Mystery Guest

Went Z shopping today and found the Z I wanted. It was an Enthusiast although the salesman had no idea what trim it was It seems I know more about the Z's than the actual salesman.

It was blue 2003 with 18 inch wheels, leather interior and spoiler (17,000 miles). The guy wanted $25,999, and he said the cheapest he would go is $25,000. This seems rather high don't ya think?

Also the front bumper was scratched on the bottom, a few little scratches here and there. The leather looked a little dirty, and it had a big scuff on the dash. If you are selling a car in a car lot I would expect that they would at least recondition the car. This is the difference between a big dealer and a small used car dealer I guess. Also I noticed the tires were replaced with Goodyear Eagles. Which leads me to beleive it was beat on or tire feathering.

Do you think this is a fair price? After 8 hours of car shopping I am rather frustrated b/c it seems all the dealer won't budge on the price. It's also slim pickings as far as selection.

axxizzer

Yeah, I would say thats a tad high. how many miles?

I payed 31K for a brand new one.

Mystery Guest

17,000 miles - My girlfriend was in love with it. She was practically crying when I left the lot.

axxizzer

yeesh

have you checked the KBB or edmunds?

jun14scr

iTrader: (1)

that is high. i'm selling my 04 performance with 14k for 25k.

Mantis3024

$19k is more like it

kinjal

iTrader: (5)

i got my 04.5 touring with every option but navi, 9000 miles, for 26500 out the door as a certified nissan used car, from a major nissan dealership. i suggest using cars.com and vehix.com as your resources, then hit up only the nissan dealerships. the only way i would buy from a small dealer or private party is if there were some hefty mods done to the car. here is a car that i suggest you look into, although it is in chicago, you could have it shipped. i remember seeing a car similar to the specs you described when i bought my car for 22k!

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117952

Eddie1979

Enthusiasts do not come with leather or 18 inch wheels... You sure you have the model right? Sounds like a performance. What did the wheels look like?

I got my '04 Enthus with 16k miles for 22k and i think i could have done better.

kpiskin

iTrader: (5)

A lot of dealers will add leather after the fact. If it doesn not have seat heaters in it, then that's probably what happened.

I would say that car was high priced, but dealerships alway charge a premium. FL and TX always seem to have the least expensive car prices, but in this case I think this is an exception. Additionally if they think they have a fish on the line, then they will be tough on price. Play hard to get and waffle a lot. Never tell them it's the car you want (you're just looking). Always mention that the car doesn't have some option you're looking for, and watch them run around like crazy to either find the model you want or suddenly say that the manager will let the car go for less than he originially said.

I just purchased a 2003 350Z (5AT) Touring model with 10.5K miles, aero pkg, nav/side impact, splash guards, new front and rear floor mats for $25.3K including tax tags and title. The car is in impeccable condition and looks and smells new. There are a few slight blemishes on the hood, but nothing you'd notice under normal conditions. The interior looks like no one ever sat in it.

I would continue to shop around until you find the deal you want. It took me a number of months, but in my case was worth it. However as Summer nears, dealers are less willing to haggle on sports cars, so if you don't find something soon, you might be better off waiting until Fall. You may also want to consider a private party sale. Typically the seller is looking for a price between trade-in and retail. It's a win-win situation when that happens.

skitoles

18 inch rims and leather sounds like a touring...i dont think performance come with leater? or do they? if its an enthusiast, then that is too high

zand02max

iTrader: (22)

Touring!

The Brickyard Rat

iTrader: (1)

See if it has heated seats. Also look for Bose Stero. If yes, then $25000 isn't bad. But if a Enthusiast or Performance, then to high.

Mystery Guest

I've seen plenty of Enth. with leather, although it is possible I could be wrong. Wheels could have been a dealer upgrade. I'll have to check the VIN number. KBB was around $25,000, but the trade in on that car is around $19,000 - $20,000. I refuse to pay that much knowing what they received for the car.

Mystery Guest

Thanks.. due to my credit (600 Fico) I can't get a personal loan from the bank. So I have to search car dealers. Either way I will probably be paying out of my butt one way or another. I plan on putting $6,000 down, hopefully it will be enough. I gave my number to a bunch of dealers yesterday and told them to call me once they get something in. Ideally $22,000 is what I want to pay.

Mystery Guest

Can anyone do me a huge favor and run a car fax on this car?

JN1AZ34DX3T110794

RxZ

I was out at the local large Nissan dealership yesterday showing the Z to my wife (trying to get her to at least see what I am so obsessed about ) when we were shown a 2003 enthusiast BRICKYARD they had for sell. It had right at 20K miles and had an auto tranny. There were almost no scratches at all on this car, it looked absolutly perfect, the non-negotiable price was 24,500 $. For a 2003, used, with dealer admitted feathering issues. Right next to it was an immaculate le Mans Sunset 2005 Enthusiast with the exact same oiptins for 28,500 I personally think that I would have to get the 05 due to the feathering issue and no miles on the car. The Brickyard was beatiful, that was the first I have seen, but only 4K in depreciation in 3 years? I guess what I am saying is to keep looking. You will find a car that both you and your girlfriend will love, but it may take time.

smoothludey

The most you should have to pay for a 2003 touring with 17k miles is 24,000 out the door....if i were you i would be firm and start with 23,000 out the door w/ new plates and tell him if he can do that you will buy the car today...Another thing you can do is call the dealership and ask to talk to another salesman and offer 23k out the door and see what price he comes back at you with, and if he gives it to you for 24k or less, just go with that guy.

You gotta play hardball with these guys, they will make money no matter what. You can always try for a 2004 model with the $2000 or 1%apr incentive. I believe there is one black 2004 enthusiast at a chicago dealership (dunno which one) which you should be able to get for 25k OTD with the incentive.

n8236

I am about just about ready to buy my '05 Enthusiast Z, and i've been doing research and come to the conclusion that since the car has been out for 2+ years already, you shouldn't have to pay more than invoice + tax, fees, etc. Dealers know the ppl who want the Z are a very particular type of buyers because the Z is such an unique car, so they know you want it. But if they start giving $hit, say u'll go look at the new Mustang GT or the S2000, that should the dealers back pressure to keep you on their showrooms.

But here's something I found weird, I was able to locate two different dealer invoice prices.

Edmunds.com @ $26,496
Car-prices-costs.com has it at $26,311

Ya, i know hardly any difference, but every dollar counts! It's the Chinese way! haha
There is also the dealer holdbacks, but that 3% of the invoice price of the car is profit that goes into the dealer, so you can't use that or even tell them about it. But you could use it to your advantage by using it as your starting point to negotiate to give yourself some wiggle room.

Using Edmund's dealer invoice minus the 3% dealer holdback, your negotiating point would be 26496-795 = $25,701!!! But again, don't mention dealer holdbacks to the dealership, just use it for your own reference. It's usually pretty tough to cut into the dealer's 3% holdnback since that's part of their pure profit for operating a dealership.

I live in San Francisco, and the tax is brutal @ 8.50%! So even if I get a bare enthusiast @ dealer invoice of 26,311 w/ tax and everything else it would come to $28,943 which I think is a decent price. I'd prolly give them another $50 at most to $29k flat and have it driven to my house since i don't know how to drive a manual lol.