Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum and this is my first post.

I just got back from a dealership and test drove an 04' 350z Touring 6 speed with 78k miles on it. Here's the car:

http://hanleeshilltopnissan.com/preo...94T153041.aspx

It looks decent in person. There's a few issues it has. The bumper has about 4 holes in it from what may be license plate mounts (drilled incorrectly?) and lots of scratches near the very front and the bottom. There's a few scratches on the driver side door. One of which is very noticeable close up. The bottom looks like it has been scraped many, many times. I would probably end up replacing it if I bought this car. You can't tell from the photos, but there used to be skirts installed but were later removed. There are indentations of where they used to be toward the rear wheels (I don't know what that area is called).

When the salesman first started the car to back it up I noticed a little bit of white smoke coming out of the left exhaust. It wasn't a lot, but enough for me to worry because it was about 80 degrees outside. As for the actual test drive, it felt a little bit sluggish. I drove a 2006 Altima to the dealership and it felt faster than the 350z. Maybe I just didn't give it enough gas or I should have been more aggressive? I wasn't heavy on the pedal and never took it above 6500 RPM.

I don't know... I'm considering going back tomorrow for a second test drive and this time thoroughly check the car, fully inspect it, spend some good time in it, and be much more aggressive in testing its power. It was my first time in a 350z.

My question is, is the sense of lacking power from the motor combined with what looked like condensation smoke coming from the exhaust on a hot day something to worry about? How much do you think this car is really worth?

 

with those issues you listed, i damn sure wouldn't be paying anywhere near what they're asking.

 

LOL seriously man. You are giving us all the bad signs of why not to buy it if you are super picky (which I am). Check it out some more, if you are ok with a mediocer car then go for it, however not for 16k. thats a good joke. You can get a much newer and cleaner 07-08 for that much. At least im told as I was planning on selling mine until i found out some of the deals people got on their 07-08s. If you want a 350z get an 07-08, if you want newer go for 370. Dont go for a older and more milage vehicle. just wait. there are z's out there. plus there is nothing special about this one aside from the fact it was never taken care of. My car might have some slight nicks or scratches etc, but i know what they all came from (minor things) and its not beat to hell as you state this one is. my undercarrige is clean too. If it looks like sh*t and its been abused, then it probably has been through sh*t and abused.

 

$16,999 with that many miles? holy ****....and I'm having no luck with my 04 with 55k miles priced at $13,500.....

 

With $16,999 I would get a nicely modified (wheels and exterior) 06 Z.

 

Dont buy that car. that's waaaaay too much money.

 

Forget any car that has been modified, even if the price is right. In the end, you'll wish you had bought something better. The white cloud from the exhaust is either leaking coolant from the block or moisture. It is possible that car has been turbo'd before or some other such modification. Run way from it.

 

Agreed +1 +1 +1!!! I bought my '03 Touring with 50k for 13,000 and it was damn near imaculate. Take your time and shop around. White smoke in 80 degrees would have me walking. Good luck with the hunt!

 

Thanks for the input everyone. I'll keep looking.

 

Welcome. Be realistic about a vehicle with 78,000 miles. It will have normal wear and tear.

Look in the engine bay for signs of previous forced induction. Holes drilled in the body often means something was installed previously then removed

Look inside the cabin for self-installed switches and wiring. jerry rigged wiring can present a nightmare.

Good luck.

 

With 17k I'd buy an Evo or WRX. Then again, that's just me.

 

You sound really unsure about this car. I would definitely keep looking for something you absolutely love. Next time when you do find the one you want, be sure to get a pre-purchase inspection for it. It's a small price to pay for a professional inspector to let you know a good deal from a bad steal.

Goodluck!!

 

i wouldnt pay more than 11-12k for the car in that condition. since they probably wont negotiate that low I would keep looking.

 

"I wasn't heavy on the pedal and never took it above 6500 RPM."

I've driven a whole year without cracking 3000rpm, and you do 6500 on a test drive without being 'heavy on the pedal'.

 

That car was definitely modified and it's over priced. Keep searching.

 

I'm posting this purely for humorous reasons. This is my most recent experience while hunting for that perfect 350z:

Once again, I have just returned from test driving another Z! This time, however, it wasn't at a dealership with an overpriced car. This particular 350z was available at a small dusty car lot in big Sacramento. Upon arriving I was greeted by a gentleman in his mid 50s, neatly dressed, with a pleasant demeanor added to him. He seemed like a nice enough guy. I give the car a quick once-over before making my way toward the driver side door as the salesman recites various facts about the car and its origin, all of which slowly fade away like a volume dial on a radio being carefully lowered...

I could plainly see it had been well cared for. The paint was sparkly and even toned. The sunset orange so clear and bright on this hot and cloudless summer day. The leather, still shiny and taught and smelled of savory leathery things, reminiscent of the sweet aroma that pours into a person as they walk into a Wilsons Leather shop. Not one tear, not a crease, not a single indentation of a former owner to be found. I entered the leather bound cabin, so rich and so intoxicating. It felt sexy, it looked sexy, it even smelled sexy. Everything about this machine was perfect and I knew I wanted it. I will have it. I will have it. It was a 2004 350z 6-speed Touring model with 43k miles in *immaculate condition* priced @ 15.9. I haven't even begun to haggle. What a find...what a find. What a lucky dog. The test drive went well. Everything to be expected. The steering wheel was warm and the grip was firm. I pulled out of the lot, talking head beside me bobbing to the left and to the right. This felt good. This felt right. This was me. The clutch was firm and the shifting smooth. I punch it and we're thrust back, the steering wheel leaving my hand briefly, for only a fraction of a second. You couldn't see my hand detach from the wheel, but I could feel it. My heart skips a beat as does my breath. I hastily look ahead and beside me - we aren't airborne. I strengthen my grip with a renewed sense of zeal. Downshifting as we approach the second right, I'm overwhelmed with relief. This one has got power. "It's got some kick to it", the bobbing head confirms as we come to a stop. I anxiously await as the cars move from one end of the street to the other, presumably on their way to some trivial place to complete some trivial task. Maybe they're on their way home. I wonder if they know I'm on a test drive. They look at me, they look at the car. It's a recognizable begrudging stare. I know it all too well. I've made it before. I turn and give it the liquid fire once more because it's what it wants. We're propelled forward, second gear and wheels chirp. The A/C is off and the windows rolled down. "I want to feel all its power", I say as I nearly floor it. This feeling of rapid acceleration and wind coursing through my hair is thrilling. This scene looks good from all angles.... The bobbing head beside me with eyes wide open and jaw left hanging, legs flexed and stretched straight, feet glued to the floor: "go easy" he says, while giving me a second and third look.

I'm not crazy - I'm just happy.


And then we're done. I'm inside the office now filling out a credit application. I hadn't planned on going this far yet. I didn't even bring someone to drive the other car home. Those salesmen guys I saw on my way in are outside again smoking another cigarette. Cigarettes...Ball & Chain is what those things are. I see old, fat and shapeless. The imbodyment of ugly. A tempting thought comes to mind. I'd normally like one right about now, too. It's been a while...over half a year as a matter of fact. I deserve one! Sigh. Though, I had better not. I'm running a mile in nearly 7:30 and lost almost 25 pounds, not to mention my clothes don't stink anymore. I'm doing real good. Now only a passing thought...

I can't believe it. My Experian report and scores are completely different from what their finance manager is seeing. I walk in and proudly announce a credit score of nearly 700. He pulls me aside and shows me a piece of paper with a number circled in red. The number is 519. The agency that he used to query my credit is the same that I pay to monitor mine. How is this possible? He told me that the number shown to consumers is often much different than what is shown to lenders. This is my lender score. There's no way I can run this through the banks and get a loan, he says. I can give you an in-house financing deal, though, yes?

Okay. I've read about this kind of crap online, and I'm not liking it, but I'm curious what he's got to offer. I ask to see some numbers. He whisks me away into his glass walled office.

Here's what we come up with, and note that nearly every number presented is lower than average because apparently he likes me and wants to do me a favor. When he said that I immediately thought about the young girl with gold hair and nice skin at the Chevron on Exposition Blvd selling spray on wax. She said they're normally $30.00 each, but she wanted to do me a solid and sell me 2 cans for only $40.00. I'm a likeable guy.

The car is $15,995.00. Awesome.

Fee: $3000.00 bank to dealer fee. This part is very strange, but for each 5k, some bank charges them 1k whenever they use in-house financing. So, naturally, this fee is 3k.

Car: $18,995.00

Tax: $1,671.25

Down payment: $5000.00

APR: 19.500

Term: 66 months

Payment: $400.71

Total price: $21,137.50

Amount financed $16.137.50

Finance charge: $10,309.36

Total sales price: $31,446.86

He smiles cheerfully, as does the pleasant salesman. I'm smiling, too! Red in the face with pure joy. As a matter of fact I become so overjoyed that I'm having a bit of trouble summarizing my thoughts to convey a simple and clear message, so I do simply this: I make a coo-coo gesture with my right hand and ask "Are you're crazy?" I asked them not to follow me out.

By the time I get home I have a few messages on the machine. A different salesman would like to change a few numbers and "sweetin' the deal" for me. He heard what had happened and felt I could be helped, and if it wasn't an inconvenience I should promptly return his phone call.

Car shopping is fun. I'm serious. I'm truly enjoying this for all the wrong reasons.

 

You're better off buying a card on my350z.com - that car is over priced.

 

 

that was good reading.. salesmen r dirt *****... u did the right thing by taking a walk keep searching. that's Wat I did. I took a personal loan from citi financial at a lower Apr. walked in with a check for 20k but didn't tell them that haggled them down to 19700 then pulled out the check the sales men looked like he **** his pants cause he expected to finance me thru nissan. Wen I got up n said eat it he eagerly rushed back n said OK I took the car home that night. 2003 enthusiast with 18 k on the odometer. clean shiny smelled like new got it in 05 no regrets. I had **** poor credit at the time so this worked out. those guys r in it to make money n by telling u ur credit is less than perfect they can tack on a couple of points for the dealership even if u thought u had great credit. that's the game be careful n good luck. u will find the right deal soon enough...

 

PMME I have mine for sale, 05 6MT 40k miles, and Im asking 18,(over 2000 just invested in Audio and Just got the windows and lights blacked out, I can send pictures, and meet wherever, let me know)