Cougar - Driveway Built - Buying a Car

I have been around for a while but decided to start a story again, from fresh this time. If you enjoy reading the updates then keep an eye out here or if you prefer the more brief posts I’ll be on the Facebook page!

Part 1 - Buying a car

After scouring eBay and AutoTrader for weeks I found a car that I liked and that looked un-molested, it was an early model 350Z. I’ve heard the early ones have a few issues but I guess all that depends on how the car has been treated and if these have ever been recalled. The car itself looked clean and well looked after and with only 54,000 miles on it it seemed to have an easy life. I contacted the owner and set up a socially distanced viewing. I was pretty certain I was going to buy it but still nice to go over it properly.



I arrived at a busy farm with tractors and other farming machinery dotted around, the 350 had been put under a tree out the way of traffic. The owner was an elderly gentleman that had purchased the car 15 years ago as a weekend toy. But has been parked the last 7/8 years due to ill health. His son had borrowed it on occasion but he said it’s done less than 500 miles a year for a long time now. All services have been carried out by a Nissan dealer every year to keep it running. It had a recall in 2015 too which was dealt with.

All in all it was a very clean car that had a very easy life. It was listed a little higher than other 350’s on the market but it was easy to see why. It was factory standard with just one of the exhaust resonators deleted to give it a bit more of a grunt when up in the revs. We talked for a while and I transferred the money into his bank and I collected the keys.

My plans aren’t to trash it drifting as this is still my only car and my way of getting to and from work, don’t get me wrong I will still be having fun in it but it’s not going to be a missile!

Part 2 - Snowing

After a whole 48 hours of owning the Z33 I woke up to snow.. and lots of it! I had originally decided against driving it in the snowy conditions but after a few hours of sitting inside I decided to boot up and see how it reacted! My thought process was that I knew the Z is a heavy car and it might not struggle despite being RWD. So I cleared the snow off it and headed out. I’m no stranger to drifting but I am however a stranger to the Z, so everything I experience in this car is new to me.



Pleased to say I didn’t crash it! I managed a few miles when I got to a group of rocks with a little car park at the bottom, parked up and decided to try and get a better view of the snowy hills. Obviously had to take a top pic of the 350 whilst I was up there didn’t I.



Stayed a little while until the snow started to fall again so I made tracks back to the car, good thing about having a modern daily drifter? The heaters work sublime! I didn’t really have a destination in mind I was just out on my own, enjoying the car and having a nice explore. I came across a path that had not been cleared so had to see how the Z handled being sideways a bit. Being a V6 with around 270hp and fresh snow under the wheels it didn’t take much encouragement to get the back end out. And it felt easy to control! No snapping from the steering, no awkward feelings. The car felt very comfortable, I can only imagine what it’s going to be like on dry concrete.



That’s it for now, I made my way home safe and sound. Decided against washing it as there isn’t really much point in this weather. Oh, I also managed to buy a second hand K&N cone filter for it! So when that arrives I’ll get it fitted, should make the car breath a little better and add a little induction noise!

Any big plans you want to share yet?

Love the story, makes me want to get mine going again.

Me likey!

MichaelC wrote:

Any big plans you want to share yet?

Love the story, makes me want to get mine going again.

I don’t as of yet I’m afraid

Darthm0ng wrote:

Me likey!

Thanks my guy

Part 3 - Modifications

I haven’t been out much in the 350z, I cleaned it after getting back from my outing the other day and it’s snowed again since covering the car so I’ve taken the advice of the government and stayed home. But staying home is dangerous, as I have not much else to do other than work things and browsing car parts.. as I have proven to myself after purchasing a set of un-used BC Racing coilovers. I have been wanting some coilovers since I got it, alright they should arrive by the end of the week I’m going to wait until the weather is better to fit them.



The snow is due to clear by the end of the week so a little outing may be in order this weekend, hopefully some of the boys are out to play too!

Part 4 - Instillation and Friends

Being good friends with Michael, the owner of Circuit Produce, has its perks. I called him to ask a little favour to see if he has a ramp available for a few hours that I could borrow to install my BC’s. As we’re in the midst of another lockdown business is a bit slower than usual so he said to bring it down and he’ll help me out. Good guy! Can’t recommend his work enough, plenty of tools to do any job big or small!

He was impressed with how clean the 350 was for a near 17 year old car, paid a little over the odds but at least I can rest easy knowing I don’t have a lemon on my hands! Within about 2 hours we had the BC’s installed and on the lowest setting they could go, not an issue seeing as I’m still on stock wheels but Michael has agreed to help source the wheels I’m after, kind of hard to get them as they’re not in production anymore. This is just a picture of the Z resting next to Michael’s track spec E46.



We sat for a while waiting for the sun to go down so we could go out and test the 350, didn’t want to get a fine for being out during a lock down night fell and Michael pulled the S13 out of its spot in the garage and we headed out. The car felt a lot stiffer, as to be expected and it cornered a lot flatter! Didn’t feel as much like a boat, glad I didn’t cheap out on coilovers, they’ve made the world of difference to the car! We found a closed road and had some fun, couldn’t stay long as his S13 is quite loud so would no doubt attract some unwanted police attention.



We didn’t have someone to take photos so no action shots, but we did some tandems in. I think I need to invest in some steering lock mods to help aid the 350. Did spin out a few times, no crashes though so we’re all good!

Here’s a pic of the S13, just because it’s beautiful and I love it!

Oh stop, you're making me blush!