We’ve talked a lot about the Nissan 350Z as well as other Z models in the lineup, so it’s definitely a car that needs no further introduction.
But now we’re going to talk about something a bit more specific about the 350Z, which is how much it actually weighs.
We’ll also be including details about the 350Z’s weight distribution and how it affects its overall handling and performance.
Without further ado, let’s first start by answering the general question below.
How much does a 350Z weigh?
The coupe version of the Nissan 350Z has a curb weight of 3,188 lbs to 3,400 lbs, depending on the specific trim level, model year, and transmission used.
The Nissan 350Z roadster tips the weighing scale at 3,428 lbs to 3,615 lbs depending on the specific trim level, model year, and transmission used.
Overall, the coupe (or hardtop) version of the Nissan 350Z is a few hundred pounds lighter than the roadster.
Compared to the coupe, the 350Z roadster only has a soft fabric top rather than a metal roof that adds rigidity to the entire frame.
To combat having less rigidity while also having a convertible roof, a lot of extra materials are added in order to reinforce and strengthen the rigidity of the car’s frame.
As a result, even the lightest Nissan 350Z roadster/convertible (3,428 lbs) is still heavier than the heaviest Nissan 350Z coupe (3,400 lbs).
While this difference in weight does make the coupe handle better than the roadster, the difference in handling isn’t really that drastic between the two.
But as mentioned earlier, the body style of the Nissan 350Z isn’t the only factor that adds to its overall weight.
In the next part, we’ll also be looking at how the Nissan 350Z’s curb weight fluctuates depending on the model year, trim level, and the type of transmission used.
Nissan 350Z Weight By Model Year
We have provided each model year of the Nissan 350Z with its own table of trim levels, body styles, transmissions, and their corresponding curb weights below.
With these tables, you will be able to see how each of the factors affects the Nissan 350Z’s curb weight more clearly.
2003 Nissan 350Z Curb Weight
The Nissan 350Z was first released for the 2003 model year, and it was only made in the coupe body style.
The base model coupe was the lightest among the trim levels at only 3,188 lbs. In comparison, the manual version of the Touring trim weighed the heaviest at 3,247 lbs.
The top-of-the-line trim level was called “Track”, and it was only 22 lbs lighter than the manual Touring trim.
2004 Nissan 350Z Curb Weight
For the 2004 model year, the Nissan 350Z was also offered in a roadster body style for the first time, leading to more options for the Enthusiast and Touring trims.
No changes were made to the base trim and Track trim’s weights, while the automatic roadster variant of the Touring trim tipped the scale at 3,479 lbs, making it the heaviest 350Z of 2004.
2005 Nissan 350Z Curb Weight
The 2005 model year of the Nissan 350Z saw the inclusion of two new high-level trims, namely the Anniversary Edition and the Grand Touring.
The Anniversary trim was only made in a coupe, while the Grand Touring trim received a roadster body style instead.
While the 3,188-lb base trim was still the lightest, the “title” for the heaviest 350Z of this model year went to non-other than the new Grand Touring trim, which weighed 3,536 lbs.
2006 Nissan 350Z Curb Weight
The base 350Z trim for the 2006 model year received a significant increase in weight for the first time, jumping from 3,188 lbs to 3,339 lbs.
However, it still remained the lightest when compared to the other trims. Even the Enthusiast trims, which were one step higher from the base trim, still averaged 3,346 lbs to 3,578 lbs.
The heaviest Nissan 350Z in 2006 still belonged to the Grand Touring trim, specifically the convertible/roadster variant equipped with a manual transmission.
It had a curb weight of 3,602 lbs, which is actually just 2 lbs heavier than its automatic counterpart.
2007 Nissan 350Z Curb Weight
The limited-edition Nismo 350Z was introduced for the 2007 model year while also replacing the Track trim.
With a curb weight of 3,352 lbs, the Nismo trim was one of the lightest Nissan 350Z models of 2007.
But since the base trim retained its weight from the previous year (3,339 lbs), it still remained the lightest 2007 Nissan 350Z model.
Similarly, the manual Grand Touring convertible model also retained its 3,602-lb weight, making it the heaviest Nissan 350Z model in 2007 as well.
2008 Nissan 350Z Curb Weight
For the 2008 model year, the base 350Z trim was still the lightest while also weighing 19 lbs less than the previous year’s base trim.
There was almost a tie between the automatic Touring convertible and the automatic Grand Touring convertible for the heaviest 2008 350Z, weighing 3,615 lbs and 3,616 lbs respectively.
This was the second year of the Nismo 350Z, which merely gained a single pound after its 3,352-lb initial weigh-in the previous year.
2009 Nissan 350Z Curb Weight
For the 2009 model year, the Nissan 350Z was only made in a convertible body style. Hence, the heavier weights below that range from 3,575 lbs to 3,616 lbs reflect this.
Also, both the base trim and the Nismo trim were no longer offered during this model year, making the 3,575-lb manual Enthusiast trim the lightest Nissan 350Z model of the bunch.
As with the previous model year, the 3,616-lb automatic Grand Touring trim weighed the heaviest, with the 3,615-lb Touring trim following very closely behind.
Other Nissan 350Z Specifications
All model years of the Nissan 350Z are equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. However, earlier models from 2003 to 2004 initially made only 287hp from the first “VQ35DE” V6 engine.
This same engine was given a “Rev-up” upgrade for both the Track and Anniversary trims in 2005, boosting their power to 300hp.
In 2007, the VQ35DE was replaced by the newer VQ35HR, which produced 306hp and had a higher redline of 7,500 RPM. This was also the same engine used in the Nismo 350Z.
The Nissan 350Z makes around 260 lb-ft to 274 lb-ft of torque depending on the version of the 3.5-liter V6 engine used.
All Nissan 350Z models are equipped with a front-engine rear-wheel drive drivetrain and are only available with either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.
Regardless if it’s in a coupe or roadster body style, the Nissan 350Z has a wheelbase that is 104.3 inches (2,650mm) long.
Basic Nissan 350Z Specifications:
Engine: 3.5L V6 (VQ35DE/VQ35HR)
Power: 287hp @ 6,200 RPM to 306hp @ 6,800 RPM
Torque: 260 lb-ft to 274 lb-ft
Drivetrain: Front-Engine Rear-Wheel Drive (FR)
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual or 5-Speed Automatic
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches (2,650mm)
What are the safety ratings for the Nissan 350Z?
One important thing that you should consider before you buy a Nissan 350Z for yourself or a younger family member is first knowing how safe it is to drive.
To find out just how safe the 350Z is, we’ve gathered actual safety ratings and other statistics provided by the NHTSA and the IIHS about the car.
You can also even watch one of the NHTSA’s frontal crash tests for the Nissan 350Z right here.
For the 2008 model year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) actually gave the Nissan 350Z a 5-star rating for both the front seat crash test and overall rollover test.
It also received a 5-star rating in the side-impact crash test. However, it only received a 4-star rating for both the driver and passenger frontal crash tests.
While this may suggest that the Nissan 350Z is a very safe car, statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveal another side of the story.
According to the IIHS, the Nissan 350Z ranks first among several 2005 to 2008 vehicle models with the highest number of driver deaths between 2006 and 2009.
There have been 143 recorded driver deaths per million registrations for the Nissan 350Z during the IIHS study period.
Highest Rates of Driver Deaths (IIHS 2006 to 2009)
This makes the Nissan 350Z one of the more dangerous second-hand sports car models out there, despite having pretty good safety ratings.
However, do keep in mind that the 350Z is almost a 20-year-old car already, and safety standards and features back during its production run are a lot different to the ones today.
What is the Nissan 350Z’s weight distribution?
The Nissan 350Z has a weight distribution of 53% on the front and 47% on the rear (53:47), making the car a bit more front-biased.
A few factors that contribute to this exact distribution include the engine’s center point positioned behind the front axle and the lack of rear seats on the 350Z.
Nissan claimed that this 53:47 weight distribution allowed a perfect weight transfer of 50:50 during acceleration.
However, when it comes to braking, a lot of people find the 350Z’s front-biased weight distribution as not the most ideal, at least when compared to a car that was more rear-biased.
Nissan 350Z Weight Reduction
If you’re willing to turn your Nissan 350Z into a more nimble and track-ready car, then reducing its weight is one of the best ways to go.
Not only is the Nissan 350Z’s frame mostly made out of steel, but it’s also built on the “Nissan FM” platform, which other heavy midsize cars and SUVs from Infiniti are also based on.
If you would like to reduce the weight of the Nissan 350Z without compromising the rigidity of its frame, then a good place to start is to replace its body panels with carbon fiber ones.
This can include its front and rear bumpers, front and rear fenders, hood, and trunk. Replacing all of these parts with ones made out of carbon fiber can save a considerable amount of weight.
Of course, if you have no experience replacing bodywork, then we definitely recommend having a trusted car body shop help you out.
Additionally, you can also remove all the tools as well as the spare tire from the trunk of the Nissan 350Z.
If you would like to go even further, then completely gutting the interior of your Nissan 350Z can drastically lower its weight to as little as 2,700 lbs.
Do keep in mind that this will obviously be a very tedious process and may make your Nissan 350Z fail inspections in some US states.
Thus, only do this when you’ve already committed to really turning your Nissan 350Z into a track-only car.
