2002 Nissan 350Z

2002 to 2009 · Coupe

The 350Z marked Nissan's triumphant return to affordable sports car glory after the 300ZX's departure in 1996. Built on the FM platform shared with Infiniti's G35, this rear-wheel-drive coupe delivered 287-306 horsepower from its naturally aspirated VQ35DE V6, depending on year and revision. Designer Diane Allen's bold, muscular styling perfectly captured the Z-car's heritage while looking decidedly modern. The 350Z offered genuine sports car dynamics with a 53/47 weight distribution and available Brembo brakes, all at a price that undercut the competition. Production totaled over 158,000 units in the US alone, making clean examples increasingly sought after as the tuner tax takes its toll. Early cars suffered some interior quality issues, but the mechanical package was solid. Today's collectors prize low-mileage examples, particularly the Track and Nismo variants, as the 350Z represents the last analog Z before electronic nannies arrived.