What up everyone! I'm a 19 year old freshman in college and am planning on buying a car over the summer. Actually, my parents are going to buy the car for me and I'm going to do monthly payments with them. I've been looking at a few cars in the $20,000 range...
'99 E36 M3 (amazing German engineering)
'03 IS300 (perfect blend of sports and luxury)
'04 WRX (boooost!)
and of course, an early model Z (asian guy=asian sports car).
Recently, I've been really leaning towards the Z though. Seems to be a really nice community of people here too.

What made everyone buy a Z over other cars?

I ran across a thread for people wanting to get into the tuning world of the Z. Everything from basic bolt-on mods to TT set-ups. I can't find that page though and am too lazy to look for it, so can someone help me out?

 

Here's a link:
https://my350z.com/forum/350z-tech-area-49/
But I'm too lazy to look any further.

Take a little to do some research, you'll appreciate your purchase more.

 

ill narrow it down for you i love the m3, but its getting to old so it will start to get unreliable. stick with the z, chicks dig it. stock it pulls like a monster. im taking mine on infineon next week so ill see how it handles compared to my bmw.

 

And I am too lazy to find the thread, and post a link for you. So that makes us even.

 

I just bought a 04' touring for $19,600 w/ 25k on it. (Got a good deal)

I'd stick with the Z, but if you need a back seat/more room, go with the WRX, or see if you can (get lucky) find a G35 coupe in that range. With the Z or WRX you'll be able to find a low mileage, easily maintainable car that can be modded easily (and fairly inexpensively.)

-The M3 will probably have a lot of miles on it... and the maintenance will be expensive. (Let alone if anything goes wrong with it, then you're screwed.)

-The IS300 isn't that fast, and not nearly as nice enough to make up for it.

 

99 m3 - dont bother. More headaches than youll want.
WRX - Dont bother. Boost doesnt matter for **** when its a tiny turbo that functions as a blower past 4k rpm

Between the 350z and the IS300 its sort of a tossup.

350z has more power outta the box, however the IS300 also has the 2jz-GE engine with VVTI. Its a much lower compression engine (same as in the mk4 NA supras) and is capable of higher performance (at a cost) With a single turbo kit the IS300 is easily capable of 400-500+ RWHP with little investment. Past that you would be looking at a new transmission as the IS did not come with the getrag 6 speed tranny as the supra TT did.

Personally having owned 2jz platforms (supras in the past and currently), and this is coming from a seriously biased perspective - get the 350. Youll have more fun. Once you start modding a 2jz and you realize you can keep adding rwhp until your bank goes broke youll wish you had gotten into something else.

 

Thanks for everyone's input so far. Right now, I drive a Mazda Protege5. On top of a weak 130HP, it's an auto. I went the audio route and am ready to move on to performance. I drove my friend's STi a few weeks back and damn, that car was so much fun. I need 6 speed in my life!

 

an sti is a whole other story from a wrx. my friend has an 04 wrx and while it does handle nice, it's not fast, and only a little fun to drive. an sti is badass and way faster. i wouldnt base your wanting a wrx based on what you experienced in an sti

 

You are 19, unmarried, have no kids, and your parents are going to help you pay for it....?

Let me break it down for you.

WRX? You have no kids... Why do you need 4 doors? Scratch that. Save that for when you have kids and still crave a little speed.

IS300... I only know 3 people that own one. Two are girls and one is a gay guy. When I was car-shopping a month ago, I realized the potential of 2JZ platform and asked my girlfriend what she thought of an IS300 and she said: "That looks like a girls car." Not that I would let anyone make my decision (haha for the married people, I am practically there), but the IS300 would cost more than a 350z to mod. Save the Lexus for when you are middle aged, but still want some ummph!

BMW... To women, a BMW is sexy but only if it was born in the last 5 years. Nothing is hot about something from the 90s. They are a pain to fix and a pain to modify. Save the beamer in life for when you retire.

That leaves a 350z. Sexy, 2 doors, woman magnet no matter which trim you get. Everyone has the same basic body style, engine, and tranny. Mods are cheap compared to the vehicles above. Repair bills are cheap compared to above. Also, from a post I read on this site earlier - 350s won the competition for MPG per HP over all other cars. So... for a college student who wants to impress the ladies, drive in style, get decent gas mileage, and have fun modding, the 350 is your car.

I am 22 and a recent grad.... Trust me.

 

ill tell u this as i am asian man myself. get the Z its worth it in everyway. if u have any questions pm me. im the person who would pick a z over a bmw mercedes subaru mits M6 M5

 

M3 not worth it. unreliable plus its getting way too old.

wrx- boost is cool but over rated in my opinion. Plus this is a story a friend told me that made me lean away from the evo and sti. quote "I went to the track over the weekend in my M3. It was such a blast. Let me tell you, those evo's and sti's are quick. They were keeping up with me. But half way through the day all of them were pulling off the track everytime i did a lap because smoke was bellowing out from their hoods because their turbo's were over heating."

that turned me away from those.

Z-sexy, sleek, fast, and well...i just really like my z.

so get a Z!!

 

Out of your choices, I would definitely get the Z. Great car at a great value. I usually get tired of a new car after 2 years or so. I have had the Z for nearly four years and I still love it.

 

About 2 hours before i crashed my Z i impressed a nice chick with my car, I hung out with her for 4 hours, I did know her but that was the first time i hung out with her, O yeah her parents love it too.

 

Yeah, I haven't had time to test drive any cars yet, too busy with college atm. Motor wise on the rex though, I would get it to stage 2, which is equivalent to a stock STi. Suspension, tranny, brakes...not quite up to par haha.

 

get a Ferrari you P U S S Y