Alright this is my first post on here, I have been reading about 350zs, E36 M3s, Audi TTs, and S4s for the past 6 months and its almost time to make a decision. I am leaning towards the Z because of parts, its relatively cheap (compared to the S4) and the TT/E36 are pricey with parts. Right now I drive an 01 jetta vr6 (my first car) and I am getting the Z after I graduate college. The vr6 "feels" pretty peppy I have screwed around racing people and it handles pretty well, so how much BETTER is a 2003 350z? I care about turns more than top end I have been ski racing for a long time and I appreciate a fast lap time more than a 1/4 mile. I just want to know how much better the Z really is than my old jetta. Thanks guys.

 

This much.

< . . . . . >

 

about l____________l that much

 

yah I get that its in a completely different class, I live pretty close to watkins glenn track in NY State. How does it compare to the E36 M3, or like an 01 Audi S4?

 

Age please.

 

^^ hes getting ready to graduate college..your a big boy ball park it ( dont really see why that matters though but whatever)

dude just go test drive these cars..go to cars.com er autotrader and find some local locations drive each one and then make ur own decision

 

None of us are going to be able to answer this question for you. Given the fact that this is a 350z enthusiast board, almost everyone here bought a Z so chances are we like the car. Yes, it is faster than your Jetta. Yes, it will lap better than your Jetta. Yes, you should test drive each car and make a decision for yourself.

 

Well I know its faster than the jetta, although I am not an enthusiast or "guru," but I know it takes a certain amount of increased hp to actually FEEL a difference. People bs all the time and talk about how their intake or exhaust jacked up their performance wayyy more than it did. I will test drive one eventually btw I am looking at a 2003, not a brand new Nismo edition so yah its going to be one of the slowest stock 350zs. As far as testing it goes, given I am a 20yr old guy I don't see a dealership letting me take out a new car and redline it out of the lot nor take turns fast enough to make me s*** myself. I just wanted to know if its a completely different game, driving a car like a 350z. Given this is an enthusiast board, most of you have probably driven a lot of cars and jettas are popular so hey maybe one of you even owned one before like me. I have been in stis/roush mustangs but never was I the one actually flooring the pedal. I read about the few tranny issues/tire problems but I figure if the car has been driven for a few years those issues were resolved by the owner. I have about 12g to spend.

 

an E46 M3 is better than all those cars you listed

 

are u kidding me right now...wow

there is no comparison...a z is a great car and especially for a track car..good luck with that 12 grand though...ur gonna get one with alot of miles imo thats not a great idea..spend the extra buck and get a low mileage one....btw a stock 03 z is fully capable of running high 13's at the track, whats a jetta run 15-16's they really don't compare

 

E46 is a great car yes, my buddy has one and honestly my car and his were very close i would get him sometimes and he would get me sometimes stock for stock, but i still would rather have the z than the e46 for alot of different reasons, but its purely in what u want and what ur looking to do with it....but really op 12 grand isn't gonna get u what u want

 

why are you thinking about an 03 Z?? why not an HR??
and yea 12G is not really enough.. unless you want to get a shitty car with high mileage that requires a lot of maintenance.. unless you get really lucky...

but its your decision.. drive each car and decide

 

Buy a Z

 

z is a lot better than your jetta. but they're different classes so......


get an RSX-s.

/thread

 

Get a Honda, those are sooo fast

 

are you serious? comparing a vr6 to a Z?

 

They had a jetta in the first Fast and Furious. Therefore jetta>z.

 

You seem to be concerned with cost and with the price of the Z and it's parts even a 16 y/o can afford it.

 

This is exactly why I hate that a Z can be afforded by just about anyone.

$12k and you are considering a 350Z, TT, S4 and M3????? You will only be able to get an old a$$ high mileage one of those for that chump change. Do you just want to be able to brag to people that you drive something like an M3? But then they roll up on it and see what a POS it is?

Stick with the Jetta, that is more your class.

 

You think the parts are cheap eh?