Nissan Skyline 350GT 2003-2007 coupe used car review
Nissan’s Skyline 350GT coupé delivers a blend of sports and luxury - it offers a lot at a low price.
Nissan’s Skyline 350GT coupé delivers a blend of sports and luxury - it offers a lot at a low price. High insurance and fuel costs may deter some buyers.
Based on the same components as the Nissan 350Z sports car, the Skyline 350GT coupé adds two extra seats, plus greater comfort and refinement. The clue to this style of car is the ‘GT’ moniker, originally coined to indicate ‘Grand Tourer’ — a performance car also aimed at crossing continents. Today it’s more likely to appear on a model with sporting aspirations that can also be used for day-to-day driving and road trips.
The Skyline GT comes in three body shapes: coupé, sedan and SUV. It was never sold new in New Zealand, so any car here is a used import. In Europe and the United States, it also sold under Nissan’s premium Infiniti brand.
Inside and out
The Skyline’s low, muscular lines look far more exotic than its badge would suggest. The long, low front and flat tail are family design traits, still seen in the latest Nissan GTR. The curved roofline means there is not a huge amount of space inside the Skyline, especially in the rear.
While the front seats are very comfortable and supportive, you do need to drop down low into them. With electric adjustment, including for height on the driver's seat, it is not hard to get comfortable. In our 2005 model review vehicle, they are covered with fabric, but the leather is a very common option. The rear seats are very sculpted, forming two separate buckets. Two small adults will fit, but this row is probably best left to children.
Most of the Skyline’s controls are grouped on the stylish centre console with its brushed aluminium trim. These include access for the infotainment system, CD player and climate control air conditioning. A touch screen pops out from the top of the console at the push of a button, but its navigation and TV functions do not work in New Zealand, so it is best left down. A band expander will be required to receive local radio stations.
Luggage space is at a premium, with just 211 litres of capacity, enough for one large or two small suitcases. The opening is also quite small. We suggest buyers use soft luggage to make the most of the space.
On the road
While it shares the same platform, drivetrain and chassis as the 350Z, the Skyline’s extra weight and planned day-to-day usage mean it is not as quick. The ride quality is not as hard as other sports-oriented cars. That means it is comfortable to drive over most road surfaces. However, lingering sports aspirations mean you will still feel some bumps and road imperfections through your seat.
Power comes from Nissan’s highly-awarded VQ-series 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine, producing 200kW and 353Nm. The car is therefore responsive (brilliant for overtaking) and sounds great, thanks in part to the throaty rasp from the twin rear exhaust tips.
The five-speed automatic transmission is excellent and quick to shift down a gear when you hit the accelerator pedal for more power. It can be changed manually, using the centre console control. A six-speed manual is also available.
The car will turn in well, and there is little body roll. Being rear-wheel drive means the Skyline can lose traction to the rear wheels if you give it too much power on slippery surfaces. The traction control and electronic stability control will quickly intervene to reduce this.
The Skyline is not the easiest car to operate on tight city roads, as an SUV-like 11.4-metre turning circle, low seating position and narrow windows make visibility tricky in all directions. It doesn’t help that the wing mirrors are relatively small, so reversing safely can also be difficult, especially since it lacks a reversing camera or sensors.
Safety
There are no local safety ratings for the Skyline 350GT, as it's a relatively rare, used-import car. The American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested the same basic car as an Infiniti G35, and lists the model — in both sedan and coupé forms — as having good front crash protection, acceptable side crash protection and poor head restraint and seat protection.
350GT coupés come with a high level of safety specifications, including front, side and curtain airbags, anti-lock braking, electronic stability control and traction control. ISOFIX child seat mounts are fitted to the two rear seats, but it will be a tight squeeze getting the seats in and out of the car.
Reliability
The 3.5-litre engine uses a timing chain rather than a belt, so will not need regular replacement, but in rare cases it has been known to stretch. The issue will reveal itself by a slight occasional misfire at idle, and the engine check light warning lamp lighting up.
Replacing the chain on this engine is a big job that requires the removal of a lot of equipment from the engine bay. It will cost around $2,000.
When buying, verify that the car has been serviced properly, and check the oil on the dipstick to make sure it is not too thick and dirty. Poor-quality oil or infrequent servicing can cause a build-up of sludge in the engine, causing wear and further problems.
Check for wear in the front door hinges, and that they open and close smoothly. Issues here can lead to door misalignment when closing, with subsequent paint and panel damage.
Cost of ownership
Servicing is required every six months or 10,000km, and a Nissan dealer quoted us $400. There is a major service at 100,000km which includes replacing the platinum spark plugs, at the cost of around $630.
RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving a year the Skyline will cost $3,330 a year to fuel. The Skyline needs premium fuel, and its huge 75-litre tank will cost $150 to fill at $2 a litre. You should be able to travel 588km before the fuel light comes on.
The Skyline is in the second cheapest class for ACC levies, so the annual licensing fee (registration) is $112.16.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for the car will cost $63.39*. Because it is rated as a higher risk vehicle, there are conditions on the cover — in this case, it must be fitted with an alarm or immobiliser, no drivers under 25 are allowed, and there is a minimum excess of $750.
Buyers’ guide
Nissan Skyline 350GT coupé models on Trade Me range from $8,000 to $18,000 for later model, low-mileage examples.
Variants
- 350GT The standard specification, with a high level of equipment including climate control air conditioning, CD player, leather-covered steering wheel, electric seats and alloy wheels
- 350GT Premium Adds additional features including part-leather sports seats and keyless entry and start system
Timeline
- 2001 New Generation Skyline launched in Japan
- 2003 Coupé version goes on sale
- 2004 Exterior and interior styling is refined, and the transmissions also retuned
- 2005 A small cosmetic update, including new front and rear lights
- 2007 Replaced by new model
Details
2005 Nissan Skyline 350GT
$11,000 to $23,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
3.5-litre six-cylinder, 200kW/353Nm (claimed)
Five-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Unrated
10,000km or 12 months
Space saver
11.9-litres per 100km (claimed)
Premium
4360mm
1815mm
1390mm
11.4m
This review covers the Nissan Skyline 350GT for model years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Review vehicle supplied by City Motor Group.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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