I've got a dilemna. I own a business, and we've moved our office to a new location. Problem is, it's a 50 mile commute 2-3 times a week. I have two cars right now, an Audi A4 with too many miles that I'm selling now and, my baby, a Toyota Supra Turbo. This is my 3rd Supra and I love them to death. Problem is, it makes a horrendous daily driver and I'm not sure if I can foot two car payments yet, given our new overhead at the office.

Ideally, I'd lease a TSX and keep the Supra. But I'm not sure I'll be making the money to justify it. To me, a 350z is somewhere between those two cars. So, if I have to stick with one car, I was thinking it could be a Z.

Maybe I'm mistaken, how are these cars for daily drivers? I don't need a luxury ride, but the ride on my Supra on 18's is quite unforgiving.

I know a common suggestion would be the G35 instead. I like the styling, but it's not for me. A little too "mature". If I'm going to get rid of the Supra, I want to retain some badassness.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Also, how hard would it be to find a used 6-spd silverstone/orange touring w/ nav anywhere in the US?

 

It will daily about like your Supra.

I have 47k daily miles on mine.

 

I'd take a G35c over 350z for a long commute, but since it's not for you... A bunch of people daily in the Z so it's definitely do-able.

 

It's about 25 miles to work for me. So about 50 round trip daily, and the Z does it fine.

I wouldnt own a car if I didnt think it was capable of that....

 

my Z is my daily... 20 miles one way to work... i carpool though... so only drive her twice a week... can't think of driving anything else ...

 

Well, as a fair comparison, my friend's stock Evo has a much better ride than my Supra over broken pavement. I think something with a ride slightly better than that would be perfect.

Thanks for the responses thus far.

PS: The drive is to Manhattan. It's the west side highway, which isn't bad. And I only drive in the actual city two blocks. The west side highway isn't smooth by any means though, and I didn't have the best time when I did drive the Supra in once.

 

why do some people worry about how the Z is for daily driving?

Is the Z that much harder/inconvenient to drive?

Is the Z really fragile?

I drive my modded Z at least 36 miles everyday and I haven't found the urge for any other comfort features.

I've driven across states with my girlfriend with the hatch chalf full of stuff and I still just am not sure what the big deal is...

Is it the loudness or suspension? I dunno, even my Z which is pretty loud, but I don't consider to be too obnoxious on a long trip

 

30 in and 30 out as for miles to work for me... no issues

 

It's my daily driver and I love it. I'll soon have to park it and buy a POS 4x4 because of snow but for the time being I couldn't think of driving anything else. Also I just took a 900m round trip to NH and it was fine. I was a little sore but nothing that a good stretch didn't take care of.

 

I’d go for the TSX as a daily driver.

My daily is a ’00 Maxima; which I consider the perfect balance between ride/comfort & performance (enough ‘performance’ for daily commute). I do approximately 50 miles daily, with about 40 of those miles on the interstate.

I would not even consider driving my Z to work. My problem is my parking situation is less than ideal. I’ve had my cars broken into/vandalized about half dozen times in the 22 years I’ve been at my job location.

As far as the ride, the Z is plenty comfortable for 50 mile commute.

 

Where in CT are you from??

 

I drive my Z daily with it being my only car.

I feel every bump in the road and have gotten used to most, but on a reallly bad road I would definetly NOT recommend a 350Z.

 

Got to agree with Sentry65....what's the big deal about the Z being a daily drive with the exception of ice/snow? This car is tough and wants to be driven. Drive it and enjoy it!

 

I baby my Z too much to daily drive it
well, and now the snow up here is gonna restrict my driving of it anyway.

 

I drive my 350Z pretty much daily except for the winter months or very hard rainy days. I still drive it in the winter months only when it not snowing or when the road don't have salt when dry.

As for miles I drive 56 miles a day 5 days a week mostly highway and no problems yet. Over 300 miles on a weekly basic.

 

i drive my z over 100 miles round trip to work here. if it wasn't for dogs, I would still be.....

 

I daily drive my car too, but the ride is pretty harsh on bad roads. It's not enough to stop me, but I don't imagine it'll be much better than your supra.

 

I have talked to several people who have given up supras for the Z. Most of them are not happy. If you love the supra as much as you say, you better keep it. Maybe you should find something cheap to daily drive.

I have 43K miles in 28 months of ownership. I love it. But I dont think you will.

Just go test drive one.

 

I don't think the question is about the ability of the Z to be used daily, it is more of a driver comfort issue.

The younger people on the board may not get it, but if you have back problems the stiff suspension becomes an issue, especially on long daily commutes.

 

"Also, how hard would it be to find a used 6-spd silverstone/orange touring w/ nav anywhere in the US?"

I'm in Philadelphia PA, I would be interested in selling mine, I have a fully loaded 6MT silverstone/orange touring with 32k miles no navigation though. I am looking to switch to a ZR. $24,800 firm.