350Z U.K. release

[Mr.F]

Nissan have finally sent out the press release to those people who filled in the request card ages ago:

All the information noted elsewhere about U.K. price and spec is now official and pre-orders are invited from 3-50pm on Monday 17th March. A £2000 deposit will be required to secure your place and specification. Numbers are said to be limited.

The two new slogans are:
"Order now. Ask forgiveness later."
"First come, first stirred."

 

[Mr.F]

BTW you can visit Nissan (GB) Ltd 350Z "microsite" at www.nissan-350Z.co.uk. Not much there yet, but you can hear the car start and rev!

 

[pmac]

So I take as read that you wont be open for business on Mon 17th in the afternoon??? <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Mr.F]

There are a few wrinkles in this "pre-order" business to iron out. The invitation says - pay your money and we guarantee you the car and spec of your choice. But......only a limited number are going to be available. Some are saying only 350? Are they all going to be delivered at one minute past midnight on the morning of October 1st? Picture 350 new 350Zs speeding home through the night....... Or, will one have to wait anything up to 18 months for the order to be filled. I await clarification.

 

[john-boy]

Hmmm,

I got one of these invitations in the post yesterday too ... was going to give Birchwood Nissan (Aylesford) a bell today to attempt to clarify the truth .. e.g. Will there be a 350 there to look at? ... I still haven't seen one in the flesh yet, and I'm buggered if I'm parting with 2k on the basis of pictures in a brochure .... <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Oh and Mike, don't forget ...

"make a date to pre-order" ... "or prepare to be heartbroken"

See what you mean about the side-repeater, BTW ... it looks sh*t!! <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

 

[Mr.F]

I think I can guarantee that there won't be a 350Z there to look at - one is still at the Geneva Motor Show and the rest of the Euro cars haven't been built yet (they are waiting for our £2ks to start the production line). Dealer invitations seem to have been allocated by post code.
I am in the fortunate position of having seen, stroked and sat, poked and prodded, but not driven. Ancaster Garages in Penge have at least two import cars which may be available as demonstrators - might be worth a trip there to confirm that you are in lust.

"Prepare to sacrifice your heart and soul" (and your £2K).

 

[Mr.F]

And today's new wrinkle is:

I am informed by my Nissan sales person that the £24K "base" model will not be available to pre-order on Monday. Only the GT option package version will be available, i.e. we have to pay £2500 extra for cruise control (which I never have used on any car I've owned that had it, except to test that it worked and novelty value demos), a hi-fi system which you may or may not like and leather seats which you could probably get done for less than £1000 (O.K. they are electric and heated as well - at least the passengers won't grizzle about cold bums in the winter). All this adds weight to the sports option "base" model and effectively the price tag "carrot" has been removed. I'm making a big assumption that these GT option cars will be the first "limited edition" run before the base model can be ordered (probably not until 2004&#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>. There is no guarantee that your car will be delivered on 1st. October - distribution is planned throughout October and November.

 

[john-boy]

Thanks for this further information, Mike .... unfortunately, I don't think I'll have time to get to Penge in advance of the "signing you life away" deadline, so I'll prolly give it a miss ... can't justify parting with 2k (that I don't *really* have) on a wing and a prayer ....

It seems like there are a few "wrinkles" to be sorted out, yet, and that Nissan are making the usual fumble of these! What you speculate about the non-availability of the base spec meaning the first batch will all be GTs makes perfect sense ... Gotta have leather seats, but 2.5k .... it's a bit much.

Oh well, I seem to be talking myself out of it now, but TBH, I don't anticipate being ready to part with my 300 in October, and there's NO way I'm gonna get away with another Z on the drive!! <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

CheerZ,
John.

 

[pmac]

I knew there would be a catch when I saw the launch spec and price of £24000. &nbsp;Looks like the UK dealers have taken a leaf out of the US Dealers file from the seventies when you couldnt buy a standard spec 240Z.. You HAD to take all the OPTIONS. &nbsp;Hmmm &nbsp;compulsory options!! &nbsp;The new car dealers show their true colours! <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> &nbsp;Its back to plan A for me .. Wait around till some 3year old ex company models turn up! <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[JEZ 280ZX]

Autocar this week, reckons there will be 450 available for the UK market this year.The only options on the GT model will be metallic paint at £295 and lightweight alloys at £1,000!!.
Looks like the Xenon headlights will be fitted as standard on the base car too.
JEZ

 

[Mr.F]

A post on the other thread of this segment suggests that you won't even have the "option" of passing on Rays alloys, orange leather (yuk) and metallic paint, thus making the starter price £27795. Are Nissan going to sell any if they play this sort of game? (I know the answer is "Yes" but I still want to express my exasperation.)
Quote from the invitation: "...a £2,000 deposit.......will guarantee your place and means you will be able to pre-order to your exact choice of specification and colour."
Trade Descriptions anyone? They don't even mention the Rays alloys or the extra cost for metallic paint in this publication......
And yet......every time I look at the pictures and read the spec...............

 

[Hiroboy]

mfeeny : A post on the other thread of this segment suggests that you won't even have the "option" of passing on Rays alloys, orange leather (yuk) and metallic paint, thus making the starter price £27795. Are Nissan going to sell any if they play this sort of game? (I know the answer is "Yes" but I still want to express my exasperation.)
Quote from the invitation: "...a £2,000 deposit.......will guarantee your place and means you will be able to pre-order to your exact choice of specification and colour."
Trade Descriptions anyone? They don't even mention the Rays alloys or the extra cost for metallic paint in this publication......
And yet......every time I look at the pictures and read the spec...............

<span id='postcolor'>
Hi I'm new here, having just pre-ordered my 350Z and agree with the comments about the rays etc, big piss off, when you get to order and they say Oct yes at £27795 anyways went for the £24,000 option and now waiting for a delivery date.

 

[ArthurDaley]

How can you be awaiting a delivery date when everyone except Mike F has no confirmation of order?