Enroute to my job, I always pass a small, dirty-looking building with an old sign that says "240Z Club". Outside in the parking lot, I would always notice about a half dozen 240Zs parked outside, gleaming in the sunshine. The other day, coincidentally the same day that I received this model, I noticed that among the various colored 240Zs, there was a gorgeous 350Z parked, in the very same color, Le Mans Sunset. It was then that I realized that among all of Nissan's latest cars, the 350Z is destined to be a legend, just like its predecessor, the 240Z, the car which the 350Z's virtues are commonly attributed to.

So, how does it look? Marvelous, thank you. That metallic orange hue looks absolutely awesome, with a flawless finish and deep quality that is miles ahead of the IS300's barely acceptable paint. The whole model is heavy and tight: in fact, the first that comes to mind that this is the most Kyosho-like Autoart I've ever sampled. Some of the detail is unbelievable: for example, the front lights look remarkable, the badges are all 3D, and the rims are very well detailed. Still, while the tires are nicely detailed, and there are brakes and calipers, they are unmarked. The door handle is finished in a very convincing metal color.

Exhaust pipes have a nice metallic effect to them, but they are not hollow. Still, even with these few shortcomings, the model looks awesome and displays great. The box is a step away from the older Autoart releases, with textual information about the car and a few photos, along with the obligatory Autoart logos all over the place. Overall, a very nice effort.
23/25

Interior Features, Quality:

I've always liked the way the 350Z's contemporary interior looked: I particularly liked the orange seat color, and I'm quite glad that Autoart decided to include it here, instead of going with a drab black. Still, the seats are hard: virtually no change from older Autoart models. By now, even Maisto manages to make realistic-feeling seats, yet Autoart fails to do so at twice the price. Still, the carpet is an improvement over older Autoarts, even the Maybach's. The carpet here is very realistically textured and is found everywhere around the cabin. Great job. The dash is also the most realistic of its competitors that I've sampled, with little use of stickers. The pedals are my favorite part, with their cross-drilled style coming through very well in 1/18 scale. This is a very well done interior, and if it wasn't for the seats, the model would have gotten full points.
24/25

Features:

The 350Z features an opening hood, doors, and hatchback. Opening the hood, one finds a very well detailed engine, which is fully plumbed and wired. This was one of my favorite parts of the model, as it looks so real! The only problem here is that the hood won't stay open, which is a big shame, as one must use a toothpick or something of the like if one wants to display the model with its engine. The hinges for the doors are nearly invisible, and the doors actually have very realistic-looking glass. While this makes them harder to open, it adds a certain air to the model that exudes detail. The hatch opens to reveal the shallow trunk, which is completely carpeted, and looks simply fantastic. However, I think that the paint under the hatch could be a bit better, but it could be that mine was an early production model: there are very few orange 350Zs on the market at the moment.
24/25

Value:

Autoarts aren't as cheap as they were before, but they're still cheaper than the average Kyosho. With near equal quality, they're a great value. While, at the moment, the 350Z model is rare, I predict that this will be the next "hot" model, with collectors being able to purchase it everywhere. This is most likely due to the success of the real 350Z. At the moment, Autoart is the only modelmaker to replicate the 350Z in 1/18, but Mattel also lists the 350Z as a future release. Autoart sells the 350Z in this Le Mans Sunset color, as well as a Chrome Silver hue. There is also a RHD version for the Asian market.
24/25

Overall:

This is yet another excellent model from Autoart. Their models become heavier and more detailed with each release, and this 350Z model is no exception. If only Autoart would fix a few niggles that I have with the model, they would be right up there with Kyosho. Still, this is a fantastic model, one of my favorites, because of its outrageous color, design, and of course, detail. If you're a sports car fan, Nissan nut, or just an ordinary diecast collector, this model is for you.