Well, here's a different response. You are in NJ. Look at the weather today as an example. My son has his 350z already and will get custody of it in November when he is 17. The first dilema is its not a winter vehicle. What are you going to do when it snows. You still have 5 years of school left (assumption). It's just not a practical vehicle for anyone, no matter of age, in this region unless you have a beater to drive and can garage this thing. I will almost certainly have to take this vehicle back from him when he goes off to school. Works in my family because we are a car family and it will not go to waste , but would it be a waste of your grandparents money if you determined that it truely was not practical.
Use your head, not your emotions in this decision.

 

The Old Bridge Township Raceway Park is opening up their road course pretty soon so they should have those classes thier pretty soon.

 

Rear drive 300hp 2 seater is always a bad idea for anyone for a first car. Should learn to drive on a front drive car with less than 200hp and then move up from there. Especially if snow and rain are prevelant in the area. I reccomend atleast 2 years of driving experience before you get into a rear drive car with power, otherwise you are just asking for all kinds of trouble.

 

The z is my first car and so far no problems....

 

when it snows my friend has a SUV

 

LOL is there a real shirt like that? That card holder's name is classic!

 

Not exactly the same thing but I had a 12.8 sec '88 supra turbo as my first car. I drove it for 3 yrs and never wrecked it. But again like people said above if your mature enough and respect the car then you should be fine.

 

take the car into a parking lot when its raining or snowing and throw the car around and figure out how the car acts. I did the same thing and had no problems. I'd take a rear wheel drive car over a front wheel drive car in the snow anyday......assuming you know how to drive a rear wheel drive car.

 

I had a 95 240sx as my first car. You learn alot of things when you first start driving. I spun the car going too fast through wet corners, i locked my brakes up in corners, all the good ****. It's up to you. Just remember that driving your car every day, and a quick trip around the mall parking lot are 2 different animals.

 

lol. rear wheel drive is fun in snow but in no way safer or more practical than a fwd.

 

you're better off getting a less expensive car thats fun to drive and telling the gradnparents to give you the difference from the price a Z would cost. That way even if theyre paying for college too, you can save for the future and when you go to school you'll have backup spending money and a downpayment on a house or just easy rent $ when you get out of school.

 

No way, learn on something that cost like 4 grand first, I learned on a eclipse, Automatic so you get used to dealing with traffic. Give it a couple years, I bought my Z and im only 19, It is my second car and I remember driving for the first time and you have to pay attention. stick with a beater for now bro

 

+1

 

Exactly. I don't really think it's a matter of whether or not you can handle the car. That would be the last thing I'd worry about. I'd be more concerned with the external factors that come into play from owning a Z at your age. High School parking lots are DANGEROUS. Trust me, I was both the culprit and the victim back when I was in school, so I know what kinds of things can go down. Hopefully you're one of those people that are pretty cool with everybody, cause if you got issues with anyone, it could mean bad things for your car...

Insurance rates? I'm 25, so mine are pretty good right now, but I can only imagine what full coverage would've been for me at your age. If you're family has money and pays this for you, then I guess that really isn't a concern for you.

Keep in mind the extra police attention too. I had an Integra back in high school, and I got pulled over a TON! Some of it was warranted, some of it was not, but the police love to pull over a young kid in a nice car. They ALWAYS figure that they are up to no good...

Just a few things to consider...

 

The Z is my first car and I had no accidents or crashes yet.
But I did practice on a few Fiats and Peugeots first.
No matter what car you get be sure to get plenty of practice first.

 

I say no. If you're 16/17 more then likely you will have a moment of immaturity and that moment could wreck you or your Z before you have time to blink. If you're in NJ I would recommend something like a WRX(not base impreza and not STI). This way you have a nice car w/ decent power but its AWD and not 300hp. Do you really want to be stranded in the winter w/ no car to drive? If you're learning to drive now, you're first car in the snow should never be a high hp rwd car. Plus, when you get comfortable behind the wheel you could always upgrade the WRX. Good luck w/ your decision.

 

like others said, maturity is a big part of driving a nice car. friends are another thing; do u want to be able to take more than 1 person around with you? can u say no to ur best friends that want to drive it, who may have 0 exp driving a 300hp rwd car?, also consider other kids maturity. if that car stands out, be ready for key marks down the sides, broken mirrors, windows, stabbed tires. they all happened where to kids where i went to school. here's what happened to 1 kids Z at a HS...

 

yes, bad idea

 

I'm speaking from experience when I tell you no. I consider myself a pretty responsible person and did before I had my lisence. There is just something about it though, when you get it you will get an urge eventually. Nearly 300hp and rear wheel drive don't go well with an inexperienced driver. My first vehicle was a 2wd '96 GMC Sonoma with an auto 4.3L. It was no sloach (195 HP, 245 ft. lbs., and a very light rear end), but it still isn't a Z. There were many times I could have easily wrecked. I have only had one wreck though and that when I was hauling a trailor with my dad's 4Runner and somebody was riding the line in a curve. When I eased over the trailor dropped off the ditch and threw me sideways over the opposite bank and through a fence ($9K worth of damage). I was lucky. I would suggest getting a cheap car and tell your grandparents to keep the money and if they still want to help you out get the car as a senior present.

Edit: Also to add some to my story I started shifting gears for my parents in their old Toyota 4x4 when I was around 8 years old. I started driving at around 14 with an old Nissan Hardbody Z24 4-speed. So I had pretty good experience before I even got my lisence