I dont know what to choose. Now i hope there will be unbiased opinons in this thread to which car to get although im well aware i am on a 350z site.

If you guys can.. help me out with some pros can cons for each car. I've made my own list and see if you guys can add more or comment.

350z (pros n cons):
-used are cheaper or same price as the evo
-RWD
-styling is very nice
-interior feels cheap
-very intrested in going FI (t-nec kit)
-as to spend substaial cash to get more hp
-handling is okay?
-heavy car
-is it nimble?
-6 speed

evo (pros n cons):
-weak tranny (transfer case)
-worse warrenty service
-cheap interior
-great gear box, shifts are crisp
-turboed out of the box
-realitivly cheap to mod
-handles like a dream
-so so exterior styling
-4g motor is a strong motor with a large aftermarket support
-AWD
-5 speed unless its a MR but im looking at a gsr model

Now for a little background info about me. I previously owned a 6mt g35 so im familiar with the motor. I've always wanted a turbo car so i decided to ethier get the evo which is turboed from the facotry already and dont have to worry about my motor blowing unless i do somethign stupid vs FI'ing a 350z where im would be worried about blowning my motor then spending even more cash to rebuild it. Im still in college and im only 22 and single. What would fit me? Im at the current stage of my life where i want to transition to speed and lux but my pockets wont allow me to do so. Im worried if i get a evo i would not like it in the next few years as they do have a kiddie racer look to it. A 350z look would fit me way longer than a evo. Then i also have the whole 2 seat vs 4 seat battle.

Last and final question, which is funner to drive?

Thanks

 

Why not drive both cars and buy the one that you like?

 

Well, as of right now, I own both of those. Although I havent got to drive my z yet (it is wrecked) I will give my input. It all boils down to what you want to do with the car, and how much money you have to spend. The Evo can be made faster for much cheaper than the Z. IMO the Z looks better than the Evo. The interior of the Z is MUCH better. Auto climate controls > crappy climate controls. Recaro seats rock, but so do stock leather seats in the 350. Z will get girls attention much faster than the Evo. As a matter of fact, I dont recall turning very many girls heads in the Evo. I made 365 whp and 397lb ft tq reliably without any worrys of blowing my motor in my Evo for roughly $3000 worth of upgrades....try that in a Z...lol. I personally think that I will love my Z when I get it fixed, but I will surely miss the EVO. Im selling the Evo because my payments are so much higher on it than the Z will be.

 

350z

 

I was kind of in the same situation when my dad insisted that I get a 4 seater and get rid of the Z. I did some research on EVO's and it seems that you have to be really careful when buying a used one. I read somewhere that if it isn't broken in properly, you could run into a ton of problems in the future, mainly the consumption of oil. Also, it looked like maintenance on the EVO is a pain since there are inspections you must get at the dealership.

My friend recently just bought an 06 EVO MR and he's enjoying it and he only has 500 miles on it haha. I like both cars but I guess with a little $$$ you can make the Z faster than the EVO but it would definitely be easier with the EVO.

Sorry I couldn't provide much help but I was considering getting an EVO over the Z.

 

You had a G35 and sold it, I assume you didnt like it, got tired of it? Have not drove the G35 but I would think Z and the G are pretty much the same, except for the Z would be alittle faster (less lb's) and handle better (less lb's). Get an Evo maybe you will like that car better?

 

One way you can look at it is what kind of condition will the Evo 8 be compared to the Z if you're buying them both used. Because of the fact that Evo's are so easy and cheaply modded, you might be hard pressed finding one in non-modded (read not beat to death on). I'm not saying that people don't beat up on the Z, but I would think that the Evo 8's are more prone to that.

Imagine this, last day in your Evo 8 before you trade it in. Man, I've always wanted to do some crazy launches on this thing. But I never wanted to mess up my car. Oh well, I'm trading it in tomorrow. 5-6K drop launches here I come. Fast forward a couple months and you're on a evo8 forum asking about bad trannys. Sorry, I have a vivid imagination.

 

I was in the same boat...I even had a guy out here in Murrieta Mitsu that was gonna sell me a GSR for 29 out the door.....
I got the Z and I'm glad I did.....

The reason:::: Sheer Balance, The Z has everything a driver could want, it's hands down one of the sexiest cars on the road, it's plenty quick and looks great in stock form, with an excellent chassis....
I have a Saturn ION2, four door coupe to take the family out..

I test drove the EVO and I just didn't like the sound of that 4 banger and the park bench on the rear deck is a bit over the top for me....

 

Which is funner to drive? I have bolt-ons right now, and my Z is relatively quick for minor mods. This past summer I raced, then drove an 05' Evo with a few mods, that I killed BTW(avg driver). I absolutely fell in love with it. Way funner than the Z to drive imo, the lag to 4000 rpm was fun imo, and the rush from 4000-7000 rpm was exhilirating. It FELT much faster than the Z, but wasnt. With that said I wish I could have the Z's handling, styling with the Evo's cool sounds and turbo power. So....

3 days after driving the Evo-I ordered a Turbonetics kit. Ive had the kit for months now, but havent gotten around to installing it. After I do, I wont even remember what that Evo felt like

 

...and if you don't mind the EVO's wide turning circle......buy it.

 

Can you find a used evo that has not be abused? You can't do enough mods to an evo to make it look as good as a Z.

 

its really up to u man... u have to go with whatever u like...

 

I didnt know that the EVO had bad warranty service. So that would be a huge con on the EVO. I was in your position until about a month or 2 ago when the pics came out for the 06Z... to make a long story short I fell in love and thanks to axewielder I may get it sooner than expected.

What sold be the most is the way the car handles... your not missing out on much without 4wd and sure the mods are more expensive, the Z is a he!! of a fun car to drive, IMO rear wheel drive is ten fold more fun. Also sitting inside an EVO you feel like your in the typical grocery getter with recaros, but sitting in a Z you melt. It is like sitting in a cockpit. And third... at the risk of beating it to death, the Z is way better looking, the evo simply put is a sedan, and IMHO the only reason its so fast is to rush past all the girls, but why do that when you can cruise past them in a sexy @$$ Z.

I hope that wasnt too bias

 

i was in the same situation just over a year ago...test drove both and loved both. I didn't research problems like you have but I ended up buying an Evo in Aug. 04.....needless to say about 6 months later traded in and bought a used Z.

When I test drove the Evo, I really like the handling and speed...then after buying it I noticed alot of little things that bothered me, not to mention the fact the Evo doesn't get as much respect from people as the Z. Everyone is constantly critizing the 4 Doors. I only owned one for six months and I got soooo sick of hearing that and honestly I hated the 4 doors as well. Anyways the 350Z is a very clean looking and decently fast sports car and in the aftermarket world there are just as many options for upgraded performance and styling.

JUST MY 2 CENTS

 

thats how i felt too when i test drove an EVO. I fell in love with it. The quick awd get up makes driving so much fun then the surge of the turbo boost from 4-7000rpm was just awsome! You perfectly described why i was thinking about the EVO hence why i if i get a 350z i would go for the single turbo kit since im not after massive power.

 

Respect is another thing. I too will get ragged/bugged/critized for having a sedan since i never owned a sedan before. But then again 4 seats is more convient than 2.

still very hard to choose from. Only if there was a real good reliable turbo kit out there. So far the turbonetics single turbo kit seems to be the most reliable. Turbo 350z = styling, speed! no awd, extra 2 seats though =(

 

Who you driving thats so important anyway? If anything, id say the disadvantage is loss of trunk/storage space in the Z, not the back seat per se. I never drive more than 1 other person around...If you do, then get the evo with the 4 seats, if you dont, then it isnt a factor.

 

its always nice to know you can fit a few others sometimes. But yeah, usually i only drive one but i do drive 2 others a lot too.

 

Personally, I don't know why people don't think the evo looks good. I think it's badass. That's not to say the 350z has good looks as well. Regarding the 4 doors issue, the evo needs the longer wheelbase because it is a rally car. Having 2 seats in the Z doesn't bother me at all, it's actually useful when you meet up with friends and decide to go somewhere together. You never have to drive and waste your gas because all your friends have bigger cars

IMHO, get an evo if you want speed and room. Z if you want refinement and RWD (and to go to meets with all the cool people on this forum!).

 

I'd pick up a new EVO in a second. But the tranny coupled with the fact that most are driven and/or launched hard would keep me from getting a used one.