Purchasing a used 350z
10-24-2014, 08:33 PM
#1
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Purchasing a used 350z
hello everybody, im looking to purchase a 2008 350z manual. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...83536666&Log=0
This one in particular. Test drove it, loved it and im already in the process of negotiating the price with them so i can walk out happy. One issue im concerned about though is that the car does not have traction control. Georgia weather is always random and it can rain very hard sometimes and on rare occasions have some snow storms. Was wondering how much this would affect me because this will be my daily driver to commute so i just wanted to hear yall's opinions, Thanks.
If i do purchase the car, the dealership agreed to take that nasty a#$ spoiler too lol.
This one in particular. Test drove it, loved it and im already in the process of negotiating the price with them so i can walk out happy. One issue im concerned about though is that the car does not have traction control. Georgia weather is always random and it can rain very hard sometimes and on rare occasions have some snow storms. Was wondering how much this would affect me because this will be my daily driver to commute so i just wanted to hear yall's opinions, Thanks.
If i do purchase the car, the dealership agreed to take that nasty a#$ spoiler too lol.
10-24-2014, 09:16 PM
#2
Depends on you and your driving habits. Most newbs wreck within the first year of ownership. The z is also known to kill more drivers than anything else on the road. Weather can be a factor but not the main cause of you driving into a pole on Thanksgiving.
10-24-2014, 09:18 PM
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how do you it doesnt have traction control?
10-24-2014, 09:30 PM
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He means it doesn't have the option to turn traction control off or on. Which means it's always off and is a base model. I took traction off in the snow once and had no chance, then again I was only on my 4th month of driving manual, first time in the snow.
10-24-2014, 09:38 PM
#5
As a base model no TCS owner I can tell you in the rain its all about tires. I has some summers on for a white and the wife spun it out almost got in a wreck. I threw on some potenza pole position 970AS its 100% good in all forms of rain (i'm in florida, it rains hard) Ill run out of visibility before I have issues with staying on the road. Again TIRES is what counts here.
I love hearing stories of people spinning out and blaming traction control when they are rocking RE11s or aggressive summer tires. If its a daily driver don't do that. Never driven in snow though.
I love hearing stories of people spinning out and blaming traction control when they are rocking RE11s or aggressive summer tires. If its a daily driver don't do that. Never driven in snow though.
10-24-2014, 09:41 PM
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I'm pretty mature about the way that i drive, i don't expect to speed at all unless the conditions are very good but thats exactly what im scared of, crashing the car.
10-24-2014, 09:42 PM
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As a base model no TCS owner I can tell you in the rain its all about tires. I has some summers on for a white and the wife spun it out almost got in a wreck. I threw on some potenza pole position 970AS its 100% good in all forms of rain (i'm in florida, it rains hard) Ill run out of visibility before I have issues with staying on the road. Again TIRES is what counts here.
I love hearing stories of people spinning out and blaming traction control when they are rocking RE11s or aggressive summer tires. If its a daily driver don't do that. Never driven in snow though.
I love hearing stories of people spinning out and blaming traction control when they are rocking RE11s or aggressive summer tires. If its a daily driver don't do that. Never driven in snow though.
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10-25-2014, 05:13 AM
#9
As a base model no TCS owner I can tell you in the rain its all about tires. I has some summers on for a white and the wife spun it out almost got in a wreck. I threw on some potenza pole position 970AS its 100% good in all forms of rain (i'm in florida, it rains hard) Ill run out of visibility before I have issues with staying on the road. Again TIRES is what counts here.
I love hearing stories of people spinning out and blaming traction control when they are rocking RE11s or aggressive summer tires. If its a daily driver don't do that. Never driven in snow though.
I love hearing stories of people spinning out and blaming traction control when they are rocking RE11s or aggressive summer tires. If its a daily driver don't do that. Never driven in snow though.
10-25-2014, 06:56 AM
#10
TC saved my *** multiple times just driving around, was taking an onramp - going normal speed, 4th gear - suddenly the rear end loses traction, if VDC didn't kick in I wouldn't have enough time, room, or reaction skills to save the car.
The point of VDC is, you leave it on and it will protect you and the car when you are in a relaxed state/ not expecting a sudden / abrupt loss of traction.
This car (especially the HR) can and does lose traction without warning if the road condition & your tires come to a disagreement.
the VDC button isn't just a dumb traction control like in most cars - it is a derivative of the nissan R34 ATTESSA system, it controls much more than just cutting power to the wheels.
Some of the things come to mind - it will reduce torque in addition to applying any of the 4 brake callipers to correct the car, along with sensing input from the steering wheel - if it senses you trying to correct it, it will assist you to a point but won't over correct.
If you are buying the Z as a daily I would look for one with VDC, if it's just a weekend toy/ track car you will be okay.
Sure you can be prepared 90% of the time and save the situtation, but in the 10% when there is a nice day out, not a cloud in sight - you take a corner hit an oil spot or some gravel and end up like this guy.
The point of VDC is, you leave it on and it will protect you and the car when you are in a relaxed state/ not expecting a sudden / abrupt loss of traction.
This car (especially the HR) can and does lose traction without warning if the road condition & your tires come to a disagreement.
the VDC button isn't just a dumb traction control like in most cars - it is a derivative of the nissan R34 ATTESSA system, it controls much more than just cutting power to the wheels.
Some of the things come to mind - it will reduce torque in addition to applying any of the 4 brake callipers to correct the car, along with sensing input from the steering wheel - if it senses you trying to correct it, it will assist you to a point but won't over correct.
If you are buying the Z as a daily I would look for one with VDC, if it's just a weekend toy/ track car you will be okay.
Sure you can be prepared 90% of the time and save the situtation, but in the 10% when there is a nice day out, not a cloud in sight - you take a corner hit an oil spot or some gravel and end up like this guy.
Last edited by 350zsunshinefl; 10-25-2014 at 01:49 PM.
10-25-2014, 02:54 PM
#11
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wait...the 2008 350z base model includes heated leather seats, power mirrors, power windows, power seats, cruise control, HID lights?
post number 11 has the options for the 2008 model year.
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...questions.html
I think this is an 'enthusiast' model...in which it does have traction control (TCS) but not (VDC) vehicle dynamic control. So the car has traction control in the sense that the computer will limit how much power is supplied to the rear tires but does not have VDC which will save your ***...
and +1 to finding one with VDC...
post number 11 has the options for the 2008 model year.
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...questions.html
I think this is an 'enthusiast' model...in which it does have traction control (TCS) but not (VDC) vehicle dynamic control. So the car has traction control in the sense that the computer will limit how much power is supplied to the rear tires but does not have VDC which will save your ***...
and +1 to finding one with VDC...
10-25-2014, 03:01 PM
#12
TC saved my *** multiple times just driving around, was taking an onramp - going normal speed, 4th gear - suddenly the rear end loses traction, if VDC didn't kick in I wouldn't have enough time, room, or reaction skills to save the car.
The point of VDC is, you leave it on and it will protect you and the car when you are in a relaxed state/ not expecting a sudden / abrupt loss of traction.
This car (especially the HR) can and does lose traction without warning if the road condition & your tires come to a disagreement.
the VDC button isn't just a dumb traction control like in most cars - it is a derivative of the nissan R34 ATTESSA system, it controls much more than just cutting power to the wheels.
Some of the things come to mind - it will reduce torque in addition to applying any of the 4 brake callipers to correct the car, along with sensing input from the steering wheel - if it senses you trying to correct it, it will assist you to a point but won't over correct.
If you are buying the Z as a daily I would look for one with VDC, if it's just a weekend toy/ track car you will be okay.
Sure you can be prepared 90% of the time and save the situtation, but in the 10% when there is a nice day out, not a cloud in sight - you take a corner hit an oil spot or some gravel and end up like this guy.
The point of VDC is, you leave it on and it will protect you and the car when you are in a relaxed state/ not expecting a sudden / abrupt loss of traction.
This car (especially the HR) can and does lose traction without warning if the road condition & your tires come to a disagreement.
the VDC button isn't just a dumb traction control like in most cars - it is a derivative of the nissan R34 ATTESSA system, it controls much more than just cutting power to the wheels.
Some of the things come to mind - it will reduce torque in addition to applying any of the 4 brake callipers to correct the car, along with sensing input from the steering wheel - if it senses you trying to correct it, it will assist you to a point but won't over correct.
If you are buying the Z as a daily I would look for one with VDC, if it's just a weekend toy/ track car you will be okay.
Sure you can be prepared 90% of the time and save the situtation, but in the 10% when there is a nice day out, not a cloud in sight - you take a corner hit an oil spot or some gravel and end up like this guy.
10-25-2014, 03:03 PM
#13
wait...the 2008 350z base model includes heated leather seats, power mirrors, power windows, power seats, cruise control, HID lights?
post number 11 has the options for the 2008 model year.
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...questions.html
I think this is an 'enthusiast' model...in which it does have traction control (TCS) but not (VDC) vehicle dynamic control. So the car has traction control in the sense that the computer will limit how much power is supplied to the rear tires but does not have VDC which will save your ***...
and +1 to finding one with VDC...
post number 11 has the options for the 2008 model year.
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...questions.html
I think this is an 'enthusiast' model...in which it does have traction control (TCS) but not (VDC) vehicle dynamic control. So the car has traction control in the sense that the computer will limit how much power is supplied to the rear tires but does not have VDC which will save your ***...
and +1 to finding one with VDC...
Last edited by KornerCarver; 10-25-2014 at 03:05 PM.
10-25-2014, 08:51 PM
#16
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iTrader: (13)
10-26-2014, 06:30 AM
#18
Having no VDC is like having unprotected sex, much higher chance of getting something nasty.
Re-read my post again, no one said anything about driving too fast for conditions, hit a patch of sand or coolant on an onramp, end up wrapped around a tree.
Really a no brainer, if given the opportunity go for the VDC equipped car- especially since the price delta is so small in the used market. Not to mention you get an LSD (granted its a VLSD but it's still better than an open diff)
Last edited by 350zsunshinefl; 10-26-2014 at 06:32 AM.
10-26-2014, 06:57 AM
#19
I have been driving for over 50 years and have never had a car suddenly lose control. You need to drive for conditions. If there is sand or coolant on the road you need to slow down. If it is rainy or snowy, you need to slow down. Cars don't just "jump out of control" for no reason. And if you know how to drive, you don't need a computer to save your butt. You will react and control the car yourself.
10-26-2014, 09:09 AM
#20
I have been driving for over 50 years and have never had a car suddenly lose control. You need to drive for conditions. If there is sand or coolant on the road you need to slow down. If it is rainy or snowy, you need to slow down. Cars don't just "jump out of control" for no reason. And if you know how to drive, you don't need a computer to save your butt. You will react and control the car yourself.
