Lisa bought her 2006 Nissan Fairlady Z in November 2019 from a car yard in Hamilton. At the time, she was ready to swap her eight-seater Toyota Estima for something sportier. She narrowed her search to a few options but hadn’t found “the one.” Over several weekends, Lisa test drove a variety of cars—yet none sparked her excitement until she got behind the wheel of a Z. The moment she sat in the driver’s seat, she knew it was something special. What truly captivated her was the colour: sunset gold. The car glowed brilliantly in the sunlight, shimmering with a warmth and vibrancy that stood out from the usual black, white, or grey cars she’d seen. The unique hue felt lively and bold, perfectly matching Lisa’s personality and desire for something different. Being the first New Zealand owner of the freshly imported car added an extra layer of excitement and pride, making the experience even more memorable for her.
She loves a bit of bling, so over the years I’ve added a few accessories — nothing permanent, just a fun touches she can swap out when she feels like a change. She hasn’t made any modifications to the car itself, she simply enjoyed it exactly as was. Lisa has also been to many Waikato Z events and always enjoys catching up with fellow Z owners. There’s something special about seeing a whole line-up of similar cars gleaming side by side.
One of the things she loves most is that the Z isn’t overly common — you don’t see them everywhere. When one does pass by, it’s always fun to give a wave and admire it. Lisa drives her Z every day, so it gets plenty of use. She often receives compliments on her car from her workmates. She tells me that the bonus is that the Z matches her last name, which starts with a Z.
Thanks, Lisa, for sharing your car with us. I can’t say enough good things about the 350Z. It was the first Zed model after quite a few years without any Zeds, and I believe Nissan got it right with this one. My wife still has hers, and we love taking it out for a run. We have had ours for over 10 years. Although it’s not a daily driver, it gets used regularly and has been extremely reliable.
I try to keep an eye on the 350Z and Fairlady sales on Trademe. They are still a very good buy, although lower mileage cars are getting harder to find now. High mileage cars offer excellent value, with many available for under $10,000.00. If they have been well maintained and not thrashed, even these can be great cars to own for enthusiasts looking for affordable performance. When considering a high mileage 350Z, check for a full-service history, look out for signs of oil leaks, and ensure the suspension feels solid during a test drive. These steps will help you find a reliable Z that you can enjoy for years to come.
A big thank you to Lisa for sharing the story of her car. If anyone else would like to showcase their Zed, please get in touch—Zed owners always enjoy seeing and sharing details about their cars. You don’t need to write a full article—just let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll send you a list of questions. I’ll handle putting it all together. Please send all info to my email at bernjean59@gmail.com or message me directly.
Many thanks
Bernie Kant (President Z Club of NZ)
