Just tell them it's a Tiburon with a body kit.

 

The Z may be a 30k ride and within reach of most of us, but to alot of people out there it's an expensive recreational vehicle. Unless you're living at home with your folks, owning a Z means you have to HAVE another practical car in the stable.
Either that, or you're just living the "American dream": Single and no kids.

Sure alot of trucks, sedans and SUV's can cost well over 30k but those vehicles have a purpose to make it affordable: transportation for the family, towing and carrying things for work, symbol status commuter car to take clients etc etc...

The "sports car" or the "z" has the sole purpose of driving enjoyment for two people. It was built to just enjoy the road with TWO people...that's it!

Why do alot of us get the evil eye?
It's a couple steps up from having a 15k motorcycle, so in many eyes we're living in excess...regardless if it's 30k or not.

 

OK, I felt like I need to chime in here. The 350Z IS an affordable car relative to most of the full size SUVs and pickup trucks rolling on the road! An SUV or pickup truck isn't a REQUIREMENT for family transportation and is certainly overkill for a single passenger vehicle. Frankly, most of those SUVs and full size pickups on the road have no more purpose than my Z.. simply transportation. I submit there are more commuter driven, single person commuter SUVs and full size pickup trucks in this country than there are two seater sports cars. Its all about personal choice.

 

You're absolutely right.

Another point I wanted to make was: it's that "percieved" purpose with full-sized trucks and SUV's that encourage thousands of Americans to purchase them each year.
It's also that percieved purpose that makes the majority write off our smaller sports cars as "excessive". It's just one of the trivial reasons why people would consider a 30k car expensive. Hence the stereotypes and "reputation".

 

Good points by both you guys above ^^^

 

today driving through D.C. I passed by a group of teenagers and they were
pointing and running behind a bus trying to catch a glimpse of my Z. almost
made me feel famous for a second...

+1 on the assumption it costs a bundle. whenver i tell people how just how
much it costs it's like they almost don't believe me.

 

I get stared at all the time when I'm driving and they are so much more courteous too. I love it. There aren't that many around here. I've had my Z since the end of August, I drive on the freeway for 30 minutes [5 days a week], yesterday was the first time I actually saw one on the freeway. People always ask me if it was lots of money and is it really fast. I just tease them and say "Yup".

 

You paid 395$ for your ????????????

Holy Cow Man!!!! Where??? I want now!!!!!