Last week, we looked at a bunch of cars that were all the same price. This week, they’re all going to be from the same year: 2005. That was just a couple of years ago, right? …Right?
Our four finalists from last week covered a lot of bases; we had a wagon, a hot hatch, a pickup truck, and a luxury sedan. I was really pulling for that Omni GLH, and it put in a good showing, but ultimately came in second to the Volvo wagon. I can’t fault you for that choice; that wagon was nicer than it had any right to be for that mileage.
Honestly, those two together aren’t a bad two-car garage. If I had to pick one, I’d lean towards the Omni, of course, but that Volvo will make someone a nice daily driver for a couple years yet, I’m sure.
Now then: Despite my protestations, 2005 was, in fact, twenty years ago. It was also a good and eventful year for me: I moved from Saint Paul to Los Angeles, and met my wife. It was a good year for cars, too, if you look back at what was available. There was a little something for everyone, instead of nothing but giant pickup trucks, crossovers of every size, and a smattering of overpowered muscle cars.
As luck would have it, my buddy Stephen Walter Gossin has a car for sale from 2005, and I’m always happy to give him a little extra exposure when he’s having trouble moving a car. Since Stephen’s car is a rear-wheel-drive convertible, I found another one, so we’re comparing apples to apples. Let’s check them out.
2005 Nissan 350Z Grand Touring Roadster – $5,000
Engine/drivetrain: 3.5 liter DOHC V6, five-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Wilmington, NC
Odometer reading: 160,000
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Two words have always come to mind when I think about the Nissan Z car: “Japanese Camaro.” Hear me out. Both are affordable, sporty coupes; both came out in the late ’60s and have seen several generations over the decades; both took a hiatus of a few years and then came back; and both have just a bit of a bad-boy image. The 350Z was Nissan’s comeback model, arriving in the US in 2002 after the 300ZX had left our shores in 1996.
Following Z-car tradition, the 350Z’s name indicates its engine size. Under that long sloping hood is the same VQ35DE V6 that Nissan used in absolutely everything for the better part of a decade. It’s a good, reliable engine that makes a respectable amount of power, but as we know, power corrupts – and VQ-powered Nissans have gotten a reputation for some really antisocial driving. But the remarkable thing is that they seem to shrug off such abuse, and just keep rolling. Stephen has done a bunch of work to whip this one back into shape, everything from valve cover gaskets to rear wheel bearings, and it runs and drives great. It could use new front tires, but that’s all it needs.
It looks good inside; the driver’s seat has new upholstery, and the rest of it looks pretty good. It comes with new upholstery for the passenger’s side, as well. Convertibles are nice when the weather’s exactly right, but if it’s too hot or humid, you’re going to want air conditioning. You’re in luck – this one was just serviced, and it blows nice and cold.
Outside, it has a few dings and scrapes, but it still looks good. It has a new top, and I think it might have had some body and paint work done since these photos were taken. I seem to remember seeing something about that on Slack a while back. One thing I’ve noticed, watching these rescues unfold over the last few years, is that the longer Stephen keeps these cars, the more puttering around he does on them. Wait long enough, and they practically become new cars.
2005 BMW 330Ci Convertible – $6,995
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter DOHC inline 6, five-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Lynnwood, WA
Odometer reading: 129,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
BMW has been making a convertible version of the 3 Series (now 4 Series) since the 1980s. Some bodystyles over the years have looked more graceful as convertibles than others; the E46 generation is one of the more successful conversions, in my opinion. It looks better with the top down, of course, but that’s true of most convertibles.
BMW’s model numbers used to correspond to engine size as well, but I don’t think they do anymore. This one does; it’s a 330, which is a 3 Series with a 3.0 liter engine, the twin-cam M54 inline six with VANOS variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust cams. As far as I can tell from the ad, it runs and drives just fine, but it’s for sale at a dealership, and the ad reads like AI-generated gibberish. It’s probably safe to assume, even though it runs fine now, that it needs all the typical BMW cooling system work, at the very least.
It’s in good condition inside, and it’s got all the gadgets you would expect. But again, there’s no indication of how well it all works. I know these have a tendency to eat power window regulators, and they fail with a loud bang when the cable snaps. Scares the hell out of you when it happens the first time. Just something to be aware of.
Outside, it looks great, nice and shiny and straight. I’m often surprised by the wheels on BMWs of this era; no two cars seem to have the same style, but they always have BMW center caps. Did they really offer that many styles from the factory? Or do aftermarket wheel manufacturers just make BMW caps for everything?
I think just about every automaker offered a convertible in 2005, but they’re getting a little thin on the ground these days. And that’s a shame. Open-top motoring – again, when the weather’s right for it – is a pleasure that everyone should enjoy at some point. And dealing with the blind spots of a closed convertible top are a rite of passage that everyone should go through, especially with an older car like these that don’t help you out with backup cameras. So what’ll it be – the slightly scruffy Z car from our favorite one-man repair shop, or the super-shiny BMW from the used car lot?
The BMW by a long shot…that Z never looked good new (inside and out), and looks like it was just straight beat up and ignored. I can deal with the BMW owner reputation, but never the Nissan owner reputation.
I guess z. When the vq decides it wants to mix oil and gas they are bountiful. Good used bmw parts is almost an oxymoron now.
I’m team Z car, it’s the better long term proposition since these have fewer weak points and our own SWG has gone over it. Also I dislike black cars, my fleet is red.
I generally hold this belief that any convertible with sporting pretense should be a 2-seater, and on that principle, I’ll take the Z.
I know the 350Z isn’t a roadster, it was designed as a hardtop and chopped down just like the Bimmer, but the absence of a rear seat enables a shorter midsection, requiring less extensive bracing to attain acceptable torsional rigidity.
Perhaps more importantly, the one-row seating enables the installation of a rollover bar (and in this case the existence of those small factory hoops) without giving up on existing functionality.
It would bother me to turn a 4-seater into a 2-seater to make it safe, when I could have bought a lighter, smaller and often cheaper 2-seater for the job.
All that said, I think Mark put in some extra work on stealth-dissing that BMW.
The Z is likely to run a little longer without Breaking My Wallet. I chose that.
Note: The ad has been up since May and has pictures that are a little dated. I’ll be updating them soon (excuse list: bad weather, been traveling, the car has been getting painted, limited time, etc).
Honestly I’m just not in a rush to sell it and want it to go to someone that will appreciate the considerable amount of mechanical work I’ve done to it and not just trash it.
More recent photo of interior with steering wheel replacement:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jURKLP2ARDGjYM4s9
It looks vastly better with the new wheel. New paint surely must have done wonders, too.
The Z looks like crap, and I’ve owned a 2004 G35 with that powertrain (more or less) so I’m not expecting much from the experience. But it’ll be running a year from now, and it’s two grand less than the Kraut.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it Z.
Sorry Stephen, I wanted to vote for your Z but it’s just lived too hard of a life and it shows in 2 areas for me:
1) the front bumper paint doesn’t match so I’m fairly confident it was in a front crash at some point (and was somewhat crappily repaired).
2) the steering wheel is loosing its cover and looks rough. Since it’s a high touch area it’s going to make the entire car feel like crap no matter how mechanically sound it is.
I’m sure you gave it some good work and mechanically it’s probably fine but the auto combined with the above items make it undesirable for me. Maybe addressing item 2 would help scoot it out the door for you? It’s does present as fairly rough cosmetically. Unfortunately, since the utility value is pretty much nil I think any interested parties are going to car more about how it presents.
Fair points.
The steering wheel was replaced after the pictures were taken and the ad went up. It’s been in the body shop getting repainted and dents fixed for the past few weeks and I’ve been traveling (see Kumho piece currently not he site), so it’s been on the back burner.
It has not been in an accident, but I believe the prior owner repainted the front bumper as it sits super low and scrapes on everything (speed bumps, driveways, parking spaces, etc)
Plus, not even 1 person has been interested since posting it in May, so I’ve relegated myself to get it in better shape (paint, dents, steering wheel, etc), although all that money will never be recovered in the sale price.
Compared to other 20yr old, $5K enthusiast cars, I think it’s a fair deal (considering how much mechanical work has been done) and in fair condition and priced under market value, but it needs the right buyer.
Honestly Im probably going to lose about $2500 on this experience along with a ton of time and effort, but I’m wiser for it.
The
shipcar ofTheseusGossin.That e46 330ci looks almost exactly like what I was looking for earlier this year before i sprung for my e30.
Autotragic, sure, but since we’re in Hypothetistan, I’ll still lean towards the Bavarian
convertible e46s with the right wheels will come second only to convertible e30s in my book, and the black on black interior works really well for me
sidenote: BMW really *did* make that many different wheels. 416 style of wheel, This website here details which is which and what models they came on: http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/
I’m partial to style 63s, and style 300s
Basing it mostly on cost here–the Z could probably clean up into something respectable looking. Or at least, more than it is. But that Bimmer isn’t $2k better, I don’t think. Just me.
Honestly if these were both hardtops I’d take the BMW no problem. I just don’t like convertibles in general. I hate the wind and the sun is a vile beast and I also hate it. As it stands, Z.
not my money, right? BMW
Exactly! We’ve owned one and since it was my money, I was thrilled the day we sold it! I always liked the clean looks of the E46s and they drive nice.
I never really like this version of the Z. I had a a couple of 240Z’s and an early 90’s 300ZX (not the twin turbo) I would still consider this one as SWG is the seller and does nice work and probably has receipts. But it’s an automatic.
That 330ci looks really nice and has a classic look as well as a back seat. It seems clean but would definitely need a PPI before purchase. If that comes back clean, then that would be my choice.
the 350Z verts always looked weird to me, but that BMW is not the one worth getting so Z.
Edit: nevermind, after reading both ads I’m not sure I’d get either but the BMW wins on looks at least
I had a 2003 350z from 2012 until 2019. The only problem I had with it was the window regulators.
That one is super jank. Give me the BMW. At least I won’t need a hazmat suit driving it to the BMW specialist.
Super hyperbole.
If the ad for the BMW wasn’t so weird, and the 350Z was just being sold by some random person, I would have gone BMW, but that isn’t the case, so I went with the Z.
Congrats, SWG, for being the first seller in the history of the internet to service the AC system instead of promising “it just needs a recharge”!!!
or “I don’t know, I never use it” bs. well, shit, I plan to that’s why asking!
Automatic Nissan with no back seat vs. automatic BMW from questionable dealer? I think I’ll have to take the bus today.
This is a category of vehicle that does absolutely nothing for me. But forced to pick between these two, the BMW is the much better looking car, so I’ll have that one.
This. I know SWG is selling the Z, but the Z convertible is so awkward looking while the BMW is a design destined to be an all-time classic, so I just can’t bring myself to vote for the Z.
If you need this vehicle to be reliable daily transportation, you’d be a crazy masochist to choose the BMW over SWG’s Z. But an automatic convertible cruiser is something I’d struggle to put 1000 miles on a year, so it might as well be pretty to look at. Even if it ends up a driveway/garage sculpture.
I feel like I would walk out to the BMW and think the suffering is worth the beauty, but I’d never not look at the Z without feeling regret.
Yeah, fair. The Z is so ugly.
If I understand the triple(?) negative, I would only have regret looking at the Z (too?).
I’d much rather have the Bimmer, but I loathe those kind of used car lots, and a trusted seller is worth going with the less desirable hooptie.
I’ve never liked the styling of the 350Z cars, and I think the convertible looks even worse than the hardtop versions. I love the E46 Bimmers and know them pretty well, but in the end, there’s no way I’m buying a BMW from a used car dealer vs. a Nissan from someone who knows cars and has a conscience. I’ll take the Z-car.
Definitely the Bimmer, but both cars have the same bad driver reputation.
Yes. Yes, they did.
http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/
Yep, I always thought the wheel selection in their brochures was pretty amazing.. especially in the 90s.
I mean, if we’re allowed to consider what we know or don’t know about the sellers (as we should) I wouldn’t consider anything other than the Z. I can’t believe how many people here would prefer to buy a convertible 3er from a dealer over SWG selling a Z.
I’d rather date the hottie stranger over my friend’s ugly sister.
Normally, I am not a huge fan of Nissan Zs, too much stigma, and I am a bit of a BMW fanboy, but I won’t suffer BMW’s engineering for an automatic. They require a certain level of care that I cannot give to a car I don’t love. The proportions of the Z don’t work the best with the top up, but it looks good with the top down!