Z.Com: Where to Buy Gifts for Your Nissan or Datsun Z Enthusiast

There are certain cars that are more than just transportation. They are a statement about the owner. They are a brotherhood. Jeep is one. Jeep owners gather every year to take their vehicles through their paces and get to know each other. They wear Jeep branded clothing and are genuinely proud of their vehicles.

The Nissan/Datsun Z line is another. Owning a Z is like being in a club. We wave to each other when we pass another Z and smile. If we pull into a parking lot and see another Z, a conversation ensues. It's like a big extended family. Having owned several Zs in my life, I knew this. The first thing I asked the dealer when we bought our 350Z was for the best place to buy Z-branded products. He had no idea. The dealership had plenty of Nissmo items, which is cool too since Nissmo is the name of Nissan's after-market goodies, but I really really wanted Z specific things. Enter Z.com

Now, while I was looking mainly to purchase items, Z.com is so much more than that. It's a really slick site where you can find out just about all there is to know about the 350Z. It's done mostly in subdued shades of grays so that the full color pictures of the vehicles will stand out that much more. If you are looking to get info on the car itself, this is the best place to start. You can design your dream car or order a brochure; find the nearest dealer, or get a list of dealers in a tri-state area to try to get the best deal; you can find out all about every aspect of this car from the original designs to the running power.

This is a great site for info. Absolutely hands down the best site for car enthusiasts to research this fine fine piece of muscle. However, I was looking for merchandise, remember? That's where things get sticky. I clicked all over this site looking to buy stuff. I'm going to take away a star for that little bit of frustration and save you the effort now.

Here's the trick. Click on 350Z® Experience on the right about half way down the page. When you do this, the actual 350Z site will load in a separate window with lots of bells and whistles. I mean tons. It's impressive if you have a fast computer. I imagine it would be really bad if you are on an older system though. Anyway, after this, then click on 'load full', at which point things get really high tech. You can now go through a virtual test run of the Z. Sweeet.

But where's the toys? Ok, you're only one more click away. On the top bar are several choices labeled Home, Temptation, Desire and Love. Hover your mouse over the Love option and you will see Downloads, Z Store, Gallery. Click on Z Store. There ya go! You found it! HUZZAH!

Now that you're here finally, you can order jackets, t-shirts, ball caps, key chains, umbrella, duffel bags, sweat shirts, polos, even ink pens with the Z logo. YAY! And boy have we ordered.

The matte-silver key-chain with the big Z is very cool for $7.95. I 'll warn you men though, this can be very painful in your pants pockets... I keep my keys in my purse so the Z being cut out doesn't bother me a bit. I love this key chain. The Black t-shirt for $29.95 seems a little pricey on the surface, but this isn't any ol' t-shirt. It's from Cutter & Buck. That means very high quality and it'll last a very long time. The Z swoosh is embroidered too rather than silk screened so you also don't have to worry about it flaking in the wash after awhile.

We have quite a few of the Z-branded items and are more than happy with all of it. This company is located in Orange County, CA and are very helpful and friendly. The site will tell you that it takes 6-8 weeks for delivery, but we've not waited near that long ever.

They take Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Diners Club, and Discover for payment, and if you ever have a problem you can call them 8AM-6PM EST 7 days a week at 866-225-0936.

Once you've navigated your way to the store though, that number is very easy to find. One thing that turns me off and makes me leery of ordering on-line is if it's hard to find the company's phone number. Not a problem here at all.

So, if you're a Z owner or just interested in more info, this is your site. My only gripe is I think they should make the merchandise easier to find, so 4 stars, but do Order with confidence and have fun!