Take it as a compliment, kcobean...
I'm looking to buy one myself and when your on the outside looking in, the 350Z looks like a 60,000 dollar car....
A couple of days ago I was coming out of Ralphs with my wife and saw a guy hopping into his Brembo equiped 350 and I paused and asked him the same question...
I said, "Wow your Z is beautiful," what'd you pay for that gem..? He responded in a British accent and proceeded to tell me, not only the price but that it was a much better car than the previous Jags, Benz's and Beemers that he'd owned and we then talked for a good ten minutes straight............
I thought he was a very nice guy and if asked the same question, I'd take it as a compliment.....I'd probably never ask someone what they payed for their Cobalt SS/SC or their Redline or even their EVO but the Z.......The car just looks beautiful and expensive and within the next couple of weeks I'll be grabbin me an 06........
By the way, nice to be here among you gents, this is my first post and as soon as I get my car, I'll fit right into this brotherhood.....

Mike(Herc)

 

IN a way when they do this it is a way of cutting you down.... or they try to make themselves feel better. They wana hear a really high price so they can say as they walk away. I could put that much in a civic and have a 10 sec. car. people who have to ask dont really care about cars or know anything. I never ask those questions cause i read about all this stuff it doesnt take alot brains to figure it out for yourself. If i see somthing i like i take a mental note go home and look it up on the web. when people ask me these questions If they are dumb ill tell them i got it recked for 3500 and rebuilt it. If they are smart i give them a ton of numbers and let them try to do the math.

 

Well, as I said above, I'm 42 years old with three daughters and would not be offended as I haven't any agendas....I was just being my honest self and already knew the pricing, I just wanted to know what he paid and I also ended up having a pleasant adult conversation as well ....
Down here in California were all pretty straight forward and I didn't see the need for a sense of "Heightened Awareness

 

Actually, to me it seems an inappropriate question to ask a complete stranger, fellow car enthusiast or not. I would only ask this of someone I knew and who wouldn't take offense because they knew me. I might ask about brand, place of purchase, etc. and then I'd do my own homework. That's just me though.

That's true I suppose, I just don't feel that what I paid for my car to look like it looks is pertinent to that learning process. And to an extent, I'm less put-off by it when a fellow enthusiast asks me. It's the passers-by that kinda seem odd asking this question.

 

Well, from someone who occasionally ASKS that question, here is my perspective: When I'm at a show and I see a mod I might like to do on my car, I might ask that question, usually prefaced by saying "If you don't mind me asking...". Reason I ask, is that if I find out right away that such a mod is out of my price range, then I quit worrying about it! I dont ask to try to judge a person's income level.

 

I agree, i hate going into detail, what i spend is for me to know!

 

I would imagine that much would depend upon ones tone of conversation and the locale.....The gentleman that I spoke with was more than happy to disclose what he payed for his car.......
Buy the way, what are you guys paying for gas out your way......

 

next time tell them, "More than you can afford, pal! *insert exotic italian car brand name*"

 

I'm 33 with one son, and I don't have any agendas either (other than to build a great car). It's not that I'm "offended" per se, it's just a question that makes me uncomfortable, that's all.

 

I completely understand and would not be offended in the least if you declined to tell me and I would still have a great converstion with you...

 

1. too much (ain't that the truth)
2. If you have to ask, you can't afford it (pompous A-hole answer)
3. Well, let's just say I'm eating alot more Kraft dinners now (ha ha...that one made me chuckle)
4. I can't remember (not like I'm not at a gas-pump at least once a week)
5. Gas? I don't pay for it, I steal it (I have no idea, it just popped into my head)

 

you're not being petty, its up to you what you let strangers know about you and your car.

if you dont want to tell the particular person, just say you cant remember the exact cost as you bought so many things in between now and then its a number your dont like to think about (or insert whatever non-answer you like here) and laugh it off like others have mentioned, but you can follow up and be friendly by saying "i think i saw in X magazine recently and i think it was around X price now." that way you're not telling anytyhing you dont want to, you're not being a d1ck, you're being helpful.

but while we're talking about it, just between me and you, how much did tose lambo's set you back?









just bullpoopin with you mang!

 

In short answer yes. I know when I used to ask when I was new to this stuff, I was trying to figure out if it was affordable for my budget. If someone sees your body kit and its all painted and nice, they can get an idea it cost over 1000. But for exhaust or intake or anything small like there, theres alot of variance.

 

You are being overly analy sensative so get off the donky and cowboy up!

Don't know what made me do it, it just seemed fun

 

Actually, I amazed at the number of people who think that just because I drive a Z, I'm loaded. People seem to think we're driving a $100K exotic sports car. They think nothing of it when somebody spends $35K on a SUV or big-a$$ pickup truck. But for some reason a $35K 2-seater sports car is seen as extravagent. I just take it as a compliment. If you want to brag about how much you've spent on mods, go ahead and tell them. If you don't feel confortable giving out that info, do like others have suggested and give them the non-answer of "way too much" or "I stopped keeping track of it long ago", etc.

 

I'd say the last one would be the Mad Max Answer.......hehehehehe

 

Me- "I lost count but I had alot of favors and discounts"

^^^^ That one always gets me by, unless the guy was genuinely interested and wanted to know for a specific part, i'd definitely let him know.

Stranger - "How much did you pay for your car"

^^^^ Not a big deal at all, since they probably want to know if someone can get a good deal on it.

 

Because a 2 seat sports car is normally an acessory not a primary driver. So if one sees another person with a Z, one would think, oh, thats his "Sunday car" and therefore he must have other cars etc....hence he has money. Sure this is not true in every situation cause mine IS my daily driver but you get the idea. Besides, the ppl who don't know much about the 350Z thinks that it IS expensive since it LOOKS expensive.

 

I dont find that rude. If they ask what a part cost it isnt a private detail, they could look it up online and find out.

What i got annoyed with is when i would get" Jeez, what do you do for a living" "do you sell drugs" I had about 30-35k in my wrx and i was constantly getting that question.

 

Well said!!!!