Affordable, reliable, and inexpensive, the Nissan 350z is a dream sports car for a low budget. Since the Nissan brand has moved on to the 370z and potential new 400z the prices of the 350z have dropped substantially, and that’s not the only reason you should buy one.

The Nissan 350z is as inexpensive and easy to work on as any other mass-produced Nissan car has been. They can boast the notorious reliability of the VQ motors and add thousands of miles to the car without having to do more than general maintenance. When you do need to do maintenance, all of the parts and pieces can typically be found at local auto parts stores or ordered online. The 350z is so common that there are several aftermarket manufacturers that make any repairs parts at even a fraction of the already low cost of OEM parts.

The 350z is sporty and fun

The Nissan 350z is also a fun car to drive, especially if you can find one with a manual transmission, and those are almost as common as the automatic versions. The 350z is a common platform for people who like to drive their cars, and they have just enough power to make them fun for less-skilled drivers. Drivers looking for more power can confidently boost the two available VQ motors with the addition of aftermarket turbochargers, a modification that is common and easy to do.

Make it yours

For a two-door sports car, the 350z does still offer a lot of everyday use. The interior is spacious enough that you won’t feel overly cramped, even if you are a taller driver or passenger like you might in smaller options like the Lotus Elise. The trunk has enough cargo capacity to make it ideal for getting decent amounts of groceries or running small errands – you’re obviously not going to take it to Home Depot to get wood or anything crazy like that.

Convertible fans can rejoice in their purchase of a convertible 350z. The smooth body lines make this bubbly little sports car entertaining to drive with the top up on rainy days or down on cooler spring days. Older used models typically have some wear and tear of the sporty ragtop, but that’s to be expected when buying any older convertible. The good news? It’s a Nissan! That means the convertible tops are cheap to repair and easy to replace.

If you like tastefully, or not-so-tastefully, modifications to your cars, the 350z is a great option. The car is so popular that there are a plethora of aftermarket options for cosmetic upgrades, including body kits, suspensions or interior upgrades. They are an incredibly popular platform for making a car that is completely your own, from Sparco seats to a low-profile ride, you can get it all for a 350z.

The 350z is a cool sports car that has been well-loved since its start. The prices of the cars can vary, starting from a few thousand dollars and ranging upwards depending on mileage and condition. They are a car you should buy if you’re looking for something sporty and fun but don’t want to spend Porsche kind of money, or you’re conscious about maintenance and repair costs.