Since its feature in the Fast and Furious franchise, the Nissan 350Z has remained in the spotlight among car enthusiasts. Besides its five minutes of fame on the big screen, though, there are a lot of other aspects of the car that keep it popular in some motorsports and among custom car shows. From performance to appearance, the Nissan 350Z has some of the biggest aftermarket support of any vehicle currently on the road today, and they can be built, customized, and driven for a fraction of what most other cars cost.

Olden but golden

While the Nissan 350Z is no longer in production, they are still fairly common on the used car market. With a variety of choices, you can pick between a hardtop coupe or a soft-top convertible, and you also get the option of manual transmission or automatic transmission. Because they are older cars that haven’t retained all of their value and aren’t really collector cars, you can find them for affordable prices, even in good condition. As a Nissan, they are also inexpensive to maintain as well as find parts for.

The Nissan 350Z in motorsports

While the Nissan 350Z may seem like your average, run-of-the-mill sports car, they can quickly be modified to dominate in one particular motorsport: drifting. While it may not be as popular as NASCAR and Formula 1, drifting can be an exciting sport whether you are behind the wheel or out in the stands. The Nissan 350Z is a common car to see at these events, and they can be heavily modified to perform well without needing extensive modifications to the vehicle’s chassis.

Cosmetic upgrades

Besides mechanical upgrades, there are a lot of private shops that create custom bodies for the Nissan 350Z. Everything from new front ends, cool hood upgrades and wide-body kits can be found pretty regularly — though some can be pretty pricey. The good news is there are a lot of styles and options to choose from, and so many people customize these cars that the forums can be flooded with advice and support on installing everything from racing harnesses to aftermarket spoilers.

Many people consider cars as nothing more than vessels to get them from point A to point B, and that’s okay. But, if you’re looking for options of cars that you can personalize to your driving style and aesthetic, the Nissan 350Z is definitely a great contender with a lot of options.