Anyways, in search for a new car as my Mazda RX-8 is gone. I've decided to have a list all of different kind of cars, from high end range, to low end right, to high price, to cheap price, so not all cars I am going to list are in the same range.

What I am looking for is a nice looking car for a daily driver and if I want to bring it to the track (autox or drag) it'll be able to perform. I will be doing mods on the car, exhaust, coilovers, etc, and depending on the car, I will work on the engine, some of these cars have enough power as it is. Gas mileage has to be on par or greater than the 8 (I got 16.5-17mpg shifting like a grandma at 3.5k)

Anyways, the past two days I've gone to dealerships to check out the cars and these were the ones I have test drove and my thoughts.

First test drive: 2006 Base Nissan 350Z
I sat in the car. Felt pretty nice, very little blind spot in comparison to the 8 when I first got it. Downfall on view is looking out the rear view mirror, there is not much window to look out of because of how steep the back window is angled at. I started the car and loved the sound at startup. Drove it out to the road and started the test drive. Felt good, definatly had the low end torque that the 8 was missing, so acceleration was a quicker. Ride was sorta bumpy, about the same as the 8. Was able to take it on the freeway, but didn't really gun it at all, because I didn't want to make the sales person nervous. He let me take a turn to test handling, it's pretty good, but no where close as the 8. Overall, I loved the looks of the car, the power and interior was decent, once again, nothing compared to the 8.

Second test drive: 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged
So, of course in a total different ballpark in comparison with the Z. The car actually impressed me a little. The exterior and interior is better than I expected, except that ugly spoiler has to go. Drove it around the city, felt good, ride was not bumpy at all. Let me take it on the freeway to test acceleration. The handling was pretty good, a little worse than the Z which impressed me. Acceleration was pretty quick too because of the supercharger. It might have even accelerated a little quicker, but that's because I never really got on the Z. It was a really fun car to drive, really surprised me for what it is and how much they are.

Third test drive: 2005 Pontiac GTO
Wow, that is really all I had to say after the test drive. If you can even call it that. I asked if I could test drive it, and the guy first asked my age, thinking I wasn't old enough to drive or something? This was the first time someone had asked me my age before test driving a car, usually they would just ask for my lisence first. Anyways, the sales person only wanted me to drive it around the block. I got in the car, started the car and loved the sound of the LS2 engine. I pulled onto the road and just got used to the car for a little. I could tell from the beginning I started looking at the GTO the sales person did not want me driving this car, so he only let me drive it around the block, literally, we pulled out of the dealership and just circled around it and that was it. For the time I was in it, I tested the acceleration a little and you definatly knew the power was there. Can't really comment on this test drive since it wasn't really one. If I was looking at a GTO, I'd probably pickup a 2004 LS1 GTO though, but who knows.

Fourth test drive: 2006 Subaru WRX
Don't really like the looks of this car, but I soon started to fall in love with how fun it was to drive. I got on the road and the sales person let me take it on the expressway and told me to gun it. I went through 1st-3rd quickly, as the boost kicked in and sent the car flying. Now the scary part was when my sales person grabbed the wheel and started to jerk it back and forth to show how sturdy the car was, but he stopped thank goodness. The car felt extremely light compared to all the other cars I drove. He let me launch it at one of the stop lights and I did not expect the fast jump and somewhat a whip of my neck. This was also a very fun car to drive.

So in all, every car was great, the Z and GTO are in the same category, and the WRX and Cobalt are in the same. I would probably choose the WRX > the Cobalt and the GTO > the Z but who knows.

GTO>Z>WRX>Cobalt in Power

Cobalt>WRX>Z>GTO in MPG

Z>GTO>Cobalt>WRX in looks for me

Only downfall of the Z is that it's a two seater...I don't mind it, but I always would want to have some seats incase I need to drag an extra person around.

MPG is definatly better in the Z than GTO.

The 2004 Z's cost around 24-25k, 2004 GTO's cost around 23-24k but GTO insurance is 100-200$ cheaper a year than the Z. I would leave the GTO engine alone, mod Z later down the line. If I went with a Z, would there be any way to make it sound like a GTO? (I know it's a V8, but who knows)

Thoughts?

P.S. Thanks for reading the whole thing lol.

 

Please dont but the rex and the cobalt in the same cat!!!! I beg of you sir!!!!

 

I think that this is a 350Z forum for people who own or would like to own the 350Z. That's my unprofessional opinion.

 

If you place the GTO as > the Z, you shouldn't buy the Z. The two cars have nothing in common and you won't be happy with the Z. I'm not being a smart-@$$, I'm really serious. IMO, the Z is one of those cars you "get" or you don't.

Good luck in your search!

 

Thoughts? I would have asked for another sales person at the Pontiac dealer, or gone to another dealer entirely. That's rediculous.

 

haha im really not trying to flame you... SORRY IM NOT TRYING TO BE AN ***!!! but coming on here asking for thought about which car to get??? thats like going to a lexus dealership and asking "im concidering getting a BMW, which would your preffer"

now my honest thoughts.
I LOVE THE Z and always get compliments
Pretty damn good MPG im getting 33mpg on roadtrips
whenever my friends and i go somewhere... if i wanna drive.. then i drive me and whoever else rides with me.. and when i DONT wanna drive and want to ride in sum1 elses car... i say "sorry i only have 2 seats" YES YES YES im a show-off!! haha

Get the Z, its expensive to modd but even simple things on it make it look AMAZING!!! (looks great stock tho)

good luck on your search

 

Nice little write-up. You said you could sometimes use a little more than only 2 seats... have you given a G35 a whirl yet?

 

G35 coupe is a little more expensive arn't they?

 

Yeah, a wee bit. I think MSRP on a G35 brand new is the same MSRP as a 350Z TRACK brand new ($32k msrp or so) My friend got a used 04 G35 for $28k. Just to note, I wouldn't recommend buying a 03-04 Z , because of too many problems they've been known to have, like tire feathering ('05s don't seem to have this problem). I don't know if 03-04 G's have any problems so I'd read up about it on g35driver.com if you're going to consider buying a 03-04 G.

The Z has a special "class" that none of the cars you test drove have.. okay, I know this is biased, but it's true in some ways. Check out this thread about people's reactions to the Z:
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-nissan-350z/152952-peoples-reaction-to-your-z.html
I swear I have gotten so many compliments and looks that I would not have gotten if I drove an EVO for example. To people who know about performance/sports cars, they understand that a Z is in the same price range as a RX-8 or STI, for example. But to the casual person who doesn't follow cars, the Z looks a lot more expensive! This may be biased, but it's true. A cop wrote me up a ticket before and asked, "How much was this car? $45,000?"

 

Ditto w/davidv. It seems kind of silly to come to a Z forum and ask which car the people on this forum like the best.

 

Pick whichever car gives you the biggest woody...then..Take a test drive with a female salesperson and tell her "I'm ready to buy, but I feel a little stressed, can you help?" LOL J/K dammit!!

 

If you think "WRX > the Cobalt and the GTO > the Z" then obviously don't get the 350Z. The less people out there that owns the 350Z, the more exclusive our cars are

Definately get those other cars. You will fit in very easily with the masses.

 

Thanks for the nice write up. I always like it when people add real content to the site even if they're not sure about getting a Z. It's still great info and another view point.

My suggestion would be to go to different dealerships and try test driving them ALL again. It sounds like your experience really varied by dealership and at this point this could influence your decision (incorrectly) more than the actual car. So, go for more test drives and do all the things you didn't get to do the first time around! Then you'll have a better comparison.

Mr Z

 

I have to agree with Mr Z. You are comparing the vehicles based on very different test drives.

It appears no one else found the statement "He let me take a turn to test handling, it's pretty good, but no where close as the 8." offensive, but please, give me a break. The 8 does handle better, but not that much better.

It sounds like you fell in love with the GTO, so get it.

 

Dont buy any new your value drops like a rock when you drive off the lot and you paid too much. You can buy them 10k cheaper if they are just 2 years older. Save the 10k. I bought a used 350z enthusiast two days ago for 22k w/only 12k miles!!!
The pontiac GTO is fast but up close looks plain and small. Not very impressive. Its overpriced also for an american car that is not dependable and its resale probably declines faster then the Z. Also dont buy the 2004 GTO its slower then the 2005.

These are in no particular order: There mag times. I know allot of people dont like mag times ..but I still havent seen many drivers do better or much worse then mag times (without mods or bad driving) so I think there pretty close to reality if you ask me!

The fastest are tabbed over. However speed cannot be the only thing your looking for and of all the cars below the Z is flat out the most handsome. The Z is the perfect blend of speed, looks, dependability and resale value. You can buy most (used) under 25k too.
If I was looking to spend 30k+ (like the GTO costs)I would buy a used Cobra 2004 for approx 28k. Its cheaper and a hell of a lot faster and better looking too!

0/60 1/4 mile


2005 Mustang 5.3 13.9
03/04 Ford Cobra 4.5 12.9
2001 Ford cobra 4.8 13.5
2003 G35 coupe 5.5 14.2
Mitsubishi EVO 4.8 13.4
2003 Nissan 350z 5.3 14.0
2004 Pontiac GTO 5.3 13.8
2005 Pontiac GTO 4.8 13.3
2001 Porche Boxter-s 5.6 14.0
Subaru Impreza STI 5.1 13.8
SRT 5.3 13.9


Good luck !!

 

+1

 

I know coming on here that I would get the best response for a Z, but I posted it to get just an overall feel of what you guys though for pro's and cons.

I do believe the Z is the best looking out of all of these and has the best MPG/performance ratio, just the 2 seater bit is a pull for me. Like I really don't mind having a 2 seater, cause it's mostly myself and my gf, but say my gf has a friend over and wants to come along, it's always good to have an extra seat even if it is small which is why the GTO comes along.

The Cobra would also be a consideration as I love them, has the power, 4 seater, looks great (IMO) but I've got an insurance quote on these and they are $1000+ more than the Z and GTO. The GTO is the cheapest in insurance.

EDIT: Just did another quote on them, and the Cobra is around the same price as the GTO.

 

Pick what makes you happy . But when was on the market for my car I went to different dealerships . I dont think I would have considered any of your canidates expect for the Z . The Z is not the fastest car if I wanted that I would have bought a used vette but I wanted dependable car one that would have a good resale value. So i was also looking at a 3-series coupe but after driving the Z I was sold . If the back seat is big for you which was for me at the time ,look at the g-35 coupe . The GTO was one I didnt look at and ,yeah that car does have history but sorry to say this but it's a domestic and I dont want the problem's (not to bad mouth domestic's I used to have a Camaro Z-28) Plus you just had an rx-8 why would you want a cobalt they're quick but i've taken one out by like 3 cars (the owner was cool)Many things were considered when I bought my Z the only other contender's for me was the 3-series and the g-35 coupe for the back seat .But I got the Z and I couldn't be happier. Good luck !!

 

wtf cobalt? thats not even in the same league...
wrx? not in the same league either...
GTO is a beautiful car though... (NO deals at all from dealers and u definately want the LS2 GTO)
Z is nice.. im not gonna say anymore than that

My choice goes to the cobalt...
so we can all laugh at u
^^

 

If the GF has a GF, just lay her face down with her face strategically placed around your unzipped pants, and get her to shift gears with her right hand! LOL This is provided, of course, that you and both girls are "cool like dat"