Hi. I'm just about ready to go to a dealer tonight or tomorrow to pickup my baseline or enthusaist Z. But there is a little voice in the back of my head saying "wait couple months and get the 04.."

btw, I currently own a 98 Maxima and I know how good the VQ is and etc.. More than the appearance, the VQ was a bigger factor to me in getting the new 350Z. My twin brother also has a 5spd 2000 maxima, and acutally I CAN imagine what kind of powerband/smoothness/ride the 350Z and the VQ35 will provide. I'm not looking to be a drag monster and VQ35 and 285HP is plenty of power for me. The Z will be the 5th Nissan in our family's active fleet of cars and if I hadn't experienced the bullet proof reliablity of Nissan, well actually I still would want the Z even if I never had a nissn before. lol

Also, I was gonna trade in my 1998 Maxima with its 145,000 trouble free miles, but I had a change in heart and I think I will garage the Z and keep driving my paid off Max as a daily driver. does this sound like a good idea? I took REALLY GOOD care of my maxima since it had 5 miles on the odo, and I dont wanna give it up after all this work! It has been fed Mobil 1 every 5000 miles, adhered to strict warm ups in the morning, belts/all fluids replaced and flushed regularly, washed and vacuumed weekly for 5 years and etc etc. People cannot believe my Max is 145,000 miles old. And oh I put in new shocks (kyb gr2s) and new tires last week too. My max still runs like new and doesn't burn a single drop of oil. I dynoed my max with 140,000 miles and it made 190HP at the crank. Thats how much HP brand new 4th gen maximas came with. unbelievable. I bet my max can go up to 250,000 miles. OK anyways, some of my friends say I'm way over my head trying to keep 2 cars and some say its a good idea. But hey its america. We're the only country in the world where regular folks can afford to have 2 cars and where its also normal to do so. I recently turned 26 and the insurance on the Z is pretty affordable too!

Carmax has an Enthusiast model for 28k. this is before tax. Is this a good deal? If I go to a regular dealer, is it reasonable to get a Enthu. model for 28k out the door? I'm in DC suburbs btw.

Sorry for the long post, but I got time to kill at work. haha. and please post your advices. I might have to change my handle from "hokiemax" to "hokie350Z" next week.

 

I don't think anyone can really offer you a solution or suggestion on what to do. If you can afford 2 cars and you want both then do it. Lots of guys here have multiple cars, me included. As for waiting for an '04...why? They won't be different just a little more expensive. As for pricing do your homework, make calls, see who's offering what. All the invoice & MSRP pricing is available. You should be able to get a car for no more then $1000 over invoice.

From your constant commenting about the Max I think you are trying to convince yourself that it is a definite keeper. It's the Z your not sure of. Keeping the Z in a garage only for occasional use (like I do ) really doesn't do much for the value.

Do what feels right to you and it's something you can live with.

Good luck.

 

For what it's worth. I am selling my 98 Dakota to put toward the Z. I also hooked up a winter car in a $500 93 Ford Explorer. Actually it was a great deal. The Z will not see the snow. the $500 Explorer was a better investment than additional Rims & Tires. I would keep the Maxima especially if you have the snow factor like me.