It depends on you.

My first car had 300hp. I lived.

I was stupid though. I drove it fast, got lots of tickets, and lost my license for a year......but I had a blast do'in it!!!

 

If you want it get it, there's a huge chance it will end up wrecked, but its up to you if you want that to be your first car.

 

i havnt been driveing very long but in the 6 months i have been driveing my dad has been teaching me ways to control a car if it starts to spin and all. it snowed for a wile two days ago and he took me to a empty parking lot to let me get some experince with driveing around in ice and snow and spining around. it was fun but i really wouldnt want to do it in my car

 

Umm... it snows where you're at too? Ughh most of the guys I see don't even bother with the Z in that kind of icy weather, they usually have another beater for bad weather . Lots of nasty spinout, rollover stories/pics around with stuff like that. And that's with experienced drivers with track experience...

 

a few kids in my school have the Z they said its a pain in the *** in the snow. but it maybe snows 5 times a year here

 

Buy an RSX those are faster

 

I'd tell your grandparents you'll take them on their offer in a few years. You will learn SO much more about driving when you have a cheaper car, since you can goof around in it and not worry as much. Plus, with a cheaper car you can experiment with the engine, etc. Squeeze some more juice out of it. I'd suggest an older talon, really. Wicked cars, cheap to make fast, handles well. When you're completely confident with that car then move up. By that time the new model of 350 will be out. We're not saying this cause we hate you. Just we know what the 350 is like, and what being inexperienced is like.

 

thats true thanks

 

Don't let them scare you off, my first car was a Z and I never wrecked it nor got any tickets in it. Had it for about a year and a half and realized I really wanted a coupe so I traded it in, pretty much an even trade(got a roadster first...bad idea). Haven't wrecked this new Z either in the year that I've had it and still have a clean driving record (although I did have a rent-a-po hit me a few months ago...that was pretty lame). It all depends on your maturity level really.

 

I pretty much agree with what everyone else has said. Some thoughts though...

- If you are a mature person, with nothing to prove (a rare trait at 16/17 IMHO), a 350Z could be an acceptable first vehicle.

- Stock tires are downright scary with any hint of snow. Have alternate transportation available, unless you're running winter tires.

- Get a 350Z that has VDC and leave it on when you're on the street. It saved my butt numerous times. I went from a 130hp fwd to a Z and had some learning to do at the age of 29.

- Go to a HPDE class asap. You'll learn what the car does at the limits, and beyond, in a safe environment so when (not if) you lose it on the street you'll have half a chance to save your skin.

Good luck, stay safe, and give your grandparents a BIG hug. I'm still paying for my car after 4 years!

 

ware are HPDE classes at??

i really dont have nothing to prove. kids in my h.s have bmw,mercedes, porsche. the Z seems nice( i been in them jus never drove them thats why "seems" i no its a nice car)

 

I had a 300hp first car. I never wrecked it, rolled it. I did hit a curb or 2 but that was about it. Only got 1 ticket and it got dropped.

I think if you can be responsible enough to not try and PROVE things to people with your new car at school, enjoy it and baby it, you should be fine.

New's flash guys... The 350z IS NOT that amazing/exotic/expensive car. ITs not a lambo, a ferrari or a porsche.

Best first car? No.

But if ANY of you had the CHANCE to get a 350z at age 16/17 in highschool, you would jump on it in a second.

I know I would have.

The 350z is a safe, well built car. Survival rate's are pretty high in the Z for accidents. Yes you will be 'motivated' to try reckless and fast because your car can. But dont, if you can act mature enough and responsible, you should be fine.

If people give you **** on here about having a Z at 16/17 most likely there jealous they didnt have 1 now, or that your Grandparents are buying it for you.

Congrats on being a lucky kid who has wealthy grandparents, you are being given a opportunity, take advantage of it, but be safe and responsible.

 

The problem with getting a nice car, especially at such a young age, is that it somewhat sets a standard for yourself. Later after you wreck the car, sell it, or just drive it until the wheels fall off, you will feel the need to get a vehicle that is superior to your previous one. If your previous car was a new Z, then you now have the burden of beating it. If yoiu don't beat the Z standard you previously set, then it could be somewhat depressing each time you climb into your corrolla. Besides if you get a Z, odds are that the kids you go to school with will destroy your car out of jealousy.

 

thanks

 

Someone from NJ may be able to chime in, but check with your local sports car clubs or driving education companies. They should be able to tell you where the High Performance Driving Education courses are. I think most race tracks would have them. It was the best $300 I ever spent.

 

My first car was a pontiac gtp supercharged it ran mid 14s to low 14s i never crashed it but the 350z i dunno i think ull mess it up rear wheel drive and new drivers dont go good stay away get ur self a rsx type s or something like that not tryin to be a dick just sayin ull hate ur self if u crash a 350z get it aas the next car

 

hey guys this is my first post on here as I finally agreed on price for a z roadster yesterday.

I have just come out of an MR2 turbo and this topic comes up on their owner club forum alllllllll the time.

In my opinion sports cars can be one of the safest cars for a first timer as long as you take the time to learn to drive them properly and not be a total *** when you get on the road. Read through the forums, find out the quirks of the vehicle (MR2's are notorious for snap oversteer) and don't test those quirks on public roads.

Sports cars in general have better handling, better brakes, more safety features, better grip, stiffer construction etc etc. All things which a young driver needs.

For all young drivers on here, keep it safe, know your limits and know that if you screw up then it may only affect you, but you've got other people's lives in your hands too.

So if you get a Z, lucky *****, hope you have a blast in it but be smart

 

Nobody's saying it's a lambo, etc. And yes, I would have loved a 350 at 17, but with all the shiat I pulled in other cars, and considering how good of a driver I am now, I'm glad how I was brought up on cars. I'm never out of control even when I'm out of control (little F and F reference) And methinks that a driver growing up paranoid because of his car will end up a paranoid driver. And paranoid drivers get in and cause accidents.

So to sum up, if I was you I would love a 350 right now. But as myself, I'm so glad I didn't. I owe nothing, have had no accidents, and can school almost anyone on or off the track.

 

I gotta wonder how much insurance would be on a Z driven by a teen.

The one thing I would add here for the original poster is not to weed through this thread and look only for those posts supporting your desire for a Z and say 'ok, people think this is a good idea'. The people here telling you it may not be a good idea aren't doing so because they hate you or because they're jealous; most of the people on this thread have or have had Zs. We have a group of people that I think are much more mature than any other people you'll find on a message board. They're saying as much because they don't want you and maybe one of your friends to be a statistic. Every single day plenty of young men and women get killed in car wrecks. As much as your grandparents might want you have a nice car, they don't want to visit you in the hospital or worse. And as much as we all think we can 'handle' the car, we can... until it handles us.

All I'm saying is try a slower car for at least six months or something; I feel like the first year is the most dangerous for a younger driver. After that, your grandparents will still be around to get you that Z; if anything, they should be more willing to get it for you, since it shows a level of maturity on your part. And in case it's some old fart giving you his opinion, I'm 26. So hopefully you might the right decision; if you still decide to plow on ahead and get this Z, then be safe and take it easy on those roads.

 

Well the OP was posting asking for our opinion, which we gave. It's like we are hating on him. Damn straight I'd be jealous that he's getting something for free at 16/17 what took me years to save up for and still paying off. But then again when I get behind the wheel, that also weighs into how I take care of it as well, cause I know if I do something stupid, that's my own hardearned cash going down the drain, not something that was handed to me.

And cmon 16-17 year old with 6 months driving experience in an area that has snowy conditions. Sure there are exceptions to maturity levels, but thinking about it. You ask for our opinions, and it's there, don't hate the people who bother to reply back with advice from their own experience. If my grandparents offered to buy me a Z at 16, hell yea I'd take it, but then again I'd have crashed it a few months later too if I just started out. Does that mean I was a crappy driver? Probably, but then again so are most 16 year olds. How many 16-17 olds you know that have track, race driving experience?