The Nissan 350Z: The Most Important Car of the 2000's

Southern California is home to a number of special things. The most notable are incredible food of all kinds, Los Angeles’ endless offerings, and roads that remind us what driving is all about (horrendous traffic included). The locale also happens to be one of the car capitals of the world. Being raised in the heart of car culture, what you drive means everything and standing out is an even greater feat.

Yes, you read the title correctly. In the early 2000’s, I couldn't think of a car that was more influential to car culture than the Nissan 350Z. Sure, there's much cooler cars of the era like the Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari Enzo, or Porsche Carrera GT but those aren't necessarily cars you’ll run into at a stop light. During the decade you were more likely to run into the likes of affordable entry level sports cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Celica GT-S, and Mazda Miata. Modern cult classics to say the least but they did lack in some areas. 

Looking back, it seemed like there was no middle ground in the Japanese sportscar market for something that was sporty, driver focused, and made more than 200 horsepower at a decent price point. Someone at Nissan must’ve taken note of this and decided to fill in the gap. The Japanese manufacture would do so with the next sports car in the Z bloodline. The bulbous rear end hatchback would have 350Z embossed on the rear bumper. Little did Nissan know that this would be the moniker of a sportscar that would live to be a modern icon.

Nissan on Top

Japan’s sportscars had been thriving throughout the 1990s. No one knew at the time, but this would be considered the Golden Era for sportscars made from the Land of the Rising Sun. You can’t talk about the 90’s Japanese Domestic Market without big hitters coming to mind. Mazda’s RX-7,  Hondas NSX, Toyota’s Supra, and Nissan GT-R R34 are the highlights of the decade. Japans auto manufacturers' top offerings are simply referred to as legendary in many regards. But import laws and high MSRP prices would make these cars accessible to the few and unobtainable for decades.

During the 90's Nissans line-up in the was arguably the strongest for any car enthusiast. With the exclusion of the R34 and other Japan-only gems (Pulsar and President to name a few) there was still a car for every driver in the US market. From the B13 SE-R Sentra with a naturally aspirated SR20 to the S13 and S14 240SX with a legacy that speaks for itself. Nissan could do no wrong. If you wanted something a little more prestigious, Nissan offered the most technologically advanced car the company had ever produced. It too wore a Z badge.

The 300ZX

The Fourth Gen Z: 300ZX

The 300ZX was the fourth generation Z car. The Z32 was a sports car that doubled as a GT car with luxury and technology at the forefront. The 300ZX featured active aero, Super HICAS 4-wheel steering, and the twin turbocharged VG30 V6. Compared to the 240Z the 300ZX was as sophisticated as a rocket ship, resulting in a driving experience far off the mark of what made the S30 so special. Because of this, Nissan went back to the drawing board and decided that the next Z iteration would take a back to basics approach. The Yokohama based manufacturer wanted to ensure the spirit of the 240Z was brought back to life. 

Z Lives On

The Nissan 350Z pictured along side its spiritual successor the 240Z

In August of 2002, the 350Z hit showrooms across the nation and people were blown away. Taking inspiration from the original 240Z, the 350Z honored its heritage with a modern take on the old car's styling. The traditional long front nose and short rear end. New Z badges graced the front fenders and also doubled as turn signals. Three distinct gauges gracing the dashboard as a nod to the original S30. The sleek body lines were nothing that anyone had seen from any manufacturer before. If the looks weren’t enough, the Z had more to offer from the driver seat.

Gone was the comfort and sophistication of the 300ZX. Every aspect of the 350z is about  the driving experience. Despite having a long hood, the steering wheel always lets you know where the two front tires are. In stock form, feedback is direct as the steering loads up but somehow isn’t harsh on long highway drives making the Z great for long tours. The chassis is rigid thanks to the reinforced aluminum body and the rear hatch. The most mesmerizing component of the 350Z was the newly designed 3.5 liter V6 designated VQ35. This engine made power, revved well, and produced a noise like no other and would be the platform for the R35's might VR engine series. If you’re getting flashbacks of the first time you heard a 350Z with a Tomei exhaust, you’re welcome and I am sorry. Mated to a 6 speed manual transmission there wasn’t a bargain like this anywhere outside a Nissan dealership. 

The 350z is a bare bones, purebred sports car, meaning just the necessities and nothing else. This meant that the car was affordable with a base price of $26,000 USD in 2002. Anyone ready to make the leap could walk into a local dealership and buy a 276 horsepower sports coupe for $5000 more than a base model NB Miata and make double the power. Talk about bargain performance.

For many the 350Z was, and arguably still is, the complete package. Not only does the Z serve as the one the best do-it-all sportscars. Its one of the best sportscars of its decade. One-off styling, a unique engine boasting an unforgettable exhaust note to match. If this sounds like I'm describing a supercar, you’re right but this was something different. Nissan took this recipe  and put it in a platform that let everyone have a piece of the high-end sportscar pie. The 350Z carries the legacy of an entire brand on its shoulders and reminds enthusiasts why they fell in love with the brand in the first place. It's hard to imagine the automotive space without a car as important as the 350Z.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the photos that you just saw. Giving credit to the ones that took these shots.