I have been thinking about this for a while now and just wanted to see what other people on the site thought if they were in my shoes. My car is a 2003 DB touring 350z. It has 95k right now in mileage and has been in one car accident.

Everything that has been done to the this car has been done by Nissan. All oil changes have been done with full synthetic and changed 1k before its up. I just had it looked over by Nissan and they were amazed how the car still feels when driving it. They say the car is in good shape engine wise and body wise except for a new clutch though.

Its age is starting to show and there is a few things wrong with it. I have been thinking about either trading it in or keeping it and paying it off. I owe about 11k on it.

Here is a list of the issues.

1. Seats need to either be replaced or put new leather.
2. Bose systems subs stop working. (I think it’s a fuse).
3. Cubby door broke
4. coin box is broken
5. steering wheel is fading on the aluminum.
6. needs new drive belts
7. new clutch and flywheel.
8. trunk needs a little pice to make it open a bit better.
9. people say the paint is fine, but I see scratches and chips and would like to repaint it.
10. makes cabin noise.
11. starting to get the musty smell, so I need to replace the ac filter.
12. New battery
13. inside dome lights wont work now

In all its about 4-6k to fix and make the car look new again.

My question is would you keep it? Or trade it?

All the car has done as in after market is: JWT pop charger and G35 19” forged rims.

If you have any solutions to any of the problems I have please tell me.

Thank you for your time guys

 

Trade it and get the GTR

 

Keep it, you wont get much out of it.

 

i voted no because i think you should gut it and twin turbo the b!tch.

 

Trade it in. New car is better than repaired car considering it's basically stock.

 

What would the dealer give you, and what would you trade it in for?

 

doesn't seem like anythings wrong with the car besides normal wear and tear, it's up to you really. you could wait until the next gen comes out and see if thats what you want or the 07-08s are great too. I think I would wait, cause your car right now isn't bad at all IMO

 

either a new g or the new z when i see what it looks like.

I could afford the GTR but i want a house and i like my life style now and dont wanna change it. also its not stick

I havent asked what dealer would give me, but i think may 8-10k, think i can sell it for 12-14k if im lucky

also if i do alot of crap to it i wont get it back with the milage i have on this thing. even if its magazine conditions i wont get more than 16-18k for it.

 

well cars are made to be worn down on...if you think you need a new car then trade it. if not, keep it...dosnt really matter on how worn down it looks, all that matters is that you have a Z!

 

time to move on with your life. You dont want to be stuck with repair bills. Trade it in!!

 

I would see how much the dealer gives you, looks like you still owe alittle. I definitely don't see where you are getting 4k-6k for repairs. I say pay the ***** off and maybe rebuild the motor. Put your money on mods or something. If I was you, I would pay the car off as quickly as I could and than rebuild the motor and turbo. Just my 2cents

 

keep it......and repair everthing within time....for instance first id do clutch and flywheel, and in a month or so i would replace belts....and then he lil things...and no need to repaint until really really bad....because repainted paint is never the same as the original.

 

imo a lot of those fixes are unnecessary.
Do you want/need a new looking/feeling car?

This is your car and your decision, but if it were me in my shoes with that car, I'd keep it and pay it off. I get the important stuff fixed like clutch/ac

 

I voted "NO" because I think you should pull off the nice wheels and sell it as-is. I've been looking for a beater track 350... All those things either need to be replaced or don't matter, so you'd still catch $11-12k for it. I doubt you'll get much more on a trade-in, so why not help out a fellow Z-er?

Bring it to Nissan and see what they would give you for trade-in. Get it in writing - it should be good for 3 days. (I've done this before)

 

I would just do a tt and built long block if you can afford a GTR.

fix whats wrong. slap a body kit on it when you repaint and do some engine mods. it will feel new to you after the mods and some minor repair work.

 

plus uno^

 

1. Pay it off and make it BETTER than a new car, sounds like you might have the money to do that in no time.
2. If you REALLY want new, sell it outright, you will a MUCH better return.
3. Wait and see if the '09 gets some neat changes.

I really like option 1, no car payment FTW! When worn out parts break, put in the performance replacement

All in all, barring extenuating circumstances, dealer trade-in offers are usually a good $5K or better below retail, you will come out ahead private selling it. If getting a new one makes you happy, and wont affect your pocketbook..Go get a new one. I LOVE my '07. I vote NO to trading it in to dealer though, unless you got the hook-up.

 

#1 Pay it off and fix it up your way. Lot cheaper and no monthly payments. I have a 2003 Track Model, 13,650 miles on it. I'm planning same, keep it and fix it up. Got the CF Hood ordered and now ordering a CF NISMO Spoiler next. Then the vortech s/c. Much cheaper. Easy car for cheap power. After all there are the speed limits to follow, so this way you can enjoy your car. Z's are a great car.
#2 Trade In's are nothing more than giving the dealer your money anyway.
#3. Check the 09's, but look at the pymts you'll be making too, instead of fixing it up your way. Idea's: bodykits, rims, wheels, FI possible. The car will always look good. Mileage is nothing long as you keep the maintenance up on it.

Or keep it, keep it running good and buy a house. Then no car pymts on Z or G, but only mortgage on house. If I didn't have a house already, that is what I would do. Buy a house first, now's the time due to the market. Once it's done, you'll know what you can afford at that point.

 

since u really havent done much in mods to it or anything if i were you i would go ahead and trade it in and get a new one