Stormbird

Yesterday I had my first test drive of a 350z Pack.
Whaaa ! I can hear some of you guys saying - what's that ?
Well, over here in Portugal the car tax is soooo heavy that to compensate for legalised robbery by the Government, Nissan sells only 2 versions - the 350z as a base model, (this is really what is generally known as the Touring model), and then the "Pack" which is a 350z with absolutely everything you can have in the car except for Orange Sunset Seats and GPS which are options. What you end up with is a 350z with all the comfort luxuries, Bose sound etc of the touring but with the full track options on board, Spoilers, Brembo's, 18" Rays, the lot. About $86,000 USD. Don't ask how much a boxster is, you'd throw up!

Anyway, back to the drive. Immediate rush. The damn thing squealed its tyres in third and I wasn't really pushing yet ! The gate is a bit rubbery but the stick is so well positioned I soon got the feel for it. The pedals too have just the right feel to feather and balance the car with power and tap breaking before the corners - very Porche 911 - beautiful fast exits that have you surging down the straights grinning like a lunatic.. Apart from a little transmission whine and grind, this car feels very very good to drive fast. It's also incredibly tractable around town because with so much low end grunt, you can cruise around in 4th, sometimes 5th with no problems then pull away smoothly when the roads clear - who needs the auto with this engine ?
Last point. This car sticks to the road like glue - of course the VDC helps -but at the same time it is extremely comfortable - the seats are great, the driving position is perfect and the cabin roomy. As for looks, well from some angles I see an Aston Martin trying to get out HE HE HE
Where's my cheque book ?

FaustOrFamine

$86,000 USD ?!?!?!?!?!?!! What would our price of about $34,000 get you in Portugal. A Pinto sans wheels maybe?

Stormbird

Well not much really when you consider a Chrysler Neon 1.6 litre is around $30,000 USD, the humble Jeep Wrangler 2.5 litre Sport a cool $45,000 USD and the Boxster S $111,000 USD. If you can get in the right frame of mind, the 350Z becomes "affordable at $68,000 USD !!

ragtopz

stormbird, not to jack your thread or anything, but what is the minimum wage in portugal? hopefully the salaries there are higher.

are the crazy prices limited only to cars or to everything else like houses too? you have me really curious now.

it would be cool if there was a pack option here too. it would be cool to have the brembo and rays set up on my touring roadster.

350Z_Redline

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I wish they sold a Pack here because that's exactly what I wanted. I ended up getting the Touring because it's easier to upgrade the wheels and brakes rather than trying to add power/leather seats, and heated mirrors to the Track model.

Reggi914

iTrader: (3)

The tax on cars is very high in other countries, thats why the cars are so expensive.

Stormbird

This is Europe Ragtopz which means the poorer the country, the more tax you pay on optional goodies like cars. Since revenue collection in countries like Portugal is not as efficient as in the States, the Government coolects what it can, and as much as it can, by imposing taxes on goods - in this case, cars pay heavily - the higher the cilinder the more the tax.

zand02max

iTrader: (22)

Which is it, $68K or $86K?

Stormbird

That is $86,000 as per the original thread - typo error later on

zand02max

iTrader: (22)

$86K, OMG,


Like Lee Greenwood sings, "I'm proud to be an American"

kanenj01

wait a min, $80,000+? does that mean that i can send my car there pay $5,000 in taxes and shipping then sell the car for $70,000, come back to the US, buy another z and have 35,000 left over???? thats about what i make in a year..........

Stormbird

Theoretically - maybe. Practically - no, because to have the car registered in Portugal the taxman takes practically half of the final sale price - and what gurantees, service etc can you offer over the regular dealers - that's why Nissan as well as all the other manufacturers selling to high tax countries like Portugal and Italy fit the cars out with as many extras as possible to make the deal as attractive to the to poor old Joe who wants to buy one of their cars in the first place. Man when it comes to cars and hell, most things, you don't know how lucky you are to live in the States. We may have the history, but you guys are livin' the movie. WTG !