As I relinquished a vice-like grip on the door handle, I managed to mumble "I have a lot to learn" to my driver. He diffidently replied, "So do I!" The driver in question was none other than Dirk Schroysman, not particularly famous for his racing career, but for his knowledge and experience of the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife track in Germany.
Dirk has set several records at the place and has conducted an astonishing 80,000 kilometres of test laps at the wheels of all kinds of machinery for the major car makers. One of his biggest customers is Nissan. Not only does Schroysman provide driver training to Nissan's test drivers, he is actively involved in the chassis development of pretty much every car in the range. That includes the forthcoming Skyline replacement, the GT-R (he couldn't be bribed into telling us any more than that it is an ultra-modern car and of course, excellent) and the 350Z.
In a few short years, Nissan's reinvented 'Z-car' has won over the hearts of thousands of car fans. Despite the various styling references to the original Datsuns of the early seventies, the 350Z's appeal is bang up to date. Although the new Z has hardly aged, Nissan thought it time to enhance the specification and that's why new car is at Castle Combe race circuit in the UK, willing to sacrifice the nerves of yours truly to find out if the car could be improved.
At first glance, there's little to tell the 'new' 350Z apart from the current car. The most obvious distinction is a reprofiled bonnet, which is necessary to house the car's new engine. Don't worry, it's still a 3.5-litre V6 and it still emits a distinctive noise; some say it purrs, but the only animal that might have purred like the 350Z was the sabre-toothed tiger. Nissan claims that the engine is 80% new and the list of modifications is extensive. Improved airflow and a higher rev limit were the target objectives.
The results are modest, with peak power increased from 296bhp to 309bhp and torque up just 5Nm to 358Nm. The real benefit cannot be understood by numbers alone. There was not much wrong with the original V6 engine, delivering a torquey shove in the back. The new unit retains that characteristic, but adds to it a much livelier top end. You'll find yourself hitting the (perfectly judged) rev limiter easily enough.
For Irish buyers, the 350Z has restricted appeal. Ignore for a minute its two-seat impracticality and the extra costs associated with running such a large engine. Many coupé buyers will put up with those things to own such a distinctive bit of kit, but the car has to drive well too. Unfortunately, on most Irish roads, the Z is just too uncompromising for the masses. For the real driving enthusiast, though, it is a treat and there is no better way to enjoy such a car than on track.
Castle Combe circuit is an excellent test of a road car's abilities, as it features several demanding braking sections, as well as a few tricky bumps and camber changes. Two tight chicanes slow the overall speed down, but it's still a fast circuit. On a flying lap, Dirk beside me providing encouragement (I note he isn't gripping the door half as hard as I was), we pass the pit complex in fourth and snick the meaty gearchange into fifth just before turning in for 'Folly'.
The first corner is taken flat out in most cars, though a smooth line is needed to use all the track and a lot of nerve too to hold the throttle wide open, especially as the car bucks from corner to corner as it rides the bumps. The Z doesn't feel completely happy here, but once it earns your trust, you can lean on it completely. Next up is the trickiest part of the circuit. There's an abrupt step up named 'Avon Rise', just where you'd like to be braking for the infamous 'Quarry' curve. Despite the compressed suspension, the Nissan pulls up in a stable manner in a straight line.
Get off the brakes and turn left immediately, holding the speed steady until the left front picks out the edge of the kerbing before standing on the brakes again for Quarry itself. It's so easy to carry too much speed into this corner, but the 350Z is forgiving enough. Exuberance is marked out by a little understeer, though the Nissan's chassis is fantastically adjustable on the throttle, so you can use the engine's torque to let the rear tyres have some say in the proceedings. On track, the traction control is a little too obtrusive, though back on the road, it is invaluable.
With the electronic nanny off duty, the Z can be encouraged to gently exit this corner on a whiff of oversteer; just enough to make you feel good, but not enough to scare your passenger. In fact, Mr Schroysman is shouting "Power, power, power" to me as we exit the first chicane and rocket towards the daunting 'Tower' corner, via the appropriately named 'Hammerdown' sweep.
Not only is Tower a sharp 90-degree right, ahead of you is a vertical bank of grass that you just know would have its own ideas on reprofiling the nose of the 350Z if you got your braking wrong. We reach a tad over 160km/h before shoving the middle pedal down as far as it will go. Thankfully, the Z's Brembo stoppers are pretty decent and the car handles the sustained abuse of a few hard laps admirably. Road cars rarely feature brakes that can cope with a track day, but it's likely that the 350Z would only need a set of higher-temperature pads to endure regular forays.
The exit from Tower is rewarding and the car naturally flows to the left of the track, where you'll need to slow right down for the tight 'Bobbies' chicane. It's challenging to keep your speed up through here, thanks in part to a nasty big bump right in the middle. The 350Z's suspension thuds into this, but the car remains composed and even with traction control off, it's difficult to elicit more than a few degrees of oversteer without being a complete eejit with the throttle.
Back on the power again and the 350Z feels fantastic running up through the gears before the last trial, 'Camp' corner. It's wide, and leads onto the start-finish straight, so it is tempting to barrel into it and sort out the resultant slide. After all, the 350Z is quite adjustable at the limit. It turns out though that it is far quicker to bide your time with the throttle and then use a higher gear than you thought necessary. The Z then scythes past the apex and skims the outside of the circuit with little apparent drama, though you'll notice the higher speed by the next braking zone.
We tried both Roadster and Coupe versions on the track and they are equally impressive. Unsurprisingly, the Coupe is that bit keener to turn in, though the Roadster seems to be a little more supple, so it rides the bumps more comfortably. They both offer the enthusiast a real driving thrill. This translates well to the road. Such extreme driving conditions may not exist on public tarmac, but the 350Z really does reward the keen driver, even at legal speeds. The latest updates further enhance the car's appeal, though it turns out that the old dog already knew all the tricks.
Engine:
3.5-litre V6, 309bhp, 358Nm
Transmission:
6-speed manual
Acceleration:
0-100km/h 5.7 seconds
Top Speed:
250km/h (electronically limited)
Economy:
11.7 l/100km
CO2 emissions:
280 g/km
Boot Capacity:
235 litres
Weight:
1,532kg
Base Price:
€57,450
Verdict:
Worthwhile enhancements add even more appeal to one of the most focused sports coupés on the market.
4.5 Stars
Read all of our Nissan reviews here.
See all used Nissan cars for sale on Car Buyers Guide here.
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