GOTTA GET THIS OFF MY CHEST!

[fotodad]

Before I bought my 2004 Solara SLE I bought a 2003 Nissan 350Z. I owned the Z for a little over eight months when I realized emotions got the better of me when I bought the Z. It is without a doubt one of the coolest cars on the road. But then issues of quality started to present themselves. First were suspension issues which caused abnormal tire wear which lead to growling noises when stopping or driving at 20 mph. Then both windows got grease streaks on them after being opened and closed. The Bose sound system SUCKS! Then rattles and squeeks became a weekly frustration. The paint on the Z was extremely brittle, leading to excessive chipping. I even had the paint start to wear off while I was rubbing bug slime from my bumper! Then issues of practicality became a problem. This is where I take full blame. As soon as I saw the Z I wanted one. I forgot I had a wife and three kids. I forgot I needed to use the car in a Wisconsin winter. And I forgot sports cars have stiff, I mean STIFF, rides.

So I traded the Z in on my new Solara. The ironic thing is I owned a 2000 Solara SLE before I got the Z! I was so happy with my 2000 Solara. It was a huge mistake selling it!

Well, anyways, I told folks on my350Z.com that I was going to sell the Z and get a Solara. The Z owners understood my situation and wished me well with whatever I purchased. Many pointed out how different each car is in purpose and design. But after owning my 2004 SLE for almost a week now, I can honestly say I am more pleased with the Solara in EVERY way except maybe acceleration. Granted, this is merely my opinion, but I think the Solara is better looking than the Z, I think the Solara's performance, minus the acceleration, is just as sporty as the Z, and WITHOUT A DOUBT the Solara is a higher quality car in build and parts.

I doubt I will ever buy a Nissan product again. I cannot express how disappointed I was and am with Nissan. Now, it's possible I got a lemon. But from what I've been reading on my350Z.com, I was not alone.

So why write this novel? Because I am just so happy with my Solara. The ride is tight, rattle free! The paint, knock on wood, is holding up to the elements. The JBL sound system KICKS A$$! The Solara is every bit as fun to drive as the Z. And my dealer (Matt at Kolosso Toyota, Appleton, Wisconsin) bends over backwards anytime I have an issue, something the Nissan dealership would not do.

I took a big kick in the groin when I traded the Z in, but I don't regret the loss in any way!

I just had a clear bra installed and had the windows tinted (20%). I polished and waxed the car today. Getting rid of the Z was a HUGE weight off my shoulders.

Moral of the story: Have fun when buying a car, but don't let too much emotion enter into the sale before you sign the dotted line.

Whew! I feel so much better now! I can't wait to post some pictures of my Solara. Have a great day everyone!

[Jackass-Jeff]

Moral of the story: Have fun when buying a car, but don't let too much emotion enter into the sale before you sign the dotted line.

It's very true! I'm glad you let this out! I have always made fun of Nissan's quality (to my close friends that are Nissan fans) and I said the Altima and Maxima (2003 models, V6) used cheap materials for the interior and it was very tacky. I also heard about a good number of Altimas having frozen fuel lines or something... I concluded that I'd NEVER EVER EVER EVER buy a Nissan Sedan, but I would consider their sports cars. After hearing this about the Z, my thoughts on Nissan have swayed again... now I'm more reluctant to even consider a Nissan sports car. The Z looks ok, but the G35 (built on the Z platform too I think...) is a much better looking vehicle (Coupe, not Sedan. The Sedan should be set aflame and mocked for years to come) Now I'm wondering about the reliability of Nissan's killer sports car: The GTR. For around 10,000,000 or so yen, it better have a lot of quality issues resolved before release!

Whatever happened to quality Nissans... the Maxima (Current generation minus 2 generations... The one before the 'circle lights'), the Altima (last generation had a lot less issues than the current), etc... I don't understand how they were in the financial hole back then but are pulling their way out of the hole w/ these crappier cars =\

[Solaradude]

nooooooooooooooooooooo 350z for a 04 Solara?!?!?

350z handles like nothing else....they stick to the ground! And the acceleration.....oh my gosh. I have to have both of my hands on the steering wheel. But yea, it's just how you feel about the car. If you want to have a nice looking car but poor quality or an ugly looking car with good quality. Whatever floats ur boat.

[fotodad]

If you want to have a nice looking car but poor quality or an ugly looking car with good quality. Whatever floats ur boat.

OR...

Get the Solara: "a nice looking car...with good quality."

[Solaradude]

If you want to have a nice looking car but poor quality or an ugly looking car with good quality. Whatever floats ur boat.

OR...

Get the Solara: "a nice looking car...with good quality."

lol i wasnt dogging on the solara..... I mean I have a 5SFE solara

[fotodad]

Whatever happened to quality Nissans... the Maxima (Current generation minus 2 generations... The one before the 'circle lights'), the Altima (last generation had a lot less issues than the current), etc... I don't understand how they were in the financial hole back then but are pulling their way out of the hole w/ these crappier cars =\

Isn't Nissan/Infiniti owned by Renault or some other European manufacturer? I wonder if that has anything to do with the decline of quality?

[Jackass-Jeff]

Isn't Nissan/Infiniti owned by Renault or some other European manufacturer? I wonder if that has anything to do with the decline of quality?

Yea, it's owned by the FRENCHIES =x Nissan wouldn't exist right now if the French (Renault) didn't buy a chunk of Nissan. Nissan was 40 million (or was it billion?!?! probably million) in the hole and they are climbing out of it. They also regained title of #2 top seller in Japan (#1 is Hyundai... j/k lol TOYOTA duh! )

So yea, you may actually be right... the French may have screwed Nissan over... I wish I knew what year they bought a chunk of Nissan... we may see a parallel w/ the death of quality!!!

[HKSV6SLE]

hmm didn't someone post something about how junky nissans are? i always knew something was up at nissan when my uncle bought a q45 like 2 years ago..and it didn't even come with a full size spare....that's y...ill always own a toyota/lexus..or maybe a honda...but that's it....

[tiredolddog]

Welcome Back!

[fotodad]

Welcome Back!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I'm home again.

[happy_aggies]

Ditto.

====

Welcome Back!

[midnightsolara]

Woohooo! Another plus sign to my list of goodies to wanting a Solara! I agree the 350Z does look pretty spanky but after hearing about those problems, thats about all I have in mind for it....a nice looking car. I heard some bad things about the Acura TSX also. So what in the world is goin on? I'm glad Toyota is staying true to their quality for the most part. Enjoy that car fotodad! Hopefully I will be getting mine within a year (will be graduating from college soon)

[JoeB]

Welcome back! Nice story, thanks for sharing it with us. I too was almost lured into the 350Z decision when it first came out (against my better judgement). BUT, I would really have a hard time leaving my Solara. I really like it and the body lines are great. One of those cars that will look good for a long time. -JoeB

[pecora55]

i can say since being a toyota owner and now a nissan owner that i like the quality in some sense of the toyota better but i wouldnt give up my spec why? because it sounds so much better than my solara, which my bro has and it now has intake and exhaust and my car with CAI alone sounds meaner...but i can say nissans paint sucks...when i get out of the car where the bottom lip of the door is my foot kind of rubs there and now the paint is gone, ive never had that problem with my solara...but when i get into my old solara and drive it, its slow, the ride is alright, seating stinks, steering is not so responsive, way too much body roll...but it also has 65000 miles on it lol and my spec has 5500...i love both of them, but i will have to say that the toyota is better quality...but all new cars have problems with them...

[kinihawaii]

So true what you said about the 350Z. I don't own one, and wouldn't buy one even if I could've afforded one. However my freind has one and I've been in it several times for some fairly long rides, 50-90 miles each way. I found the Z, road stiff (but not as stiff as I expected), the seats (touring edition leather) sucked, small, hard, too low, poorly shaped. The "top o the line" Bose sounded like it was playing through several feet of foam. The transmission (atuo) shifted way to slow for a "sportscar" and response while in the "manumatic" mode was slow to respond. The car was noisy, especially so when under hard acceleration, which wasn't all that fast. There is no room in it and I don't particularly think it looks that good. The color is the pearl white, which I don't think is as nice as the arctic frost pearl of my 04 SE Sport. The transmission on the Solara shifts quicker and smoother. The stereo sounds way better even though I have the base single disc version. It's waaay quieter, rides better but still has the firm sporty feel (that's one of the reasons I went with the sport package) and handling. The seats are the best I've ever sat in, it has a huge trunk, 4 golf bags no problem. I think the Solara looks much nicer, much more fluid and classy ,looking. It's likely to be as close as I'll ever get to owning a Lexus, it sure feels like one when your driving it. Obviously it won't beat the Z on a race track but for everyday use and overall quality it's not even close.