Nissan has a long history of making cars, and it has had the most ups and downs regarding the success of its cars. For every Skyline, there's a Juke; for every Z-series, there's a Murano CrossCabriolet; and for every GT-R, there's an S-Cargo. But overall, you can see in the pattern here that Nissan has had a decent track record of making powerful and fun sports cars. All the way from the 1950s Datsun to the new Nissan Z, Nissan has made a name for itself in making affordable cars for enthusiasts.
Updated December 2022: The Nissan Z series has given enthusiasts a great selection of cars to choose from. During the 2000s, we got to experience two of the best Nissan Z production vehicles, the 350Z and 370Z. While one is slightly newer than the other, both have a special place in our hearts. Here's an updated list to help you find which Z is the better-value used sports car.
Speaking of its Z series sports cars, after the success of the 240Z and 280Z had gone away, it was the 350Z that helped revive the Z badge and bring Nissan back into the game. Flashback to the early 2000s, thanks to the Fast & Furious movies, JDM culture was at the peak of its popularity in the US among young enthusiasts, and the 350Z raised the bar for 'cheap thrills' and quickly became a tuner hotspot.
The 350Z had a good run until 2009, and just as it bid farewell, the new, more powerful 370Z entered the market to take the reins. Like a movie sequel, the 370Z was bigger, better, faster, and packed with more modern features than the original. But this is the 2020s where the prices for a used Nissan 350Z are super low and prices for a used 370Z are getting lower every year thanks to the emergence of EVs. Let's examine what sports car has the best-used car value and how to choose the one for you.
9 The Nissan 350Z Is A More Stylish Sports Car
Let's start by mentioning that both cars look similar to each other, and both look good. They may not be the most beautiful cars of the decade, but they are far from ugly. Both have simplistic shapes full of curves and a great-looking fastback-style rear.
But like most modern cars, the 370Z is curvier and slightly smaller. But with Nissan's presentation of these cars, the fewer details you find, the better it looks, so the slightly simpler-looking 350Z takes the edge here. That said, do not feel ashamed one bit if you fancy the 370Z more.
8 The Nissan 370Z Has A More Stylish Interior Than The 350Z
This one is a no-brainer. While they look similar on the outside, the case is different once you step inside. A modern 370Z's interior boasts better features, some of which were unheard of during the 350Z's run.
Both have features that pay homage to the original 240Z, such as the triple gauge layout on the dashboard. Both have a certain 'race car' feel thanks to a low-mounted seat and the driver-facing cluster, but the 370Z only wins here because of its modern features.
7 The 370Z Has Better Performance Than The 350Z
Yet another one that should come as a surprise to no one. The 350Z received a lot of attention through its pumped-up 3.5-liter V6 VQ35DE engine. But the 370Z has a larger engine, makes 32 more horsepower, 10 lb-ft more torque, takes 0.6 seconds less to sprint to 60 mph (5.1 seconds), has better braking, and takes 1 second less to complete a quarter-mile.
The difference is not that of day and night, but for those for whom every second matters on a track day, the 370Z should be the safer choice. And how can we forget the Nismo version of the 370Z?
6 A Used Nissan 370Z Is Easier To Find
Numbers speak for themselves. The 370Z has been selling for longer and is still available. In fact, the 2020 370Z is sold out. So, used models will not end anytime soon; luckily for enthusiasts, their prices decrease yearly.
Buying a used car can be tiresome if you can't find one nearby. The 370Z is not as rare as its older cousin, so you can choose from more options, which is a key factor when buying a used car. This leads us to the next topic.
5 The Nissan 370Z Is A Good Sports Car To Maintain
One of the benefits of the abundance of the 370Z model is that you can find a mechanic for your car more easily and readily available if there's anything wrong with it. Nissan's cars have never been subject to hard-to-find parts or exclusive shops that handle them. So, not only do you get peace of mind, but also more options and offers for your 370Z's OEM parts.
Another big plus that the 370Z comes with is that you can buy used ones that are still under the company's warranty. We cannot neglect to mention that buying a car is a one-time payment, but maintaining one will cost you regularly.
4 The Nissan 350Z Is Better For Tuning And Modifications
However, if you are not going to be entirely satisfied with just getting the car, and are planning to modify and customize it according to your needs, then the 350Z takes the cake here. As mentioned before, the 350Z was there right when the JDM tuning culture blew up, and Nissan cars were a big, prominent part of that.
The 370Z comes with a pre-tuned Nismo package, and you can still customize it pretty easily, but it cannot beat the sheer number of options and ease of modifying a 350Z.
3 The Nissan 350Z Is Cheaper To Buy Used
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Another point that helps the 350Z's customizability is its price. A used 370Z starts from $15,000 and goes up to $60,000 for newer models with less mileage, and higher trims. But you can find a 350Z for as low as $6,000. The price depends on where you look in the country, but you can still find them for around $10,000 almost everywhere.
If you find a 350Z in decent condition for that price and do not mind the slight decrease in performance and features compared to the 370Z, then it's a great deal.
2 Who Should Buy The Nissan 350Z?
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For people who want a project car, the 350Z is way better than its younger cousin. In theory, for the same price of a stock 370Z, you can buy a 350Z for cheaper and then work on it to make it a competitive track car. The chassis and engine of both cars are reliable and can handle numerous modifications.
There's a reason why we see more 350Zs on track and more 370Zs on the road, and a used 350Z is better value for people looking for a project car.
1 Who Should Buy The Nissan 370Z?
On the contrary, if you do not plan on going to tracks every weekend or so, and are looking for a fun-to-drive car to take on road trips and daily commutes, then a newer used 370Z will be better for you. You can still have one with the company warranty, which saves a lot of hassle.
You will also be able to enjoy all the modern safety, infotainment, and driving assist features that come with a 370Z. Overall, as a fun daily driver, a used 370Z is a better value used car than the former.