Model 6MT
Standard features plus: 240-watt Bose CD6 with cassette and 7 speakers, leather-appointed seats, 4-way power driver’s seat, 2-way power passenger’s seat, heated seats, heated mirrors, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), tire air pressure monitor, 18-inch aluminum wheels and tires, Xenon headlamps, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, cruise control, Traction Control System (TCS), viscous limited-slip differential, aluminum pedals, day/night auto rearview mirror, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors
$33,179
Touring Model 5AT (w/manual mode)
Standard features plus: 240-watt Bose CD6 with cassette and 7 speakers, leather-appointed seats, 4-way power driver’s seat, 2-way power passenger’s seat, heated seats, heated mirrors, Xenon headlamps, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, cruise control, Traction Control System (TCS), viscous limited-slip differential, aluminum pedals, day/night auto rearview mirror, dual illuminated visor mirrors
$31,589
Track Model 6MT
Standard features plus: Front and rear spoiler, 18-inch tires and lightweight aluminum wheels, vented Brembo brakes, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), tire air pressure monitor, Xenon headlamps, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, cruise control, Traction Control System (TCS), viscous limited-slip differential, aluminum pedals, day/night auto rearview mirror, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors
$34,079
Options
DVD-based Navigation System
Side air bag and curtain airbag
$1,999
$ 569
Destination and Handling
$ 540
All 350Zs will come with only one engine (for now), the ubiquitous VQ V-6
engine in 3.5 liter displacement. The VQ has been acclaimed by both
enthusiasts and press as a reliable, smooth and extremely potent engine in
Nissan's flagship sedan, the Maxima. Nissan tuned the 350Z's version of
the engine for even better performance through optimization of intake port design and adopting Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS)
. Nissan still won't announce an official horsepower rating but we expect
a final rating of at least 280 bhp if not 300 bhp.
The 350Z utilizes Nissan's new FM (front midship) platform meaning the
engine sits behind the front wheel axle thus technically making the Z a
mid-ship engine car just like the Acura NSX and Toyota MR2. However the Z's
engine will be mounted in the front of the car rather than rear unlike the
NSX or MR2. The Honda S2000 can also be classified as a front midship car.
The advantage of the FM package is an almost 50/50 front to back weight
distribution and thus more neutral handling. The FM package also specifies
4 wheel independent multi-link suspension along with newly developed
ripple control shock absorbers.
According to Nissan, "ripple-control" damping
improves tire contact to the road on uneven surfaces, while absorbing even the smallest bumps
- minimizing the amount of noise and vibrations. Nissan says they want the
Z to have sports car-like handling but also retain a smooth ride
like a touring car. Finally the FM package specifies a highly refined
aerodynamic body which we expect the Z to have a Cd figure of 0.28 or 0.29
and zero-lift meaning the car will stick to the road during high
speed driving.
We expect the new 350Z to be the 240Z of the 21st
century...Beautifully sculpted, offering high performance, and most
important of all - be affordable. The Z will differentiate Nissan's from
it's Japanese automotive brethren and put Nissan in the minds of all automotive
enthusiasts again.
