Folks, your esteemed advice would be appreciated:

I'm waiting to get an Enthusiast until I turn 25 this June -- I can wait a few months and save on insurance and perhaps get a better deal.

But if I hold out a few more months, I might be able to get a 2004 model with whatever improvements it might have.

My questions:

1. Do those of you in the know expect any substantive changes to the 2004 model?

2. Which would you think I could get a better deal on: a 2003 this summer or a 2004 in the dead of winter?

 

I don't anticipate any big changes from 2003 to 2004, but I am not "in the know." I think you would get a better deal getting one fo the last 2003s on the lot. Also, later on, (A LOT later) it will have more value as the first year of the production run... but that only matters if you plan on keeping the car for that long.

 

if you decide to wait that long, you will have a better idea of whats coming, not much is known so far, it might look very different if what I was told is correct, but I wouldnt bet 2cents on what I was told.

if 2004 doesnt have improvments, I know youll be able to get a wicked deal on the last years model.

 

if you want a roadster get a 2004
http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia...x/roadster.jpg

 

I'm in the same dilemma. I figure if I were to order one now, it'll take 10-12 weeks to get it (around April-May). All of the details about the '04's should be available by June at the latest, since deliveries will start in Aug-Sept. So I might as well wait til then and decide whether to order an '04 or to look around for an unsold '03. An '04 will only be an extra 3-4 months of waiting, which I can handle. I'd hate to buy an'03, then learn a month later that the '04 has worthwhile improvements.

 

order??? who orders a Z anymore? and it doesnt take 3 months even if you did.

 

I will have to order mine, if I get to, my order goes in March 1 and the car will be here supposedly first week of June.

 

I was thinking about ordering one, too, although I know very little about the process. I don't even know if you can still order them, or if they'll take orders on 2004.

But I bet an unsold 2003 this summer will be a hell of a lot cheaper than an ordered '04. If they're essentially the same car, it's a no brainer: get an '03 off the lot, maybe settle for a second choice on color, but perhaps get it for $2,000 less.

However, if Nissan throws in some fixes, it might be worthwhile. I am concerned about the rough ride some of y'all have mentioned, as well as any early-run transmission troubles.

Add to that the fact that I refuse to buy a car with lots of miles, due to the possibility of a bad break-in, and it is a very interesting dilemma.

I only know that I have wanted a Z since I first saw one, and that I will get one someday. I just can't figure out when, and as Tom Petty says, the waiting is the hardest part...

 

Well, I've been checking various dealers' inventories on Nissan's website and the model I want (Silverstone Enthusiast) isn't very common on the lots. If dealers have any Z's available, they're usually touring. So I'll probably have to order, and lead time is still about 3 months, according to one dealer I spoke to.

 

Enthusiasts as a whole seem uncommon. I've looked at pretty much every dealer's inventories from Dallas to Houston recently. I saw maybe 10 Enthusiasts.

So if you order a Z, are you basically stuck paying MSRP? I would love to get an Enthusiast for $28K or so.

 

Me. No dealer in my area had the exact 350 I'm looking for.

 

UFO, if you don't mind my asking, when did you order, what kind of price did you get and how long will it be until you get your Z?

Ordering might be a good move for me, since I'm waiting anyway.

 

what's the basis of your statement? I'd think the it's the other way.. if there ARE improvements for 2004, no new buyer would want 2003, thus you could get a better deal on 2003s.

 

Well,

The passenger airbag kill switch should be showing up on vehicles soon and there's some talk about a Yellow hue's availability for '04 but other than that, I don't think anyone knows what to expect.

It will probably be 2005 or 2006 before anything major shows up like a Turbo or a high-performence (more exclusive than Track model) shows up. Right now Nissan has the convertible to reenthuse the enthusiasts so it'll be awhile before a high performance car could be available. There's no business case for Nissan to launch a Corvette killer this early in the lifecycle when buyers will still pay over MSRP for the standard car.

 

This is true. Lucky for me that's right when I want to buy one! (According to my plans...)

 

Isn't there a possibility that they might be raising the price for the 2004 models? If this is true, and there are no major redesigns, you might want to get it now and save.

 

I think there will be a small increas ein price for the 2004 models, but that is just to adjust for inflation... I don't think that will be big. There has already been a price increase on the port installed options on the Zs (about $20 each).

 

your right too, but I meant either way, if there were no changes, dealers still have to clear the old lot of car to make way for new ones, they ussually offer sales and whatnot. and since there are no changes, there is no reason for him to pay extra for the 2004.

if there ARE changes, well then he could probably get an even better deal, but he might want the changes, so he might choose to get a 2004.

 

Come on up to Victory Nissan in Chesapeake Va, they had every color, every model and a silver test model you could rag the hell out of. Thats what sold me drove off the lot with one the same day.

 

That's a good suggestion!

Just make sure if you do wait until the last 2003s are on the lot not to get one of those test models! Yikes!