- Car payment increased by about $75 compared to the previous car (the previous car was paid off for a while, but I still made 'payments' to my own savings account just to get used to not having that money around).

- more time spent either cleaning the magnetic black paint, or dealing with a dirty car

- previous car used regular 87 and got ~22 mpg around town, this one uses 91 or 93 and gets ~17.8 mpg around town.

- driving ability in severe winter road conditions (to a small extent)

- Car insurance premium for the previous car (4-door sedan) at ages 21-24 is about the same as identical coverage for the Z at age 25+ (i.e., I did not experience the fabled premium drop when I turned 25 because I had since upgraded to a brand new sports car...but breaking even isn't too bad)

- previous car had a lot less rattles, so the aftermarket stereo system sounded much better in it

- Ricer kids from the local car tech. schools are ALWAYS trying to race now, thus making my driving experience that much more dangerous / retarded

 

i quit drinkin...now i have a 3k audio system...next mod..hmmm...twin turbo...

 

I'll be reading through this thread step by step to see what things I share in common with many fellow owners, but I just thought I'd share this quote I posted in some other thread on this forum.

The love for your Z should supersede any rational decision. This goes for any logic, financial or convenience planning.

I love my Z!

-LamaZ

 

saved for a year in afghanistan, and dropped nearly every dime I saved the whole year on the down payment. constantly worrying about where it is parked and what is going to happen to it. I've washed it 5 times in the last week. gave up being able to transport more than just me and my wife anywhere. gave up every birthday and christmas present for the last year so that I could ask for mods instead. still bustin my **** trying to pay it off on an E-5's pay.

I will find the farthest possibly parking spot in any parking lot so as not to have anybody park near it.

 

No matter what dollar sacrifices any of us have made, I want to thank the Sergeant for the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom. Enjoy the car and thanks again. There are a lot of appreciative Americans who support what you are doing for the rest of us.

 

+5674312312.78

Right on man. Thank you to all of our service men/women.


Proud son of a Vietnam vet, also a son of a proud Vietnam vet,
-LamaZ

 

HAHA I think were all a little crazy now that i have read some stories.


But at least i am not the only one.

 

Parking at the end of a lot. spending 5 hours installing stupid exhaust =)

 

the z is like the second gf... she takes time, and money, and returns love back in return...just in a different way... lol. she's worth it though.

 

+ 1...my gf is jealous of her

 

lol i hear ya, my car is probably the only thing my girlfriend isn't jealous of when it comes to my time being taken away from her, but she's starting to get a little jealous cuz i've been spending TOO much time now. but she shouldn't be complaining, i take her everywhere in it

 

i like this you quit something bad, and gain something a hell of a lot better!

 

thanks man..yea, on the gf thing she gets all mad cuz i'm on this site way to much now....

 

E5 pay isnt bad at all , same pay here and have no problem with the payment on it, now insurance on all 3 of my vehicles kinda sucks but i still have plenty of $$ to play with even though i invest $500 a month.

 

I quit smoking, doing drugs, sold one of my houses in order to get my z with a nice fat downpayment of 10k pay off my ex's car and loans and kicked her the curb. but its ok i now have a very nice japanese gf who doesn't think my car is a sex object and doesn't know how to drive a stick to take it out while im sleeping =)

 

I dont ever fart in my car. I hold it for as long as it takes for me to get to my next destination. I have developed an impressive, mind boggling amount of sphincter control. ...lol.....Just cant mess up the new car smell....lol.

 

Everytime I get in and out, I felt I am sacrificing for comfort of a SUV or sedan. And sometimes it could look pretty ugly when there is not enough space to open the door all the way.

 

Tons of money due to impulse buying and having a track/street/show ready ride...

Time... do you know how long it takes to get a set of f**#*# work rims from japan?

My budget is now nihl.. all I can do is look at my car, drive it.. I don't go out to eat/movies anymore.. doing that offset the car payment

Time spent/wasted/invested in this forum (lol)

Trading in my show ready tC that was near completion because I wanted my dream car.. losing money on the mods..

There's much more.. but it's petty...

The fact is.. I have the car I've always wanted... it's my dream car... end of story...

I told myself long ago that whatever I want in life, I'm going to get! And I've wanted a Z since I was a child... the 350 fit the bill, was just pushing my budget limit, and has great support for it. + What other sports car can you get for <30k and have the features/drivability of something higher class...

This car Rocks..

No regrets.. just tons of sacrifices

 

lets just say my Z is in the last spot of the parking lot at my school so no one is by her.......not to mention i hike about a mile and a half to class

 

Time.