I currently own a 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder, that got wrecked this past Saturday.. And by the looks of it, may be totaled.. So I am now looking for a 350z and found one in my local area..

It is a 2003 Silver 350z 6MT with the Enthusiast package.. The only defects it has is a ding on each door (from him parking at the local college) they don't worry me, I know someone who can get them out, but the passenger door ding has some paint chip.. there is also some paint that chipped off the back bumper on the right hand side, its maybe about the size of a dime.. and there is a small crack on the bottom of the windshield.. The car has 51k miles on it and he is asking $16,900 or $18,000 with the Motegi Rims he had on it.. He said he has only driven it 2000 miles and then bought a corvette, so he is trying to get rid of the 350z..

My question is.. even with those 'defects' is that still a resonable price? And if I were to get touch up paint for those areas, would it be noticeable right on that door?

Sorry for the long post, just want to make sure I don't over-pay for a car.. I live in southwest Louisiana, so I won't come by many 350z that are for sale for around my price range (would like to stay near $20k)

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Well I buoght my 03 black performance Z, that is in mint condition with 19,084 miles on it from a dealer and I paid 21K for it then i bought the extended warrenty THAT IS A MUST!!!!!! , I have had them already replace a window motor and now some sensor cus i was getting bad gas milage, I would keep looking around Try to find one with a lil less miles and deff get the warrenty.

 

Sounds ok for the price, but the high miles and damage...
I probably wouldn't do it.

 

Yeah, without a doubt I will get an extended warranty (didn't on my car before the Spyder and got stuck with a $1800 transmission job I had to pay out of pocket). I wonder if the warranty from Nissan and the one my Credit Union offers does the same? I'm thinking about even going to Houston and surrounding areas to find car dealerships that may have 350z.. I've really grown to love the cars and I'd really like to get one if my car gets totaled and the price is right.

 

Welcome. Cant tell much without photos. You may be happy with touch-up paint. Maybe not.

My concern is the windshield crack. As you know, it will eventually get bigger, and you will replace the windshield.

 

I got my 2003 6MT Performance with a factory nav with 45k miles for 18,500 at a dealership here in Dallas.

 

How easy is it to find a 350z with low mileage at a good price in Houston or Dallas? I'm supposed to go fly (was gonna drive, but that idea is shot) to meet my cousin in Dallas on May 3rd or 4th and be there til the 8th or 9th.. We could probably go car shopping while I was there.. Stupid question: How can I get my Credit Union to give me a loan on a car that is out-of-state?

 

superrr easy...no joke their everywhere

EDIT: In Dallas that is, idk about Houston

 

Keep shopping

 

I wouldn't buy an '03 period. I've owned two '03 Z's and tranny's have went out on both of them.

 

So avoid the 2003 model and go for the 2004+ Did the 2004 have problems with the transmission? I'm also wanting to get one as old as possible.. to save a bit on insurance.. And I think the 2005 gets to be around the same cost on insurance that I was paying on the Spyder.

 

I'd keep looking...

1.This is just some random guy selling it? (So if there's ANY problems, you're screwed.)
2. He put rims on it, so he probably put it through it's paces. (On top of that, those 03's had some issues with front alignment and tire wear.)
3. 51k miles isn't too bad, but again... no car fax, it's not from a dealer, so who knows what it's been through or what kind of shape it's in now.


BTW... I just bought a 6MT 04' Touring with 26k miles for $19,600 (1 local owner, clean carfax). About $21.5 out the door. You can get a much better deal.

 

Yeah, I definitely started looking.. Took a look on AutoTrader.com and found two pages of 2004's that were under $25k within 200 miles from my house.. The adjuster is coming by around 8am tomorrow morning, so I'll know then (hopefully) if my car is totaled.. When/if I find out mine is totaled, I'm gonna pay to get a 30 day unlimited carfax and start searching more, then one weekend I'll get my uncle to drive to Texas to look at a few I picked out.. Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

Keep looking...

I bought my 03 Base 2 years ago. It had 25k miles on it, absolute mint condition, and I paid under $24k. Just take your time (if you can) and get exactly what you want for what you feel is reasonable $$. There are a TON of Z's in DFW.

Also, I have had absolutely ZERO problems with my 03. GL!!

 

I love my 03 Z. Been a good car for the 4 years I've had it. There are good ones still out there. The tranny replacement is fine as long as your car is still under the powertrain warranty. I'm glad my tranny needed to be replaced because it saved me a chit load of $$ on my JWT install and I moved to the CD009.

 

Well the Insurance Adjuster just came by.. the total cost of repair on my car is $7700, which means they won't total it.. It still has to go to a body shop and they have to look over it some more.. So I know they will find more damage.. I think its roughly about $5600 more and they will total it.. so if the top has to be replaced thats $4500 right there.. Wish me luck!

 

There's no reason to avoid 03's some of them have problems but mine is just fine as is most of the others. I had a 2000 mr2 spyder previously, got it when they first came out and put a lot of money into that vehicle. How did you wreck the spyder? If it was your fault because of loss of control I wouldn't recommend the 350z since there seem to be a lot of idiots on the board blaming their wrecks on the car.

 

Not really a loss of control.. I was out of town last Friday and was driving home early Saturday morning without any sleep.. I was fine for a while.. But I live in the country and the long road got to me.. I ended up falling asleep and hitting a ditch.. about 100 yards from the Church I was gonna stop at to take a nap.. Don't get me wrong, I love the MR2 Spyder, I just want a bigger and safer car now.. But I still want a sports car.. But from what it looks like now, I'm stuck with the Spyder unless they find $4,300 more damage done to the car after they take it apart..

 

So how is the 350Z shopping coming along?