2004 Nissan 350Z Roadster
by Cordell Koland

The Nissan 350Z was introduced in 2003 and became an immediate
hit and a top seller in the sports car segment. Not to rest on its laurels, Nissan has now delivered a open-top roadster version of the 350Z that seems every bit as compelling, maybe even more so.

Maybe it is the gorgeous fall weather, but I haven¹t driven even a mile
with the top in its upright position. It¹s been all top-down motoring and I¹ve
been having a ball. I feel a little squished in the 350Z coupe, but with the
open air on all sides, that perception is gone in the roadster model.

With a well-equipped price that starts in the mid-$30,000 range, the car
seems a bargain for an open sports car with great performance credentials.
The Roadster is available in two model configurations, the standard
Enthusiast (our test vehicle) and the Touring Model.

Standard 350Z Roadster Enthusiast features include power seats,
power-operated soft top, rear wind deflector, 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon
headlights, automatic climate control, and a choice of five-speed automatic
or six-speed manual transmission. I couldn¹t ask for more content.
Everything important is included in the basic package. The Touring 
version is slightly upgraded with larger wheels and leather interior.

Like the closely related coupe version of the 350Z, the most impressive
ingredient is under the hood. The Z¹s 3.5-liter V-6 is a variant of Nissan¹s
highly acclaimed VQ engine family that develops 287 horsepower and propels the car from zero to 60 mph in less than six seconds. VQ engines are noted for smoothness, power and efficiency through reduced internal reciprocating mass that keeps vibration in check. Crank journals and cam lobes are micro-finished and pistons molybdenum-coated to minimize friction. The result is an engine that combines both refinement and scintillating responsiveness right up to the red line.

My only complaint in the engine department is that for some reason the motor sounds a bit strange in the roadster model. The engine emits a 
sound that reminds me of a very loud vacuum cleaner. While not enough 
to dampen my enthusiasm for the car, I¹d like to see the exhaust tuners tweak the system so that it burbles, rather than whirrs.

Our test Z Roadster was equipped with the optional automatic transmission, which preformed with gusto. As a hard-core adherent to the manual transmission in performance cars, I am forced to rethink my preference. The automatic transmission performs beautifully and quickly. 
It would take an exceptional driver to wring out better performance from the Z equipped with the manual transmission. Of course, the automatic can be operated in the manual mode, which seemed to fulfill most of my demands to control engine torque, or to use the engines braking power on long descending mountain grades.

On the road, the Z Roadster is a knockout. The car features an exceptionally long wheelbase and a wide track pushing the wheels out to the car¹s corners for cutting-edge responsiveness.  The turn-in is very quick and responsive and the car can thread its way down a country road with the best of them. As an unexpected bonus, the ride quality is also excellent. I never felt any pain, even on some very rough stretches of road. Of equal importance, the Z Roadster is extremely well build and devoid of any body shake while traversing those same bumpy country roads. The car keeps its composure under less-than-perfect circumstances.

Visually, the car, like most open cars, looks much better with the top
snugly secured in its compartment behind the seats. If there is any car on
the market that it resembles, it would be the Porsche 911 Cabriolet. By that
same token, I cannot say the Z Roadster is the prettiest Cabrio on the
market. It seems a bit high in profile and definitely loses in the
appearance department to the Porsche Boxster or the BMW Z4, which present sleeker outlines.

On the other hand, I found the interior to be completely satisfactory. The
cloth seats are sensational, offering both good comfort and supportive. The
instruments are well designed and easy to use.
 
 

Vehicle: Nissan 350Z Roadster

Price as tested: $35,360

Engine:

         Type: 3.5-liter V-6

         Horsepower: 287 @ 6,200 rpm

         Torque: 274-ft. lbs. @ 4,800 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

         City - 19 mpg

         Highway - 26 mpg

Curb Weight: 3,443 lbs.