04SilverBulletZ

I went from helping my friend look for a new car to looking for myself

Did the test drive but was not exactly blown away but with the new interior and manual alone make it worth it. Even with my heated leather seats and navigation the base 370 still feels nicer inside and seats actually have a better fit.

I have an 04 350z auto touring 65k mi. Resale on kbb is 12k, I owe 11k on the loan, hopefully w/ trade-in I'll get a better deal. Don't want to be upside down on the deal!!!

I'm looking to purchase a 09-10' 370 (base more than likely) manual with no more than 45k miles. Most dealers said they will approve me around 25k range.. I've already seen a few contenders w/ very little research.

My only worry is how much my car insurance rate will increase? My last insurance company dropped me just before renewal and now with my new insurance, I'm paying $275 a month for full coverage. Hopefully my rates don't go sky high with a newer car, especially because I just renewed insurance w/ 1yr term =(

NoQuestionZ

iTrader: (93)

Stick with the 350.... at least until you pay down or pay it off. Your 370 will become a 40k car for a base with the $ you owe on your 350. That's Nismo 370 territory there. The dealer MAY work with you to pay off your loan but they're going to get it from somewhere. Either you finance through them with XXX% interest or they want $XXXX down in cash or the overall cost of the car goes up as mentioned.

I could be wrong, but this would be my guess. I was in a similar situation with my RX8 when I was looking at Zs.... actually almost identical. I owed 13k on the auto 8 and they wanted to give me 8k for it (after I "threatened to walk out" 3x) and it KBBd for 14k. I ended up paying double/triple payments for a couple months and then buying the Z I wanted (actually a manual base 350!) and selling the 8 for a G or so profit.

It sucks, but that taught me to never settle. Not for color, transmission, or simple things like interior....and ESPECIALLY PRICE. They WILL eat at you, probably about the time you are eating 56 cent ramen in your Z cuz you can't afford anything else

Hope this helps and isn't too abrasive.

Good luck

Carfreak70852

iTrader: (2)

Please don't. It isn't worth it. Pay the car off and enjoy it. You really don't get that much more for your money. Granted, it is cool to have a nice newer car, but you definitely need to pay that off first and then decide what you want. The dealer isn't going to give you nearly what you want for the car - I can tell you that now.

I would not recommend you doing this.

jtbinvalrico

The condition is called "car fever." Everyone is susceptible to it. There's a reason I don't go to car lots, strip clubs, and casinos. Those folks are highly adept at causing you to feel like you really need what they are selling, and that your life will suck unless you have it.

Temptation, brother. Avoid all temptation.

pyshin

iTrader: (14)

Keep the 350.

Bellisima_Z

Personally I don't like the 370z. It looks too mousy for me. If your really wanting to part with the 350 at least wait for the z35 to come out. It's lookin like a bad*** ride.

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

I agree with most of the posts here. The OP has too little equity in his Z33 to consider trading up to a Z34. The smart move here would be to pay down the loan before trying to sell the car independently. More than likely, you'll find the KBB pricing is optimistic, but selling it yourself is the best way to maximize your return.

04SilverBulletZ

Thanks for all the replies guys! Being that I'm still in that new car daze, I took my research a bit further

I have the day off...Went to the CarMax dealer in Irvine this morning, just to get an idea.. They offered 10.5k, the whole estimate took about 15 minutes. I was surprised, seems pretty fair? Condition wise my cars easily a 10/10

So this is where things took a turn.. called my insurance agent and gave her the vin# of a car I'm looking at online. Rate will be like $75 more a month which sounds kind of horrible if you ask me, there practically the same car I'm not sure if she was doing something wrong on her end or that's just what it is...

Here's the car I was looking at on cargurus.com. Located in Spring Valley, CA, its a 2010 370 base mt w/ 38k mi, asking price is $19k. By the picture below it looks like this car has been lowered (more than likely using lowering springs), tails have been tinted, stock 19s have been plasti dipped? Also, not pos but it looks like they changed the exhaust bc in the pictures its showing burnt blue tips. What do you guys think?




I'm contemplating going to that dealer and checking out the car but I know myself well enough to know that once I get their I will want her even more.. I'm trying to convince myself it's not worth it but its hard.. I guess if I wait until my car is paid off I could just keep the 350 and use it on weekend or for trips, and then use the new 370 as my dd or whatever

AroundMyHorn

iTrader: (9)

I would trade it for any car that's not auto tragic like yours so if this car fits the budget and personal taste, do it. If not, buy another 350z equipped with a manual trans since you are obviously looking to dump the auto.

Carfreak70852

iTrader: (2)

I don't know why anyone would buy a base 370z. No rev match, no sport brakes, no LSD, overall you are getting a worse car. You need to keep your 350z and start adding that $75 you could justify for insurance onto your monthly car payment so you don't stay in debt all your life.

Make a smart adult decision.

Landon_G03z

I am here to respectfully tell you are wrong. You can get the sports package on base model 370's. That means: rev match, sport brakes, (which aren't anything super special), sport spoiler, rays wheels etc.

Op, having owned both, the 370 is a much nicer car interior wise. But keep your 350 for obvious reasons like debt. Also, you can find better deals.. I just bought my 370 a couple months ago. 2009 touring+navi+sport with less than 50k for a touch over $20k. Clean title clean car fax. There are deals out there.

04SilverBulletZ

That was harsh Carfreak, but I feel what your saying. At least I know if I do decide on selling the 350, I will basically be breaking even. I think Im just going to wait tell its paid off and keep the car rather than giving it up. That way I have an extra Z to f around with haha

04SilverBulletZ

I believe the car I was looking at ha sport package, you guys should be able to tell I dunno, just looked sick with the lower stance and wheels

Carfreak70852

iTrader: (2)

I wasn't saying you can't get it, I was thinking this car he was looking at didn't have the sports package. But it has the Rays so that is a different story. (The car he is looking at DOES have the sports package)

When you tell me you are looking at a base car and don't include any of the option packages it has leads me to believe the car is base - as in no options or extra equipment.

And SilverBullet - I am being harsh because I don't want to see others make the mistake so many people do in this day and age. There is no reason to go 20K into debt when you basically have the same car. But I also don't know everything about you. For all I know, your grandfather just gave you 100K and you put it all down on a house instead of paying your car off.

Just make a justified, educated decision is all I am saying!

dkmura

iTrader: (64)

Just to add a bit to your educated decision, if CarMax is offering $10.5K and you still owe $11K on your trade-in, you're already upside down on the deal. By the time you sign the sales contract, there's sure to be dealer fees that'll jack it up even more. You sound like someone in a hurry to spend money you don't have!

The point is, there'll be other 370Zs for sale in the future and there's sure to be one that's even better than the one in your pics. It'll likely be cheaper and you'll be in a better place to buy it at that point. Don't make that impulse buy; learn from this and let the fever cool is my advice.

pyshin

iTrader: (14)

Please make the fiscally responsible decision and keep the 350Z; common sense has been laid out in front of you by members with level heads and they are right.

NoQuestionZ

iTrader: (93)

Listen to us if you haven't already. I KNOW it sucks. BAD. Addition to my story from earlier that I regret looking back... I put money into my RX8 that could have been put towards the car note.... I bought a NEW HKS single for it, NEW AEM CAI, NEW Seibon CF hood, NEW TenzoR wheels/tires, NEW Tien springs, as well as other NEW misc. interior/engine dress up parts. ALL just to make it STILL slower than the 6MT version. The whole time buying these parts was to supplement my need for MT, but I was just cash band aiding the situation. I wish I would have asked the forum back then, but I was fairly new to it and I thought it was mostly for diagnosing problems. But if I had asked these questions I would have gotten these answers.

Keep the 350Z. Keep it in the state it is, except maint. items (keep receipts too) and unless you get free parts, don't mod it. You have it in your mind that you want either a 370, MT, or both. So don't waste your $$. Then, when you either pay it off early or on time, you will have 100% equity in it whether it's 10.5k or 1.5k at least it's cold hard cash.

My Z now is paid off for a couple years(best feeling EVAAAR) and I get tempted by the cash of parting and selling it from time to time..... because it's there. Could I use 15ish k+ right now? Sure. Do I love the Z? You bet. But I have options.

DO NOT go into a loan upside down. The dealer/seller/bank has ALL the power.

/rant

DudeNaZ

My 350z has finally got the point of needing a lot of pesky repairs that will add up, Was thinking about trading but decided to double up my payments and suck it up. I need new top, driver side power window motor, seat belt sensor bad, new tires, and finally a new door handle on passenger side. Got about 14 months to pay off.

masterjr33

Bro. this thread is 5 years old and dead..
wtf..

sithlordsoup

He's just tryin to live his best life