OP,do what you want to do,its your life and money.If getting a Z is going to bring you joy,then do it.All I ask is that you wait and get the perfect one you want.I waited 2 yrs and it was worth it.Good luck on your search...


Pretty much the way its playing out..


Should be Mr. Bitter,because thats what you sound like...



So why rain on his parade?

Yeah,you sacrificed a backseat.


So much energy wasted on being a hater,you should put that energy into
something more constructive son.

 

look OP, You are young and you are planning to get the car a lot of not so young people have. You are going to have a LOT of haters.
First off, I wouldn't drop 10k flat for a 2004 Z with 100k+ miles, that is just not smart. Specially if that 10k is all you have...
I am 19, I got my father to cosign the car for me. Right now and for the next 6 years I am paying off 20,000 for a 2008 Z. It is definitely worth it. Although i wouldn't count on your dad cosigning as from your post I would imagine he has some trust/responsibility issues with you. I also have a job I know i wont lose and can keep for those 6 years or go up the food-chain of positions.
Its not easy, working 30hrs a week and being a full time student is a pain in the ***.
I honestly don't think you can pull this off. Unless you have a decent job and go to a rather cheap college, I would just call this a dream that isn't happening right now, but maybe in the future. If i was in your position i wouldn't do it, Your plan is decent but there are way to many ways Murphys law can really mess you up...
Unless you can get your dad to cosign a loan on the car for you, don't do it. I am sure you have zero credit and being able to build your credit now will help you in the future when you get your GT-R
Its your choice, don't be stupid. You know there are possibilities of things going terribly wrong but i think you are overlooking those due to how awesome and worth it you think the Z will be.

 

I got a 2003 Touring 350z last summer with 47k for 16k last summer like 2 months after i turned 18. The car of my dreamss. I worked hard for my car.. workin around 35 hrs a week over the summers and thought i would b able to afford insurance and the car payments. I finished car payments no problem but insurance was.. pretty much impossible. Since in college you will have no time to work. I have no idea how students work while studying in college.. if u want to do well and graduate fast id suggest u to keep the car you have and focus on school first. By focusing for only 4 years you will be happy for many years to come. I barely have time to make money and work on my 350z.. and i remember the first day i was saying i want new rims asap.. almost1 year after still no rims.. all the money from work = books for classes and gas and food.. but honestly i do not regret doing what i did.. i love my 350z.. lol

ps. no matter how much you work for to get that car.. everyonewill say ur parents bought it for you.. theyll call u spoiled.. but as long as you kno u did work hard for it.. then u deserve it.

 

Do yourself a favor and just use your Corolla as a beater until you are out of college. Buying a car with high mileage is just asking for problems in the near future, and you will be dumping more and more money into a car that is better off left in a junk yard.

I bought my first car for $2k and spent around $5k restoring it. I drove that car throughout high school, college and the first few years of my professional career. Do yourself the same favor and save your money; get your toys when you are settled in life.

 

yeahh i agree! thats what i do. but the winters kill me haha. idk stay in school tho. **** haha, but OP, you might want to consider purchasing the car first if the money would affect the financial aid youd be recieving for school if any. just something some people consider

 

too much to read lol.. just get a 350z and join this community allready

 

I bought my Z shorty after I turned 19. I bought an 05 with 103k miles on it. Luckily I have a very good job that enabled me to buy the car cash and allowed me to start modding it. But take it from me, when it comes to the 100k mile point, you're going to need to spend money on suspension parts.

It's a very very rewarding car to own and drive (especially at our age), but it does require sacrifices. If things go wrong, it is not cheap to fix. One of my old friends has a WRX and does nothing but look for all of his parts off of ebay and get cheapo ****. You can't do that with a Z. Which means if you plan on modding it you have to expect to spend quite a bit. But then you can also just do what I did and use the need of replacement parts as an excuse to start modding it

But it's definitely a very incredible car to have at our age. Things a ***** MAGNET. Just keep weighing the pros and cons and if you feel like you could make the leap and deal with everything okay, then go for it.

And Mr. Grim, I'm so sorry you had to start from nothing and had to wait 3 years to get one. Here's my care cup: |_| Oh look! It's empty! With the way you're acting you should have just bought an S2k and joined the Honda club. Chill and show some respect where respects due, if someone is younger than you and can afford it then they must be doing pretty well. What's so bad about that? I'll make sure to have all of my friends who were able to buy one around my age message you to show some "we were able to get our cars" love.

 

Guys sorry I wasn't able to respond sooner, I'll definitely leave a detailed response when I get home today, I'm not at home right now, but for now I just want to say that I'm willing to throw more cash to get something lower than 75,000 miles. A lot of you were concerned about mileage so I just wanted you all to know.

 

Having a plan isnt bad, yeh it won't go exactly as you planned, but I atleast got an idea of what I want to do.

Don't you think I'm sacrificing anything too? I don't have to work as hard and as long as I do. You don't know what I go through and you have no idea how much I'm sacrificing.

Right off the bat? I am certainly not a spoiled kid asking my father to get me a 350z(he can't even get him self anything above a corolla, so I have no right to ask him for anything). I have been discussing this with him for a little over 2 years now. Of course I didn't want to own one when I was 16, i was just planning ahead, and now it is almost time.

Like I said before, stop flipping out. Everyone other then you here is having a nice conversation.
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Yeah bro I already applied for FAFSA, I'm all set with it. I am expecting over 50% of my college to be payed by it, but you never know how much you get I guess..That's just what I estimated because of my cousins who went to college who were in a very similar position that I'm in.

My parents say they will pay for my college, but I will try to pay it all alone because I know they could use some extra cash too. Don't want to put them under any pressure.
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Yes bro I understand that. But the reason why a lot of young people my age doesn't have a car like this is because most of them don't even work, and the ones that do work don't work more then a few hours(im not saying everyone is like this, but most are). For example this person that I work with complains if he gets scheduled to work for 3 days a week or more while i have days where I have worked 10 days in a row and I still don't complain.... They simply dont have the right to hate. But I know a lot of older people will hate thinking my parents got me the car...

I am now planning on getting something 75k miles or less

No trust/responsibility issues, he is just concerned about my safety, which is normal and I understand. And he is worried about me not being able to afford gas and such, not because of my income now, but because he thinks I won't want to work while I go to college.

Thankfully I'm on the same boat. My managers aren't like managers but are like friends with me. One of my managers actually is recommending me to a better position, and the manager of that position is the husband of my other manager. So it's all looking good


WRX's are bad-as$, but I got scared to buy one.

I calculate my pros and cons almost every day, so far it's looking good but time will show.

Whats wrong with an S2K lol. I like the 350z way more and I don't like convertibles but redlining at 8k-9k isnt bad at all :P

 

Someone had told me not to buy 2003's because it is the first model. I don't see anything wrong with them from my research. Is this anything to be concerned about? He said try 2004 or +.

 

Not sure if this has been asked or answered before, but how long do you plan on keeping the car? How many miles do you drive on average per year? If you are looking for a car with 75k miles or so, you will have to spend more for maintenance like others said. I'm somewhat in the same boat as you. My 02 Maxima was just totaled from a hit and run and now I have to get a new car. Wasn't really planning on it but **** happens. I've decided to get an 07-08 mainly due to the HR motor and the warranty that comes with lower mileage. If I wanted, I could get an 03-04 straight cash but I think an 07-08 seems more reasonable in my situation long term wise. 03-04 isn't a bad choice but make sure you look at everything when purchasing one. I have a friend with an 04 that has 110k+ miles and hasn't gave him any major problems.

Either way, good luck on your search and have fun if/when you end up getting into a Z! I know I will

PS - Working full time + being a college student full time sucks big time! I know the feeling.

 

Well 75 is the max I want to get. But if I'm patient enough I could find around 60k maybe... Don't know how long I want it for, but after college ill probably sell it and add on money to it and upgrade.

 

I'd say "no" to Z and in college but I got a Z and am in college so I understand where you're coming from.

What everybody say is true, you WILL eat through tires, 93 Octane is expensive as hell, and you will only get around mid 20mpg. Not being able to drive people also factors in, though for me that's a plus cause I hated driving people places.

I paid for my Z through a sort of "trade in" with my dad. I had an '07 Camry which was worth around 13k on the market which I bought with my life savings. He took that car and bought me a Z.

I'd be all for young people and Z's cause you only get to live young once. You learn through your stupid actions and it does make you wiser later in life. I admit that having a sports car has made me speed and do more stupid stuff than having a regular car.

One thing's for sure though, don't get a Z while you're still in HS... You're lucky already for having a car at all in HS. If you're going to get a Z, at least get it in your 2nd or 3rd year in college that way you know what college is like and what not to do. Going out for a midnight drive becomes normal to blow off steam but you gotta know when you're endangering others.

 

Wait it out. Don't buy the first one you see. I searched for my previous Z for many many months before finding it.

I'll leave my thoughts of how you plan on affording the car to myself, but i'll say, I sold my '04 Z in December with 61,000 miles for $12,000. The car had a new jwt clutch setup, and brand new coilovers installed. Hold out for the right deal.

 

Get the z man I just turned 18 and i've had a z for a couple months now I make $8.75 at a gas station and I have plenty of money. Bought it myself and put premium in it. I have a great set up don't let these guys intimidate you their just ******, its hard to find nice people on here. Their just jealous they didn't have a z at 17 or 18. Have fun with it! My Z vvvvvvvv

 

And to be honest, he should go to university instead of college. Better degree, better education.

 

lol this always comes up. most guys here that post a lot were probably 17/18 when the Z came out. (8 year old car, 17+8=25) Instead of running out and buying a brand new car, they probably chose to move out, buy a house, become an adult, and buy the Z when they were in a more responsible position.

you're not a "baller" because you own a $15,000 or $20,000 sports car. nobody is jealous you're 18 and "own" a Z.

 

alright then all you guys need to stop hating so much if you have a good plan and can afford a z at 18 then go for it

 

Most 18 year olds arent responsible enough and know nothing about cars, but there are some that do.. If your one of those responsible kids go right ahead.

 

I don't think I'm a "baller" never said that boss.