buying a roadster after warranty expired?

lkh5650

I was almost going to pull the trigger on 2010 370z roadster touring...this is a cpo vehicle. but now i see that many of you have problems with the roof top.

should i be concerned? even if i get the extended warranty it won't cover the cloth? but would it cover anything else?

TripleBlkZ

Open and close the roof a lot before buying. Listen for a thunk of the roof if it hits the lid or while the lid is still open the the roof is slightly open get out and check the metal frame of the roof. If it hits or ever hit the black on the metal would be rubbed.

Check the roof along the windows, if you look at the roof right above the window it's has a fold. See if it is at all worn.

Also while the lid is open look for the cables the run the power to the roof. Make sure they don't look bent or worn.

lastly is the place where the strip above your front window while sitting in the car it's a black strip where the roof connects to the top of the window look for rub marks.

IMO this Would be your most expensive fix if something goes wrong. Could be looking at thousands of dollars to repair. Everything else would be same as any other "Z".

I love my roadster but I do wish nissan made the roof better. Not saying its a pos but there have been several issues on the roof over the years for people.

IDZRVIT

Check with a Nissan dealer and see if any warranty work was done. On the up side, if warranty work was done, it shouldn't be an issue in your decision as the problem(s) has been fixed. If no warranty work was done, then maybe there aren't any problems otherwise the previous owner would have taken care of it. Finally, when buying any car used, you pay your money and take your chances. At least you'll have some drive train warranty left which is a bonus.

__________________
"America.... still builds rockets!"
Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp
'13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

ParkStr8

OR you can buy mine with lots of warranty left....LOL. JK

wherreratx

I got my 2010 Roadster (Touring-Sport package-Navigation) two weeks ago. I couldn't be any happier. I was worried about the "Soft-Top" and purchased a Nissan Gold Prem. Plan from the net (6y/80,000 for $1,800).

I found out that no Company offers an extended warranty plan (from Nissan or any 3rd party) coverage for the Convertible Soft Tops (Materials), but they do offer coverage for the mechanical parts.

To settle my concern and return-on-investment for the warranty purchase, I asked a local Nissan Service Director "What they do." He mentioned, Nissan does not work on "soft-Top" installation and materials when its under the initial 3/36month warranty. They end up sending it out to a local auto upolstry shop and just charge Nissan for the new car warranty costs (Owner is left thinking that Nissan Dealer Applied the fix. They just out-resouce it). Learning that, I found a replacement top (from a quality local upholstery shop will cost $1200. This is small price to pay in the future. It settled my ROI and Concerns.... I am sure that local shop will give you a better materials warrant than Nissan.

You know sometimes, it COST to PLAY. In my case, my 370z is not my Daily Driver.

My toy:

lkh5650

Thanks for all the replies guys.
so does that mean they (the extended warranty, security gold preferred .we) will replace the roof top if the problem occurs as long as I pay for the cloth (which is around 1200$)??
It would be my dd...but I live in GA and it doesn't rly snow but it would rain quite often...

bvl

The roof material is not covered. Hydraulics and other mechanicals are. Sucks since some tops are suffering from pinch points but that should be obvious early on and why nissan has replaced some vs. saying the top is a wear item.

- b

vman12

I have a 2014 Nissan 370z. I purchased the Nissan Gold Preferred extended warranty online through a dealer (they have a physical location in LA) right after buying the car with 31,000 miles. 2 months after getting the warranty one of the hinges broke/cracked and roof wouldn't close. I took it to the dealer they replaced the hinge using the extended warranty . But the next day when i was going to pick the car up they called me and say the hydraulic system exploded (it was fine when i dropped it off - the dealer broke it). They sent warranty inspector to review the claim for new hydraulic system ($8 grand) and he found that the roof itself had some issue, so they approved the warranty claim for $20 grand to replace the entire roof with hydraulics.

All i paid was $100 deductible to get a new roof through the nissan extended gold preferred warranty.

gbhrps

lkh5650,

These 370Z top systems are very complex (like Mercedes, Ferrari and others, lots of moving parts, all coordinated in a lovely ballet on opening or closing) that either work very well and trouble free ... or become a nightmare and horrendously expensive to fix.

A recent Ferrari Spyder developed an issue that required an entire top replacement to the tune of $35000 US. If after an initial inspection of a top issue, the fix can't be had in a short period of time and cost to the customer, guaranteeing no call backs .... the solution is an entire top assembly replacement. And most manufacturers have gone this same route ... including Nissan.

So few convertible models are sold today, that many service techs have never even worked on one. The Convertible top repair section of the 370Z factory service manual is 249 pages long, and that doesn't cover gutting the car of trim pieces, etc., in order to get to the top's mounting points and wiring that are in other sections of the manual.

Add to that ... Nissan will not sell you any of the electrical or hydraulic parts of the top so that you can fix it yourself. They have the cloth top, seals, metal bows, etc. as parts that you can buy, but that is it.

So, if you've followed the threads (there are a lot on our convertibles here on this forum) you can become knowledgeable of some of these issues and be prepared to fix them yourself, with help from "TOP HYDRAULICS" out in Oregon, local convertible top repair facilities, or the gang on board here. Do your homework before you jump in.

Myself .... I'm a backyard mechanic who has been in the backyard for a long time. My Z is just 4 years old with less than 13 000 miles. I've owned more than my share of convertibles over the years, have the factory service manual, and I will buy the entire top assembly from a 370Z Roadster wreck shortly (hit up front) so that I can get any parts Nissan won't provide for any future problems my car might have with the top.

I've spent hours reading the top section of the Roaster service manual .... and I know what I'm going to be up against if ever the top repair issue arrives.

I'm not trying to trying to turn you off buying the 10 year old Roaster you're looking at, but .... look at your situation, do your research, and think carefully before you jump. And this is coming from a 70 year old retired car nut who doesn't have to be concerned about the price of gas and other things.