35th Anniversary edition, fast, fun, affordable

2005 marks thirty-five years since the Z car first arrived at North American Nissan dealers. Back then, it was known as the Datsun 240Z and was an immediate hit, with long waiting lists and no promised date for delivery.

For 2005, Nissan celebrates the Z with a special commemorative anniversary edition coupe with unique features, including a modest bump in horsepower to 300 from the standard 287, large Brembo® brakes, 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a front chin spoiler and a rear spoiler. Pricing has not been announced for the anniversary edition that will be available in early 2005.

Nine models of the 350Z are available for 2005: six coupes and three roadsters. All Z's come equipped with the same 3.5-liter 24-valve V-6. Differences among the them are primarily in trim, wheel size and suspension systems.

New for 2005, all models receive a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), heated outside review mirrors and a driver-seat height adjuster. For those who found the clutch overly stiff, Nissan has reduced the pedal pressure for '05 making it easier to operate. Three new exterior colors are being introduced this year including the new Ultra Yellow, which utilizes a new high-luminance and high-chroma pearl pigment. I liked the Ultra Yellow color on the roadster Nissan supplied as a test car, although it would have looked better with chrome wheels instead of the aluminum alloy wheels.

I first tested the 350Z in April '03 and again in January '04 and came away favorably impressed with the styling, thrilling acceleration and impressive handling characteristics. For 2005, my opinion hasn't changed and the 350Z remains an exceptional buy for those drivers who want a true performance sports car at a bargain price.

The front-engine, rear-drive 350Z delivers racecar handling whether driving the coupe or roadster model. This car handles like it's on rails when handling sharp curves on twisting mountain roads. While I previously made note of its firm ride, our 2005 roadster seemed softer and less punishing than other tested Z cars. I still wouldn't recommend drinking coffee while driving; besides, the awkward location of the cup holders at the far rear of the center console renders them virtually useless anyway. Another cup holder, which felt too flimsy, is located far to the right on the passengers-side dash and too far for the driver to reach.

Inside, the cockpit is designed for a driver-oriented experience. The interior seems to surround the driver with supportive and comfortable form-fitting bucket seats. The drivers seat has a raised found at the front center of the seat bottom to help keep the driver securely planted behind the wheel during aggressive handling.

In my last review I complained about the too low seating position, however the new for '05 seat height adjustment should help most drivers to find a comfortable position. Drivers 6'2" will still feel cramped and uncomfortable behind the wheel. Headroom is adequate for most, but there just isn't enough legroom for this at 6'6" too-tall driver.

The Z features a manual tilt steering column with a three-pod of gauges that moves with it. A voltmeter, an oil pressure gauge and a digital trip computer sit attractively on top of the center stack, angled toward the driver.

My roadster featured a power top that stows neatly below a hard boot cover, which rises while the top folds and neatly covers the lowered canvas in one smooth mechanical motion. The top operation is done with the push of a button while the driver remains behind the wheel. No need to stretch a soft cover boot in place with buttons or snaps.

While the Z offers more storage space than a Mazda Miata, there still isn't much room for cargo. The roadster's trunk is a mere 4.1 cubic feet. Nissan swears it will accommodate a golf bag and includes a diagram label on the underside of the trunk lid depicting how to get the bag to fit.

And don't bother looking for a glove box because there isn't one, at least not on the lower dash. There is a large lockable box located behind the passenger's seatback. You'll need to flip the passenger seatback forward to access the lid for the storage bin.

But the Z is about driving, not running errands to Home Depot. With 287-horsepower and 274-pound-feet of torque, zero to 60 miles per hour takes just 5.6 seconds. A six-speed short-throw manual transmission is standard with a five-speed automatic available. I recommend skipping the automatic. The six-speed shifts effortlessly and is easy and enjoyable to drive. Besides, the throaty growls from the dual exhaust pipes just sound better when shifting through the manual gears, especially in the top-down roadster.

Top-down cabin turbulence was held to minimum thanks to the tempered glass deflector mounted between the roll bars behind our leather seats. Top up, the cabin noise level was relatively low even at highway speeds. Rear visibility isn't the best in either the coupe or the roadster with sizeable blind spots attributed to the coupe's angular hatchback and the limiting qualities of the convertible top.

If you plan to use the 350Z as a daily driver we recommend you skip the Track model. It's an excellent choice if you plan to drive it at places like Firebird or Bondurant racetracks with its huge Brembo® brakes and firm suspension, but it's just too pounding a ride for daily use. For all out Arizona fun I strongly suggest the roadster. It's perfect for spring, fall and summer nights with the air conditioning on.

Four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with ABS are standard on all Z models. Side and head-protecting side curtain airbags are optional on all coupes. Regular side airbags are standard on Touring roadsters and optional on Enthusiast versions. Crash test ratings from National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: driver: excellent; passenger: good; side impact: excellent.

For the money, the 350Z remains as one of the best performance cars available on the market today. It's a real sports car with head-turning good looks and serious performance capabilities. The roadster variant only adds to the fun.

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