Nissan 350Z Z33 Portal

After the Z32 priced itself into the clouds, Nissan killed the Z, had a rethink, and brought it back in 2002 as the 350Z: cheap, simple, rear-drive and naturally aspirated. No turbos, no clever four-wheel steering, just a big 3.5 V6 up front and the rear wheels doing the work. It is the honest, chuckable tuner's Z, and here is how the range breaks down.

VQ35DE vs VQ35HR (the split that matters)

The original VQ35DE is a strong, torquey V6 that made the 350Z quick and cheap at the same time. The catch is a well-known appetite for oil, worst on the high-revving 2005-06 "Rev-up" cars, so any 350Z you look at should be checked for how it has been serviced and how hard it has been revved. From 2007 the VQ35HR ("HR" for High Response, High Revolution) brought more power, more torque up top and that raised redline. If you have the choice and the budget, the HR car is the one to have.

Trims and gearbox

At launch the coupe came as Base, then up through Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track, with the Track getting the proper Brembo brakes and lightweight forged wheels. The Roadster (the convertible) stuck to the softer Enthusiast and Touring grades. Across all of them, the choice that changes the car most is the six-speed manual versus the five-speed auto. For a driver's Z, hold out for the manual.

The honest bit: owning one

After a Z32, the Z33 is a holiday. It is cheap to buy and cheap to run, and about as simple to work on as a modern sports car gets, which is a big part of why it became such a tuning and track-day favourite. The one real watch-item is oil consumption, especially on hard-revved VQ35DE cars, so check the history and keep an eye on the dipstick. Do that and it is one of the most fun-per-dollar rear-drive coupes going.

So which Z33 do you actually want?

A manual, first and foremost. A 2007-on VQ35HR manual, ideally a Track, is the pick of the range, but any honest six-speed VQ35DE with a clean service record is a cracking buy and still cheap. Skip the tired, oil-drinking bargains and get the well-kept one. It is the value play in the whole Z family.