Nissan 350Z in Need for Speed: Underground 2 — this is not just a car, but a legend of the underground scene. With its aggressive design, powerful V6 engine and its perfect handling, it has become a favorite among both beginners and pros. But to unlock the full potential of this sports car, it’s not enough just to unlock it - you need to know the intricacies of tuning, selection of spare parts and racing tactics.
In this article we will look at everything you need to know about 350Z in NFS Underground 2: from methods of obtaining to secrets of victories in the most difficult races. You'll learn which parts to prioritize, how to get around the game's limitations, and why this car is still one of the most balanced in the series. And also - unique bugs and exploits that will allow you to get the most out of the car even in the later stages of your career.
How to unlock Nissan 350Z in NFS Underground 2
Unlike the first part, where 350Z was available from the very beginning, in Underground 2 it needs to be earned. There are two main ways:
- 🏆 Victory in the Street X tournament — after completing the first stages of your career, you will open a series of races where this sports car will be the prize. This is the most honest, but long way.
- 💰 Buying from a dealer - if you already have enough money (about $35,000–$40,000), you can buy 350Z in the salon
Quick Buy. However, please note that in this case the car will be in stock configuration.
There is a third, less obvious way - exchange with another player in multiplayer (if you play on PC with mods or emulators). But here it is important to check the history of the car: sometimes after the exchange some upgrades are reset.
⚠️ Attention: If you choose 350Z as a starting car through cheats or saves, some versions of the game may experience bugs with physics. For example, the car will “sink” into the asphalt at high speeds.
- Won the tournament
- Bought for money
- Downloaded the save
- Another way
Specs: Why the 350Z is so good
Stock Nissan 350Z in Underground 2 equipped 3.5 liter VQ35DE engine with a power of about 287 hp (numbers are rounded in the game). But the real magic begins after tuning. Here are the key parameters:
| Parameter | Stock | Max. upgrade | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 287 hp | ~550 hp | With turbine Stage 3 and chip tuning |
| Weight | 1,480 kg | ~1,200 kg | With full lightweight configuration |
| Drive | Rear | Rear | You can’t change it, but this is a plus for drifting |
| Max. speed | 250 km/h | ~320 km/h | With long gearbox |
Main advantage 350Z - him perfect weight distribution 52:48 (front:back). This makes the car stable in corners, but at the same time allowing it to easily go into a controlled drift. However, there is also a minus: without a suspension upgrade, the car begins to “yaw” at high speeds, especially on uneven roads.
Fun fact: in real life 350Z was produced from 2002 to 2009, and in the game its model is based on the restyled version 2005 (updated headlights and bumper). This is one of the few cars in NFS UG2, in which even the smallest details of the interior have been worked out.
Optimal tuning: what to put first
Many players make the mistake of immediately rushing to install a turbine or increase power. In fact, for 350Z much more important balance. Here is a step-by-step upgrade plan:
- Suspension and steering - put
Sport SuspensionAndRacing Steering. This will eliminate "yaw" at high speeds and make the car more responsive. - Brakes - update to
Racing Brakes. 350Z It's heavy and the stock brakes don't handle sharp corners. - Gearbox — select
Street Transmissionfor drag racing orRacing Transmissionfor circuit racing. - Engine - install only after previous upgrades
Turbo Stage 2orStage 3. Without chassis preparation, additional power will only worsen handling.
Pay special attention tires. Suitable for drifting Drift Tires, but for time trials it is better to choose Racing Slicks — they give +10% to grip on dry asphalt.
☑️ Check before tuning 350Z
⚠️ Attention: If you install Turbo Stage 3 Before upgrading the suspension, the car will become almost uncontrollable at speeds above 220 km/h. This is a known bug that was not fixed even in patches.
Winning secrets: how to win the toughest races with a 350Z
Nissan 350Z performs well in three types of races:
- 🏁 Sprints - thanks to the high maximum speed and good acceleration.
- 🔄 Circuit racing — if the suspension is configured correctly.
- 🎯 Drag racing - with correct gearbox settings.
But there are nuances. For example, in drag racing never use an automatic transmission - even with an upgrade, it loses to a manual transmission by 0.3–0.5 seconds. And in round-robin racing on roads with sharp turns (for example, Downtown) it is better to lower the tire pressure a little (Tire Pressure: 80%) for better grip.
One of the little-known techniques is using nitro in corners. B NFS UG2 at 350Z there is a unique feature: when nitro is activated at the beginning of a skid, the car “presses” to the road, which allows you to exit the turn at a higher speed. However, this requires a perfect sense of timing.
How to trick AI in racing?
In some versions of the game, you can exploit the rubber banding bug, where the AI artificially slows down if you are too far ahead. To do this, you need to deliberately lose the first 2-3 turns, and then accelerate sharply.
Top 5 mistakes newbies make when tuning a 350Z
Even experienced players sometimes make critical mistakes that spoil the full potential of the machine. Here are the most common:
- Ignoring weight — many people install the most powerful parts, but forget about lightening the body. As a result, the car becomes too heavy for its hp.
- Wrong choice of tires —
Drift Tiresuseless on a wet track, andAll-Purposelose in dry races. - Too much nitro - installation
Nitrous Stage 3Without upgrading the fuel system, it runs out of nitro in 2 seconds. - Neglect of aerodynamics — without a spoiler at high speeds the car loses stability.
- Blindly copying other people's builds — what works in drag is not suitable for drifting.
The worst mistake is front wheel drive installation through cheats. In real life 350Z It’s always rear-wheel drive, and in the game its physics are designed specifically for this. Forcibly changing the drive breaks controllability.
Before each race, check the weather in the menu Race Info. If it rains, temporarily change your tires to Wet Tires - this will give +15% grip, even if they are lower in level.
Mods and cheats: how to improve 350Z without a ban
If you play on PC, then with the help of mods you can significantly expand the possibilities 350Z. Here's what you can do no risk to saves:
- 🎨 External tuning — adding real body kits (for example, Nismo or Veilside Fortune).
- 🔧 Realistic physics - fashions like
Realistic Handling Modmake control more predictable. - 🔥 Additional details - turbines from GReddy, exhausts Borla, which are missing in the stock game.
However, be careful with cheats on console versions (PS2, Xbox). Usage Action Replay or Gameshark to unlock all parts may result in loss of progress due to corruption of save files. A safe alternative is manual editing of saves via NFS UG2 Save Editor (only for offline mode!).
⚠️ Attention: In online multiplayer (if you play through emulators like PCSX2) using mods on the car can lead to desynchronization of physics. Yours 350Z will behave normally, but will appear to "teleport" to other players.
Comparison with other cars in NFS Underground 2
Nissan 350Z often compared to Mazda RX-7, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII And Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Here's what he looks like against their background:
| Parameter | Nissan 350Z | Mazda RX-7 | Lancer Evo VIII | Subaru WRX STi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. speed (stock) | 250 km/h | 240 km/h | 230 km/h | 225 km/h |
| Acceleration 0–100 km/h | 5.5 s | 5.2 s | 4.8 s | 5.0 s |
| Controllability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Full tuning price | $95,000 | $110,000 | $105,000 | $98,000 |
350Z loses Evo VIII in acceleration, but wins in stability at high speeds. And compared to RX-7 It has better grip but poorer maneuverability in tight corners. An ideal choice if you need universal machine for different types of races.
If you need a car for drifting, take it RX-7. For drag racing - Evo VIII. And if you want to win everything - 350Z with the right tuning.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Nissan 350Z in NFS Underground 2
Can the 350Z be powered by a GT-R engine?
No, there is no such option in the stock game. However, there are mods that add an engine VR38DETT (from Nissan GT-R R35) with power up to 700 hp. Please note that with such an engine, the transmission and brakes will need to be completely rebuilt.
What color should you choose for your 350Z to win more races?
Color does not affect the characteristics, but there is a psychological point: bright colors (Electric Blue, Neon Green) distract opponents in multiplayer. And in a single player campaign it is better to choose dark colors (Midnight Purple, Black) so that the car is less noticeable to the police.
Why did the car become slower after installing the Stage 3 turbine?
This is due to the fact that you have not updated the fuel system (Fuel System) and exhaust (Exhaust). The turbine requires more air and fuel, and if the other components cannot keep up, the engine chokes. Put Racing Fuel Pump And Titanium Exhaust - the problem will disappear.
Can the 350Z be driven off-road?
Technically yes, but it makes no sense. The car has too low ground clearance and will cling to every curb. In addition, the stock suspension is not designed for jumping - after 2-3 strong impacts it breaks and the car begins to “chatter”.
What's the hardest race for the 350Z in the game?
Outskirts Circuit at maximum difficulty level. It combines long straights (where top speed is important) and sharp corners (where perfect braking is needed). Advice: use nitro only on straight lines and do not try to drift in turns - it is better to slow down slightly.